Corven shook the creature off of him, raising himself to his heels to strike at them. The shadows beneath him lunged forward, shadowy teeth snapping at the creature who cowered when faced with both. The feeling of something growling deep within the cavern lingered in the air before the creature was pulled backwards, its screams echoing down the halls. 

"What just happened?" Quill asked nervously, staring at the bars where the thing had just been. Behind them he could hear the sound of something large moving as he fumbled with the bars again.

"Doesn't matter. We can't stay here. It's dangerous." Corven barked as he grabbed his cleaver and used it to pry the old lock off, listening to the door creak as he lifted it just enough for the coursers to slip under. 

Mismatched eyes focused on Elrim for a moment, watching as he stood looking behind them, eyes focused on the husk that was rousing from its sleep. 

"Elrim." The word was barked, an order that a soldier should follow. It was obvious in the way that Elrim straightened that he heard it too. Whatever memories it brought, Corven didn't give him time to wallow in it. Their past wasn't one they needed to revisit at the moment. "Move." There had been a time where he had been following his orders, a corrupted crown upon Elrim's brow. 

Elrim's steps were phantom quiet as he turned as if compelled. The sound of the husk groaning further down the hall curdled his blood, he wouldn't stall for long. He pressed his back against the bars, letting Corven slip through behind him. The bars fell with a loud clang. If anything in their immediate area was unaware of their presence before this, they weren't now. 

"This way," Emmery's words floated as he pressed himself against a door. "I found a library."

"W-" Emmery had already stepped inside, the words dying on Corven's lips. Corven surged forward with thundering hooves as they knocked into the door; Quill raced at his side, Walter clinging to his harness as he bounced along his back. The library was a dangerous place. They'd been here before and walked away but the chance of them making it out as easily now wasn't as good. 

Magic pulsed through the air. The tomes awakened from their cursed slumber. Filling the air with blood soaked pages. Whatever magic had brought this to life wasn't about to let it go without a fight. 

Emmery found themselves surrounded. Unknown words flowing from the books like a haunting melody; their chorus was a scream. The echoes of many voices swirled around them as they froze, startled eyes looking around at the thirteen books flowing around him. Alone. He'd entered this alone. Panic welled into his chest as he stepped back, hooves tripping over the broken cobblestone of the floor. 

He barely had time to catch himself before movement rushed around him. Corven was there, cleaver drawn. Quill rushing to his side, a cleaver held between his teeth. Above them, Walter screeched, shrill honk drowning out the pounding of his heart as he flew at books to knock them down; not a single thought of himself. 

Something pulsed in the room as Elrim walked in, eyes hardened and focused. 

Emmery wasn't alone. 

If he noticed the shadow rushing into the room, he thought it a trick of his eyes. No more than a simple flicker of light until one of the books was pulled into the shadows. Whatever was here was dangerous, but if it was on their side, he'd take it. 

"Never enter a room alone, please. We're all in this together," Quill encouraged softly, bumping against Emmery gently to get him back to his feet. As he stood up, shaking off the injury as much as he could, Quill nodded. "Now let's show these books what they're up against!"