Trust her judgement

The noises behind you are getting louder and there is no time to lose. You plunge after Alina, wishing you had time and resources to change your armour and heavy boots to an outfit more like the scout. You follow her athletic figure as swiftly and quietly as you are able while keeping up, and yet she still is lost in the undergrowth ahead from time to time.

Unwilling to call out, you keep up as best you can until Alina vanishes up ahead. Hurrying to catch up you break into a clearing, only to find a nest of spider vines right in your path. With a curse you leap a questing tendril, desperately trying not to brush its trigger hairs whilst hastily preparing to bring your magic to bear. You are ready to send a stunning pulse at the central pod of the nearest plant when a knife crosses your vision. You can’t help but follow it’s path and your mouth open later as it sinks into the vine nearest you. With a vicious creak and a snap, the vine coils like a trap, engulfing your calf up beyond the knee, pulling you to the ground with a jerk.

You look up in panic to see Alina advancing swiftly with a long cudgel, her eyes set on you! Grinding your teeth at the betrayal you swing your arm at her, ready magic now boiling from your fist. Her shriek of pain and anger as you desperately sweep the mystical current across her tells of the damage you are doing, but a jerk from the plant throws your aim. You see her lunge with blurring speed, distorted features seeming like slow motion as she snarls and smokes, baton arcing toward you. There is a crunch somewhere and then the ground rises up to meet you. You vaguely feel more tugging at your leg.. harsh ragged breathing.. yours? Or hers..? Then.. nothing..