Hollowed Ruins (Dunder, Andifferous, Winter, Sturmmann, and Phil the Time Wizard)

[Dunder]

Dunder stood up straight, feeling his heart race. He had been in many fights, but in only a few fights where his life were on the line. But Midnight's presence reminded him he wouldn't be alone this time, at least. Also she was trained and experienced, they definitely were going to put up at least some of a fight, if he could keep them choke pointed. "Just remember, we can't let them surround us at any cost..." He said, not looking at Midnight, "We get flanked, and I'm not sure what would happen then." He stopped talking, he was beginning to scare himself.

Then the griffons and diamond dogs came into sight. Dunder got on his hindlegs and drew his sword, putting one of them behind the other and getting most of his weight on it. He took in a deep breath, "We'll be fine..." He said, more to himself than anypony. His face was etched with worry.

The sight of the griffons and diamond dogs was making him waver already. They all looked thirsty for blood. He closed his eyes, trying to regain his composure and trying to not freak out from the sight of the fight-thirsty dogs and griffons.

MEANWHILE....

The other miner dogs weren't paying at all much attention to the newly arrived ponies. They thought if there was a reason to freak out, they would have been told by now. Anyway, these ponies were minding their own business. As long as they didn't bother any of the dogs, the dogs wouldn't bother them.

[Andifferous]

"That's not a bad idea, Winter." Dusty replied, glancing around the room. "Hold off until things get interesting though. They don't seem to concerned with us just yet, but that could change any moment. " He glanced back over his shoulder into the cave. Dunder and Midnight hadn't emerged from the dark tunnel yet, and he was hoping they weren't about to do something stupid. "Look.... you guys go on ahead and get that cart moving... act casual unless something goes wrong. I need to check on Dunder and Midnight."

[RarityDash]

"Just remember, we can't let them surround us at any cost... We get flanked, and I'm not sure what would happen then."

Midnight smiled over to Dunder and gave a resolute nod. "Yes, sir! I know to watch my surroundings and not give up vital ground to an enemy. I also learned the hard way what happens when you take unnecessary chances. I'll be playing this fight safe."

The mare's smile became a smirk as she finished speaking. She was more than ready for this. She made sure her hoof blades were nice and secure and ready to do some damage when the time came. Glancing toward Dunder she could see him taking on a stance with his sword drawn. It was an interesting sword posture. She hadn't known many ponies to fight up on their hind legs. Pegasi were light weight though and good at keeping themselves balanced. She could only assume the young pegasus knew what he was doing.

"We'll be fine..."

Glancing at him, she could see a look of doubt in Dunder's eyes. Was he second guessing himself as the dogs and griffons drew nearer? That wasn't good. Success hinged on them being at their best and showing not a moment's hesitation.

"You don't sound very convinced of those words," she said as she took a step forward, taking the advanced position. "Don't give in! Stay strong. Fight! And you'll get through this. I for one intend to return to my daughter's side."

As she said her piece the horde of dogs and griffons continued toward them, looking particular mean. "Come at us, you beasts!" she shouted boldly, raising the blades worn on her front hooves.

A dog at the front lunged at her then, prompting her to leap aside and buck him hard in the side of the head. Another swiped at her and was met with a fierce lateral cut from her blades. A griffon swooped down at her, only to be met with a sharp leaping slice from the well trained earth pony. Soon she was fully embroiled with assailants, but found herself able to stay mostly on the offensive, dealing blow after blow with precision. She was holding out okay, but there were a lot of them. She couldn't take them all herself, and though she remained confident, but whether they'd be able to endure hinged upon Dunder standing strong beside her.

[Snowshoe]

While the others took care of keeping the griffons off, Muggo' Ale drew himself up to full height, set his hat a little straighter on his head, and made his way into the cave. The miners didn't seem to notice him as he quietly made his way to the minecart. The faster he got hooked up and ready to run, the faster they could get going and the less time his companions would spend fighting.

He nearly made it, before one of the diamond dogs spotted him and charged. Muggo' Ale turned and grinned, facing the charging dog down as it slowed, confused by the pony who stood by idly. It ended up stopped, growling face close to Muggo's.

"Boop."

The diamond dog was so incredibly confused by the fact the green earth pony had simply elected to press his hoof against the dog's nose...shortly before ramming the other into his stomach to knock the wind out of him.

"Move yer starns!" he called out to his companions, hooking himself into the harness at the front of the minecart. He got ready to run, soon as his friends got there.

[Winter]

Winter stared as Muggo' booped the diamond dog. Weren't they trying to escape? The blow that struck the dog in the gut moments later startled Winter nearly as much as the dog. Winter then shook his head, gathered his focus, and took off towards the cart. He reached it not long after Muggo' and turned to watch the others come. It sounded like Midnight and Dunder were already engaged with the dogs behind them. As the other dogs that had been mining before began to get closer to the cart, Winter decided he would have to buy his fighting companions some time after all. [colour=#daa520]"Muggo', I'll be trying to draw them away. Please, get everyone out of here, I'll be close behind!"[/colour] He darted forwards, pulling his wings in close midair, and slammed head first into a diamond dog's gut. The beat fell back and Winter used his bloated belly as a launching platform back into the air. He called to the other dogs that were chasing after Muggo' and Dusty, [colour=#daa520]"Over here, you muts! Come and get me!"[/colour] He flew slowly at first, not much above the ground, trying to get the dogs interested before throwing any tricks and evasions in. Hopefully Midnight and Dunder would know what was happening and get to the cart quickly. As WInter mocked and jeered at the dogs to get their attention, one managed to leap up and swipe his tail from behind. Winter turned suddenly and pushed his wings against the air hard, sending him backwards and away from the dog. He turned and swooped down to the ground in the other direction, weaving around dogs and bunching them together. It wasn't too different from flying through the trees in the forest... a moving forest. The dogs ran quickly and leaped for him with surprising speed. He wasn't sure how much longer he could evade them while the others went to the cart. He wasn't even sure if they were going for the cart, he had to pay too much attention to his pursuers.

[Dunder]

Dunder stood there, not looking at Midnight. He couldn't now, she had become the teacher and was his guardian through this. Her eagerness wasn't something that he could match and was ashamed for it. Her wisdom and obvious ethics on the matter reminded him he wasn't in the best position to lead. The idea of a change in leadership preventing it all now plaguing him. She advanced, taking the lead. No way by Celestia's mane was she going to stand alone! He stepped up beside her, standing taller this time, but what she said last threw him off, "Wait, you have a daughter?" He asked before the dogs and griffons were too close for comfort.

They clashed, a dog attempted to punch Dunder, but the pegasus was too quick. He slapped the punch away and returned one himself with a pommel strike to the forehead of the dog, sending him back. fortunately it gave him room to keep the others at bay with the tip of his rapier. The undisciplined diamond dogs were too scared to move up, and the griffons hadn't burned through their canon fodder enough to strike themselves.

The terrain was in their favor, the two ponies could hold them off for the cave funneled to a choke point, but if pressed the line of defense would break.

Dunder was getting attacked, but parrying and countering one after the other. Each blow delivered with precision, but there were too many. A wall of angry, hungry diamond dog backed by deadly discipline and training of griffons. After a few attacks repelled, the stress and mental fatigue was getting to the pegasus.

His mouth overtook his mind as his face quickly slipped to a wavering expression of courage, "Rout!" He called out over the clashing metal and yells of dogs, "Retreat! Rout!" He cried, but didn't obey himself. He stood and kept fighting alongside Midnight.

[Andifferous]

Dusty flew back along the passage, hearing the clash of fighting up ahead, carefully he slowed and dropped down, to peek around the next bend in the passage. As he poked around he heard Dunder yelling to retreat, making his blood run cold. Hastily he charged forward around the bend, shouting as he joined ranks with Midnight and Dunder.

"Guys, lets move we've found a way out." He shouted, throwing strikes with his hooves. He was obviously an inexperienced fighter, most of his practice gained from getting caught up in the occasional barfight, or trying to escape from various wild creatures.

"C'mon, Winter and Muggo' are already moving!"

[RarityDash]

Midnight felt unease. Her words hasn't reached Dunder as she had hoped. His nerves had taken hold. He was afraid, and it was affecting his thought. Considering what she had said in regards to her locket earlier, mentioning her daughter should not be news to him. That it was, was was proof that his mind was in a sorry state. He was forgetting things. He was leaving himself open. Even as she fought her best and warded off dog after dog, she wondered if they weren't already sunk. She couldn't do this alone, and Dunder wasn't going to hold up long in his state. He would get sloppy and it would cost him.

Then, suddenly, the pegasus seemed to snap. He called a rout and ordered retreat, but bafflingly, he didn't follow his order. He kept fighting. This wasn't good. His decisions had become infirm. He was losing it, and they would both pay the price at this rate. She wasn't sure how to proceed. As she batted a dog back as it swiped at Dunder, she just wasn't sure if she should chance anymore.

It was about then that the answer came to her in the form of Dusty. The other pegasus had flown back to them. He joined the fray, brawling the the dogs as best he could well filling them in that the others had found a way to move. Midnight nodded. That was just what they needed to hear.

"We fall back immediately and regroup with the others!" she started as she got in a few more quick blows, ending on a fierce midair buck than sent a particularly large diamond dog flying back into the pack.

"Retreat!"she gave the call to the others as she started to fall back, not stepping too far until she was sure both pegasi were to follow.

[Snowshoe]

Muggo' Ale, busy tying himself to the cart for their great escape, had no clue what was going on for a while...until he realized nopony was coming toward him. He was alone for the time being.

He let out a whistle. "Where y'at, b'y?" he called out to nopony in particular. No response. He grumbled and started to unhook himself from his harness just as a diamond dog broke off to come at him. He was blindsided and hit hard in the side. "Oof!"

Getting back up off the ground he dove at the diamond dog, tussling and wrestling with the mangy mutt in the dirt for a bit until Muggo' managed to gain the upper hoof (and knock him a bit silly with a rock).

That's when he heard the words retreat.

Retreat where?

"What's goin' on?" he shouted over the din, grabbing the diamond dog's spear and using the haft to beat back a griffon that was coming at the group from behind. He trotted over, taking up position near Dunder and Midnight.

"What happened to the plan? Retreat where?" he asked.

[Winter]

Winter took a break from harassing the Diamond Dogs to look towards his companions. They were all shouting retreat, but none of them were retreating! Instead, those that had gotten to the mine cart were back with Dunder and Midnight to fight the oncoming horde. He scratched his head with a hoof before ducking under a leaping Dog. Another leaped by as he span to the right in midair away from the Dogs. Maybe if he joined all the others that were fighting now he could help turn the tide. He looked back towards the Diamond Dogs he had been leading around the room and thought otherwise. If he went back to help the others the group he had been kiting around the room would follow, and they were definitely more trouble than he was worth in the fight. So instead, he continued to dodge and weave the best he could around the Diamond Dogs. Winter Bolt mostly stayed high up and out of reach, but he every so often dipped just into reach since knew that if he didn't go down close sometimes then the Dogs would lose interest. He had to race each Dog constantly to stay out of harms way. He kept his mouth shut, his eyes on the Dogs, and his body focused. This was a race he couldn't afford to lose.

[Dunder]

Dunder couldn't do it, he just could not retreat. He gave out the order, but there was no way he could pull back now. First off, Midnight was still standing strong, and he definitely would not be the first to turn tail and gallop away. But the retreat was less of a full on gallop to get away as far as they could. It was more of a slight retirement backwards. The ponies giving up ground little by little... maybe instead of saying a contradicting order; it would be best if he just stood and fought. The mild revaluation along with plain fatigue causing him to get sloppy and fail to protect himself against a strike, He would probably be done for if Midnight hadn't had his back.

Soon the ponies were joined by Muggo' and Dusty. The reinforcements meant that the ponies could certainly not retreat, they had to hold. The fear of them getting ran down and slaved again or possible worse was too much for him to think.

He held his ground, "Nevermind the retreat order! Hold the line!" He called out above the sounds of the fighting to the dismay of the dogs. The sudden morale boost of the ponies pushed them over the edge. Some of the ill disciplined dogs began to retreat while the others fought, leaving the rest concerned because of even more dwindling numbers. "Keep it up, hold the line!" He said.

[Andifferous]

Dusty paused, staring at Dunder in confusion. Why did he say that? He'd just exclaimed that he had a way out and was only joining the fray to give them a moment to get free.

"What? No!" He said, confused by the sudden change in plans. "Guys we've got a way out, but we don't have time to-" He was cut off as one of the gryphons took advantage of his confusion and sent him tumbling backward with a well placed rake of the claws. True the tide of battle may have been turning but he hadn't the experience with fighting to realize it.

[RarityDash]

Midnight was taken back as Dunder announced a change in orders. Dusty had just said they had an escape route. There was no shame in retreat if it got them all out safely. It took her a moment to realize her surrounding through her continued clashing with the dogs, but when she did she understood a little more as to the why. Muggo' and Winter had returned to join them. They had given up a little ground, but now all of them stood together. Midnight smiled. She knew a turning point in a struggle when she saw one.

[colour=#ccff33]"Everypony stand strong. We can fight them back!"[/colour] she shouted out as she charged back to the front, ramming right into a diamond dog and throwing him back with incredible force.

She moved quick and fought fierce. Her blades were swift and her kicks were often quicker. The opponent was not useless though. Many times she thought she was to be overwhelmed, when the actions of one of the others opened up a new path for her. Only once did the enemy get the better of her, a sly griffoness thrusting at her and digging her talons into Midnight's shoulder. While she managed to recover her stance and force the griffoness back, the wound continued to sear. Between the wound and the duration of the fight she was growing tired, but it seemed the enemy was waning as well. Very soon, she was sure they would find a reprieve.

[colour=#ccff33]"Just a little more, everypony! We can... do this!" [/colour]she started as the fight continued onward.

[Snowshoe]

Muggo' Ale stood strong next to the others, tilting his hat back. He saw Dusty take a slap across the face and moved to help him up, chuckling a bit. "Yer fine, b'y. Just a bit of a scratch, come on, on yer feet," he said.

He figured it was time to fight, and so fight he would. A diamond dog ran at them and Muggo' quickly swept his legs out from under him and bopped the dog on the head, knocking him out for a bit.

They were wearing the diamond dogs out, but the griffons were proving to be a bit more difficult. A couple of hits here and there and Muggo' was feeling rather sore, but still swinging and bucking like the best of them.

"This ain't workin'!" he shouted, retrieving his hat between bouts of boxing with one of the diamond dogs (they were currently on round five, with Muggo' in the lead). "We need a better plan up here, b'y!"

[Winter]

Winter Bolt landed next to the others to fight alongside them. They seemed to be doing well enough, leading the other dogs around the cave in circles didn't seem as important any more. The others were dealing blows all around him, so he used what little fighting training he had to help out. He dealt small, furtive blows every so often, backing away and every so often bumping into one of his fellows. Being unarmed, he fought with hoof and head, bumping and slamming into dogs whenever he could to knock them off balance and, hopefully, down to the ground. Once they were down they seemed to not usually want to get back up. If they did, they were easy to knock down again. Winter didn't really understand why they were fighting against an enemy that vastly outnumbered them when an escape route was open and ready, but he wasn't one to question orders either. He was sure Dunder and the rest knew what they were doing. He just hoped that they'd be leaving sooner or later, he was getting tired. Diamond dogs are big and scary and not something a pony should normally mess with, especially on their home ground. He edged closer to Dunder in the fighting and murmured to him, [colour=#daa520]"Dunder... buddy, I think we should get out soon. There are much too many; I doubt we can take on this whole pack of them."[/colour]

[Dunder]

Dunder was now thrown off by his own orders. After getting ready to retreat but switching orders after the reinforcements, he was now even more confused and anxious about the outcome of this attack. Muggo', Midnight, and Dusty seemed to be fighting rather well, and Winter was helping from the air. Too much was definitely on the line now. They retreat they will be run down from the back. He was glad at least Midnight was understanding of what was going on.

That's when he heard Dusty get cut off, "Winter!" He cried out when he glanced back to where Dusty used to be and saw the grey stallion wasn't there, "Winter! Get Dusty out of here!" It was a split second decision, but the best option in Dunder's eyes.

"Hold the line! We have no other options unless you want to be stabbed in the back as you run away!" He cried out, mostly in response to Muggo's question. He knew that the ponies must be getting fatigued, but they couldn't fall back now, they were getting the advantage. And the dogs were well aware, as more and more begin to retreat back don the cave, even a couple of griffons went, claiming they were going to rally the diamond dogs who fell back to the dismay of the female griffon.

Not long after the griffons left, the female griffon cried out angrily, "Retreat! We need more soldiers!" She ordered. Almost instantly, the diamond dogs, relieved to stop fighting, began to run back down the cave.

Dunder sat down facing the retreating diamond dogs, after smacking a few on the back with the sword as they fell back, "Don't persue! We need to get out of here... Is everypony alright?" He asked, looking over his shoulder.

[Andifferous]

Dusty groaned, trying to shake the effects of the hit off. That gryphon had gotten him good, and he had wound up against the wall of the cave. Dimly he could hear Muggo trying to get him back up on his hooves and back into the game, but it was a bit dull under the ringing in his ears,

"I-I just need a minute." He mumbled, shaking his head in an attempt to clear the stars out of his eyes. It didn't help that half of his face felt like it was on fire and it stung to open that eye. The gryphon must have raked Dusty with his talons during that hit. Thankfully the ringing was starting to fade and he was able to hear normally again.

Standing up shakily he looked over in time to see their foes retreating, and Dunder looking back at everypony.

"D-did we do it?" he asked warily.

[RarityDash]

[colour=#000000]Success! After considerable struggle on the part of all involved ponies, suddenly the call for retreat did come. Midnight couldn't help but smile. Despite the odds, they had won the day and bought themselves a window to escape--that was, provided of course they weren't too beaten up from the fight to make use of it. None of them were in perfect shape. Even Midnight, with her skill, had the wound to her shoulder and a number of minor cuts and bruises. That was all on top of the general fatigue of battle too. The others were all damaged as well. They had bought the enemy's retreat, but this was not a decisive rout, and if they didn't act quickly, her expertise told her the enemy would regroup and return quicker than any of them might expect.[/colour]

[colour=#000000][colour=#ccff33]"We mustn't waste time and relax! They will be back and there will be more of them,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she urged.[/colour] [colour=#ccff33]"There will be time to lick our wounds once we've returned to safety!"[/colour][/colour]

[colour=#000000][colour=#ccff33]"For now, we should press on before we give the enemy time to regroup,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she summarized her assessment, punctuating it with a rigid nod.

​[/colour][/colour]

[Snowshoe]

Muggo' Ale looked around as they retreated, chasing them up to the mouth of the tunnel and no further. "Run then, tail between yer legs! An' don't ya turn back!" he shouted at the retreating troops, grinning.

"An' that, me b'y's, is how ya brawl. Knew me bartendin' would come in handy," he said casually, turning away and idly walking toward the minecart at the far end of the chamber.

"Yer transport awaits," he called back, taking off his hat and stuffing it in a pocket on his vest before getting set back behind the cart. "If'n I were ya, I'd climb in so we can get our starns out o' the mine." At least, Muggo' Ale was hoping this was the exit track, otherwise they'd have a long ride to nowhere ahead of them.

[Winter]

Winter followed up behind Muggo, glad that the fighting was finally over. He preferred flying away from problems over fighting against them any day. The pegasus slinked towards the rail cart and plopped down in it. [colour=#daa520] "Alright, conductor, I want to hitch a ride with the first train out of here!"[/colour] He called out with a laugh. Winter looked down and rubbed his hoof along the side of the cold cart and wished it had been a real train. Some nice soft cushions, tasty food, cool water, and a chance to get some rest would have made this trip much better. Come to think of it, many things would have made this trip a lot better: a good idea of what they would come across, a client that would actually pay them rather than set them up to be slaves for griffons and diamond dogs, less collapsing walls and twisting tunnels, and a beefy pay check. Sighing with relief that it was finally about to be over, Winter Bolt allowed himself a few seconds of much needed shuteye.

[Dunder]

Dunder got up and pat Dusty on the back, "Come on, man, we just have to push on a little further... if this cart leads us anywhere, it should be out of here." He said, trotting past Midnight, "Good work..." He said, trotting past. "Midnight is right, you'll rest plenty when we are getting drinks at a tavern." Dunder said, trotting back over to Dusty and helping the pony trot over to the cart. "C'mon, in the cart.." He said, hopping in with he help of his wings.

[Andifferous]

"I'm alright." Dusty grunted, making his way along, getting more steady with each step. The pegasus was quickly recovering from the blow he received earlier, though things were still a touch shaky, and he was sure his face was a terrible mess. It definitely felt that way at least. Hastily he scrambled into the cart and looked around to see if everypony else was here.

"Ok... lets see..." he made his way up to the front of the cart, figuring that they would need him again if they came to an intersection or something. He was fairly certain this was the way out, it headed off in the right general direction and it made more sense to him to have the carts traveling between the main chamber and the surface.

[RarityDash]

[colour=#000000]Midnight was glad to get to the cart. She was in worse shape from the fight than she had thought. The shoulder wound singed with pain and her entire body felt spent from the rigors of the hard fought struggle. She tried not to let too much of it show as she took the moment to collect her breath. They had survived. That was the important part. Today, everypony would be leaving the battlefield. For that reason, to the mare, it was nothing but a success. A small smile crept onto her face as she sat in the cart along with the others.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]There were still concerns about the cart and where it might take them. Midnight's faith was with her comrades and with Dusty's judgment that indeed this was their ticket to escape. They would be out of this nightmare before too long. It was only a matter of time now.[/colour]

[colour=#ccff33]"All right. Let's make our escape,"[/colour] [colour=#000000]she said, giving a rigid nod.[/colour]

​