The sound of four coursers racing through the depths echoed off the walls and the cackling of rambunctious laughter followed. A party, unafraid of being loud and the attention that it would bring, moved in unison, charging ahead with a recklessness that was all too familiar with them.

"I'm telling you, Cass. Sir Goosington Beakers keeps staring at Fun Guy and it's making me a little nervous," Jasper teased as he stared at the goose on his friend's back who stared back at him between preening her feathers. 

"No, she won't!" Cassandra retorted, ducking her head to peer behind her, slowing only a moment to peer at the mushroom nestled within the courser's mane, tucked in as if its life depended on it. "He'd give her indigestion. She has better taste."

"She would be so lucky to have a meal as fine as Fun Guy!" Jasper protested with a snort, tossing his head lightly and feeling the pull on his mane as the mushroom held on for dear life. Just another day traveling with Jasper, really, in Fun Guy's eyes. "Not really though, Fun Guy. I'd never feed you off to something else."

"That thing is evil, Jasper. I don't see how you can defend it. She'd be doing us a favour if she did," Tempest teased as she lifted her nose to brush near the mushroom that glared back at her, tiny little hands gripping the hair tighter. 

"Can you really call a mushroom evil?" Nautilya asked curiously from the front of the pack. 

"Yes!" Two voices spoke in unison. "No!" The third overlapped them. 

Nautilya snorted as she slowed down, the long cavern leading them into the dungeon opening up to a large cavern. "It's amazing we get anything done," she giggled, ears perked forward as she listened. The party slowed behind her, stilling in the tunnels as they crowded by, peering inside. 

"Big skeleton. Not too scary. We could take it." Tempest quipped.

"Not if it comes alive like the last skeleton that we saw," Jasper hesitated, pawing the ground nervously for a moment. He hated skeletons. 

"That's still Tempest's fault for trying to read through that book." Cassandra commented dryly with narrowed eyes. The responding giggle from the bay reminded her that she still didn't regret that decision.

"I see shinies!" Nautilya spoke eagerly as she carefully walked in, tense on her toes and ready to run if she needed to make space. She tossed her head in the direction of the Cleaver embedded into the creature's skull, a greatsword like she had never seen before. It was beautiful. It would be hers. 

"I don't think I sense any magic surrounding it." Tempest's voice was confident despite the wording, a whispered spell leaving her lips as the room lit up in a warm glowing purple light. 

"Then what are we waiting for?" Jasper asked, rushing forward with Cassandra at his side. "Let's try and get that thing out!"