She flees

If there were people here, Ava decided, she was getting as far away as possible. She barely looked back, instead scanning the forest in front of her.

Trees as far as the eye can see, but light was reaching her so it couldn’t be that thick.

That way!

Ava ran from tree to tree, slipping behind each regularly. She kept her eyes and ears on her surroundings; make sure no one else passed through the forest, and if they did make sure she was on the other side of a tree to them.

As the sunlight got brighter she quickened, until she finally saw the distant blur of white that had to signify the end of the trees. Yes! Once out there she could get her bearings.

She glanced around, glad to see whoever had some out wasn’t behind her, and finished running. She gratefully broke out of the trees, squinting a little in the new light. She raised a hand to cover her eyes, a little breathless.

When her vision cleared, she realised she wasn’t alone. Maybe half a dozen people were in front of her, on the border of the forest. She vaguely noted the cart, probably why they were travelling-

Then she remembered she was still naked.

Biting back a shocked sound, Ava backed away, darting back into the forest. She slipped behind the nearest tree.

“Ok, you don’t have to stare,” she shouted, as irritated as she was embarrassed.

She withdrew her head, trying to regain her breath. Damn it, she’d gotten too carried away, too thrilled by the prospect of at least making it out of the forest that she’d forgotten the downside.

Out there she couldn’t hide so easily.

She glanced out again, just for a second. There were a fair few people, a couple of which were armed.

She was half-tempted to fight them, mug whatever garments she could. Just, right now, she wasn’t sure it was the best choice. Going up against superior numbers was rarely preferable, especially when it would be hard enough to even be seen by them.

People might see her. Ava flushed, wishing she was back on the Waverider. How had she ended up like this?!

She glanced out again. The cart was moving on, thankfully. She peered out, pulling her head back when she realised a couple of the men were still looking towards her hiding place.

Of course they were. She didn’t know what she expected.

She looked at what she could see without being visible again, scanning the outside of the forest. If there was a cart coming by here, as well as someone else going through the forest, that likely meant a village was nearby. Or at least some settlement.

That was a mixed blessing. On one hand, there were people, too many people; any number of them could see her.

But where there were people, there were clothes. She desperately needed them.

And there was a choice there. If she remembered her history, judging by the garb and technology of the people she’d seen, then towns would have grown out around monasteries and castles. While the towns themselves would be far too full of people, the castles at least had countless walls. If she could sneak in, and with her training she was certain she could, that was a place where she could both hide and likely steal some garment.

Or for another option, she could keep away from any settlement and just pray the Waverider of Bureau or someone found her eventually. They’d come out near here after all.

Either way, she wanted to get a look around first. It was better to get a look at the potential settlement before deciding. She hastily glanced around the tree trunk.

Ok. Those people seemed to be gone; she breathed a sigh of relief, rounded the tree, and started running.

She was barely seconds in when she heard a: “Hey! Look at that!”

Pausing, Ava looked back. Damn it, she’d fallen for her own trick; the cart hadn’t gone, just moved behind a couple more trees as it travelled along the border.

Those people were still there. Shit, they had a perfect view of her ass-

She could turn back, but there was no way to do that with any dignity. And even if she did she’d likely just end up flashing them her tits too as she tried to get back to cover.

Cheeks flaming, Ava turned her head back around and kept running, gratefully cresting a hill after far too long. She tried to ignore the ‘encouragement’ the men yelled at her, and dove down the far side.

Cover, again. And look at that; she could see the town. As she’d expected a small settlement, more a hamlet, occupied one side of the castle. If she went around though, she could get to the castle walls without going near those people.

It depended what she thought was better.