[Gift] Trouble in the Maze

"Candybert - Candy-!" Led's voice cracked with the call, exhausted from the exertion they'd already put it through. Of course the little imp would choose now of all times to run off, why wouldn't she? Led wasn't fully convinced that their Pampki's sole purpose in life wasn't to spite them, at times. Still, they winded through the maze after Candybert with quiet resignation. It wasn't like they wanted to leave Candybert to her own devices - who knew if there would even be a maze left after she had her way? Their hooves tracked through the dirt, leaving prints to follow later if need be. They had already been lost enough as it was, but this-? It certainly didn't help the sinking dread of not knowing where they were. Still, just up ahead, Led could see Candybert tackling turns and traipsing along with little care for her owner's calls. Not that they had even expected her to listen, but it certainly wasn't the reaction Led had wanted. 

Oh, well. They hadn't felt like picking up pace before this, but it seemed Candybert had other intentions in mind. With a roll of their eyes and a quick huff, Led stomped through the path Candy had traversed, snaking along past stalks of corn and a rather intimidating-looking scarecrow. The light that managed to reach the paths Led took only seemed to get dimmer, the crops thick and high enough over their head to block out the kind glow of the crystals that had been aiding them. They swallowed a the fear building in their throat, trying to overpower it with their irritation at Candybert. She hadn't slowed down at all - still galloping along at her own leisure. Rubbing the bridge of their nose with their fingers, Led hurried through another sharp turn and tugged at their hair for comfort. It was already so dark... Had they really entered the maze this late? They could just barely see fractures of light on the ground - and they couldn't help but be thankful that Candybert was such a bright color. Had she been that pretty midnight blue they'd seen other imps have... Oh, this would be hopeless.

Their nerves kept their pace decidedly quick, trailing after their eager pet with a tremor in their arms that kept leading them back to their hair. Maybe they should've brought a necklace or a flashlight... Both, if this was any indication. They swiveled their head around at the sound of a distant snap - had someone broken a stalk nearby? Was there annother succubun nearby - could they see them? The thought did nothing to calm them, only provoking them to march faster in Candybert's direction. They could see her dip down another path between stalks and rushed to follow her, attempting again to get her attention.

"Candy - Candy, c'mere!" Their hushed whisper was not inspiring, it seemed, as Candybert's acknowledgement was null. Onwards it was, then... They starled at a sudden ticklish sensation, jumping before they realized it had only been a fallen leaf. Their footsteps hurried along faster still, tail flicking behind them and hands hurrying up to their ears. They stroked at their fur appeasingly, chasing faster now after Candybert's rapid steps. When they got home, they were going straight to bed. This day had taken enough out of them - the least they deserved was a nap! 

For a moment, they closed in on Candybert in what seemed to be a blissful turn of fortune. They swung their arms down to catch her, though she scampered forward just in time to avoid capture. She swerved down another turn as Led followed, hot on her heels and readying her hands for another desperate attempt. Again, she was thwarted by a quickening of Candybert's pace, keeping her just far enough from capture to earn a cry of frustration from Led.

"Candy! Get over here - I mean it!" Their cries fell on deaf ears as Candybert sprang through another path, jostling cornstalks and forcing Led to do the same. Leaves showered them and tickled their arms as they avoided wayword vines and bumped against corn, fingers clenching around their ears for the meager hope of calming down.

"Candy! Please!"

They swung once more, attempting to grab her but yielding no luck. Tears sprung to their eyes from sheer frustration, their hooves stomping through dirt until they hadn't the energy left for it. They crumbled to the ground, wiping at tears and glaring at the cornstalks at their side rather than their Pampki. They sniffled, eyes drifting along until they finally caught sight of her... And of freedom..?

Candybert sat at the exit of the maze, tail wagging as she bounced to-and-fro with what Led could assume to be pride. Spotting succubuns and light behind her, Led quickly stood while their wrists rubbed at the tears trailing down their cheeks. Slowly, they inched forward to take her into their arms, hiccuping as they slid outside of the maze. With a last glance towards the maze, Led took the trail back home with Candybert in tow. As their eyelids at last grew heavy, Led stroked their imp with one hand and their ear with the other, daydreaming about the nap they could finally take when the two of them were home. After all this, it had better be worth it. Candy had certainly made them work for it already. Even so, they guessed they did have to thank their little troublemaker.... After their nap.