The Race part 6

**Rose and Aurora**

As Charlotte was scooped up into Delilah’s arms and her two friends bounded away down the hill in hot pursuit of Ivy and Rebecca, the screen showed that Josephine was still doggedly forging a path through the snow up the slope towards them, but for now they were alone.

“Aurora…do you mind if I ask a question?” The stitched together woman tilted her head quizzically and shook her head with a genital smile.

“You are the season Mistress, ask and I shall reply if I can…”

Rose gave a small nod, glancing back at the screen and seeing they had at least a few minutes. Delilah and Rose had drawn level with Ivy and Rebecca on their way down the mountain but two snow owls were now dive bombing Delilah and trying to distract her as Rebecca and Ivy tired to use that distraction to make progress.

“So…when the Winter King sent out his emissary and the Ice soldiers to invite Delilah and Charlotte to join him…they took the refusal at face value. I…I just did not think that’s how things would work in this…D&D inspired setting. Y’know…I’m not complaining of anything..I love that you’ve turned mine and Charlotte’s worlds into a setting…even if I wish…anyway…Umm…”

Aurora nodded sagely and gently reached out, tipping Rose’s eyes up to meet her own. “Stuttering is unbecoming of the Harem Mistress…but I shall answer your question. All of the monster encounters set up in this region…that includes the Yeti..the Winter King’s soldiers and others assorted creatures you have not yet encountered out here in the world…are optional challenges. If a contestant is firm in their refusal, they shall not engage with them and will simply move on. However by so doing the contestants loses the chance to gain loot and experience, of course the trade off is that if they do lose…they will likely become the entertainment of whomever they lost too…”

Rose spluttered and was about to speak again when Aurora continued.

“Thankfully my own brand of magic is very much based on empathic wavelengths…one of the gifts given to me by my creator along with my crafting skill. I have a constant ‘eye’ on all the contestants as well as you yourself.”

Here, Aurora smiled softly at Rose.

“If any of your Harem loses an encounter and they stop enjoying and taking pleasure in their defeat or submission, I have the monster encounters set up to be alerted at which point they will withdraw. However…”

Aurora gestured to the screen where Josephine, plastered in Yeti cum had just gotten over the ridge line and was sprinting towards the pile of backpacks.

“As you can see…one trait shared amongst all of your Harem is a submissive quality…even in those you yourself are submissive too. Hence my desire to reveal Delilah’s particular fantasy to you, I would not have set up the encounters system this way if losing a battle would result in ****.”

Rose nodded quietly, watching Josephine as the other girl grabbed a backpack with her name on it, looking at the other backpack with Olivia’s name on it and then with a snarl and a glare shot in Rose and Aurora’s direction, grabbed the second backpack up from the ground and sling it on her back as well. The holographic screen popped up a moment later. **Heroes Journey Starter Pack (Farstrider)**

Josephine swayed for a moment, and then as she kept moving she seemed to settle into an easy lope that was much steadier and more sure in her movements in the snow than she had been coming up. Aurora snapped her fingers and with a flash, Rose found herself seated comfortably on one of the leather sofa’s in the large central sitting room, dressed once more in her off the shoulder blouse and long cotton skirt. Already in one of the chairs, just accepting a mug of hot chocolate from one of the animated rag dolls Aurora used as her servants, Olivia sat dressed in jeans, t-shirt and hoodie, her hair still damp from a shower.

“Umm…Aurora can you…summon the screens so I can see the rest of the journey down?” With a small nod the Homunculus waved a hand and the three screens appeared once more showing that Delilah was pulling ahead by a comfortable lead with Charlotte still in her arms over Ivy and Rebecca who were steadily making good progress back down the mountain.