Deeper into the woods

Indra's suggestion is tempting, but you can still make some more progress before stopping for the evening. Still, she is a dutiful servant and her fingers feel fantastic. You allow her to work some of your tension out before turning to embrace the lovely young witch. You reward her with a short, though passionate kiss.

"I'm afraid we'll have to save more of that for later, lover. It's still a bit early to be calling it a day." She pouts, but nods obediently.

"Of course, mistress. Have you decided which fork of the stream we'll follow, then?"

Not exactly, but with the question put to you, the flatter path that continues into the denser wood seems the better option for the time being. "We'll avoid descending that hill for now. It would take us some time to find a safe route down, and in case we've chosen the wrong direction, this way will be easier to backtrack." She doesn't offer any dissent, not that you were expecting her to, so you suppose that your reasoning must have be plausible enough.

You both mount up on Aegis once more and follow the fork of the stream away from the hills.

After only another mile or so, the wood has become so thick that hardly any light at all filters down to the forest floor. It actually doesn't bother you - your daemon eyes adjust to the darkness quickly and you can see almost as well as before, but you allow Indra to conjure a softly glowing ball of light that hovers overhead like a torch. You're reminded of your training... any creature that lives in this sort of darkness does not hunt using eyesight anyway, so you're better off possibly giving away your position than being blind, and in this case, you're glad to have Indra's eyes watching your back.

That thought reminds you of your many lessons with War Mother Gisella, who became more like an actual mother to you than the woman that birthed you. You remember fondly sister Ivona, your dearest friend whom you fought with before the abbey was overrun, Constance, who you were **** to abandon, Penelope and Yves...

Lost in your memories, the attack catches you off-guard. Something that strikes you too quickly for you to register it knocks you off Aegis' saddle. You hit the ground hard, and the impact stuns you for a few moments.

"Sabine!" You look up just in time to see Indra whisked away from you and up into the trees, her outstretched arm reaching for you before it disappears from sight.

There's a rustling noise and movement in the undergrowth all around you. You pick yourself up and retrieve the holy blade from Aegis' saddle. You don't know what you're up against, and your companion has been plucked from you. You're at a disadvantage, but you cannot just leave Indra to her fate.