Four coursers stood abreast of each other as they came to a crossroads of sort. One taller than the rest and lanky with a dark roan coat and flashy white adorning his legs and face. Settled on his back was a small chest, chittering softly. One slightly shorter than the roan but a dark blue with a crown of snakes, a smattering of silver than glinted wildly in the firelight along his back and one foreleg that had a what looked like a shadow serpent coiling up his leg. Near his head floated a tentacled eyeball who’s iris matched that of his master. One a vibrant red, that was minutely shorter than the blue, with white splashed over his forelegs and face and a build that showed he was built for speed even as his tassled tail twined about restlessly. Near him what looked to be a dead tree except that within two sunken holes red eyes glowed balefully. The last a soft dusted gold, smaller than the rest by a good bit, her soft green eyes moving between the lot as a small brown bat crawled along her mane, chattering at the other three in irritation.

“We should go left!” The red herald snapped, a white foreleg stomping as if it would make his decision more final. “And who’s the one who keeps needing to be rescued because of their decisions? We’re going right.” A cold dark blue eye turned on the red. Ritsu, the red, pouted sulkily, knowing he had no rebuttal. Seiichi, the roan, reached over to bump his cousin’s shoulder lightly and offered a smile. “It’s okay Ritsu, the dungeons are just dangerous. It’s not like you took us there purposefully.” Ritsu sighed heavily, reaching back to bump Ichi lightly with his own muzzle. “Yeah you’re right, but SOMEONE seems to think that he can do better!” He turned, his fire already returning as he leveled a stare at the blue courser. “Because I can do better.” The crowned woad, Kiru, stated bluntly. “Yeah yeah we’ll see about that! Bet you lead us into something else stupid too! And WHY do you keep sending ICU after me n’ Hess anyways?!” “I like my drama shows. You two are quite entertaining.” Ritsu’s white face flushed as he looked away, Seiichi and the soft dusty gold, Kiyomi, holding back giggles of amusement. Kiru opened his mouth for another retort however Kiyomi cleared her throat softly. “I think that’s enough picking on your cousin Kiyo.” Kiru grimaced at the nickname he didn’t like was used and he bowed his head. “Of course mother.” He stated simply before deciding to start walking down the path he’d chosen. There was a witchy cackle from Ritsu before Kiyomi’s head turned around, fixing him with those gentle green eyes. “Now Ritsu you don’t want to be a brat now do you?” She asked simply, the heraldic bowed his head. “Of course not Auntie.” He said, though internally his mind was going other places. Seiichi offered an apologetic glance at Ritsu before trotting to catch up with his elder brother. Kiyomi and Ritsu were quick to follow suit.

The four coursers and four pets traveled in relative silence, the worst offender being the creaking bark of Ritsu’s treant. All creature’s ears and eyes on the alert for anything that could be an issue however it was Seiichi’s head that popped up first. “Do you hear them?” He asked in a hushed whisper, moving ahead of Kiru. Ritsu side-eyeing Kiru as this was often what he had had to deal with, only having a golden snot that encouraged it. Kiru however missed the look, frowning softly. “Ichi don’t wander off.” Ichi paused, the frown mirroring his elder brother’s. “But Kiyo….I can hear them….just up ahead.” He said, the pout in his voice was almost too much for Ritsu, he never could resist it. Kiyomi however seemed puzzled. “Hear who Seichii?” She asked softly, Ichi’s attention turning to his mother. “Dunno who exactly….but beings like Shellhound….lost ones….” Kiyomi looked at Ritsu who shrugged. “He’s said it before, usually right before we get attacked by something obnoxiously large. Kiyomi’s brow furrowed as she glanced to Kiru who nodded. “Very well, on your guards from now on, we’ll check it out, carefully.” He said simply.

It was careful hoofsteps that the quartet entered the spacious room. Kiru in the lead, Ichi behind him with Kiyomi and Ritsu bringing up the rear. Kiru paused, frowning softly as ICU turned to look at Seiichi before zooming off around the room. “There’s nobody here Ichi…” Ichi frowned, moving ahead of Kiru, shaking his head. “No, you just can’t see them! Open your eye Kiru.” Ichi said, trotting further into the room, however the roan was quickly distracted by the play of torchlight on the patterned floor. His hooves starting to move in a bit of a dance with the firelight. Food, the mimic on his back, clinging to the straps of Seiichi’s gear to keep from getting bounced off. Kiyomi however chuckled softly at her son. “At least he’s enjoying himself. Shall we check out things?” She glanced at her bat curiously. “You getting anything sweety?” She murmured softly and the bat took off, exploring the room as ICU the floating eye did as well. Ritsu couldn’t help the snicker from Seiichi’s sass however his pelt started to crawl. This….seemed oddly familiar. 

He stepped cautiously into the room, trying to ignore Seiichi. His attention was drawn to the statues dotting the room and something felt off. Almost like the topiaries from before. He frowned, shaking his head. No no he was imagining things. He stared at them curiously though. Some of them had insignias that differed from those he’d seen in his brief foray into the Moors? He approached carefully, squinting at the statue of an elf. He was too absorbed he didn’t realize that Ichi’s dance had brought him closer. “He wants to know if you like deer too Ritsu.” Was the soft voice that nearly made Ritsu jump. “Wait wha?! ICHI DON’T DO THAT.” The other two looked over at the shout as Ichi’s head tilted softly. “The one in the statue, he wants to know if you like deer.” Ritsu stared blankly. What in the world? In the statue? He looked back at it. “I mean I guess they’re okay? Flighty things.” He shrugged before it dawned on him what exactly Ichi had said. “We need to get out of here. Ichi is saying a statue is talking to him, that’s what happened with some damn overgrown plants! I ain’t getting turned into stone!” He said, promptly turning to make a hasty escape but that’s when they all realized the doorway was gone.

Kiyomi and her bat were the first to see the new opening though, that was across the entire room. “Seems our only and best option is to keep moving boys. Let’s go.” The path they were forced to take now led them by a fountain with water that seemed….alive almost. Ritsu eyed it warily even as his cousins did, however Kiyomi seem almost entranced by it. She drifted a little closer. Suddenly the water sprayed upwards, coating them all with droplets, It then started slowly, but surely picked up speed until it was veritable vortex spinning in the fountain. Kiyomi found herself bracing herself as Ritsu and Kiru without even exchanging a glance lunged forward, each one sinking their teeth into Kiyomi’s gear, and bracing themselves as they tried to back up. Ritsu’s treant even helping, branches creaking as it moved. Seiichi however instead of helping was shouting at, well nothing that the others could see. “Stop! We’re not taking anything! Just trying to pass through! Let’s us be! Please!” “Ichi, kindly help get mother away from this FIRST.” Kiru all about snarled through gritted teeth. Ichi blinked and nodded, inking his teeth into Kiru’s gear to start pulling him back as well. The smaller of the pets however were talking shelter, wise enough to know they’d be no match for the pull of the enchanted water.