Upon making that first step outside the lush green caves that he'd found quite lovely and relatively peaceful, he is instantly bombarded by the sweltering heat he had been steadily being affected by. Sweat forms on his skin and wants to foam up and escape, but even then the heat is melting it away as quickly as it can collect.

There was little need for the wisp, now. Lava boiled and popped as the cave opened up to a scorched earth. It felt reminiscent of what adventurers described volcanoes to be, those that didn't dungeon dive and instead explored the world. However, there was a noticeable lack of familiar pests like bugs hanging around. Perhaps, for the first time, signs of danger lingered just out of his periphery.

Petrichor takes a moment to gather himself as he surveys the brand-new area of contention. Boiling hot lava poured from crevices up above, but luckily they were far away enough to be of no concern to the leopard courser. Creatures seemingly made from the sediment rose up and sprinted to and fro in wild bursts before popping and melting back into the lake of magma. Glowing eyes off in the distance tempted him closer, daring him to be foolish enough to approach.

It was an entirely different world only a few steps away from the very flammable plant life. Riot flickers with faux flame beside him and he looks over at it. It is strangely serene and at home still even with the worsening conditions. It needed not to light his path any longer, but still, it followed as he steels himself and begins to journey deeper.

If not for his hooves, he is sure he'd be burning alive on the volcanic rock. The heat was impossibly getting worse, too. He couldn't imagine anything deeper could even exist after this world of burning rock, but surely there had to be. She hadn't appeared yet, and if she was somewhere in here, he'd definitely know by now. Riot, at least, would've given a sign as well.

Petrichor hadn't really prepared for a hellish biome, but as an herbalist, he'd be lying if he said he hadn't brought something hydrating. It couldn't fix his thirst long or his constant sweating, but it was better than nothing. Digging into his bags as he walks, he occasionally snacks on various fruit he either has gotten from the surface or foraged in the livelier caverns.

It does some good for him, but he was hoping to move quickly through this portion of the dungeon to avoid having to eat all his rations clean.

It left a lot to be thought about as he walked.

Just what was that mare doing down here, anyway? It didn't seem like a place to call home, and yet, she disappeared somewhere in the labyrinth and sent a wisp to guide him to her. Has it always been a ghost he talked to? Did the real her look different than the projection that constantly showed up at his door? And that one nagging question he just couldn't shake...why him? Just what was she looking for and what made her choose him?

Petrichor supposes that his inclination to the dungeon didn't exactly make him a difficult target to have follow after her, but there had to be something more to it. If it really was just any old adventurer, all the guilds would be decimated to ash at this point, lost in the maze down here. He'd see somebody. Instead, all he got was a sense of isolation. It was familiar. It was fine.

'You are getting closer...come.' She whispers over the popping noises. 'Follow me?'

Of course, he will. He was too deep now to turn around...well, he probably would have to turn around eventually. Staring down at his bags, he can only eat one last apple before the more hydrating fruits are depleted. He was nothing but resourceful. There had to be something to forage for these creatures to survive here. He'd find a way through. He didn't have any other choice.

Riot seemed to agree, but it didn't linger. Sensing his discomfort in the heat, the wisp stays on track and starts to lead. Petrichor can only hope nothing hostile spots him before he can make it out.