Loot!

Emmaline used her flames to find the various arcane wards marked on the walls. As she pointed them out, Gruul dutifully carved the wood around the sigil before placing it carefully to the side. As they began to slowly dismantle the building, Emmaline watched Gruul and thought about Fuu. She was planning on jumping the Gnoll when they got to a secluded area, but he had effectively dumped cold water on her with the information he provided. Gruul’s own worries were gnawing at Emmaline’s mostly innocent fantasies.

While Emmaline would be using the image of Fuu coming on Gruul’s thick knot in many fantasies for the future, it was dangerous. She probably should recommend a swift end to any results of the ritual they had witnessed. There was no telling what kind of corruption would be sewn into a child born from a ritual connected to that gnarled Shaman.

Before she could continue to worry, Gruul grunted and pulled out a trunk from under a makeshift desk. Emmaline looked over, not getting closer in case it was trapped. No sense in them both being hit by potential traps. “What’s in it?”

Gruul lifted it carefully, having caught onto Emmaline’s own caution. He didn’t tilt it but shifted it sideways to hear the contents move slightly. “Fabric?”

Emmaline nodded. “Can you get at it from the bottom?”

Gruul placed it on the desk and began to cut into the base with a claw. He hadn’t asked questions or anything. His complete trust took Emmaline aback but she quickly focused again. “Let gravity do the work. Don’t reach inside.”

Gruul pulled the now damaged chest off the desk and the bottom immediately fell to the ground along with its contents. A heap of clothes hit the ground with a ‘thump’. Sitting on top were Fuu’s own stolen clothes.

After a moment of tense silence Emmaline took a step forward. “Clothes?” She shook her head. “Is the lid trapped?”

Gruul crouched down to look up and see the lid. “Yes.”

Emmaline quickly dashed over to check the clothes. They consisted mostly of women’s clothes. “Why would they trap a box of clothes?”

Gruul placed the box carefully on the table. “For the prisoners, most likely. They wouldn’t want to run naked into the woods if they could help it.”

Emmaline looked down at her own, still naked body. “That’s fair. I would not be looking forward to walking through the forest like this.”

Gruul took a majority of the clothes from her and then started walking slowly. “I will let you get dressed. I’ll get these to the others.”

Emmaline smirked. “Such a gentleman.” She threw a simple top on that tickled at her upper thighs but kept her mostly covered and jogged after him. “But I want to keep exploring.” She actually got a chuckle out of the big Gnoll.

They found the other Bravos quickly. Liv was talking to Moriah. The blacksmith's daughter was clearly interested in Liv’s rifle. Fuu was speaking with Maya and Melody, the latter almost hiding behind the other girl. Becky was over by the prison area, giving tonics to the unconscious girls and taking notes. All the previous naked girls were covered by threadbare blankets, except Fuu who had decided to remain naked.

Gruul was quick to excuse himself after Emmaline and he delivered the clothes. The clothes were quickly parceled out to the prisoners first but Fuu was able to end up back in her own clothes again. Fuu was so distracted with organizing the other Bravos, she barely noticed Emmaline slip back down the cavern to find Gruul.

Emmaline’s flame preceded her as she caught up to the white furred Gnoll. “Miss me?”

Gruul rolled his eyes but responded seriously. “Of course.”

Emmaline giggled and followed the Gnoll to the other unexplored chamber.