The moon outside was cold and unfeeling, despite the warm glow that bathed over the fields. Earlier in the evening, I’d felt off and despite needing to do a few more things for the field, I had taken a break. Outis, ever-attentive, had come out to the field to seek me when I didn’t return home. He’s always so kind. Once the pair had gotten to their shared home, the moon had begun to rise. Outis had called it a “harvest moon,” mentioning its significance in the current season. Those strange seeds I’d seen him bartering with… what was he up to? 

We entered our home together, and I felt a rush of relief take me again as I stepped through. I had thought I was simply tired, but this… “What’s so special about this ‘Harvest Moon’?” I asked, stopping to sway on my feet, considering whether to lay down or stand to sleep. 

Outis, initially looking distracted, watched me sway on my feet and came closer to steady me with his own body. “The Harvester, that being which haunts the fields with a pumpkin for its body - he appears at this time. The veil between life and death is thin, and the ghosts of courser past seem to appear in droves. They’re… restless,” he replied.  

Disturbed, I stayed silent for a moment. I’d always been more inclined to stay inside at this time, but hearing that there could be a reason wasn’t particularly comforting. That moon had felt draining, the relief… no. Magic existed, but I stayed far away from that stuff. I knew it wasn’t for me. The dungeons were for other coursers to explore - I didn’t need to go down there. I… “Do you see them? When you’re down there…”

Outis seemed uncertain if he should answer, but seemed to make a decision before stating “...Yes. Sometimes. I try not to get too close. I know it would worry you.”
“I know you’ll be safe, Outis. You’re the most careful man I know… and that’s why I trust you to venture down there. Just… don’t get possessed. I like you as you are.”

He was silent a little too long before he tried to make a noise of amusement. I know he never believes me, but I try anyways. I nuzzled my nose into his soft mane, letting it comfort me.

“You need rest, Amos.” His eyes were soft and caring, but I could see the concern behind them. I smiled gently and nodded, but left my head pressed to his mane for a little longer. After a moment, I turned and looked for the hay bed. Once I’d located it, I began to move unsteadily towards it. Outis kept step with me, supporting my weary body as I settled in. I laid down hard, but felt better after hitting the bedding. Outis stepped over me for a moment to draw the curtains closed, hiding the moon from me. Despite how much I wanted to deny the feeling of relief from the moon being hidden, it was there. It was draining.

Outis stepped back to the other side of me, pausing to offer another nuzzle. “Get some rest, dear.”
“Come with me,” I pleaded, but he just expelled a hot breath from his nose.

“I need to watch the fields for a while. I don’t trust those who would take advantage of your absence from the fields this evening.” I paused at this, thinking for a moment how it’d be lonely without him. He seemed to sense this. “I’ll just be at the door, dear. I won’t be far. I’ll keep you safe.”
I relaxed the muscles I didn’t realize were tense. I nodded, and he moved to take up position by the door. He glanced back at me once as I laid my head down, then his dark eyes looked again at the world outside. The faint red glow illuminated his eyes, but I didn’t watch long before the exhaustion took me. 

I was in the dungeons again - those cursed tunnels. I still don’t know why I dream of them, though I never want to go down there. But, most nights, I was there anyway. I always knew it was a dream, though. I even told my companions so, every night - but they were here again. No… Outis was here. I didn’t know the other two coursers. One was a greying madder, whose coat looked much like the Harvest Moon outside. The other… I didn’t feel right around. She had a pale coat, with a red streak in her mane. Something about her was shifty - her eyes were piercing blue and she seemed to watch us all intensely. Outis didn’t seem to notice, but… I knew there was something wrong. 

“Morgause,” Otis began, addressing the harvest moon courser, “Did you get those coins?” 

Morgause nodded, reaching into a side pack and pulling out a bundle of goods. “Shall we split them up here or wait until we get out of here?”

“Let’s do it later, I want to keep going.” the pale courser shook her mane, a tone like she didn’t care whether we lived or died. “Farmer boy can go first, which direction?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but Outis stepped closer to the courser. “Shani, I’ve warned you before, I’ll leave you here if you can’t play nice.”

There was a moment of silence between them, Shani’s piercing gaze not even close to breaking the dead stoicism in Outis’. Finally, Shani rolled her eyes. “Fine, you go first then. Since your boyfriend keeps getting lost.”
“My name’s Amos,” I interjected, unsure if I’d been introduced in this dream or not. “And I’m not as experienced as you guys… I don’t want to go first.”
Outis shook his mane and turned to Morgause, who sat looking very awkward as if they weren’t sure if the tension would ever break. Outis’ tone softened as he began to converse with them about the way forward. Shani looked annoyed and impatient, shaking their mane again. 

“Do you ever dream of the dungeons?” I asked, trying to be friendly.

“No. You already asked me that.” she looked even more disinterested than before, so I didn’t press any further. Instead, I turned to see Morgause packing back up. 

“We’re going this way,” they said, and began to lead the way. Outis followed, so I did too. Shani pushed her way ahead of me, and I let her. I’m not sure why Outis had kept her around. Dream logic, I guessed? Though - these were always so real. But if she wanted to go first, I had no reason to stop her. So she pressed forwards, and I stumbled after them. I cursed my hooves for being clumsy down here - Why was it so hard to walk in a place that was flat and not covered in dust like my fields?

The doorway ahead loomed, and the party crept into the room rather slowly. Well, slowly except for me. I tripped over a loose stone in the door frame and nearly fell face first into Shani, but caught myself. 

In time to hear the hiss. 

My companions all looked around in alarm, but I spotted it immediately. Green gas seeped up from vents in the floor, probably triggered by my own clumsy hooves. My companions began coughing, but I was frozen. I didn’t feel it yet, maybe I could find the exit - there!
“That way!” I yelled out and began to move. Outis looked up and started to take a step when I suddenly felt the gas hit my lungs. Pain seared through them, my eyes beginning to water. The feeling I’d had before falling asleep hit my body full force, as well, and I felt weary. I pushed forward, determined to reach the doorframe. A dark plume of tail exited the door frame before Shani hit my side again, stumbling blindly. I tried to call out to her, but my lungs only let me cough. I moved again towards the door frame, where I could hear Outis. I can die here, this is just a dream, but Outis… he can’t. I don’t care if it’s a dream I’m not letting him die before - my vision began to go dark as I got close, but I tried to drag my limbs further. Shani’s hooves clattered behind mine as I got through the door frame, but my vision was gone - I couldn’t call out to him, see him, smell him. I shook as I tried to keep to my feet, but my hooves again hit something on the floor. A leg, I think - and I went down. 

Wheezing, I tried to hold onto consciousness and figure out who I’d bumped into, but my eyes slid closed without me and the dream began to slip away. 

I felt teeth latch onto my mane and begin to pull me further into the room, and despite the pain I didn't fight them. 

Consciousness faded and I returned to the darkness between dreams, not knowing if we’d made it out alive or not.