"Sammy insisted on trying to cover the trail, Kay and Ced are on front making sure we're not going to run into a wild boar or anything stupid, Benj is out wide trying to keep an eye on them without being spotted and come back if they change course."

"Can you pull Sammy back? If they decide to follow us, they're Day heralds designed for combat, they can see a trail even if it's got some new brush over it."

One of the close protection Thorns rushes off to act on Allegra's command.

Allegra continues to make sure Pelape can proceed in reasonably good order away from the Trod.

A few minutes later, Benj comes crashing through the undergrowth. "They're investigating... the trail," he reports, somewhat breathlessly, "Don't think... saw me, but, will overtake you..."

"We can take a few of them," declares one of the close protection Thorns. "It's going to be messy though. Or we could move Pelape faster in a carry, but that'll leave less of us to fight."

LONG PRECISE STEPS.

"Ideally, no-one fights," Allegra replies. "Pelape, I know it's undignified, but would you mind travelling Thorn Express for a bit?"

"That's fine, thank you."

The close protection Thorns pick Pelape up (in a practiced chair hold, if somewhat like she's a semi-conscious casualty), bid her to hold on, and start hoofing it off into the wilderness, leaving Allegra significantly behind.

In a few minutes, the sound of steel clashing, cries of pain and a horrible inhuman roar can be heard faintly through the trees behind them.

She holds on. She tries not to distract her ride.

It is quite a while until her carriers are out of breath, and slow down and listen carefully to the silent woods, before depositing her gently back on the ground.

"Well," one of them says. "I guess we should get to Seren."

"You can go to Seren if you want," snaps the other one, "I'm going to see what happened and maybe fetch Dafyd."

"Where should I go?"

"Where would you like to go?" asks the one who wanted to head on to Seren.

The other glares at both of them for a moment, then runs off into the trees.

"...wherever's safe to be at the moment?"

"Seren's the safest. I - don't imagine the Cold Sun will bother with Foundhome - but Seren has watchtowers and hundreds of heavily armed Thorns, if we can get there then nothing's going to touch us there."

"Then I'll go there with you. Thank you."

"Let me just get my bearings." The Thorn climbs a nearby tree to get a better look at where they actually are - fortunately the Golden Trees of Seren make it an extremely easy landmark to sight. "Are you going to hold up through undergrowth? Safest way to get there is probably to go through the densest undergrowth we can find, as they're probably not looking for us, but we don't want any long sight lines. I'm dressed for it, but I'm not sure how durable whatever that is you're wearing is?"

"It's pretty flimsy. Unless it's valuable as an artifact of my civilization I don't strongly value it but I'd get scratched up."

"Hmm. Okay, we can head through the open forest, but you've got to be ready for me to chuck you over my shoulders and run for it if I spot any of those blue fuckers, we're only going to get away from them if they think we're a deer or something."

"Got it."

The route that the Thorn leads her on is still pretty overgrown in places, but avoids the worst of the thorny snarls of bramble.

Every now and then her guide stops to climb a tree; generally the Thorn is paying keen attention to the surroundings, which are rich in birdsong - and small mammals fleeing their presence.

She does almost grab Pelepe at one point, but realises the movement she saw was just a deer before she follows through.

Eventually, the light begins to fade, and shortly after that, someone well concealed in a tree calls out, "Hold and identify yourselves!" 

The Thorn appears to consider this normal and indeed something of a relief, and replies, "Karis Foundhome, and Pelepe who is my guest."

Oh good, friendly security. Is that enough introduction or does she need to confirm she's Pelape.

"And what brings you sneaking through the woods, Foundhome briar and her 'guest'?" The voice does not sound all that convinced and pronounces 'Foundhome briar' like some kind of slur.

"The rest of our party was ambushed by Cold Sun heralds on the road and are probably all dead," replies Karis, starting out coldly angry and almost spitting the last word. "Pelape is from another world and might be incredibly important, which is why my friends all died to get her to Seren. Are you going to let us through, or should we stand here arguing until the heralds catch up?"

"Cold Sun on the road? I have to report that in! Are they hot on your tail?"

"Don't think so but if they were stealthy they could have possibly stalked us, we didn't go very fast."

"...yeah, we hopefully left them behind a while back, but if you could get a fast patrol up the road you might still get them before they hit First Voice," Karis admits.