For Amarantine, it was her first time entering a dungeon. As a novice in this field, she had accepted the quest for a low-level dungeon to start off well, even though she had a leadership temperament and might have, on a whim, attempted a higher level. However, to ensure safety, Amarantine didn't give in to her inner conflicts and insecurities. Moreover, the mare didn't know how far she would go, armed only with a simple oil lamp. She was also equipped with a fragile saddle, to which a large pouch was attached, where she could store any items she might find along the way. She had no weapon, which was fine, as this was an exploration dungeon. According to the quest, it was a relatively simple dungeon, free of monsters or dangerous creatures. Only exploration skills were necessary to avoid getting lost in its labyrinthine areas. Fortunately, the mare had an excellent memory. Would she be able to overcome the obstacles that the dungeon held for her, though?

The moment of truth had arrived. Amarantine stood in front of the entrance of a cave. According to the quest, she was in the right place. The mare gathered her courage and immediately lit her oil lamp. She moved forward slowly, placing one hoof in front of the other to give her eyes time to adjust to the darkness of the place. The inside of the tunnel was cold and damp. You could hear and see droplets trickling down the stalactites hanging from the ceiling. The droplets created a faint but persistent dripping sound as they fell to the ground. The scent of dampness was just starting to tickle Amarantine's nostrils. Uncomfortable, the mare shook herself vigorously. She blew air through her nostrils to chase away the annoying smell. The cave's corridors grew increasingly winding, causing the mare to begin losing her sense of direction. Attempting to turn back to explore another path, Amarantine realized she no longer knew where she was. Was this the previous junction or had she already passed it? She couldn't tell. 

As she carefully made her way through the dungeon's shadowy depths, Amarantine heard a desperate cry for help. Her choleric temperament was unable to hide the growing concern in her eyes. She spotted a silhouette, likely another adventurer, who seemed completely disoriented. Surprised by the encounter, Amarantine came to an abrupt stop. Then, she remained vigilant. Despite the dungeon’s apparent safety, she couldn’t be certain if this stranger was a brave adventurer seeking treasures or a thief ready to rob novices and inexperienced explorers of their loot. Was it a trap or did she need to help them? Fearing the worst, the mare took a few steps back. "Who are you?", she whinnied worriedly. "Over here...", pleaded the mysterious voice. Amarantine still hesitated but she was unwilling to turn back empty-hoofed. Furthermore, perhaps a fellow adventurer as lost as she was needed help... and might be able to assist her in finding her way.

Amarantine crept cautiously toward the voice. The air grew colder and the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive and heavy for the mare. She gave herself a vigorous shake while remaining on high alert. The shadow on the wall seemed motionless. Amarantine lowered her head and slowly turned to the left, ready to react if the stranger suddenly appeared. As she looked down the corridor in front of her, she saw the stranger. He was confined in what resembled a cell, as indicated by the iron-barred door. "Ah… Finally, someone… Please, help me get out of here…". The stranger pressed his head against the bars, gazing directly into the mare’s eyes. Amarantine realized that the horse in front of her was truly in need of assistance. "Who are you?", she asked again, her curiosity piqued. The stranger sighed. "I'm Almond. I was exploring this dungeon in search of treasure. I'm no expert, this is only my third dungeon. I came into this room and see that chest behind me? When I opened it and took its contents, this door closed behind me. I've been trapped and stuck here for hours."

"What was in the chest?"

"Just a key.", Almond answered, his ears drooping with despair.

"Doesn’t it open the door?", Amarantine asked, scratching the bars with her right hoof. Almond sighed and lowered his head, explaining to the mare that the key couldn’t open the heavy door. He hadn’t found any lock in the room where he had been accidentally trapped. Moreover, with all the time he had wasted here, his torch had finally burned out, leaving him alone in the darkness of the dungeon. Then, Amarantine sighed, her nerves gradually calming as the conversation went on. The mare realized she had nothing to fear from Almond. She thought for a moment and wondered how the door could have closed. The horse had explained that the door closed behind him when he opened the chest and took the key. Amarantine directed her oil lamp toward the chest and noticed a chain attached to it. "A trap!", the mare exclaimed. "The key must have activated a hidden mechanism in the chest, causing the door to close behind you.". She looked up at the chains hanging from the ceiling. One of these chains is probably holding the iron door in place. "I believe one of them might be able to free you!".

"How do you know that?", Almond asked.

"Look closely at the chest: there's a chain hidden at the back which suggests a concealed mechanism."

"But what about the key?"

"I don’t know yet but our priority is to get you out of here.", the mare concluded. Amarantine examined each of the chains to determine which one was connected to the chest. She asked Almond to keep an eye on the chest to see if the mechanism's chain responded to her actions. Almond tilted his head in confusion, unsure of the mare's intentions but he followed her instructions. Uncertain of what the chains might do, Amarantine carefully pulled on one of them using her mouth and the strength of her jaws. Almond soon grasped the mare's intent. "This chain isn’t responding!", he called out to guide her. Amarantine tested each chain one by one until she finally pulled the correct one. "Oh, that one! It moved!", the horse exclaimed. Almond stepped back and shook his head with excitement. Amarantine continued to pull on the chain and the heavy door began to inch open. The faint clanking of the mechanism could be heard in action.

"Almond, look! There's a gap! Help me push the door open!". Almond quickly grabbed the remnants of his torch and inserted them into the small opening, using them as a lever to help the mare. The two horses pulled with all their strength. They pulled so hard that the door finally opened with a crash. Amarantine nearly ended up with her nose on the ground, while Almond was thrown backward, almost falling as his hooves became entangled. The horse stood up and exclaimed, "I'm free!". Amarantine let out a relieved sigh. Almond pushed his head out of the cell quickly followed by the rest of his body. He started to prance around with joy. "Thankies so muchies!". Almond stopped himself abruptly, a question flashing through his mind. "What is your name, lovely stranger?". Annoyed by Almond’s choice of words, she replied "My name is Amarantine.". Almond lowered his head slightly and flicked his ears. "Nice to meet you, Amarantine!". He gave the key he had found to the mare and placed it in her adventurer's pouch to reassure her. "Now, let's find a way out.". Amarantine nodded and followed the horse at a trot.

Amarantine and Almond continued their search for an exit, chatting as they made their way through the dungeon. The mare remained vigilant. She kept an eye out for any potential traps. After walking for several minutes, they arrived at another corridor. "Look, Amarantine! There's a chest under that pile of planks!", Almond exclaimed. Indeed, there was a chest hidden behind the planks. "What if we tried the key on it?", Almond asked. Amarantine took the key that Almond had placed in the pouch of her saddle and inserted it into the lock of the chest. The two horses were astonished when the key worked. Click. The chest opened, showing two medals inside. A very fun find for the two adventurers. They decided to share the loot and keep going. As they walked, they talked about their adventure in the same dungeon where they had met. Almond was surprised to learn it was the mare’s first dungeon. She didn’t seem like a novice, especially since she had managed to free him on her own. Furthermore, she was better equipped than he was, with a saddle, for her loot, and an oil lamp that proved far superior to his torch which had quickly burned out.

The two companions moved forward with hope. Finally, tunnel after tunnel, they found the dungeon’s exit. "This is where I came in!", Almond exclaimed. They were both temporarily blinded when the horse opened the door. The daylight brightened the scenery outside and the clean and fresh air was a welcome relief after the dungeon's dampness. Overflowing with thanks, Almond thanked Amarantine once more. "I'm not sure how to express my gratitude. I'd still be stuck in there without your help!". Amarantine gave a nervous response. "We accomplished it together. That’s what matters.". The sun was warming their coats as they came out of the dungeon to join the outside. The grass looked inviting and the nearby river appeared refreshing. The two horses decided to take a break to rest, relax and regain their strength.