Two steps into the largest cavern Seep had ever seen, he stopped. Something made him pause. A feeling, a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. A small shadow that did not quite fit. He looked up, squinting into the dim light of his lantern. Something black and shaking flashed in the corner of his right eye. Wincing at the sudden movement he steeled himself and looked up.

‘That’s a lot of bats.’ Seep almost said, but he bit down on his tongue. The ceiling above was alive with bats. Hundreds of them, hanging upside down, their wings folded close, their bodies still. A shiver ran down his spine. ‘They seem harmless. Small, with colorful patches of fur so they could be Painted Bats. The kind that fed on fruit and insects.’ It could be, but he never had good luck with other species here in the dungeon, but he wondered. There was no mistaking the unease that gnawed at Seep’s gut while he did. ‘And yet these bats could just as easily be Draculas, the kind that feasted on blood.’

The wind in the cave shifted, and so did the bats. It carried the scent of wet earth and something else closer. Enough for him to hesitate on continuing his path. Any sudden movement or loud noise could wake those bats. If they were Painted Bats he would be fine, those were indeed harmless, but if they were Draculas he was horribly-

A squawk, shuffling. Seep stood frozen for a moment, his breath shallow. Then he shook his head and swallowed hard, his mind racing through the possibilities. The tunnel was narrow, and the only way forward was directly beneath the bats. Slow, careful steps seemed like the best option here. But his hooves, no matter how softly they tread, would still make noise against the stone. The sound would echo, bouncing off the walls. And the lantern’s light could also be a problem, casting sharp, sudden shadows that might startle them awake.

‘Nope.’ He thought, and stepped back out of the cavern. It rankled, but two steps back were needed to hopefully cross it. The dungeon was full of hidden dangers, and he knew better than to let his guard down. So the guard lowered the light on his lantern and withdrew. ’Wish I was higher up in the dungeon again. The moss carpets muffled my steps.’ A new thought appeared in Seep’s mind, then. It was stupid but if it worked- it would not be. And no one had to know…

Feeling oddly ashamed, Seep finally tied the last bit of moss around his leg. Taking a few steps back and forth he shuddered at the odd padding below his hooves. Yet the clopping of keratin on stone was absent. Even the rustle of his armor was muffled with his steps. I don’t know what’s worse. That this plan can actually work or that I wish it does not.’

Seep sighed, and stepped into the cavern. Even with the moss he had to be careful, so he stepped as slowly as he could, legs raised high in deliberate, reaching steps. One, two, three. Nothing. He breathed in, out and took another step. And another. And then Seep had to stop before he bumped into the wall. All of a sudden he was there. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he had reached the end of the tunnel.

‘Huh.’ He thought, and stepped out into a wider chamber, the bats still hanging undisturbed behind him. The Courser allowed himself a small sigh of relief, his body sagging as the tension drained from him. ‘Carry this to your grave, Seep.’