“I hate dogs!” Merlin gasped, skidding around a tight corner and narrowly avoiding slamming into the wall as he lept into a gallop. 

Behind him, demonic barking boomed. He had heard of the Earthen Furnace being inhabited by Hellhounds, but never thought he would encounter them. 

“Lovell, duck!” The Courser shouted as his armored owl soared towards an outcropping of molten rock, diving just before impact. He hooted his appreciation, eyes narrowed against the heat. 

As all good stories began, Merlin had been harvesting fire fern and utterly minding his own business when the cacophonous baying of hounds had sent him and his owl fleeing. 

The hounds were skeletal, lit from within by a glow that resembled the lava strewn throughout the caverns, tall, lanky, and armed with gnashing brutal jaws. Their teeth were easily the length of Merlin’s hooves, and gave off the same light. They foamed, dripping what seemed like gallons of drool from slavering mouths. Oh, how Merlin preferred birds.

Sweat dripped into the Courser’s eyes as he pounded through the narrow chambers. He had ventured deep to find the ferns, accidentally dooming himself to playing the role of a sitting duck in the hardest to escape stretch of caves the Earthen Furnace had to offer. Naturally. 

“That damn alchemist better pay well.” Merlin groaned as he ducked into a shallow alcove and pressed against the wall, eyes closed tightly against the searing pain of the rock on his skin. The clattering of claws on stone became louder and louder, and he held his breath. Go by, go by, go by. Merlin was far from religious, but willing to pray to whoever necessary if they were willing to force these hounds to turn a blind eye.

The pack passed, snuffling and grunting to one another, and trotted down a far passage. Merlin heaved a sigh of relief as he departed, stepping carefully and quickly. He did not want to tempt the fates any further.