Finally calmed down after the nerves of being too close to that pitcher plant, Dog shuffled to his feet and Hare followed, eyeing the receding shape of the plant.

"How long have you been in the dungeons?" Dog asked, trying to get his mind off of the monstrosity they'd just left behind.

"As long as I can remember, honestly," Hare replied with a raised hoof. "My herd lived right by an entrance so we'd go in as far as we dared as colts and fillies." He looked a little sad, but there was a gleam of bittersweet happiness in his green eyes.

Nostalgia.

Dog felt a pang in his chest.

Hare went on, happy enough to keep the conversation going. "When we got old enough and started feeling the urge, we'd get sent down to prove ourselves. The longer you stayed down, the braver and stronger you'd be." Dog noticed a little smirk on the bay's face.

"How long were you down for?"

The smirk faded and Hare took on a pensive expression.

"Two months. When I surfaced, my herd was gone." His eyes went to somewhere in the middle distance. "We hadn't moved as long as I'd been alive."

Ouch.

Dog frowned, shaking his head sadly. 

Suddenly, a frantic bobbing caught their attention. The blue light of Pup, his wisp, was flashing about them in a distinctly anxious way.

"What's wrong, Pup?" Dog asked the thing, only to be answered by a startled cry from Hare.

When he turned to look, the other stallion was bucking, trying to shake off a black shape that was glued to his back. Dog watched in amazement for a long moment before he whinneyed and strode forward.

"Mind getting this thing off?!" Hare gasped, chomping at the thing but not reaching it. "It's scratching me!"

"Yeah, hold still," Dog replied, flicking his ear at Pup, who wiggled close to it and let out a strange high pitched noise.

He gripped the shadowy thing and pulled, jerking his head back in a fast motion and tossing it away and into the dark.

Pup started to go after it but was called back with a huff from its master.

Turning from the shadows, Dog leaned in to inspect the reddish fur. It was hard to see, but it looked mostly fine.

"Good to go on?" Dog asked, and Hare sniffed at the air, eyeing the spot the shape had vanished in.

"Yes. Now. Before it comes back."

Dog chuckled.

"Yeah. Agreed."