Chant and Reverend timidly walked through the dungeon, the both of them more alert compared to their last adventure. Reverend's ears remained perked forward, mane out of his face as he looked ahead, only to slowly come to a stop alongside the other. He lowered his head, staring at the strange metal grate blocking them from continuing.

As Chant outstretched his neck, observing the grate. It seemed to be specifically placed here, yet didn't seem to weigh too much by looks alone, perhaps even weak enough to kick down. He turned his gaze back to the other stallion. "Doesn't look too heavy, should we move it?"

Reverend raised his head again, ears remaining alert. "I don't think we should touch it. Let's just go past, maybe find another way around." There were plenty other paths to take, they didn't need to risk another dangerous situation so early. As Reverend turned to leave, Chant soon followed. "I hate the smell of this place, it smells like death."

As if it were a cue, the two stallions were quickly met with a sudden sound of gallops. Running from the path ahead of them was a strange figure that resembled another courser, except they had a skinless head, nothing but the bones of the skull resting on their neck. It stuck its skull through the bars, voice full of desperation as it screamed with a whisper. "You! You're exploring this place, yes? Let me join you."

It wasn't much of a surprise to see the two stallions suddenly become tense at this strange being's words, especially when it offered to join their party. Reverend backed away from the bars, head turned to the side as he side-eyed the skull. "We don't need assistance."

Chant could feel his body grow ice cold when the skull turned to look at him. "Let me join you...please. I must, I need to!" It begged, voice unsettling. However when Chant shook his head, the skull's jaw gaped open and lunged through the bars, grabbing ahold of Chant's neck as it continued to beg through the courser's skin.

The smaller courser was quick to panic, digging his hooves into the ground in attempt to pull himself away. "What in the Hells?? Let go of me!" He screamed, bucking and kicking his head around desperately to try and break free. "Rev!"

The puck's eyes were wide as he watched the creature's teeth dig into the other's skin, holding onto him tightly. Maybe if he were feeling selfish he would just make a break for it and run past the both of them, claim the treasure for his own and maybe even venture deeper if he dared. However, going alone was not something that he found to be beneficial...and Chant did not leave him for dead when they were both fatally injured in the last campaign.

Reverend let out a small grunt and he hurried over, rearing his flank to the disfigured creature before preparing to kick at it. "Let him go, beast!" He yelled, but his kick did little to the monster. Instead of helping it only seemed to make the situation much worse, the monster's teeth dug deeper into Chant's flesh, causing the smaller stallion to shriek in pain and thrash his head about with much more desperation. "D-do something!"