Richard had never really thought about going furhter down into the dungeons. Somehow, she'd never noticed the red-lit doorways, hot breath drying the moss that tried to grow near the entrance. Her parents spoke of the dungeons as they were a singular thing, and she had never needed to put the idea together that it was more than one level. Maybe that was why she couldn't find proof of her parents, not that she ever wanted to, not that sshe had any desire to hear them say "You've done it, and I'm proud of you, and your life has so much meaning."

She (really, truly, promise) never wanted to see them again. She was fine on her own, here, alone, without a friend in the world. It had been weeks since she'd last seen her sister, since she'd gone back to their (her?) home above the dungeon. She'd seen the sun, once or twice, but she hadn't felt it in so long. And she didn't miss it! Of course not! It made sense that she'd run to a place she'd never visited before, just to not talk to someone! That was normal behavior.

Speaking of others, she suddenly heard steps on the mossless ground. Now, just what, exactly, would she eat here? The question was simultaneously terrifying... and impossibly exciting. She'd seen little but rocks and heat, and heat doesn't easily fill the belly. But back to the other steps (oh, wait - maybe that was dinner?) - they were coming,heading in the direction of away from here, but Richard was standing in the only path she knew of to get away from here, she would have to - get to - see them. MAYBE eat them, but they sounded big and strand and she simply didn't know what it could be.

Oh, well then. It was another another Courser, a little taller than the bay girl (but definitely not as strong. Right? Right? And if it was a competition, no one would be forcing Richard to win - they wouldn't even be expecting her to compete, because that would break the spirits of everyone else! Yes, yes, that sounded right. Haha, ha.

Heh.

The glittered Courser smiled, and surely it was only Richard's imagination that it was a little awkward. "You're standing in the middle of the walkway," she said, blunt. "Are you coming in, or going out?"

"Oh! Uh, in, in. I'm here to-"

"Yes, yes," Phoebe (though Richard wouldn't get her name today) interrupted, "You're here for adventure, or to find something, or to prove something. That's fine; we all want something. But I'm going home, so I need you to move."

Richard stepped to the side, her hoof heating up perhaps a little too much. "I suppose... get back safely? There's been some slimes that tas- I mean, that act underfed."

The other nodded brusquely before they went their separate ways.