The howl of the Gyre Sphynx echoed in Sable’s ears as the being leaped forward at him. He could feel as the outstretched claws rip open his left shoulder, clawing down his chest.

Behind him, the other coursers in the party let out wails of pain simultaneously as wounds, exact the same as Sable’s, slash open on their own bodies.

A whimper leaves Fird as the sphynx slides back across the floor in a defensive crouch.

“You fools,” it hisses in surprise. “Why have you come here?”

Sable bulls forward, even as his blood stream seems to be turned carbonated, bubbles popping throughout their body and their legs barely able to keep them upright.

Magna loses its’ fight with the strange sensation and collapses to the floor, water pouring from its’ mouth.

“We were simply exploring; we had no fight with you!” Sable spits at the being that was now holding up an arm to its’ own left shoulder.

“You are of the bay though? MY bay?!” The sphynx spits with increasing ire.

Sable was now definitely mishearing, or misunderstanding. Darkness encroached from the edges of his vision as he was forced to take a knee due to the increasing vertigo.

Fird to the other side also fell to the floor, water the same as Magna spilling from their mouth.

Limestone, the only of the party still fully upright, though not for long if the way they were swaying was any indication, took a shaky step forward.

“Please, we don’t know who you are, or why you are so interested in us, but please let us go…”

The being’s eyes almost seemed to soften, as far as Sable could tell.

“I could not release you even with all my strength, but you shall not die here. In fact, you are not in any danger from me. I must apologize for the stress I am placing upon you though; I did not recognize you for my disorientation.”

The being bowed it’s head briefly.

“If you could stop struggling for a bit, I shall see you home unharmed.”

Well, it wasn’t like Sable could refuse, if anything they were pretty sure that they hadn’t been fully cognizant for the last few seconds anyway.

The water that began to flow from their mouth as they flopped onto the cobblestones was some of the cleanest and sweetest they had ever tasted.

---

Sable jerked awake on the bed he shared with Fird, the other courser swinging their head up at the same time, causing both of them to get a very abrupt headache.

“OW!”

Fird ducked down, cradling his head in a hoof. Lightning, who apparently had been on his back honked softly.

“Huh?” Sable twisted around to see Trout 2 also perched on his body. Which was odd, since he had left Trout 2 outside of the chamber…

The sphynx!

Sable attempted to jump up but instead got tangled in his blankets and ate dirt off of the bed.

Trout 2 and Lightning gave their odd little bird laughs at his scrambling to get up.

“Oh! Sable! You’re awake!” Limestone came in from the kitchen. “And Fird too! Good! Magna is still sleeping last we checked.” They grinned. “Don’t worry, we removed any sharp objects from its’ sleeping area.”

“Uh. We?” Fird looked up questioningly.

“Uh-huh.” Limestone nodded. “Looks like the sphynx we awoke uh, created our little cove? It’s a bit confusing but I guess we have a patron now.” The large courser shrugged, entirely unconcerned.

“I guess if it healed us, then we just gotta… accept it?” Fird squinted at Sable.

“Just as long as it doesn’t bite us in the tails.” Sable said without much hope.