The Head Girl merely kept focus on maintaining her spell. It was a test of whether all the experiments and testing by NICE labs made her more proficient and capable as one with magical potential. It was all she could really do. She only knew some basics about the outdoors and it was difficult to say how much that changed when it came to his world. Perhaps looking at the night sky would reveal some information through what stars she could see or seeing how the sun rose and set on the planet. But for now, she could not even navigate this unknown landscape even if she wanted to take the lead.

Vera followed Nix. The other woman would not notice much beyond perhaps a shimmer of light here and there as the spell enveloped them both. The Head Girl would rather not test how far this spell could carry them. Fighting exhausted would only put them at a further disadvantage.

A goblin did not seem to spot either of them which was a good sign that things were working for now. The wolf seemed a bit better at noticing something was not right in the air.

Following the stream led the pair to a small camp with a single figure fishing. The severed goblin heads were perhaps a deterrent for any curious green men that come this way.

Vera sighed, letting the spell disperse. "I'm not swimming unless we have no other choice." She did not know what was in the water and getting soaked would only add sickness to potential issues in the future. She did not know why Nix asked for her opinion on the matter. Vera was more lost than a native in this place.

If Nix did not have a plan then, talking to others would be required. Vera could not afford avoiding everyone despite the obvious risks. She had to figure out how she got here and how to get out. As unpleasant Shokushu is, it was a place she was familiar with.

The Head Girl pulled her long silver hair behind her shoulders and approached visibly towards the fisherman. "Hello? Excuse me? We are trying to find our way through the forest. Any directions towards a town or city would be helpful. If not, can we at least pass through your camp?" Vera called out towards the individual as she moved closer, stopping several paces away just in case.

Ruling out swimming as a means of slinking by Vera found Nix had no real suggestions. Like the Head Girl she was out of her element in this terrain. Possible not as bad when it came to the world itself. She had to be a native to this realm, right? There could be an out side chance that she was another student but that felt wrong somehow.

Dropping her spell Vera approached. She heard Nix dropping the branch too as unsuitable as it was as a weapon she didn't want to bestow the wrong vibe as they approached.

At her call the being glanced in their direction. A male, an elder of undetermined years. But definitely not human at least Vera didn't think so. Humanoid she could see that the eyes were a solid black in coloration. He had numerous eye sized black spots and the closer she got she noted the additional limbs now that they began to move.

He stared at them. A hand making lazy gestures. Then standing to his full height Vera could hear the cracking of his back. Two hands sat on his hips as he stretched out his back some. “Could you repeat that?”

His mouth lined with pointed teeth. Vera felt the spark of mana briefly, some sort of ability that allowed him to comprehend their speech she inferred since his lips didn't sync up with the words he spoke. Once she had repeated what she said he paused. One hand pointing back the way they came, another across the stream diagonally.

“The direct route of course. A better question is where are you heading?” A third arm pointed up the hill diagonally after additional consideration. “Neither of you looks prepared to venture in this forest. The closest way out is back the way you came. Hm. We you the cause of that ruckus? Stirring up that troll?”

He stood at the edge of the platform. Black eyes considering the two of them. Not to her surprise Vera wasn't getting anything off of the humanoid. He seemed curious but it was hard to say for sure. Nor was it easy to see where he was looking as those eyes lacked pupils. He did shift his attention between them but focused more on Vera for whatever reason.

If it were any other student from Shokushu or Earth, the fisherman's appearance would have sparked an obvious reaction. But for Vera who had to work or endure various alien species and entities, this was hardly anything beyond her scope of reason. He was nowhere near as terrifying as the monsters she had fled from so far since waking up in this world.

Feeling magic being channeled only revealed another potential threat. But, there was little that could be done about it now. He was able to speak and understand her and was not immediately assaulting her.

"Going back is not an option for us," Vera stated, "We had to flee from men who wanted to take us somewhere and flying monsters that wished to eat us. The troll tried to attack us though I am not certain what stirred it up. Goblins were attacking us prior to that."

"We just wish to go to a town or city that will not throw us into another wagon and bring us back here," the Head Girl continued, "We have no supplies and staying here will only result in us becoming a meal or worse. Two others who were with us were lost when the goblins and troll attacked us."

Goblins was the name that came to mind from what she saw of them and this world referred to the large monster as a troll. How much this world used fantasy genre terms was unclear. This could very well be a fabricated dream world and using knowledge in her head to fill in the blank. Or it could be some sort of story a monster put together to see how she would react. The options and intentions were endless and it was doubtful any inhabitant would be able to answer her.

The being comprehended her terms easily enough. When she mentioned the goblins he inclined his head to gaze uphill. Either it was the same term or the magic he had used deciphered her words to the equivalent of the creatures she had come across.

He reflected on her words, not surprised by the actions of the creatures.

“The goblins will not cross the stream. They are unlikely to get this close to it. I wouldn't put it past them to take shots at you with their bows though generally they only do that to spoke their prey into running into other ambushes. Here you are at the edge of their territory and just as likely to flee out of it than into a trap they set.

“Going back is not an option for you. You have no supplies. This is bad. Very bad.” He stroked his chin as he thought. “Your companions are already guests of the goblins. A lost cause. Soon to be dead once they have lost their entertainment value … unless the humans you fled find them. I have seen some humans not long ago. Not enough of them to challenge the goblins and their enforcer.

“You trade, I help.” The man appraised each in turn. With a gesture towards his hut a string fired forth from the tip of an index finger drawing a small chest toward him. “I have one crystal ...” he considered the right words. As he spoke his thoughts converted to something that made more sense to Vera.

“This stone allows one to transport to a location … a reverse summoning. One time use, one person. The other stays here. Trade?” He looked between them as if assessing which to trade for. Or maybe he was sizing them up in the event that they tried to take the crystal.

Nix wished she hadn't discarded the branch. Her nerves spiked along with her confusion.

“Wait!? What are you saying?”

He didn't answer. There was no need to explain. Should they refuse he would shrug but not hinder them if they wished to pass by. He would watch them until they were out of sight should they attempt an attack. Overall he didn't seem to worried about them or even the goblins.

Vera did not need to know the details of what was happening to the other girls. She could figure that out easily enough on her own. The strange spider-like man may have been trying to scare them into agreeing to such a one-sided trade. The Head Girl hardly could call this a trade at all.

"Reducing our numbers by half is not a trade," Vera stated coldly, "It is dooming us. Looks like you are not interested in aiding us. We will take our leave."

There was no need to consider it at all. Vera did not know the limitations of such a stone. Would it bring her back to her world? She doubts it. Interplanetary teleportation seemed beyond what a small could do, magic or not. She also had no clue where it would take her since she had never seen any towns or cities yet. Even if teleported her to relative safety, she would be entirely alone and a prime target for the next batch of humans who want to take advantage of her predicament.

Vera also did not want to know what this creature wanted from keeping one woman in his camp. Would Nix consider the deal and leave the silver haired woman behind? The Head Girl had no intention of waiting and allowing herself to be used in such a bargain.

"Let's go, Nix," Vera called as she continued down along the river. As long as they do not cross over into monster territory, maybe they can avoid further conflict. Staying would only goad this man to try and take advantage of them further. Following the river would hopefully lead them somewhere.

Whether they could last long enough to reach civilization was a question. If not, they would have to do something about food and water along with finding a place to rest. Hopefully, Nix knew something about what was edible around here.

“Suit yourself.” The man grinned. Taking back up his fishing pole after being moderately distracted. He watched them go. Nix following after Vera to catch up as she attempted to process the last few moments. Vera could feel that confusion and uncertainty along with a touch of fear. Mostly relief since she herself wasn't considering the creature's deal.

Continuing on Vera saw clear differences between each side of the forest. The trees and vegetation on this side all had a sickly hue. Twisted and dying for the most part. It seemed that their was some form of corruption in them.

While not much better the other side of the stream looked healthier. There was the occasional flower even some berries and fruit. Life, while not abundant, existed over there. Things she equated to birds and squirrels. There were the occasional thing on this side though none of it looked appealing.

Withered and dried out berries, while edible, were bitter an unappealing. Still, it would sustain them in a pinch Nix told here. It was that and make due or attempt to cross over the stream for other bounty for what amounted to only marriageable better fair.

After pressing on for a fair bit it grew even darker. Night was approaching and visibility wasn't the greatest. While Vera could generate light no doubt it would be a beacon to anyone searching for them. On this side of the stream they hadn't seen anything outside the random goblin in the trees at the top of the hill.

Stealth being a bigger priority the two sought out suitable terrain to rest until they had more light. Between the two of them they scrounged up some food. Not enough to sate their hunger but enough to keep going for the time being.

They came to a point that lacked the scarce brush on their side of the stream. The ground yielded beneath their feet causing them to sink a few inches. Like mud and yet not at the same time. The substance sprang back up gradually as they passed and wasn't as messy as mud slipping off their legs rather than clinging to them. It did slow them down and caused their calves to strain with the effort of freeing themselves.

“This stuff would even slow that troll down,” Nix joked more in an effort to displace their hardships. In the gloom up ahead they could see a tree spanning the stream.

On inspection when they got closer Vera concluded it was cut down on the other side. She could see the stump where the tree once grew. Branches were cut off and the top of the tree was smoothed down forming a makeshift bridge that they could cross in single file.

Why anyone would want to cross over to this side was anyone's guess. But it was clear that they spent the time making a bridge that would last. It soon became apparent why their could be a bridge here when they saw the opening of a cave in the hill.

But before they had a chance of checking it out or going over their options that “mud” clung to her legs. Unyielding she felt as if something was holding her. From the sounds of struggling Nix wasn't fairing any better. Shapes began to bubble up from the ground. Growing larger by the second.

Tendrils of mud wound about their legs. Some even reaching up towards her arms. Vera could hear the taring of clothes behind her. She could hear Nix's struggles as well as sense her fear and adrenaline dump. There as one large lump among the dozen or so tendrils. Something moved from this side of the tree bridge. The ground rippling as it neared the pair where the bulk of whatever this was had been situated.

The silver haired student had to rely on Nix to find anything edible. It was not pleasant tasting but it put something in their bellies. Hopefully, they would not have to go multiple nights like this.

"Ngh!" Vera jerked her legs out of the muck they stepped in. Going through deep mud was not a wise choice. It would be difficult to escape anyone or anything that attacks them while traversing this bog. But, there was no telling what was lurking in the woods or how far off track they would have to go to get around this.

She said nothing of Nix's joke, letting her companion calm their nerves. A bridge and cave seemed to be ahead. Both would be better than this muck. But, this strange muck suddenly tightened, holding both women in place. Slimy tendrils rose up along with a large mass. Was this all one big formless creature?

With tendrils rapidly writhing and closing in, Vera did not have time to analyze. Words of magic crawled through the air as swirls of darkness formed into a dense orb of pitch blackness. She thrust her palm towards the large mass as it was the only thing that stood out besides the tentacles. It was unlikely she could bind something that was formless. She was not even certain this could even damage the creature. But, the Head Girl was not going to let this thing take her without fighting back.

If she managed to throw the orb, Vera would observe if it could sink into the large lump. If she saw it enter the mass, the Head Girl would let the spell unravel inside, sending the dark mana bursting outwards.

Vera was in a better state than Nix. Having her arms free at least for the moment, she got off her incantation sending a sphere of darkness ahead of her. That sphere melding with the formless mass. Sinking into it just as their legs had with the bog. There was some resistance but the mud yielded against the sphere quickly engulfing it. She would have been hard pressed to see the resistance at all.

An explosion followed. That large shape sending splatters of mud in all directions. Some of which splattered across the head girl. The tendrils began waving about blindly or tightening against whatever they grasped in Nix's case. The mud about her legs loosened enough for her to pull free and make a few steps closer to the cave of bridge that was devoid of this gunk.

Nix could only move so far. The tentacles on her arms restricting her from taking more than two steps. Vera managed a bit more than that before the creature, whatever it was, came to it's senses again. Mud stiffening up around their legs again. Some tentacles sinking, others emerging closer to the pair.

These grabbed at her wrists while the mud she had been splattered with oozed down her body. Clumping together and squeezing around those impressive breasts. More tentacles joined in taring open clothes to reveal those orbs. Ripping up the sides of her garment to reveal her legs.

Struggle as the pair might the mud was just too strong. It felt somewhat solid too yet left no material behind as she was restrained. Wrists held along with her legs it went to work on molesting her. A pair of tentacles circling and squeezing those breasts. Another rising up below her brushed against her slit while another still stretched up to coil around her neck. Thinner than the others it had yet to squeeze or restrict her in any way.

It was then that the larger shape began to emerge. Closer to Vera now it sort of resembled a head as large as she was tall and wider by twice as much. There were pits that could be eyes and that was defiantly a mouth that opened up. A long tongue stretching out like a frog's. Latching over her breast. Rolling over the nipple as it made small notions. As it tasted her the pressure of the restraining tentacles increased to lessen the slack. Nearly tugging her down on her knees she would feel the swell of pressure between her thighs at her entrance a it slowly gave way to it's intrusion.

The restraints served to draw her down as it pressed upward against her until that girth spread her apart allowing it to slip inside her chalice. Practically on her knees as it stops inside her that grasp loosens up slightly allowing circulation back into her limbs.

A brief pause and it began moving inside her. Deep hard thrusts that reached down to her cervix. That tongue alternating attention to the other nipple. The same effect was occurring with Nix behind her. She felt that spike of fear, clearly heard to squish of her being penetrated along with muffled gasps and gagging as her throat was fucked.

It had been at that moment another muddy tentacle emerged from the muck. Mud pooled off it revealing a pink colored mass that streaked towards her lips seeking admittance. Forcing the issue if necessary given the hold it had already on her neck to still her head and even squeeze with force to remind her of the situation she was in.

The spell managed to disrupt the creature but Vera could not tell if any lasting damage was actually done. Getting out of the muck was all she could do if she was going to have any chance of fighting back. Unfortunately, the mud once again tightened and stopped the Head Girl's retreat.

"Tch! Nnngh!" It was a familiar state and sensation she felt from her time on Shokushu island. Tentacles closed in, easily grabbing hold of the trapped woman's wrists. More muddy appendages rose from the muck to rip apart her only clothing since waking up in this world. Bare skin was exposed to the eager molestations of the monster, revealing its lewd intentions. Limbs strained but there was no escaping the creature's grasp. Glistening orbs were wrapped and squeezed, causing the luscious tit-flesh to thrust outwards as the silver haired woman bit down on her lip to avoid making a sound.

A larger mass surfaced from the muck, revealing what could only be described as the creature's head. Thighs tried to close as Vera felt touched along her inner thigh and her exposed chalice. A tendril wrapped around the woman's throat, ready to stifle any further resistance should it arise. Vera could only glare at the pits that were possibly eyes. Both women were trapped.

Vera sank further into the mud as she felt pressure build against her slit. Her jaw clenched but there was nothing stopping the searing pain of the tentacle penetrating her. Her exposed breasts were given attention by the monster's tongue, dragging over her soft peaks. She could hear Nix suffering a similar fate as her. All either of them could hope was that this creature would let them go once it was satisfied.

Another tentacle rose before Vera, forcing her to take it into her mouth. "Mgh!" Her own cries of pain were quickly muffled by the tendril pushing into her throat. The Head Girl avoided gagging for now though the taste was nothing short of disgusting. Heat rose in her cheeks in embarrassment and anger. But for now, she could only endure this as the monster molested and violated her sex and throat as it pleased. Breasts bounced and swayed in the grasp of the tentacles as every thrust made her body rise and fall in the sticky muck.

The goblins, even the troll and that spider-thing were likely to keep them until they grew board or broke them. The other denizens like the wolf and those shriekers were prone on just eating them. But this thing, whatever it was, could go either way. It at least wanted to enjoy the two for now but even a cat plays with it's food.

Sometimes a prey animal manages to escape because of this. Often it doesn't.

The mud was almost like a second layer of skin Vera found. It moved on it's own even revealing the pink flesh beneath that tentacle that took her mouth. As she found the taste was still nasty. Other patches of mud crawled over her flesh. Those large melons abused and teased as other tentacles clenched around them.

Vera could see nothing in those empty eyes. It felt as if it were watching her exclusively. The only real threat perhaps. Hence the hold it had over her neck. Constricting it whenever she attempted to speak. Fortunately for her it ignored the usual sounds it was use to hearing.

While it pressed deep inside her mud clung to her inner thighs rolling off the thick member. She could her the sounds of her and Nix's bodies clapping up against this thing as it continued to fill them. Eager full thrusts at first then as struggling lessened it adjust. Slowing down each thrust. Relaxing it's hold on the pair.

She was moved by these tentacles. Her back pressed up against Nix's own. The head sank back into the mud though ripples on it's surface indicated movement beneath the pair. Lifting them up out of the mud the head appeared beneath them. Thinner tentacles stretching up to manipulate their clits.

Elevated enough she could easily see atop the hill though saw no goblins. On the other side of the river she thought she saw movement but had been unable to move her head much in that direction.

Something wet pressed over her ass. Rolling dexterously against her anus. It wasn't as thick as the restraining tentacles and had to be a tongue or simply another smaller tentacle like the one brushing over her clit.

A warm liquid flowed down her throat. A heat collecting in her stomach then expanding to her chest. A tingly began to flow throw those limbs. Whatever she had been forced to ingest tasted like black licorice. While not an aphrodisiac the chemical concoction had an effect on many humanoid species. It had the effect of numbing pain receptors and giving a boost of energy at the same time.

“OH FUCK! NO! DON'T! I CAN'T!!!” Nix had full use of her voice. Vera could feel her squirming uselessly. She felt a huge spike in fear, more than she already had.

She almost missed it with the thing pushing into her ass. Other emotions hitting her. A jumble but none her own or Nix's. Confusion. Caution. Disbelief. Excitement.

Something else was near. Many somethings. The hilltop was still quiet so it wasn't the goblins as far as she knew.

The two women were repositioned, their naked bodies pressed against one another as the tentacles molested and fucked their helpless forms. Tears formed in Vera's eyes from the pressure of the tentacle pumping into her mouth and throat. Her hips jolt with every thrust into her sex and womb, the monster showing no mercy in violating its delectable prizes.

Emotions flared from Nix. If there were other sources, Vera was not entirely aware. She could not really focus on much while she was being ravaged from both ends. Her breasts bulged around the tightening tendrils. Eyes widened as she was forced fed some sort of monstrous concoction. Every tweak of her clit sent the swollen bulb of nerves twitching, sending jolts of raw stimulation up and down her spine.

Nix's lips were still free to scream and protest. The chances of something out there hearing her was high enough but it was unknown if anyone would come much less actually wish to help them. Vera could not do anything but choke down more of the fluid while she felt something pushing up against her anus. Her ass clenched though that only delayed the monster briefly. She soon felt searing heat surging along her tight passage as both tentacles rubbed against one another through her inner walls.

Juices slurped around the pumping tendril, Vera's body betraying as her pain receptors were further dulled, leaving behind only smoldering heat seeping into her every part of her quivering lower belly. Her head shook as her body began tensing, feeling that molten metal bubbling up inside her, threatening to surge her straight into oblivion.

Pain was dulled somewhat by that concoction that Vera ingested. Getting to that point had been brutal as the pair were taken.

Had it not been for the sounds of torment and the fact that their backs were pressed together it would have been easy to forget about Nix given the torment that she faced. Torment that slowly dissolved into pleasure. Tentacles continued to squeeze her breasts. Another, the one fucking her mouth, slid between those mounds that were pressed together to form a tunnel.

Sweeping motions ran against her clit as her ass was eaten out by this thing. It was hard to distinguish at first but that tentacle felt wetter than the one plundering her depths.

Stronger emotions swirled from Nix.

“GOD! NO! NO! NOOO!!!”

Vera could hear something going on, a sloshing behind her that formed up near the surface of the mud than rose upward, possibly transversing one of those tentacles. Fear and ecstasy smacked into her.

In the moment everything tended to blend together. There were other emotions that did not emanate from her traveling companion. The group moved in for a closer look though none interjected yet. Neither had a plan been but into place as each enjoyed the show. Some were confused but aroused.

Were the other two were had been anyone's guess but these two were here. They watched on until one got a clear look at the bulge forming in one of those tentacles. The bulge rising upward slowly as it progressed toward Vera's womb. Either a huge load or something far more insidious.

At about the half way point they noticed the other prisoner suffering the same fate though that bulge was nearly at it's destination. Attempting to squeeze into Nix. Not wishing to take that chance, not that it mattered in the long run, the leader notched an arrow.

Soon the head of the creature burst like a water balloon. Spheres of light were hurled across the river landing in the mud. Small explosions caused the mud to buckle, the creature responding with a shrill noise despite the lack of a mouth currently. More akin to a lobster being boiled alive, the tentacles retracted from the pair dropping them as they retreated back into the mud. The thing seemed to shift from solid to liquid in response to the attack.

That mud cushioned their fall though before she could get to her feet Vera could hear boots on that wooden makeshift bridge. If she was more aware of her surroundings she would have seen the ripple in the mud as the monster fled to the cave. It being visible as sludge as it left the camouflage of the mud to an area devoid of it.

Several humans had been on the other side of the river now moving to follow their commander. Humans, no doubt pursuers.

“Well, what do we have here?” The leader approached, an arrow notched in his bow as he looked at the pair. A grin spreading across his features. “Good thing we didn't need a virgin sacrifice. Fortunately the Shriekers already fed this month. Unfortunately you two cost me a few men so I'll be needing to recoup my loses. Were are the others?”

He was off the bridge now and others were now on it. It was hard to miss their arousal or the look of lust within their eyes. Clearly she felt their arousal and excitement. Their leader was a blank slate other than the visual clues she gathered from him.

Orbs bulged around the squeezing tentacles. Arms could only fruitlessly strain against their bonds as both women were violated. Toes curled inside the muck as Vera's body tensed and clenched around the thrusting invaders. She gagged and choked down the vile fluids flooding her throat. Nix continued to scream and plead to the empty air around them.

Eyes shut tight as the tendrils seemed to tense and swell, no doubt preparing to unleash its vile seed inside their helpless bodies. Vera could not even pull her legs together to try and close her thighs. Orbs of light flew into the mud and detonated, sending the monster screeching and fleeing into the nearby cave, leaving both women gasping in the muck.

Eyes looked up at the approaching men coming from across the bridge. It seems whatever faction abducted them before had tracked them down. The how or why was irrelevant at this point. She could see and feel how most of the men leered at her though the leader was oddly emotionless or blocking her ability.

Despite being rescued, being taken by these men would only result in being back to square one in their situation. The leader had his bow ready and more men were coming. Still in the mud, Vera's hands would make gestures in the mud as she began to channel her mana.

Being shot with an arrow was preferable to whatever these men had planned for them. There was no point in revealing anything about the others though it was not like the missing women were retrievable at this point. Vera doubts this man cared about the loss of his men. Less men just meant less mouths to feed and hands to pay. It was not like either of them could help their losses lest they are sold somewhere.

Vera's jaw clenched as she channeled her mana through her body. She would try and produce as bright of flash of light as she could, taking advantage of the darkness and how poorly human eyes adjusted to sudden changes in brightness. The silver haired student could only hope the arrow would be off target while blinded and the men crossing the makeshift bridge would struggle with their nullified vision.

The Head Girl would grab Nix by the arm and flee away from the river and into the forest. She would take her chances with whatever was lurking there than let these men take her again.

The situation unfolded. Saved, yet not. All the possibilities of recapture swirled through Vera's mind as she made subtle gestures with her hands hidden in the muck. Eyes were drawn to other aspects of her and Nix's bodies adding to the distraction. The bowman arched a brow as if aware that something was amiss when she hadn't responded at all. Expecting her to answer or cower perhaps the few seconds allowed her to get her spell off.

A white blinding flash of light followed by a small splatter of mud. The arrow launched landing close to her position. Nix, blinded as well had been grabbed by the arm and tugged in a general direction. She did not resist though the remaining muck slowed them down for a few seconds until clear.

There was the forest on the other side of the river which had been impossible to get to with all the humans in the way. Some where on their side with a few still on the bridge. Each blinded for the moment making it possible to push her way across avoiding the humans directly in her way and knocking the few men off the bridge. Easier would it be to remain on their side. Three options presented themselves. Back tracking the way they came towards the spider creature, continuing on past the cave or in her case deciding on climbing the hill to get back into the forest on their side and into the territory of the goblins.

Rushing up the hill she cold hear a bit of confusion in the men. Sensing it as well. Lust replaced by anxiety and fear.

“The hill!” One shouted as his vision cleared. Vera could hear the men rushing across the bridge in their direction. That muck serving to slow them down until they were clear of it themselves.

The darkness helped. The trees assisted further. No arrows came their way at first. Either no one had a shot or they wanted them alive. The prior arrow loosed by reaction perhaps. The humans were making plenty of noise following after them. A couple generated light from stone sized objects but the devices weren't meant for illumination and only generated enough light to see a foot or two.

With all the ruckus and light the goblins were drawn to them. Arrows rained down from the trees as sentries were alerted. A fortunate turn which allowed the pair to hide and catch their breath. Not being deemed an immediate threat if they had been spotted they were lost. Unlike the humans they weren't advertising their presence with light.

Soon goblins emerged from the trees doing battle with the bewildered humans. It all happened so fast that many of them had been dropped by arrows or charging goblins before they could draw weapons. Vera could feel their fear spike in these moments. Some fled, most simply died.

The goblins hadn't noticed them. Most poked through the human's remains looting them. The more curious inspected the stones many temporarily blinding themselves. When one cast away the rock an explosion resulted as it struck a tree. Goblins scattered at first then realized that the rocks were magical glowing stones and began fighting over their find.

The good news was that the goblins weren't at all quit now. Their attention was on the loot. If any remained on alert for trouble it was in the direction the surviving humans fled. The noise allowed them to slip away though if they stayed put things would eventually settle down. The stronger goblins got the best loot while the weaker ones were forced to drag the bodies back toward their settlement.

It marked a clear direction that they didn't want to go in. Once they took stock of things they could decide what to do from there.

Nix was surprising in that she kept it together despite her fear. Her eyes kept darting to the trees attempting to spot any of the goblin sentries to no luck.

As best as they could tell the goblin territory was large. They were at the fringes of it and could skirt the border. It was tough navigating without light. Progress was slow and they didn't have the ability to see any of the goblins in the trees. Vera unable to get any sort of emotion off of them. Fortunately the goblins if they were there hadn't been attentive enough to notice them. As far as either of them knew they were keeping out of sight by walking beneath them and were in the blind spots of the notorious creatures.

Hunger and thirst hit the pair as they moved in relative quite. Nix churning over recent events more or less followed after Vera more in shock than anything else.

Tension remained high for a time. Adrenaline wearing off fatigue began to set in. There hadn't been any place that they could lower their defenses and rest for an extended period. At best managing to grab a few minutes before moving on. What felt like hours had only been a fraction of that time before Vera felt something other than her companion. Another human? Someone or something that felt weary but felt to be in an indifferent mood. The vegetation looked more alive as far as either could tell in the dark. Fuller, more life like. While the other bushes were sparse with leaves and vegetation these had far more substance to them.

A pat on her arm by Nix directed Vera to what the girl saw. She pointed at something in the gloom that looked like fruit. They were just close enough to make it out in the dark. However, the waves of emotion were coming from that vicinity.

Vera did not dare look back. Whatever conflict was happening between goblins and humans was not her concern. Maybe what humans survive the ambush will deem her and Nix not worth the trouble. Then again, humans were generally very stupid creatures who will happily go against their own self interest out of spite and revenge.

Running blindly through a dark forest was nothing short of unpleasant. Every branch may as well been nails dragging across their bare skin. Muck and mud sapped away at their strength and stamina. But the two fled as far as their legs could carry them. For now, it did not seem anyone was pursuing them.

They were far from being called safe though. Vera experienced fleeing in Shokushu's forests when she was a student and the inevitability of her eventually capture and ravaging. Here it was different. There was no telling if the next creature they find will kill them instead of raping them. The mud monster left them without even clothes. To think they could end up with even less than what they started with.

Vera knew all she could do was keep going. But her body was not going to last. Either exhaustion or starvation will win out. She let out a sigh as she used a hand to support herself against a tree. Breasts caked with dried mud swayed with her less than steady steps. They managed to escape once more but she knew her continued existence was left in the hands of fate rather her own. It was infuriating.

The Head Girl twitched upon feeling Nix's hand. She followed the hand and saw the fruit that was hanging on the vegetation ahead. But, there was an emotional aura up ahead as well. Was it human? A monster? Was there much difference at this point? Everything so far wanted to either kill them, rape them, or otherwise take advantage of their plight.

"Someone or something else is ahead of us," Vera stated. She would at least inform Nix that there could be more than just fruit ahead of them. But whether that was enough for the other woman to deny her own growing hunger was unknown. Did they really have no other choice? Was the fruit even safe to eat?