Rinae stepped forward, since the first days of her existence she was sure that killing orcs were a waste of time. The ranks of orcs could most likely be repurposed for anything other than meat. That's when the most delectable of smells penetrated her. The magical pheromones came from the tied up elves. No one had ever seen Rinae’s face light up quite like that ever.

Her wings flapped with feverish speed. She launched herself into the sky landing right into the sight of the elf, the tears that were gathered on her face continued to fall, she squirmed ever so harder at the sight of the insect-like female. Rinae placed a hand on her cheek. She turned away in the opposite direction, the poor thing was terrified.

Rinae tore the material binding the elf’s mouth.

“Please... don’t hurt me.” She was still sobbing; she was an absolute mess.

Rinae’s blank face offered no salvation for the girl. “Where did you come from?” She went straight to the objective.

She continued to cry and plead for her life. Rinae cut the ropes causing the girl to fall to the ground violently. She yelped from the sudden drop in depth. Now on her hands and knees, she continued to weep. Rinae got down to her level and asked her again.

“Where. Are. You. From?” she slowed down her speech making sure the elf would not mishear.

The fall seemed to have snapped her back into reality. She looked at Rinae’s face. Seemingly just because she didn’t look like an orc was enough for the elf girl to hug Rinae. Rinae did not move, she didn’t try to reciprocate the actions.

It took a moment for the elf girl to remove herself and calm down when she was finally able to show Rinae at least a cardinal direction of where they came from. But a general direction was pointless in such a massive forest. She stood to her feet and called over Hera.

The elf girl once again became frightened the moment she saw the heavily armored brolic insect woman.

“Yes, Sister? Hera asked.

“Take her. Keep her alive.”

“But why? She’s so full of delicious magic!” Hera’s tongue escaped her mouth and licked her top lips.

“I want to meet someone again; it’s been too long.”

Hera was still confused, considering her conception had not even begun until after the fact. “As you wish my sister.”

In the eyes and ears of the elf girl, it was an interaction that couldn’t be followed. The communication was in a language incomprehensible to any other.

Hera approached the still kneeling female, Her clawed hand reached around the back of her neck and lifted her to her feet. The elf looked back at Rinae when got a look at Hera’s blind face.

“She will protect you. Go.”

Tears once again started to stream down her face. But these were the tears made from joy, she’d be able to live to see her family again. Hera gave her a shove to wake her from her pleasant dreams.

Rinae turned back to Scarpha and the Orc army. A lot of work was going to be needed.

~^~

“You’re holding your sword too tight!” Mateo the squire yelled. “Now too soft! You’ll die if you fought a real knight.”

Elizabeth held both hands onto her sword. Striking at every opportunity. “Would you shut up!” She swung wide her exhaustion was apparent in her swings. “Gah! I was not trained with a sword!”

“That's why its important for you to train now!” With all the secrets that you know, a holy knight could kill you in seconds.”

She sat down on the ground. “I give up!” she froze produced an icy case around her hand, she touched the end to her forearm, red marks of covered her arms. The bruises indicated all the times she was smacked with the practice sword. “This wouldn’t be a problem if I was allowed to use magic.”

The squire approached the girl; his sword was planted in the ground. “A holy knight excels in both magic and physical combat.”

“Yeah, well I’m not a holy knight.”

“You might not be, but have you forgot what you did by joining us?”

She looked off into the background, after the incident at Beka, they had been sent back to Prathe. They were currently in Amalia’s estate. Being the king’s favorite niece did not come without perks. However she barely ever stayed here due to her duties as a holy knight.

“Yeah, yeah. I made the church an enemy.”

“And with that comes holy knights.” Mateo also added. “Many of which are many times stronger than Amalia.”

“Yeah, yeah. You do not have to lecture me.”

“Then do you wish to continue?”

She sighed. “Fine.”

~^~

Hera stayed quiet as she walked with the elf female. She had to restrain every one of her muscles, especially her stomach. The amount of magic that was coming from the girl was so abundant. But if it were a direct order from her sister she would have to uphold it to the highest degree.

The elf female tried several times to break the silence of the two on the journey back. Besides the fact that Hera was trying her hardest to not tackle her and crush her ribs and slurp down her insides, she vehemently believed it was pointless to talk to prey.

“So…” She started. “Can you see?”

Hera continued walking, ignoring her.

“If you want you can stay a few days when we get to the village. I’m sure I can convince my family to give you something bring back!”

Still silence.

“Can you at least tell me your race?” She walked in front of Hera and made some hand gestures indicating something as a whole. “I’ve seen many races, pure breeds, half-breeds, Quarters and subraces. But, I’ve never seen anything like you guys. Do you have any kind of territory that you stay?”

Hera stopped walking.

“I’m sorry did that get a little personal?”

She turned her head to the forest. A presence was coming, and it was coming fast. Hera grabbed onto the girl and tossed her into a nearby bush. She screamed from the sudden rough handling. Trees splintered from a sudden force hitting them. The shards bounced off her natural armor as if nothing.

The objects that barrelled through were fuzzy, white and green in the face. The unidentified object picked itself up and roared. It was a groll!

In the same direction, a second one peeked from the treeline.

The two grolls roared at Hera.

Hera face slightly scrunched up. They stunk, the smell of artificial origins offended her.