• You stumble upon a fellow adventurer who is hopelessly lost on this level of the dungeon. Will you help them?
  *Can* you help them?

Rolynd couldn't have been more thrilled to be able to delve into the second level with the help of Logue, and he was impressed with himself for being able to save the coin for a contract. There was still so many new things to discover and study, but his  morbid curiosity got the best of him and he had to see what the earthen furnace had to offer.

Being paired up with Logue was even more exciting. Rolynd heard that Logue's passion for discovery equally matched his own which made him even more enthusiastic for this adventure.

The two stallions hit it off pretty well. Jabbering on about their own individual discoveries and their previous lifes as surface dwellers. Every once in a while the team would step aside and exchange research with eachother Bright eyes and wide smiles were shared amonst the two and it seemed that time was forgotten as the adventurers conversed happily.

"I think were losing the task at hand here."

The brindle stallion said with a chuckle. With a slight flush of the cheeks and an anxious grin, Rolynd responded.

"Right! My apologies! Let's continue forward!"

The two fought against their fascinations with eachothers discoveries, and traversed their way through to the end of the flora filled caverns.

The heat almost instantly hit the stallions faces as they transitioned into the magma  filled chambers. Rolynd knew that Logue had been to this sanction before, but this was all new to the appaloosa. He took the sights in, his eyes scanning the horizons trying to take in as much information as he could. He followed Logue deeper into the furnace, listening to all of the findings the brindle stallion had to share.

Both trains of thought were brought to a halt when they heard a sad whimpering echo through the hot caverns. The adventurers exchanged glances before instantly understanding eachother and quickly making their way to the sorrowful noises. It definitely sounded like a courser in trouble, the clacking of hooves against the earth followed by anxious sobs almost confirmed it for them.

As the sounds grew louder, Logue and Rolynd quickened their paces, and then they finally came across the source of the sorrow: a champagne mare with her hoof stuck in a chunk of the hot cracked earth. She was breathing heavily and moving quite frankly, definitely scared and not sure how to get out.

"Hey its okay. Shhhh we are going to get you out don't worry."

Rolynd said in a soft, hushed tone. He didn't want to scare her any more than she already was, and he definitely didn't want her to get hurt. While Logue tried to unwedge her hoof, Rolynd let the mare lean on him as he tried his best to soothe her. He learned that her name was Emony. She explained that she was trying to get back to the surface, but got horribly lost and ended up in the furnace where she didn't belong. Not only that but the crumbling earth below her had shifted which spooked her, causing her foot to get wedged in the rocky ground.

"There we go!"

Logue exclaimed as he successfully freed the mares hoof. Emony sniffed as she tried to clear her sorrows from her face.

"T-thank you..."

The mare let out a plethora of thanks and gratitude with a few apologies mixed in.

"I promise its okay! We can help you get back!"

Logue and Rolynd assisted Emony in her return to the surface, making sure to avoid any cracks in the cavern floor, and keeping the champagne mare safe. After successfully returning Emony to her rightful place, the stallions exchanged mischievous glances.

"Race to the furnace?"

Logue suggested.

And without another word the two boys laughed their way back to the furnace to make more discoveries together, and share their spoils.