“Ah don’t like the look of this.”

The large, woad Courser hummed as her and her party peered into the round chamber. It was huge, with an equally large exit across from them. Kolga glanced down as the smallest of them walked ahead, staring down at the sand beneath them.

Daere drew his hoof in a back-and-forth motion, digging into the sand. “Hmph… I wouldn’t call this soil.” Kolga tired her head to the side, a small, amused smile forming on her mouth. “No wonder there’s no foliage… there’s nary a sign of silt or clay here.”

“I don’t mean to offend, but why are you checking the soil quality of this…” Supernova paused as he looked towards the empty stands. “Arena?” He asked with a gentle smile–though it didn’t seem to appease the bay pearl Courser, just furrowing his brows and looking forward.

“Just curious as to how so much sand, if not naturally occurring, could’ve been brought here in the first place.” Daere responded, avoiding eye contact with the brightly colored superstar.

Finally, another horse would step forward into the arena with a sigh,”I imagine that this is another trap…” She hummed thoughtfully,”But there’s no other way forward, we’ll have to brave whatever comes.”

With that said, Kolga pressed forward, but before Supernova Brightshine could lift a hoof, a harsh, cold wind rushed over the party, pushing him forward into the arena and knocking him over.

The weld Courser looked up with a concerned expression, he could see Kolga lowering her head as a prop to help him up, while Pancake shouted something, looking up towards the stands.

Nova realized that he could not hear what Pancake had shouted. He opened his mouth to say ‘Is everyone alright?’ but nothing came of it, he pinned his ears back, deciding that his only choice was to follow Pancake’s gaze to whatever she had seen.

The once empty stand had become filled with shadows, flickering in the dim light of the large auditorium. Conversing with one another, one could assume.

Frightened, Daere gritted his teeth, backing into Pancake’s armor with a CLANK! He glanced from one side of the auditorium to another, widening his eyes as they spotted something truly horrid.

The ghostly silhouette of another Courser stood in front of the exit, it reared back, before rapidly circling around the shocked party. In the corner of his eye, Daere noticed the shadows in the stands becoming more active. Cheering for the spirit, maybe?

Daere flinched back as the ghost rushed straight towards him. Suddenly, he was shoved to the side by the bay Courser he had bumped into, Pancake. Holding a knife by its handle (was that a kitchen knife?) he thrusted it forward to the ghostly apparition.

The tattered spirit shifted backwards. If it had eyes, it would be staring right at the cornered party. Kolga and Supernova straightened their postures, turning to the spirit. This would be a fight!