It hadn't been the worst day she'd spent in the Forge, not by a long shot. Though most of the rooms she'd found were empty, long picked over by other adventurers, at least she's down here instead of back home. The Company seemed... unsettled, lately. Everyone walking on eggshells, Mother's temper flaring. Lucia would blame it on the time of year, of course. Things always got worse when they neared the time Father had been taken from them. For once, she's not going to hold this one against her dam. They were all hurting. They're all missing him. The bitterness and pain would manifest itself in different ways, across all of Lucia's family members.

The girl isolates herself. Plodding through the dungeon alone, only Capo at her shoulder to keep her company. Maybe she'd hire Logue to take her down to the Moors again, where Father's presence was strongest. Was it sad, the only company she'd been able to convince to spend time with her was someone she paid? Maybe. There Lucia goes, dwelling on it again. So much dwelling, but at least she has the time. Winding through the sweatiest layer of the dungeon, she has nothing but time.

Not dwelling so hard that she's distracted from the inherent dangers around her. Was that... barking? Echoing off the stony walls, the rivers of lava doing nothing to absorb the sound. Still, it's distorted, bouncing against the hard surfaces. No, that has to be barking. Lucia is already beginning to worry, starting to panic, about it all. She's being hunted.

It's not long before they appear, glowing in the distance. Molten bones, burning so brightly that they shine through any thin skin they have left. Her pulse quickens, anxiety soaking through every inch of the mare. Ears pinning back, sweat drenching any dry coat she had left. Worry is clear on her face, and the hounds are coming closer. Too many to count, even as her pace quickens. Continuing through the dungeon as they get closer, the corridors deeply confusing despite her careful study.

By the time they're hot on her heels, Lucia is lost. Well and truly lost, and the only exit she knows is on the other side of the pack. Close enough to feel the heat they bring along with them, the horrible beasts were hot on her tail. Through the panic, Lucia grasps at an idea. A sense of clarity in the storm, but who knew if it would work. If they're just in search of an easy meal, then maybe they'd be interested in something even easier than taking on a fully grown Courser.

Maybe it's a last ditch effort, but it's better than nothing. Lucia takes some of the assorted monster parts stowed in her pack, the haunches of meat, the bones, and she hurls them. With as much strength as she can muster, they scatter. End over end, clattering to the ground before the hell hounds. Even if they're not interested in eating them, it's enough of a distraction. Without turning to see if they're still chasing, if they've stopped to have their meal, or anything in between... Lucia runs. Like she's never run before, a dead sprint, until she's back at the entrance.