Author's Note

Ive decided I will continue writing the story I don't have much free time so updates will be slow but ill try to make it not too long between updates.

If you see any mistake please let me know thanks.

Spelunking

Chapter 2

After a brief talk with the smartly dressed Gryphon, who the band later learned was the acting mayor of the village, they set off for the cave where the mayor's son had gone missing.

He had gone off to prospect a nearby cave for minerals such as iron, copper and tin.

Mined minerals, such as these were what most settlements in the badlands profited from because, as far as Bowic could tell, the place was packed with the stuff.

Any metals you could think of are in the badlands and an in an
abundance, which is what had initially caused the migration from all the different kingdoms.

So many veins of gold and gems were found that many people believed it could even eclipse Equestrian's natural resource monopoly since it had all barely been prospected.

With that in mind, the equestrians had tried their damnedest to find a way to access the badlands, but as of now, they hadn't been able to establish much of a foothold as they lacked a land border with the area and the Gryphon kingdom and the forest deer weren't exactly keen on letting them in.

The only way they had gotten through till now had been through Klugetown but it was such a small land mass, even for one of the bigger towns in the badlands, that the majority of Equestrias forces remained firmly on the border.

Equestria had a Stranglehold over Kludgetown though, as one of the first settlements in the badlands it was one of the largest, bowic had been there once and, suffice to say, it was a shit hole.

Apparently, according to the other members of his party, it uses to be much better (unsurprisingly Arlene was the only one who had disagreed and said it had always been a shit hole)

But when the Equestrians moved in offering their armies for protection for the town, which at the time was a remarkable prospect for the frontier town.

The only catch was that the numerous vendors had to accept bits as payment since the brave ponies who guarded the town wouldn't be able to pay for anything whilst there overwise.

This small agreement ended up being their undoing as Equestria flooded the town with guards and ponies and with so many potential customers the vendors were practically forced to accept bits or be left impoverished by the lack of sales.

And so, Kludgetown now entirely relied on bits to stay afloat and pay for their only protection as their original force (which was nothing more than a poorly regulated militia) was disbanded in the early days of the agreement.

Kludgetown now stood as a cautionary tale to the settlements of the badlands, one of what would happen to them if they allow the kingdoms around them to gain control of their lands, and as such any envoys from the kingdoms surrounding the badlands were often run out of any town they entered.

"I still don't know why we're going on this job?" Bowic snapped out of his internal musing as he heard Klein speak up "I mean we need to bring back a body to get paid, and if we can't find him or if there aren't enough to bring back were screwed, and out a days work"

Bowic didn't even look over his shoulder as he walked onward "You want to try farm work again then?" he spoke plainly.

Klein didn't respond and Bowc even heard a small "hrmp" from behind.

When they had first tried farming for a job Klein had been so spectacularly useless that it had become somewhat of a sore spot for the Gryphon and a point all the other members of the group had made a habit of repeatedly bringing up whenever they could.

Bowic would be lying if he said he never did too.

The Gryphon came from a life of luxury.

Bowic didn't need to travel with the Gryphon for long to realise that, once he had learned a bit about Gryphon culture and the world's culture, it had become clear that with minerals being so expensive outside Equestria and the badlands and with weapons of war being seemingly quite rare since many kingdoms only needed them for small groups of guards and militias, why was this gryphon walking around in partial plate armour and wielding a hand and a half sword.

That meant he had either stolen it or he has money.

At first, Bowic thought that Klein had stolen it but with Gryphons constantly acting strange around him, the mayor of the village not being the first, the truth had become far more clear to Bowic.

Klein had also seemingly sworn Hamlin to secrecy as whenever Bowic questioned him on it, he began profusely sweating and lying through his beak.

Not very well mind you but bowic couldn't get him to speak the truth.
So as it stood his past remained a mystery, just like every other member of the party, and it annoyed Bowic to no end.

If they wouldn't share their past they would never get along, let alone trust each other.

"I think this is it" Bowic was once again snapped from his thought as Kayjack pointed ahead of them to a small opening in the ground where the rocks jutted up and seemingly pushed against one another to tear open the ground beneath them.

Most of the badlands were dry and flat but a few paces had some rocky exteriors and it tended to be the place where most settlements were set up as it often meant they were rich in minerals.

"It doesn't look so abandoned to me?" Arlein said.

"No... it doesn't" Bowic agreed

The opening in the rocks had wooden supports on the outside and Bowic could clearly see more further in, stretching off into the darkness.

"oh, Grover don't tell me it's the diamond dogs again?" Klein said in anguish

Kayjack moved towards the supports and began to inspect them.

Bowic knew if there was one thing Kayjack had apart from a sly tongue it was keen eyes.

"It's not diamond dog" Kayjack finally said

"oh thank Grover," Klein said in relief

"It's old... too old, even the diamond dogs would have replaced it by now.

"And it looks the same on the others further down" Kayjack said peering into the shadowy abyss.

"Maybe bandits?" Hamlin spoke up only to be clipped on the head by Arlean

"Who in Tartarus are they going to rob out here?" she said nastily.

A moment of silence had fallen upon the group.

They knew there was only one other group out in the badlands that had the sophistication to set up a mine out in this desert and wouldn't have the inclination to let anyone know about it.

"Changelings?" Bowic finally spoke after a lengthy silence.

"Most likely," Arlene said in apprehension.

Another lengthy silence overtook the group, wherever there were changelings there were lots of them and more so than diamond dogs.

Most information about changelings was shrouded in secrecy, they were until recently a mystery until a fateful and failed invasion of Canterlot which had thrust them into the known world, most creatures acted with surprise but bowic didn't find a shapeshifting bug all that surprising given the world they lived in.

Not much had been seen of them since their latest attempt at taking over Equestria, they had almost, sort of, succeeded and had managed to replace the four princesses and the elements of harmony however, a group of poneys and a rogue changeling had ventured into a hive and had rescued them.

Or at least that is what the papers had said, Bowic didn't believe it, especially the part about a Chaos spirit helping them.

"We can't stand out here forever" Bowic finally said.

"if it changelings he's probably still alive" Hamlin said.

"how would you know," Klein said in curiosity.

"Well, they feed off emotion right, kinda hard to do that if your dead" Hamlin affirmed.

"Hm good thinking," Bowic said praising Hamlin.

Hamlin just smiled back giving a double thumbs up towards Bowic with his claws.

"And if he's alive we can't just leave him down there," Bowic said.

"We most definitely can," Arlene said in a huff.

"It's just some turkey," she said but was interrupted by a "Hey!" by Klein.

"before we come to blows over this" Bowic said interrupting the growing tension between the pony and Gryphon.

"I'll tell it this way then" Klein began, "We can go back to the village, tell the mayor we found nothing, not get paid because we didn't bring anything back and be out a days pay as well or we could go in, possibly kill some changelings and get paid double for finding him alive or we find him dead, get Bowic to drag back his corpse back, fight nothing and get paid anyway".

Klein finished his statement his trademark smirk that constantly plastered his face.

Bowic almost mistook this as Klien not wanting to leave the poor Gryphon behind to god knows what but Bowic knew the only reason he wanted to go in was to get back Arlene for the turkey comment, which was less insulting than being called chicken but still insulting which Bowic failed to understand.

"Thats three to two then," Bowic said

"And what makes you think that," Arlene said.

"Well," bowic began.

"I already said we should go in, Klein already agreed with me out of spite, Hamlin will agree with me because he always does and Kayjack will agree with you about not wanting to risk our lives for a random Grypohn".

most eyes then turned to Hamlin who shrunk slightly at everyone's gaze.

"I... don't think we should leave him there," he said shrinking back with every word.

"Then ist settled," Klein said and began moving towards the entrance.

"I'll have you know if I was asked, I would have agreed with you," Kayjack said as he walked past Bowic Towards the cave.

"is that so" Bowic responded.

"not about saving the Gryphon, I just want the Crows" he clarified, but still seemed to hesitate slightly before entering the cave.

Bowic and Hamlin then also began to follow behind as Arlene let out a huff of defeat and began reluctantly following.

"If we get separated down here, I'm leaving you all behind," she said as she entered behind them.

Many would be fooled into thinking the others trusted Bowic enough not to lead them to their deaths.

However, he knew better.

The reason the others willingly followed so easily was simply that they had been down on their luck, it was partly why everyone was so enamoured with the job board back in the village and why the pay for this particular job had them willingly going into the unknown and to their possible demise.

100 crows were a lot of money, that was 20 coins to each of them, enough to get weapons and armour repaired, rest in the good beds at the inn, something small for themselves whatever that may be and a good few days pissed at the pub.

Crows had a slight divot running along the middle which meant they could be bent and snapped if needed, so many things only cost half a crow.

And it stood they had about three crows to their names, enough for a small meal each, so they didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

They could take jobs from places like Klugetown, but they paid in bits due to the domination Equestria had the place under and bits were not accepted by any rational trade-creature in the badlands.

That and equestrians were annoying.

As the group made their way further down the cave the light began to dim and seeing ahead was becoming harder so the party had each taken out lamps that dangled from their packs and had lit them for a small amount of light, this had only clued them into the state of the mine they where in much of the wooden supports where rotting or where chipped and falling apart small pebbles and crushed rock fell from the ceiling now and then.

No one mentioned it, but everyone had sped up their descent eager to be finished with the job before they were buried for good.

Eventually, the mine shaft opened up into a large open area the lams only illuminating a small portion of it and much of the chamber was cloaked in darkness they didn't know how far it went on but to say they were hesitant to continue would be an understatement.

Once they had funnelled into the room a sense of dread began to overtake the party, Bowic first noticed a sweat begin to form on his brow despite the cool wind blowing threw the tunnel.

He read himself with a large axe he carried on his back, it was no war axe it was actually a wood-cutting axe he had won from a minotaur in an arm wrestling contest, weapons of war were rare and expensive but any axe got the job done and the heavy axe head got it done well enough, Bowic also checked his helmet and chain mail where secure to his head and that the gambison and leather he wore was properly fastened.

Bowic also noticed the others seemed to have a similar feeling Klein had drawn his hand and a half sword and had donned his helmet that often stayed clunking around on his waist, Bowic remembered Klein referring to it as a bascinet helmet specifically a hounskull, this was whilst complaining that they where the only ones that fit Gryphons, the top half came down over his head and the top of his beak whilst the other half sat under his lower beak, it was awkward to put on but Bowic couldn't see another way for beaked creatures to use full helms like his.

He also silently thanked whatever god was listening for not giving him a muzzle.

Arlene had made ready with her staff, which was not for magic as one would believe, she just cracked anyone who got too close to the skull with it, and Bowic had seen it happen, that girl was stronger than she looked, Bowic had been told most earth ponies were.

She also wore a gambeson under her robes, and bowic assumed she had her scrolls and potions ready too.

Hamlin was holding a pan in front of himself as he didn't carry a weapon, Bowic knew he wasn't to be underestimated though.

They had been in enough bar fights to know how lethal a ladle thrown across the room could be, especially if it cracked someone in the skull which it often did.

It also made Bowic chuckle.

Kyajack was the strangest out of all of them in how he fought, not because he did so strangely or differently the way he thought with his sabre was quite similar to how Klein fought with his sword.

The reason why he stood out from the rest was because of the eight pistols he kept on him at all times, Bowic had been quite surprised to see how the divides functioned, six were on his chest, and two were on his hip next to his sabre.

Bowic had seen what had happened to those on the wrong side of those guns before, however, there was a downside as they could only be fired once before a lengthy reload was needed.

Klein had repeatedly told Kayjack to just use a crossbow but bowic thought the weapons had potential as long as the reload problem could be sorted out, and with how many Kayjack carried, that wasn't too much of a problem.

It was after Bowic took note of his companions getting ready for a brawl with the granite walls did he notice a faint moan coming from a nearby bolder that was just bearly illuminated by his lantern and the form of a hunched-over Gryphon could just barely be made out.

"Oi" bowic said in a low tone and gestured to his companions with his axe to get their attention, he then placed his lantern on his pack so it could dangle behind him.

"Is he alive" Klein whispered loudly across the room.

"Does it matter, just grab him so we can leave" Arlene quietly shouted.

Bowic began to approach the downed Gryphon "I think he's hurt" Bowic lowered his axe and held out a hand to shake the Grypohn on the shoulder.

"Then let's get him out of here already," Kayjack said raising his voice behind the rest of the group.

The atmosphere had become thick, and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife, something was putting every creature on the edge.

Bowic cautiously placed his hand on the shoulder of the Gryphon who bowic could see was now slowly turning to see what the commotion behind him was all about.

"hey dont panic wer- aARRRG"

as the Gryphon had turned he had clamped down his beak onto Bowics glove coved hand and was trying to viciously pull and tear his apart with his class as they raked against the leather and gambison he wore.

Bowic didn't often panic but with the sheer surprise of the savage Gryphon juping onto him Bowic grabbed at the first thing he could, which happened to be the Gryphon currently biting down on his hand, it hadn't broken through the glove but it still hurt.

Bowic had only attempted to pull the Gryphon off of him but when Bowic pulled back on the top half of Gryphon's head a sickening tear echoed throughout the cave and the bottom half of the creature's head stayed where it was and the top half of the Gryphons head was torn in off.

By now the others had come rushing over to help their companion from the savage Gryphon, but as they arrived the Gryphon had already tumbled to the ground blood oozing from the newly opened wound onto the cave floor.

Bowic's companions stopped just shy of his side, stunned at the exemplary but savage display of strength.

"Bowic...Grover...what have you done" Klein said stunned, his voice echoing due to his helmet.

"I didn't know you were THAT strong," Arlene said seemingly more disturbed by Bowic's apparent savagery that the now headless Gryphon.

Hamlin remained silent too stunned to speak as an internal battle raged inside his head, he had seen Bowic kill before But he hadn't seen him do that.

Kayjack also remained silent but was awaiting an answer from Bowic.

"I... he-he jumped me.. i-i dint mean to...".

Bowic had taken a life before, it was a part of their job but he was yet to kill an innocent, especially in such a way.

"look" Kayjack finally spoke up.

The group's eyes darted to the body and away from the beak and head in Bowics hand still in a vice-like grip.

With all the lanterns now in one place a clear view of the body could be seen, and it wasn't a pretty sight and not just because it had lost its head.

the body had clearly been here for weeks, rot could be seen all along the carcass and maggots wriggled in numerous open wounds across the body and the smell was now easy for all gathered to smell a smell which had been stewing in the cave for weeks Hamin was already being sick over away from the main party.

"I didn't do all that," Bowic said in disbelief.

"How in her most holy name did he get on you like that then," Arlene said now far more disturbed by the walking carcass that had just attacked her companion.

Their talking was interrupted however as Kayjack spoke up.

"If it's dead" he started, "where is the moaning coming from".

the sentence caused a halt to all fights in the group even Hamlin had stopped Throwing up by the cave wall.

Klein gingerly lifted his lantern toward the boulder to illuminate it a little more revealing the creatures standing just beyond the light surrounding the party.

hundreds of creatures stood there staring some even missing eyes to do so and all in different states of decomposition silently watching the group.

"Dont. Make. A. Sound." Kayjack said.

A large clang was suddenly heard behind them as the party slowly turned st see Hamlin had dropped his pan and was staring at the horse that stood watching them.

Bowic could have sworn it was the loudest sound he had ever heard.

"Hamlin was-" Bowic tried and failed to calm down the frightened Gryphon as he witnessed the army of undead watching them.

"AHHHHHH!" Hamlin had let out a girlish yell as a decaying hand of a zebra lay its hand on his shoulder and let could breathe down his neck.

"RUN!" Bowic screamed, his companions were already ahead of him as the undead began to charge them closing in from every angle out of the darkness.

"HELP ME!" Hamlin let out a cry as more hands and claws reached at him from the darkness.

"PLEASE!" he repeated as he fell back and more corpses began to pile in on him.

Kayjack and Arlene had already passed him but Klein had grabbed the poor soul's collar and was attempting to drag him back.

Bowic praised whatever god was watching that he didn't have to attempt to save him alone, if only because it was a fellow Gryphon.

It also meant that both hands could be used on his axe, as Bowic ran past the two gryphons he hefted his axe over her head and with a thunderous cry brought it down across the undead cambering over Hamlin.

The first creature he struck was caught in the neck and its head was removed from its shoulders with little effort the axe carried through towards the second who was caught in the shoulder and was split in two from the chest upwards, Bowic axe then carried onward toward the third creature, and finally lodged itself inside its side.

Bowic not willing to leave his axe with these creatures kept the momentum moving and took the creature off its feet and threw it onto two others by swinging it off his axe.

"UP!" Bowic shouted gabbing Klein who had tripped by the tunnel wails trying to shove Hamlin out.

Bowic grabbed him by the back of Klein's neck plate and tossed him forward up the tunnel towards the exit and away from the shambling horde.

As bowic entered the tunnel a hand grasped him from behind, it grasped at his hip onto his gambison and attempted to pull him back, Bowic with one hand on his axe spun round and removed the arm from the offending zombie and was immediately met with hundreds more gangly and decaying limbs reaching out for him.

Bowic had just enough time to raise his axe to hold it in front of him and push back against the horde the tunnel was just narrow enough and his axe just long enough that he could stop the creatures from moving around him, but with so many arms reaching and grabbing at his axe
attempting to pull it from his hands and so many bodies decayed as they were, being pushed against Bowic was slowly being pushed back, barely holding back the horde from pouring through the tunnel and tearing him apart.

Luckily for Bowic, his company hadn't abandoned him as he had fought they would Klein's sword rang as it implanted the head of the creatures nearest to Bowic similarly, Kayjacks sabre also swiped down onto the skull of another creature trying to climb over Bowic as he too began stabbing away at the creatures trying to overrun them.

However, it was clear to all involved that they were getting nowhere fast for every one creature that fell it seemed as if 3 more shambled from the shadows and took the place, and Bowics ars began straining to keep the growing number of walking carcasses from flattening them.

"ARLENE DO SOMETHING!" Bowic screamed behind him partly in panic but also because of the hundreds of moaning and screeching monstrosities in front of them.

"I need a minute!" Arlene yelled back in a far less worried tone as she was sorting through her pack which now lay on the floor digging for something amongst the numerous Vials and parchments

"I DON'T HAVE A MINUTE!" Bowic yelled in response, "HELP DAMIT!" he yelled to his companions next to him as his arms began to buckle under the sheer weight of the bodies piled in front of him, so many had now rushed from the shadows of the cave it was almost impossible to talk to one another above all the screeching and groaning.

Both men be they Grypohn or Abysian beside Bowic had ceased their hapless stabbing and had begun using their weapons to hold back the innumerable tide of undead, even Hamlin had his back to Bowics as he tried to support his larger companion from toppling over.

Even with the added help all gathered were still barely able to hold off the horde from each one of the groning in effort and slowly sliding back against the rocks, one under even attempted to climb over its fellow corpses to attempt to come down onto bowic head but its journey was cut short by a deafening bang and a smoking pistol in one of Kayjacks hands.

It was till now Just as they were about to reach their breaking point did they hear a voice come from behind them.

"By her most holy light let me strike down her foes in her name, allow me your greatness, so it may flow through me and dispatch all who would harm our little ponies and scorch their plans. In. Her. Righteous. NAME"

A bright light suddenly filled the room the carcasses in front of them seemed unaffected as many were without eyes but Bowic and his companions were Blinded temporarily form the sudden Brightness however, they had all Known who the voice had come from and what the light had meant "push!" bowic yelled and in with great strength Bowic and his companions gave a great shove to the horde around them toppling the first few undead and causing the other behind to stumble over then attempting to reach them, they then threw themselves to the ground as a searing hot flame flew over their heads into the heart of the undead horde.

There was no exposition but the flame once it made contact expanded and splashed around like a liquor bottle set aflame, however, this fire was green and far hotter, and there was also far more of it than what could be achieved from a bottle of Minotaur stout.

Bowic had seen it before, magic fire had numerous used for closing wounds to sending messages, although bBwic wasn't sure how the latter worked and the other use he could think of was what was happening right in front of his eyes the cries and shrieks slowly began to fade as each corpse returned to the dirt and stone whatever keeping them moving being purged from their bodies as too was the flesh holding them together.

No words were yet spoken between the creatures gathered in the tunnel, the events that had transpired were still racing through their minds and they were all still trying to process the ordeal that had just transpired.

All that could be heard was the panting of the four males as they regained their ability to speak, however, their rest was cut short as through the panting and crackling flesh a low wine was heard.

And a single shadowy corps shambled from the shadows, then two more, until the horde once more had returned and the groaning and shrieks returned to the dark tunnel.

Suddenly the four men on the ground weren't as tired as before.

"UP!" Bowic once again screamed in panic as the men Threw themselves up off the ground, and this time they made sure to watch where they placed their feet.

The group began a mad dash toward the exit of the cave with the gap between them and the hoard now made because of Arlene.

As they neared the exit and the rays of the sun begin to shine down into the cave the group redoubled their efforts as salvation was so close, only for them to realise that the hoard behind would most likely follow them out Arlene seemed to have that same thought as she was currently pulling on the support towards the edge of the cave trying to pull it free.

Kayjack was the first to reach her, Throwing himself into the support and splintering it but not snapping it all the way Hamlin and then Klien also threw themselves onto Kayack to add their weight to the support and finally, the wood splintered and cracked but was still the thick wood held and the cave was still open.

Bowic then made himself known before entering the light with a loud cry and his arms out wide, undead hot on his tail, he tacked his companions onto the wooden support sending them all threw it and with a loud crack snapped the wood in two.

The single support on the other side of the tunnel was no longer able to support the weight of the tunnel on its own and snapped as well as rocks and gravel began to fall around them, undead swiping and snapping at Bowic's heels he sprinted, his companions on his shoulders he dived toward the exit of the cave and with one final dive threw himself and his party from the tunnel just as it crumbled around them and crushed a Gryphon who was just about to throw itself onto bowic leaving only a singular claw visible amongst the heavy rocks that had now sealed the cave.

The group stayed put but were ready to move at a moment's notice, the earlier mishaps had put them on edge and had them believing that it was far from over.

But as the groans and scratching began to fade and their pants for air and the sliding gravel became heard once more their adrenalin began to die down and all involved collapsed to the ground once again in exhaustion and relief, Klein's helmet tumbled to the ground with a clank as he struggled it off from his head and threw strained breath uttered a single "Buck".

Bowic had never agreed with Klein more.