Black beauty returned home after another unsuccessful venture. The cryptic words of the horned beast still haunting the back of his mind. there wasn’t much he could do unfortunately, as he was no skilled adventurer. His home was just a humble hovel, neighbored by another more proper home. One that had belonged to his friend, Ginger. She was very hotheaded, and everything always had to be just so! It was no wonder her house looked miles better despite them both being of similar status. Though now it was slowly falling into disrepair, despite Beauty’s best efforts. He can only live in one home at a time, afterall. 

The stallion carefully sorted through his gains- mostly tubers and plant cultivars. Carefully setting up small plots for them to grow in, a soft smile on his face. He’d heard these particular roots were quite valuable, but Beauty personally was more enamored with the plant that grew from them. It had reddish purple leaves, unlike anything he’s ever seen- with pale stripes and a delicate blue flower. He thought they were uniquely beautiful, in a way that only something of that dreaded dungeon could be. Beauty hoped to perhaps cultivate new varieties, wondering if the leaves could perhaps come in other colors if bred correctly.

After carefully tending to his many plants, he walked out to the other home. With Ivy beginning to crawl up the sides, and weeds invading once diligently tended to flower beds. Sighing, Beauty began the hours long task of weeding and pulling down the crawling ivy. Luckily most of what was growing being good for cooking and food. He gave pause though, seen one peculiar plant; a wild ginger. Beauty’s heart immediately began to ache for his lost friend, laying in the dirt next to the weed. 

“I miss you so much, perhaps you know this? And you grew here to comfort me? Perhaps not.. it is a silly thought.” The stallion snorted, but made no moves to rid the garden of the weed. Simply sitting there while staring towards the sky. The blue sky he wished his friends were with him to see. Merrylegs would most definitely be nipping at him while insisting they think of brighter things, of all the good they have. Ginger would probably be complaining about her employers while telling Beauty to get someone to improve his home. 

But now, neither of them are here. Both having gone into the dungeon, one after the other. Leaving Beauty alone with his thoughts and longings. The horse slowly rose up to his feet, leaving the ginger plant to grow and thrive while taking the ivy and other weeds back towards his own home. Eating them for a delicious and well earned supper, trying to ignore the overwhelming loneliness and sadness that chewed at the back of his thoughts. Beauty was never skilled at gaining friendships, at least long lasting ones. Ginger and Merrylegs being the only ones he could recall as a permanent fixture in his life until recently. He couldn’t keep coming back here, especially if he wanted to find them.

“I must go in deeper, I cannot afford to keep dawdling like a hapless newborn foal. Every day I don’t find them is another day closer to never finding them. Yes, that settles it, I will go in for a week this time, instead of a measly two days. I know the way out well by now, I must have confidence in myself- and them, that they are alive.” Beauty snorted, spinning in a circle on his sleeping spot before laying down. Resolving to stay inside that dark place, that dungeon, for longer. Until he found at least a sign of where they might both be.