You step in something with a sinister texture that wriggles unpleasantly under your hoof. You try to shake it off, but six sticky appendages sucker onto you. Gack!! How do you free your foot from this creature’s grasp?

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After Hillcrest’s hoof was freed and saved from being prepared as a late-night snack for the mysterious dungeon creature lurking in the cobblestone flooring, the two siblings continued their journey through the caves.

At first, thankfully, everything was normal – but if the debris of the Ruined Kingdom seemed normal, it wasn’t a good sign. And that was a lesson Hillcrest and Cithis got reminded of during their previous… slimy incident.

“The slime was so cute, though!” Cithis chattered happily, moving forward through the corridors, following the piebald companion. “Aaah, if it only wasn’t occupied with such an important job of guarding that cave and saving Courser who stumble into the trap… I’d have taken it home already!” the grullo sighed dreamily, shaking her head in disappointment. Sure, it would make a terrible mess in the siblings’ living space, and would probably tangle itself into their manes during their slumber, making them waste time in the morning on additionally washing their manes… But it was so, so, so cute! And it wasn’t a surprise that cute Coursers (like Cithis, especially!) attracted such cute creatures… Aww, maybe one day Hillcrest will agree to a dog. Or a cat. Or a hawk! She’d look so badass with a one, her mind conjuring up imaginations about other Coursers gazing at her with jealousy and admiration for establishing a bond with such a fearsome predator…

Has she said that cute Coursers attracted cute creatures?

Well, this one wasn’t cute at all.

At first, Cithis’ hooves stomped against the cobblestone like normal, the sound resonating against the cold walls of the cave. The floor was cold, hard and harsh, but so absurdly normal, so why… why did the ground suddenly feel very, very weird?

Cithis looked down and screamed.

“What the fuck!? Get it off of me!” the grullo squealed, dropping her lantern, and tried to free her foot from the creature’s grasp, absolutely disgusted by the texture and feeling of the sticky appendages against her skin. She’s been in the dungeon since she was a foal, but she has never, ever seen or felt something as disgusting as this!

Hillcrest, who managed to walk a bit farther, immediately turned their head to look behind and sighed. They reminded her so many times to be careful and watch where she was stepping… well, maybe they didn’t give her the best example when they got stuck in a trap themselves. Walk behind her – bad idea, she’ll step into something suspicious before they could see it. Walk in front of her – also a bad idea, she’ll somehow get herself trapped in something you didn’t even notice while walking ahead of her. On the Ruined Kingdom, they’re going to have a grey mane at this rate.

But it wasn’t the time for lecturing.

“Stay still.” Hillcrest hummed and started circling Cithis, hazel eyes focused on the weird creature. Was it sentient? Or just mechanically grasped onto anything that walked this way?

“Stop looking like I’m an exhibition and help me!” Cithis whined like a foal, and Hillcrest only light heartedly rolled their eyes. It seemed like the creature won’t eat their sister, for now, at least. Carefully, they touched the creature wrapped around Cithis’ leg, trying to pry it off this way, but it didn’t budge, still lovingly hugging the grullo’s foot.

The piebald turned to look around their cave after they were done inspecting their sister’s predicament, but sadly – no helpful little slime was around. They also doubted that a slime would work against six sticky appendages… Hillcrest huffed in annoyance; they’ll have to carry around an axe next time, or at least a sword. As much as they didn’t want to hurt the dungeon creatures, for the dungeon was its home, their sister’s life was more important.

Hillcrest leaned against the few vines and twigs growing on the side of the cave’s wall, thinking and thinking, subconsciously scratching their head against it.

Wait.

They quickly looked towards the lantern that Cithis dropped earlier, that was still burning, and the twigs on their side. Thinking quickly, Hillcrest grabbed one twig tightly with their teeth, tugged and ripped it off the wall. Then swiftly moved back to where Cithis was trapped and leaned down, opening the glass door of the lantern.

Carefully and slowly, they inserted the tip of the twig inside the lantern, waiting for it to lit up like a very crude, pocket version of a torch, and gently moved it away from the lantern, instead holding it close to where the creature was wrapped around the grullo’s leg.

Cithis only narrowed her eyes, but trusted her sibling’s abilities, so she stayed still – abilities had nothing to do with your “patient” accidentally moving throughout the “surgery”.

It didn’t take long for the creature to feel heat and it squirmed uncomfortably, still trying to hold onto the Courser’s leg. Hillcrest only held the small fire closer to it, and the appendages started to finally concede, slowly sliding down off of Cithis’ leg in a disgusting, squirmy and sticky manner. Gross.

As soon as the creature dissipated between the cracks of the cobblestone floor, Cithis let out a heavy, relieved sigh, her legs almost giving up under her.

“Oh my… What the hell… I thought I was a goner!” she breathed out, watching Hillcrest drop down the twig, putting out the fire under their hoof. “Thank the Ruined Kingdom that you were here with me today… I think I’d have to start biting through this weirdo if I was stuck here alone!” if she would be able to, she’d have dramatically placed her hoof over her head like a damsel in distress.

“You need to be more careful, I told you.” Hillcrest already, almost instinctively, started lecturing their younger sister, but as always, there was visible worry and care shining in their hazel eyes. They haven’t had a family for long, and they’d make sure that Cithis stayed safe no matter what… Hillcrest felt a sting in their heart at the mere thought of their sister getting hurt, even in the most mundane way. It was their duty as the older sibling, to make sure Cithis stayed happy, healthy and most importantly – safe.

To never again feel the scent of smoke and blood surrounding their loved ones.

“Oh, c’mon, you have that look in your eyes again!” Cithis grinned, tilting her head to the side cutely, like a puppy, playfully hitting Hillcrest with her tail. “See? I’m still in one piece! Now let’s go, treasure awaits!” she said, whistling happily as she continued her trot, and Hillcrest could only sigh in exasperation, catching up to their sister. Maybe if they’re going to walk side by side now, both of them will be able to avoid future traps and troubles.