Scootaloo wasn't quite sure how much time had passed—just that it was a lot, and that it probably felt longer than it actually was. Her belly was still pressed close to the surface of the dome, its cold metallic surface sending a shiver down her spine. And yet she didn't dare do anything more than breathe; although the guard hadn't moved since he sat down, she didn't want to take her chances.

Of to her left, she heard a slight scuff of a hoof moving on the metal. Then, warm breath tickled her ear. "Scootaloo," Mochi breathed. "We gotta move."

Scootaloo didn't turn to look at her; she merely squinted her eyes, looking closer at the guard. "Where to, though? And what if he sees us?"

"We just need skedaddle before he wakes up. And he's gotta asleep—look at him."

Scootaloo did notice that his chest appeared to be rising and falling at that distinctive steady rhythm of a sleeping pony. And, to top it off, his mouth was hung slightly open, a small amount of drool on his muzzle. "Hmph," she hmph'd. "But we'll have to come back..."

"And we can do that, but not if we get caught," Mochi urged. "I just don't feel good about us being here right next to the guard the whole time. It could be an hour—maybe more—until they get here, and the further we are from anypony, the better."

Scootaloo sighed. She didn't want to move, not really—but Mochi made a good point. They could always trot back; just stay within view of the doors so that they could see when Later and Cotton got there. "Mmff... fine. So long as we can do it without making noise."

Mochi didn't say anything more, but Scootaloo assumed she nodded because she then heard the ground creak again and then the faint sound of whispering nearby. She held her breath, still staring at the guard, and hoped that this was a good idea.