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Chapter 4.4

Once it was clear that Endermon and Rutus were the only two in the clearing, Dresden shuddered and turned back into a human. Endermon handed him a pair of pants that had been discarded in the transformation. Not being able to put them on, he draped them over himself as a front for modesty. He didn't actually care if people saw him naked, but he did it in case someone came by and asked about the trap he was caught in.

In no time at all they had him freed, and the trap put back in place. Needing some reasonable excuse for all that blood, Endermon found an animal that had unfortunately been got by a predator and the predator had been interrupted. Putting the animal near the trap and partially closing it would lead the hunters to believe it had snapped and fought its way out of the trap. This way they would be disappointed, but satisfied they at least got something.

Supporting and half carrying Dresden, they made their way back to the main road. With no hope of making their way back to camping that state, majority ruled that they set up a place to stay for the rest of the day.

As the girls set up the temporary encampment, Dresden sat there, 'supervising'. He did this until both of them threatened more bodily harm if he said another word. Wanting to keep his entire self intact, he wisely shut up. With no other interruptions, they got set up in a short amount of time.

If someone were to pause and look into the underbrush, they'd find a hastily put up, but functional space. If they were just driving by, they'd see some logs laid down like someone stopped for a few hours and moved on. This way no one would stop and ask questions.

As Endermon and Rutus worked through to the night to get Dresden in at least walking order, a voice told them that a certain herb that grew nearby would be more helpful to speed up the healing process. They turned and Endermon had to stop herself from replying with a sarcastic comment. She said that she had that specific herb, but it was back at camp, and it would take too long for her to get it herself.

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Shiloh shrugged elegantly and sat down on a stump, just out of sight from the road. Together they all got Dresden taken care of. Well not in as much pain as he could be was in when he stumbled into the hunter's trap. It did take several threats to get him to stop trying to be treated like royalty though.

Once everyone had eaten, Shiloh out of sight from everyone else, they settled in for the night. Shiloh and Endermon talked quietly so that the other two wouldn't hear them. After a heated but ultimately short kiss, Endermon snuggled into Shiloh's arms and went to sleep for the night.

Shiloh stayed by her side until the first signs of dawn. She kissed Endermon on the forehead and zipped off to her carriage. She wrote a note and sat at the small table in the back of her carriage while she waited for her driver to awaken. She sipped from a chalice that had a dark red liquid in it.

As the others woke up for the day, Endermon got some dried meat and other quick foods for a small breakfast. She asked the animals for directions back to camp and they gave them. She thanked them and gave them some seeds and crumbs as payment.

After everyone ate, they found a sturdy branch for Dresden to help support himself with, and they set off in the direction of camp. It took the better part of a day to get back to their camp but even though they were all worn out, they all pitched in to make a late lunch.

As Dresden went to lay down, Endermon suggested that she and Rutus spar for a little bit, to get some aggression and energy out. Rutus agreed and they went off to have a short sparring session. Afterwards as Rutus went over to recondition her armor, Endermon went to her space to meditate.