Praxilla throws a fit over the guiding branch

"What's that silly leaf thing?" Praxilla says as you trudge back. She's holding on to a sapling on the edge of the little copse of trees and does not seem to have moved.

You pause to tune into the direction it points, letting your extended arm turn to follow its pull. You're not much of a woodsman so you appreciate Master Maurippos setting it up to keep you on track.

"OH," Praxilla huffs. She nods, her disarranged white-blonde hair tossing. Her mouth is twisted in a grimace.

"This way then."

Praxilla sniffs. "This way, he says. This way. It's not enough to saddle me with Tanglefoot. And you. But he doesn't think I can find my way home."

"Before we go, did you want...?"

"No." Praxilla sticks out the hand that isn't steadying her four-legged stance. "Let's go."

You nest Nadia's bucket of combs and brushes inside the empty water bucket and sling them over your shoulder, holding up the enchanted tree branch with that hand. You take Praxilla's extended hand and lead her across the meadow following the indication of the guide branch.

Everything goes fine for a while -- as fine as things can go when both of you are tired and grumpy from short sleep, and you're aching here and there from having Praxilla fall on top of you after she lifted her tail and rubbed out a climax against a tree trunk, lifted your feet off the ground as she reared up at her peak, lost her balance, and stumbled forward on top of you.

Everything goes fine until you splash through a stream bed and climb the opposite bank.

"Enough," Praxilla spits. She pulls you close by your clasped hands, snatches the guide branch from your other hand, snaps it in two and tosses it back over her shoulder into the stream. The broken pieces swirl away with the water.

Praxilla's legs wobble and she lands with a thump, gracefully enough, since her legs are down and her head is up.

"I know the way," she says. "Fiddlesticks on that old git and his Golden Bough tricks."

You sit a little back from the young centauress.

"I'm going to take a little rest," you say. "Let me get you some water first."

Praxilla accepts your offering with ill grace. "Don't think you're going to charm me like that," she says. "I see the look on your face, wizardling."

"At least call me Eric!" you protest.

"Fine, Eric the Eric from House Eric of Eric Academy. Have it your way."

"Praxilla, aren't you part of Boarbristle Academy? You were casting magic."

"Centaurs can't get into the academy," she says. "Hello. Stairs? Doorways? Low ceilings?"

"But Master..." you begin, then remembering what Nadia said about titles, you start again. "But Maurippos is a teaching master for Boarbristle."

"But not ever a scholar like you, Eric the Eric. And he teaches here in the Weirding Woods, not in House Lionclaws."

You think better of provoking either of you while you're cranky. You proceed after a short rest, helping Praxilla to her feet and letting her choose the route.

At least you don't have to worry about shredding Praxilla's clothes if you cast a spell on her and your wild magic rises. She isn't wearing any!

You have 6 XP and may apply ADVANCEMENT when appropriate.
You have Ambition -1, Bravery 0, Cunning +2, Diligence +2.

You have a FAVOR from Miss Wormwood, and a FRIEND, Aurelia Sterling, your Enchantments teacher.

Use the rules for GET OUT OF DETENTION to get Praxilla home. 2d6 + 1 = ⚂⚂ + 1 = 7.

On a 7-9, you get Praxilla home, but exchange You may ENCOUNTER Maurippos, Nadia, or Aurelia Sterling before you go. Exchange your CONSEQUENCE Praxilla's Keeper for a different CONSEQUENCE related to the difficult journey.