a good knight, then a frighting creature

Ambriel will look for material to upgrade her stick to a better weapon

looking around Ambriel finds some sharp rocks and some more fiber to put together a solid makeshift hatchet. it's simple and crude, but for the time being it'll probably do

crafting a tool made Ambriel less sad, but not quite happy yet. Feeling confident, not naked anymore and with a weapon, Ambriel thinks she can explore a bit the forest.

Ambriel starts to explore the forest, slowly getting around and seeing this unfamiliar land for the first time. It is then, she hears the sound of metal, like many chains rattling against each other. footsteps of leathery boots is heard as well. someone is close by

Ambriel retracts most of her wings in her back to make them less visible at first sight. Not seeing any hiding place near by, she get against a tree in a defensive stance, waiting to see what's coming

she sees a feminine figure clad in armor. the warrior seems well armed and armored, striding confidently through the forest

seeing another woman in this forest made Ambriel less anxious. She left her defensive stance and waved to her

"Hello"

the woman looks at Ambriel and bows slightly

"Greetings, Mylady. You should not be here, in these lands. It is dangerous to travel alone in these parts!"

" well, i sure didn't choose to be there in the first place. I sort of woke up there. Where are we by the way? Is there civilisation around?"

"This forest is a place of evil. Many unfortunate souls have met their fate between these trees, some found themselves in places even worse than ****. It is everywhere and nowhere. You shall not find civilized folk here, only monsters in many forms lurk beneath this canopy."

"That's not good to hear. Could you help me please? I don't know exactly what to do to get out."

"Through endurance and **** of will. If you wish to leave and traverse this forest long enough and endure its schemes and traps then you will prevail and eventually leave it."

"well, at least there hope. I'm actually a bit weaker than i'm used to be, but i should have enough **** of will. I'll train on my endurance. thanks for the advice. May I ask if I can join you on travels if that's no such bother ?"

"Alas, Mylady, that would be ill advised. I was send here to vanquish a great evil, a subverter and fiend. I seek out strong foes and traveling with me would surely get you killed or worse. For now it is best we part ways for my path is ridden with incredible beasts."

"understandable. I wish you good luck in your quest then. Keep safe."

she reaches into one of her pockets, handing Ambriel a small charm, a chain with a tiny chalice at the end

"Take this, a talisman from my order. If you are faithful it will quench your thirst on your journey."__

a little sad that she can't join the lady warrior, Ambriel still got some informations on the land.

"Thank you for such gift. It will sure help me. I'm Ambriel by the way. What's your name glorious lady?"

"I am Hellen la Hylia, knight of the order of the chalice, Mylady."

"i'll remember your kind gesture. You're a good knight, bless on you. Be victorious."

she solemnly nods, before she turns and strides into the forest, looking for her enemy and quest

Ambriel makes a mental note for when she'll be back in the cloudd to check on that knight, and tonhrlp her if possible.

Then Ambriel goes further on exploration.

a few hours later, ambriel notices a slight change in her surroundings. What began as a faint smell turned into an awful stench. The trees around her look sickish and rotten, the grass is gone and mud, mushrooms and sharp single blades of weed cover the floor. then she can hear the familiar sound if wings, but these are not angelic feathery wings but they sound leathery, ominous and heavy

not feeling very welcomed, Ambriel tried to take cover behind tree, even if they are rotten.

soon enough she feels a strong presence of something vile close by, chittering and paws treading on the ground, the wings flapping every now and then

the creature sniffs the air, seeking out its current prey. from all the confusing information, Ambriel cannot make out what she is facing. It might be undead, but its beastlike features could make it anything.

it seems just hiding behind the tree does her no good, as suddenly the rotten and weak wood is torn asunder from the swipe of a claw, luckily missing Ambriel yet. she faces a monstrous undead creature, looking like a Sphinx that turned to necrotic magic

"Yikes!"

Ambriel doesn't know how to respond, or what could be best to do facing that. She stutters, trying to get inti a deffensive stance.

"He.... Hello. "

the creatures stares at her, then grins sadistically

"You look like fine prey. Something worth deifiling. I thought some dump animal stumbled into my den but you.... your divine presence almost makes me feel alive again... alive and in the mood to hurt that pristine body of yours."

"please, don't hurt me. I didn't know it was your den. Please let me leave."

Ambriel hopes she can appeal to the good conscience of the creature, not really knowing if that a good move or if that'll make it angrier

she laughs at you, her claws springing forth from her feline paws again

"You beg already? How pathetic. If you submit to my will it will be over much quicker. Otherwise i'll have to take what i desire by ****."

The creatures eyes Ambriel up and down, and her pure presence is making the angel feel sick

"Now, what will it be? Will you offer that body for my pleasure or dare stand against me?"

Ambriel know her chances are very low, but she can't resolve herself to surrender to evil, she has to try... Even defeat in battle would be better than giving up...

So without replying, she plan to feint in a way and to run in the other.... Hoping to survive

the surprise of Ambriel just running and then feinting helps put some distance between her and the Lamasu

"A chase! How lovely... it'll make the spoils so much sweeter!"

Ambriel, not used to run as a mortal, stumble on a root

unused to running with her feet, ambriel tumbles, letting the lamasu close the distance she made in her first attempt

she laughs triumphantly as she soars down towards Ambriel who quickly gets back up

surprisingly, Ambriel can make some distance again

even given her most valiant effort, the creature inevitably closes in on Ambriel again, shrieking in excitement

the lamasu, sure of her victory comes down but the tree is surprisingly sturdy, blocking her off. Ambriel has almost escaped, only one more spurt before she is free of her pursuer

against all odds and with sheer luck on her side, Ambriel escapes, the angry screams of the Lamasu echoing behind her through the forest

Ambriel still isn't believing her luck. Escaping that beast was a miracle. So she still hopes that she can go back to the clouds.

"pfffew, that was a very close one"__

she takes some time to get her breathing under control, and her mortal body hurt much from the running

she checks if her crafted clothes survived such intense stress

for now the dress like garment is fine, and the few patches that opened she can quickly fix

Ambriel will look for food while there's still some daylight

Ambriel finds the same berries again and knowing they are safe to eat gets enough to sustain herself

Ambriel uses the talisman to get water for her thirst and to clean herself a little. Then she makes fire to sleep for the night

the night is cold and its hard to fall asleep, and Ambriel wakes up still tired when the first light breaks through the leaves

the fire she managed to enkindle is burnt out when she wakes up