How was this here?!

It had been days since the run in with the bandits, and the small group of adventurers had dove even further than before. They'd been nothing but confident as they'd meandered through the winding tunnels until... now. When they'd turned the corner and seen the grate, everyone had jerked to a halt, even Que and the other pets had immediately stopped and gone dreadfully still. 

Solace's ears pinned back. "How did we get here? This isn't the same hallway as before? Is it?" 

Hawkes blinked, swallowing hard before examining the area. "It looks different. And we definitely are in a different location in the dungeon." They paused, their voice echoing off into the distance with a soft uncertainty that came back a shout. "I think we'll be okay if we just push past this and keep going. I don't think the same thing could happen here. There's no way! There was just that one weird lich down in the dungeon, there can't be more than one. That'd be weird!"

Euele stared at them, eyes briefly flicking down to Acherna. The tiny little drake reached up, bumping her forehead against Euele's muzzle. "We can't be sure." She spoke softly, her words falling like flower petals made of frost. "The dungeon works in mysterious ways. If it wanted us to face the skull-thing again, then... so be it, I suppose. We're well-equipped this time." She nodded towards the cleaver strapped to Hawkes' side. "That was in the skull of something far larger than what we've faced when we've run into an area like this. It will work fine for this." 

Leiken took a breath. "If this isn't going to be the same, I don't think we should worry. I think we're building ourselves up for failure if we keep talking like this." He squared his stance and lifted his head. "I will try to push the grate out of the way, Hawkes, if you would stay nearby?" When Hawkes nodded, Leiken stepped forwards, planting their armoured shoulder against the grate.

Solace's head jerked with a start as the skull-thing slowly appeared through the dark, the darkened skull with one shattered eye socket stared back at them as it opened its crooked jaws. "Oh no." The words left xir through unbidden, the smoky rasp sounding strangely fearful as Solace stared at it.

"Letttt meee come withhh you? I coulddd help?" It croaked out at them, Leiken staring with horror as the strange teeth snapped shut on their shoulder the second Solace had spoke. 

"Hawkes! Go!" Euele's stern voice broke them free from the horror. Hawkes stepped forwards, swinging their cleaver and watching blankly as it cleaved straight through the bone and dropped the skull onto the floor with a clatter. All four of them stared at the broken pieces on the ground as the body thudded to the floor nearby.

"Is that it?" Leiken's voice broke the sudden silence.

No one answered, they were far, far too busy staring at the broken skull on the ground at their hooves.