This level of the dungeon is always a trail, filled with things to layer on her anxiety. At least she has Capo-- with him, Lucia is never alone. Never alone in the dark, or in this case, the strange red atmosphere that seems to tinge everything. Soaking deep into their skin (chitin?) and shading everything with its hellish light. It wouldn't be so bad, if not for the heat. That's where it really gets hard to focus, making the girl feel foggy and less <I>sharp</i> to the task at hand. Then again, there's the anxiety... that's always a good kick in the pants. Keeps her head on a swivel, and all.

What looks like a loose stone in the cobble beneath her hooves turns out to be something more. Lucia's heart pounding in her chest as the vents in the floor trigger. Of course it's a trap, how could she be so stupid? It seemed she'd set a puzzle into motion, and there was no crossing the room without solving it. A blast of flame near her hind leg, almost close enough to singe her tail, reminds her that there's no going back either. Pulse racing, there's only forward. The only way out is through.

Keeping her tail and ears both tucked tight, she makes herself as small as possible. Don't look now, but she's holding her breath. Watching the intermittent bursts of flame as they roar to life, she's quick to look for a pattern. Hold to it, watching them as she continues moving. One off, one on. Like playing frogger with exactly one life, Lucia carefully makes her way through it. There would be no trembling, there would be no balking. Only confidence would get her to the other side. One foot in front of the next, waiting for the flames to flicker on and off again.

Covered in a sheen of sweat, and just barely, the girl makes it to the other side. Only the tip of her tail melted by the trap, it would be a stark reminder that she could never let her anxiety control her, at least until it grew out. Never a dull moment, right?