Cassian kept moving along the stone tunnel. Their hooves made a steady clip clop that echoed off the walls. It was the first time Cassian had decided to travel down into the underbelly of the decrepit kingdom she called home. Many of her friends were dungeoneers and would boast about the loot and other treasures they acquired in their trips. Not one to be left out, Cassian chose to finally see what all the fuss was about. 

Their ears flicked back and forth, picking up on all the skittering things in the shadows. They noticed that some of the rocks in the walls and floors were slick with moisture. In her peripheral vision, she could see a yellowy substance creeping in through the cracks. Cassian wondered if that was the fungal growth her friends were talking about. 

After a few minutes of walking, the tunnel opened up into a sort of chamber. Light flooded in from a hole in the ceiling. As their eyes adjusted to this sudden brightness, another Courser came into view. At least, that’s what she thought it was. Cassian stepped into the chamber proper to get a better look. 

“Hello?” The blue roan greeted cautiously. She hadn’t expected to find someone else down here with her. Her ears were pinned forward, waiting to catch any sound that came out of the stranger’s mouth. The Courser only stood there. 

Upon closer inspection, the Courser wasn’t a Courser at all! It was an amalgamation of fungal growth that mimicked the appearance of one. Cassian moved a leg to stomp at the thing, attempting to scare it off. Instead, the fungus copied their movement; a soft thud sounded dully. How curious. 

Cassian wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed. Could she trick it? Out maneuver it, perhaps? Would it hurt her? They put their head down, lost in thought. Maybe if they moved quickly enough, the creature would be caught off guard and let them go. She wasn’t sure it was going to work, but there was only one way to find out. 

The blue roan made a swaying motion. She stepped left, then right. The creature followed suit. Cassian changed direction swiftly and bolted forward. The fungus was unable to match their speed and Cassian slipped past. 

They kept cantering away from the mysterious beast, neck arched back to see if it was following them. The fungus had turned around as if to glare at her, but otherwise stayed put. Cass let out a victorious neigh and kept on with her adventuring.