Crystel, Sora, Crossfire, Ramsey, and Ember all stood staring down at a large pit in front of them. Each looked fearful as they realized that it was filled with used medical needles.
   "I'm sure shit not going in there," Crossfire growled, his ears pinning back and his lip curling.
   "Agreed," Ember muttered.
   "Well, someone has to go in," Ramsey pointed out.
   "Sora not do it! Sora hate needles!" Sora squealed, inching away from the deep pit.
   Crystel stood in silence, listening quietly. Needles typically didn't bother her too much, but to go into a pit full of them was a bit much.
   "Why do we have to go in there again?" Crossfire asked, his tail flicking side to side.
   "The key to escape the room is in there, stupid," Ember retorted, rolling her eyes. "I say if we send someone in, it aughta be Ramsey. He's the only prey animal here."
   "Hey, woah. Let's not get carried away here. Don't just sacrifice me 'cuz I'm the odd one out," Ramsey argued, narrowing his ice-blue eyes.
   Crystel sighed, stepping forward. "I'll go. Just give me a minute."
   Sora's ears flattened against her head and her eyes turned pale gray with fear. "No! Don't go! Sora need Crystel!"
   The snow-white dragon rushed forward and hugged her friend, tears running down her face. Crystel chuckled softly, her eyes watering ever-so-slightly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
   Eventually, the tan, white, and brown furred wolf pulled away from Sora and moved closer to the pit. She took a few deep breaths and braced herself to go in.
   Clearly, she wasn't acting fast enough for Ember though.
   "Oh come on! Just go already!" the ash-gray wolf snarled, forcefully shoving Crystel into the pit and onto the hundreds of needles within it.
   Crystel froze with shock as she felt thousands of small pricks from the sharp needles she's landed on. She couldn't even cry out because her mind had pretty much just gone blank.
   It wasn't long before panic sunk in. The wolf started freaking out, ignoring her initial plan to take it slowly as not to be stabbed a billion times and just flailing about, throwing needles around in her desperate search for the key.
   She let out a small yelp with each needle that sank deep into her skin. Sora was shuddering uncontrollably as she struggled to process what was happening.
   Ramsey had backed into a corner, pulling his neon-green hood on over his head. Crossfire appeared uneasy, but he held his ground. Ember seemed to be regretting her actions, her mismatched eyes gleaming with anxiety.
   Finally, Crystel found the key and grabbed it, a sense of victory flooding through her before it was overcome by desperation as she wildly began to claw her way back out of the pit.

   "Crystel!" Sora shrieked as she saw her friend's now-bloodied and needle-pierced paw come into view.
   Slowly, but surely, Crystel managed to pull herself out, her claws scrambling against the floor as she tried to get a grip on solid ground. She didn't even really notice to pain anymore. She just wanted to get out.
Sora raced over to her friend, kneeling by her side. She carefully started pulling out the needles, despite her horror at the situation.

   It was over. They'd gotten the key. They were all going to be just fine.