It’d gotten easier, the descent into the dungeon that lay nearby their humble encampment, and Denver found that he quite enjoyed the damp green walls and mysterious surprises within the labyrinthian ruins of strange creatures long since passed. He’d camped out overnight in the underground this time by himself, told Cally as much before he’d gone. She gave him that look that told him she’d find his ghost and kick it to dust if he dared die in the depths, and he laughed, before reaching out a hoof to fix her tousled mane.

It was fine though, really, the courser hadn’t encountered anything too wild this time through aside from a booby trap or two, maybe some creature slithering in the shadows around a bend he decided would be better not to risk. One hallway gave him a strange sense of *foreboding*, like some ominous dark force lingered there, unseen. It dissipated once he’d crossed to the other end though, breath held in suspense. Now the halls were quiet, the gentle clip-clop of his heavy hooves on stone and packed earth like slow castanets paired with a soft hum thrumming in his throat were the only ambience to be had.

Up ahead the narrow passage slowly ebbed to large cavern, a sliver of light cutting through the center from a jagged edged gash in the rocky ceiling spanning the length. It was pleasantly warm inside, little flying insects floating through the sunbeams and resting on soft mosses that adorned the natural space. At the farthest end, high above the ground, sat a narrow ledge, and through it a dark passage. There was nothing else, *nowhere* else to go, only mosses and stones and little bugs.

Denver had half a mind to stop a while, soak up the sun and snack on the dried apples Bert had insisted they bring with them- not that they’d argued against it. The provisions, while few, were delicately delicious. He wished for the fine cheese he’d finished a week prior, the last he’d managed to keep from the city before they’d left. But- presently, he’d only just gotten started again from his restful night, belly as full as it needed to be and energy replenished despite the perpetual sleepy droop to their long-lashed eyes. It wasn’t time to stop just yet, not without good cause anyway, or maybe someone to share a fine meal with. (If only)

They pressed forward, curious to see if there might be some contraption or other in the walls or… or something! These places were full of twists and surprises, and they weren’t one to turn their nose too quickly if it might mean the potential of a lavish life from riches well earned. When he’d stepped to the center of the uneven stones however, a slow and mighty rumbling echoed through the space, crescendoing and crashing in his ears, the ground shaking underneath the large bay.

”Oh shit-!” he exclaimed, legs spreading to brace himself when suddenly he realized there were large gaps in the lush carpeted floor, that the very floor itself was actually… a gathering of granite golems asleep in their nest. They only moved enough to turn their pebble-like heads his direction, strange hollow eyes somehow conveying a curiosity. Not a true monster then, just a…living rock? Whatever it was, it looked sentient. Or, he hoped, anyway. 

“‘Scuse me big fellas~” Denver crooned, catching his footing to toss his hair charmingly out of his eyes after a polite bow, hoof placed to his chest. “Didn’t mean to barge in so rudely while you were.. Asleep?” He laughed, a deep and woody sound that reverberated off the stones.

There was a long and awkward pause (could stones speak?) and so he took a nervous step, still balanced precariously. “I don’t suppose you know the way through to that ledge do you?” He tossed his head toward it, and waited. Fuck this was weird.

Another awkward pause, but then- “Wwe hhaven’t hhad gguests iin aages” the golem rumbled back like gravel in a tumbler, or stones in your pocket. Denver wasn’t sure exactly how it was forming words; it didn’t have any mouth that he could see anyway, but who was he to judge really. He was just glad it didn’t seem upset, or that it could talk at all! Battle and strategy were not the courser’s strong suit… but communication, now that he could handle. A little sweet talk never hurt anybody- as evidenced by the softening of the very rocks themselves.

“Tthat wway lleads ssomewhere ddark, ssomewhere fforbidden. Wwe ccan llift yyou, llittle kknightless, bbut yyou wwould nnot ccome bback tthrough.” The stones around them clacked together in agreement, more of the giants awakening from their eerily still slumber. Their native tongue was unfamiliar, rocks against rocks and nothing more.

Denver furrowed his brows, a little like a kid being told ‘no’, but considered the painfully slow words anyway. Was it worth the risk? He’d come so far, slipped through the cracks easy enough… how bad could it be? What did a bunch of pebbles know anyway!

“If it’s alright with you darling, I’ll find out for myself.” He wasn’t brave, no, but he hadn’t yet managed to pocket a single thing worth of value aside from the singular stem of an herb Elouise had asked him to look out for. “You’re kind though, to warn me. I can stay a while, if you don’t mind the company.” At this, the rocks shifted, as if looking at each other, clacking again in that strange not-words way they all seemed to understand. The poor things… without a single good tale for who knows how long!

“Nnobody stays…” The golem relayed, and in its strange cadence he could hear its loneliness. He didn’t like to think himself particularly soft hearted, but, well, he could spare a moment or two.

“Hold on-” Denver rummaged in the modestly crafted pouch slung over his middle, pulling the carefully packaged dried fruits from their hiding place. “How do you feel about apples?”