One moment Castalla hovered at the edge of the sarcophagus, one hoof reaching out tentatively, and the next she was ensnared. The viscous liquid surged up, faster than a heartbeat, lashing out to seize her in its grip.

It was cold, so cold, snaking up her leg and curling around her neck, forcing its way down her throat and into her mouth. She gasped, choking and stumbling back, thrashing with sudden and untamed panic. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she kicked out wildly, trying and trying to pull away. But it was too strong and as it stole her breath and invaded her body, suffocating her, she felt darkness press in.

Her vision blurred, the world tilting and dimming around her. The last thing she heard, before darkness claimed her, was Karlach's voice, distant and muffled, yelling her name.

The warm air, gentle and soothing, cradled her slowly awake with the familiar scents of earth and grass. The canvas of her tent, wavering lazily in the breeze, swam into focus as her senses gradually returned. Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps and her head felt heavy, as though the dark liquid still clung to her. But the cracked and crumbling walls of the dungeon were gone, as was the eerie, suffocating silence.

She was lying on soft ground, the morning sun's golden hues peeking through the gap in the flap of her tent and the sound of bird song carrying in the air. Gratefully, desperately, she inhaled deep, relishing the cool, fresh air. The soft sound of canvas rustling betrayed Karlach's entrance as her broad frame filled the tent opening, her eyes brimming with concern. Relief visibly washed over her as she saw Castalla awake, though a flicker of anxiety remained.

"Cast," she breathed, voice rough with exhaustion and emotion. "You're awake."

Castalla blinked, her mind still foggy. "How long?" Her voice was hoarse, barely more than a low whisper as she tried to sit up, finding her body heavy and unresponsive.

"A day, maybe two."

Castalla cursed under her breath, clamping down on the groan that rolled from her throat. Her foolishness had cost the team any further chance of treasure and she'd lost nearly two days in the process. "What...happened?"

Karlach moved closer, settling next to Castalla with a tenderness that warmed the fallen queen's heart just a little. "We thought we'd lost you," she murmured, her voice soft but edged with the weight of all that had transpired. "That...thing, in the dungeon, it attacked you. It tried to... get inside you." Disgust had her low voice rising a little higher as her face contorted slightly at the memory. "You were out cold. Wouldn't wake up."

Castalla couldn't suppress the involuntary shudder that wracked her body and she lowered her gaze, guilt prickling at her heart for the obvious worry she'd caused her partner. "How did I get here?"

"We had to drag you out. Aislinn was losing it, and Wolf almost got sucked in trying to pull you out. They were great though. Helped me get you to the surface."

Eyes drooping shut, Castalla's mind pieced together the disjointed fragment. She could hear the worry in Karlach's voice. For all her strength, the thought of losing Castalla had shaken the fiery mare.

"I'm ok," Castalla murmured, leaning into Karlach's touch and letting it soothe the lingering worry. "Thank you."

A shaky breath shattered through Karlach's throat, her tough bravado faltering for a moment. "You scared the hell out of me, Cast. Don't ever do that again."

"You're stuck with me for a little while longer," she whispered, muzzle pressed gently against Karlach's. "If we go, we go together, remember?"

Karlach let out a soft huff, that familiar spark of life returning. "Damn straight."

Noticing the exhaustion etched beneath Karlach's eyes, Castalla smiled softly, adoringly. "You should get some rest too."

"I'm fine. You know me, can't let a bit of lost sleep slow me down."

Castalla snorted and pressed closer to Karlach's side, enjoying the rare peace and quiet and the chance to just be with Karlach, no peril or dark dungeon looming.