"I think... I think we lost them," Echo whispered to the others.
The group had stopped in a small, open room with three entrances. Echo stood at the one they came from, listening as the wails from the monsters began to recede into a faint ringing in the tunnels.
"Thank Luna, I don't know if I could stand to look at them any longer," Gloomie glowered, collapsing to the floor, belly up. She let out a loud breath, thankful to have been saved.
Night Watch walked up to her, grinning. "I want to ravage you."
"Okay," Echo cut in immediately. "So, Gloomie, which way did you come?"
After shooting Night Watch an incredulous glare, Gloomie pulled herself off of the ground and pointed to one of the tunnels.
"There." She let out a sigh and her voice dropped low. "I... was alone for so long, and have been scraping by ever since we began."
Suddenly, Speck pulled up the white-maned bat pony in a tight hug. "You're okay, now!" she beamed, suffocating her.
Mosina came up beside them, adjusting her spectacles. "I would use this time to update my map, but... we should move, if we want to be a whole team as soon as possible."
The rest nodded at her just as Speck released her death grip on Gloomie.
"Speck should take the lead," Echo suggested, glancing to the purple shield. "That Keel Regalia saved our hides, back there."
Her face lighting up, Speck hopped towards the opening of the tunnel Gloomie hadn't pointed to. "Okay! Let's go!" she exclaimed as the others fell behind her.
With a deep breath, she led them into the tunnel, her light crystal guiding her way. The sounds of clinking armour and shuffling hooves populated the air for several minutes while they walked.
Night Watch, who was walking right behind Speck, spoke up. "Do you guys think we'll pass?"
The whole group seemed to pause their breathing for a moment, caught off guard from the question. Mosina took a deep breath.
"Why the question, Night Watch?" she asked from the back of the group.
"I dunno. This just seems too... something else," Night Watch put out.
Furrowing her brows, Mosina responded, "Jasmine told me that her group took under a week to complete the Trials."
"Lieutenant Jasmine? Wasn't she in Captain Midnight Blossom's group?" Gloomie asked from ahead of Mosina, looking back at her.
Echo visibly winced at the name.
"Yeah. Though, she was incredibly cryptic about it," Mosina articulated, her eyes looking up in thought as she recalled her memories. "She wouldn't say anything else, though."
"I heard their group was one of the best in awhile," Gloomie added.
"Oh yeah? From whom?" Night Watch asked, casting a glance past Echo at her.
"I heard a few guards talking about it. Supposedly, they knew someone in that group."
Mosina hummed, catching the rest of their attention. "I heard they change the Trials every year or so. So, even if they were allowed to tell us anything, it wouldn't really benefit recruits." She paused for a moment, digging into her memories. "Jasmine did say that their... 'final boss' was tough. She heavily implied that it was nearly impossible."
"I bet it was a dragon," Gloomie muttered.
"Hey, I'd be pretty damn proud of myself if we achieved something like that," Night Watch added in.
"I'm not surprised," Echo muttered. Curiously, Gloomie, Night Watch and Mosina stared at her. "I mean... Midnight is one of the best. Jasmine, too."
"Yeah... and it took them a under a week? How long do you think we've been here, so far?" Night Watch asked.
Mosina furrowed her brows, thinking. "I'm not sure, time could be diluted here. But I would wager that we've only been here for a day, probably closer to two."
"Quit moping, guys!" Speck suddenly piped up from the front, having been silent through their talk. "We're already five out of six... right?"
"You never know. It could be a long time before we find him," Mosina added, grimly.
Speck grunted. "Yeah, well... I believe we can do it faster than Midnight Blossom's group!"
Echo looked at her, incredulously. "They were reportedly the quickest to do the Trials in over a hundred years."
"Why can't you guys be optimistic, for once?" Speck asked, frowning.
"Yeah!" Night Watch agreed, grinning while Mosina and Echo rolled their eyes. She looked to Gloomie, whose eyes darted back and forth, confusedly. "Besides, we have our own devil to match Midnight, here."
"M-me? Why me?" Gloomie stuttered.
"'Cause you're damn good with those claws," Night Watch responded as Gloomie sighed. "And you get in trouble all the time."
"H-hey! You get me caught, most of the time!"
"Not including that time you had to run with a weight on your back around the castle."
The rest of the group snickered, the tension lifting from the group.
After calming down from her giggles, Echo spoke up. "Speck's right. We're almost a complete party now. We... might have a chance."
Her eyes gleamed, some sort of pressure seeming to have been lifted from her.
Night Watch nodded to her, solemnly. "You're doing great so far"
"I... thanks," Echo stuttered, blushing. "You guys are all great—gah!"
She was cut off as a turquoise mane filled her vision, Speck having slowed down to nuzzle her.
"Aw!" Night Watch exclaimed, leaping up to them and throwing her forelimbs around them. "Group hug!"
"Yay!" Gloomie cheered, joining in with Mosina, who was giggling.