Banjo let out a heavy sigh as the four Coursers were able to get around that large hairless creature. Glad that the entire team made it safely around without waking it up.
“Everyone doing good?” The stallion asked as he looked at the three females.
Banshee nodded her head, “Fine and dandy.”
A small shuffle Banjo’s mane was felt, knowing his companion, Batty, was unharmed. The goose, General, was unharmed as well.
Now it was time to continue on. Banjo took lead this time, making sure he was remaining cautious to where he was stepping. He wanted to be sure they were safely walking, not wanting to trigger traps.


The General let out a soft coo as they all passed the mole rat. Cupcake flattened her ears as the goose by her hooves made the noise, praying the monster behind them wouldn't wake from it's slumber. Cupcake nodded at Banjo's question, her mouth firmly closed in worry of waking the mole rat behind them.
"Good," Brioche responded, her voice light as she glanced behind them. She took after Banjo's cautious steps, ushering Cupcake to follow her hoof steps and to keep a careful eye on General.
The chestnut bent to give the goose a bop, in hops it would urge him to stay quiet, but quite the oppsite happened. As she tapped him with her muzzle, he let out a loud honk that practically echoed off the walls of the dungeon. Cupcake and Brioche came to full stops, eyes wide.
Brioche flattened her ears, as just in front of them, she could see the shadow of what seemed to be yet another mole rat.
"Cuppp," she growled out, glaring a bit at the younger. Cupcake, for her part, looked apologetic for the noise.


Banjo looked forward to see another hairless creature, a large naked mole rat, blocking their path once again. Before he could say something, The General let out a honk. Both Banjo and Banshee let out a groan in response, seeing a slight shift in movement from the creature.
“Please close that goose’s beak before it’s too late,” Banshee whispered at Cupcake.
In Banjo’s mane, a few loud squeaks were heard. His eyes widened as he shifted in his spot, “Batty, shh, shh,” He tried to shush his bat companion, who was reacting to the loud honk. He then looked to see the hairless creature in front of them moved but heard shuffling behind them.
Banshee heard the same thing, glanced behind them, and said, “Oh no…”


"I tried," Cupcake whispered back sharply, a bit annoyed that she was being scolded for events already unfolding before them. Brioche paused in their walk, noticing that they were in between two giant mole rats.
"There's two of them," she said, looking around to see if there was anywhere they could take refuge or escape to avoid an encounter with both of the monsters at the same time. A frustrated growl escaped the spotted mare. They were running into so much trouble and they had only scratched the surface of their campaign. She took a breath in and shook out her mane as she thought.
"What if we make a bunch of noise and wake them both up, and just, outrun them?" Brioche suggested. She figured that the other three wouldn't be on board with it, because it would put them into more potential danger. Cupcake looked at Brioche, wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Wake. Them. UP?!" She asked, keeping her voice low as she scolded Brioche softly. "I do apologize, my lady, but that's BATSHIT insane."


Banshee whipped her head towards Brioche’s direction, “Have you lost your mind?” She had to try to not raise her voice.
Banjo quickly scanned the area. He tried to possibly come up with a counter argument to find a safer route. But, he could see nothing but the blocked paths. He let out a sigh, “She might be onto something. It looks like it’s the only option.”
“Banjo? You too?” Banshee questioned. Surprised that the stallion who is known to be cautious, was agreeing with this plan. Her silver eyes forward when she noticed the large beast move around more, making rumbling and grumbling noises, “Oh gods…. I can’t believe that I’ll be agreeing to this.”


Brioche fixed a glare at Cupcake for a moment, before looking to Banjo and Banshee.
"Look around Banshee," she inquired. "Where else do you suggest we go? We have been set on a singular path, and we must walk it. It's blocked by sleeping monsters. Do you have another suggestion?"
The spotted mare fixed Banshee with a pointed look. The walls around them were smooth and carved with moss trailing on the surfaces.
"We have nowhere to go, but forward or out, Banshee," Brioche pointed out once more. Cupcake flicked an ear, understanding the reasoning behind it all. A sharp sigh escaped the pangare mare, and she flicked her tail. She dropped her head and nudged The General forward, who let out a soft coo as she did.
"Do your thing, General," Cupcake ordered, using her muzzle to gesture toward the beast in front of them. The speckled goose understood what his assignment was. Before any of the other three could argue with Cupcake's decision, The General took off flapping his wings wildly, and let out the loudest honk yet on their journey.
"Ready to run?" Cupcake asked the other three, already moving to follow the goose.


Banshee and Banjo watch Cupcake push The General forward. Cringing slightly at the loudest honk the goose had let out. Hearing the sound reverberate off the walls. Feeling the sound ring in their ears.
After a quick second to collect their hearing. Banjo pushed Banshee, “Let’s start moving!”
Banshee moved her legs forward and followed behind Cupcake.
From his mane, loud squeaks came out as Batty flew out. Flying towards the direction of Cupcake.
The black coated stallion stood still as he watched the ether mare go in front of him.
He looked to Brioche, “Please, go in front, I’ll take the rear.”
He looked past the mare and saw the previous creature shift and slowly get up. Letting out a squeal and chop its teeth together. Its head looks in their direction. Lifting its legs and heading towards them.
Banjo’s ears snapped back and he moved behind Brioche, and nudged her forwards, “Go, go, go!”
His eyes looked forwards after hearing more sounds of another creature waking up. The hairless creature wakes up, letting out a grumble and hissing noise. Banshee yelled out, “Hurry! Run!”


Brioche pinned her ears against the reverb of The General's honk, swishing her tail in the discomfort of the noise. She glanced behind them to see the one they had passed earlier getting up. She sucked in a breath, praying that they would stay safe in this attempt to pass by the monsters.
"I'm going!" She said, snapping a bit as Banjo pushed her to get moving. Internally though, she was grateful for the push to get started, having been momentarily lost in her own thoughts.
Long strides easily caught her up to Cupcake. She gave the younger a slight nudge to let her pass. Cupcake moves silently, more focused on the path and mole rat that looked before them. Brioche took now off just how serious Cupcake was about the current situation. The chocolate palomino gave a nod to her guard and picked up her own pace to lead the way.
As she ran, she continued scanning the walls and their current path, to make sure she didn't miss a potential escape to lead everyone down.


Banjo ran behind as everyone got in front of him, taking up the rear as he said. Seeing Batty slow down and match his speed to keep up with him. The stallion caught up to be behind Banshee, making sure she was able to keep up and not fall behind. The loud sounds of the creatures getting up and heading in their direction.
Banshee narrowed her eyes as they kept moving, looking past the two mares in front of her, “Hate to be a party pooper, but I think the path is narrowing.” Her silver eyes scanned the space, seeing the walls almost feel like they are closing in faster then she anticipated.
“Might be a good thing!” Banjo called behind her, “If we can fit in a line just snuggly, it means that the creatures might be able to not follow us due to their size.”


Brioche glanced back at Banshee at the mention of the walls narrowing. She smiled widly and picked up her pace even further.
"That's good for us!" She called back. "If I can make it through, we all will!"
The General flapped his wings and plopped himself down onto Cupcake's back, honking as everyone ran through the narrowing path.
"General, hush," Cupcake said, keeping close to Brioche. The goose did settle down, but was still cooing and honking softly.
Brioche had to duck her head down as they got further in, so she couldn't look back to check on the others as she went down the path. When the path opened up more, she almost stumbled at the sudden lack of pressure around her sides.
She sat down, breathing heavily as she tried to wrap her head around what had happened. A squeak and a squeal made her look behind her as Cupcake came into the opening, stumbling and falling down.
Brioche chuckled lightly at the display of Cupcake stumbling out of the passage and The General flying up, clearly disgruntled as he landed on a moss covered rock. Cupcake picked herself, grumbling and cursing under her breath.
"Are you okay, love?" Brioche asked, trying to scan over Cupcake for any injuries. Feeling satisfied that her knight in training was alright, she looked back to the passage to make sure Banjo and Banshee were on their way out as well.


Feeling the walls begin to close tighter around as they run from the hairless creatures. Banshee was in front while Banjo was right behind her. The walls squeezed and they could barely run anymore but at least the sounds of the giant mole rats stopped as they could no longer fit the tunnels. They stuck out a clawed paw and swiped at the tunnel while making a screeching sound. Being last, Banjo looked behind him, watching as the creatures attempted to push in.
Banshee kept moving forward, until she felt her hind quarters get stuck, “What the-?” The feeling of Banjo bump into her rear end. Batty flapped around them, squawking at them as Banshee tried to wiggle free.
"You’re kidding me?” Banjo grit his teeth, whipping his head forwards again. Using his head to push the ether female forward. Getting her to wiggle back and forth slowly as she walked. Finally when the tunnel opened up a bit more. The two of them stumble forward while trying to catch their breaths.
 “I swear.... if there are any more of those stupid mole rats. I'd rather eat my own leg before going forward.” Banshee muttered, shaking her mane a bit.
Banjo caught his breath, “And I hope your rear end doesn’t get us stuck again.”
“Hey!” Banshee glared, “You’re just jealous.”