Abby stepped into the dense forest clearing, her orchid skin still glowing faintly from the portal's residual shimmer. She took a deep breath, letting the familiar scent of earth and foliage fill her lungs. The camp she had set up with Nat was modest, hidden away from prying eyes.

Nat was already there, hovering over a map spread out on a flat rock. Though his expression was serious, a flicker of relief crossed his features when he saw her.

"Abby, welcome back," he greeted her. He stood a few steps away, his expression a mixture of relief and concern. In his lap sat a few pages and a quill.

"Nat," she greeted him, her smile widening. "It's good to be back."

He nodded, but his eyes remained serious. "Do you remember everything that happened on the other side?"

Abby frowned, the memory slipping further away. "I... It's all a bit hazy," she admitted. "But I remember what happened before I went through... I remember the duel with Thane... Erik and Julie..."

Nat sighed, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's a side effect of time traveling in the same world. Your memories will fade and go towards your older self. It’s how the world protects itself. You’ll remember one day, just depends on how far forward you went."

Abby looked back towards her narrator. "How do you know I didn’t go backwards in time?"

"Well, that’s easy," Nat shrugged with a smirk, "you would remember what had happened."

Abby nodded, determination filling her eyes. "How long was I gone?"

"Oh, about a day or so. We haven’t lost much time on the timeline to find the Eternal King."

Before Abby could respond, a sudden rustling in the bushes caught her attention. She tensed, her tentacles flexing, ready for a fight.

From the underbrush, a figure emerged – a young woman, her clothes torn and dirty. She stumbled into the clearing, her eyes wide with fear. "Help," she gasped, "they're coming."

Abby rushed to her side, supporting her. "Who’s coming?"

"Soldiers from Arvendon," the woman managed to say before collapsing from exhaustion.

Nat’s expression darkened. "That’s strange, I don’t sense any soldiers nearby."

Abby nodded. "Let's pack up. We need to get her somewhere safe."

As they quickly gathered their belongings, Nat went beside Abby, his quill ready. "We need to figure out why they're hunting her. She’s dirty and worn out, but I think I recognize her."

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With the woman being supported by Abby, they navigated through the dense forest, moving quickly but carefully to avoid detection. The urgency of their situation pressed heavily on them. Despite her fading memories, Abby's resolve remained strong.

They finally reached a secluded cave hidden behind a waterfall. It was one of the many safe spots Nat had identified during their travels. Abby gently laid the woman down on a bed of moss and started a small fire for warmth.

As the woman rested, Abby turned to Nat. "What do you think? Why are they after her?"

Nat was near the entrance, keeping watch. "It's hard to say. But if the soldiers are from Arvendon, then she might have information we could use." He tossed Abby a rag that he wet from the flowing waterfall in front of him.

Abby wiped the grime from the woman's face. Nat made his way back to where the two lay. “Yes, I definitely recognize her. This is Amiya! She was a member of your brother’s troop.”

Abby’s eyes widened. “Erik must have sent her. But why would she be in such a state?”

“She must have fled on Erik’s orders,” Nat said. “If the soldiers are after her, it’s because she’s considered a deserter.”

“We need to keep her safe and hidden until they pass.” Abby continued to clean the unconscious woman. “We should also find her some clothes.”

“I’m on it.” Nat left the cave and began to cover up their tracks.

Nat hovered outside the cave entrance, his quill poised over a blank page. With swift, deliberate strokes, he began to write: "The forest floor shifted, the tracks disappearing as if they had never existed. A soft breeze swept through, scattering leaves and masking any signs of passage."

As the words flowed from his quill, the forest seemed to respond. The ground where they had walked smoothed over, leaves rearranging themselves to cover any disturbances. Nat added a few more lines, describing a thick mist rolling in to obscure the area further. Almost immediately, a dense fog began to rise from the ground, enveloping the forest in a protective veil.

Satisfied with his work, Nat turned his attention to the issue of clothing. “This I probably should find real clothing, don’t want it exploding on her,” he mused, remembering the cart he made in haste on his first trip with Abby.

Leaving the protective mist behind, Nat moved swiftly through the forest, unseen and unheard by those around him unless he willed it otherwise. After some time, he stumbled upon a small home nestled between the trees. He approached cautiously, making sure those in the dwelling wouldn’t mind losing a garment or two. Through the windows of a modest house, he saw a clothesline with freshly laundered clothes. Among them, he noticed some women’s garments that could fit Amiya.

Nat wrote quickly on his parchment: "The house remained silent, its occupants deep in slumber, unaware of the visitor outside. The door creaked open gently, and Nat slipped inside, moving like a ghost."

As he wrote, the scene played out just as he described. He quietly took the clothes from the line, ensuring to leave behind a few gold bars in their place. "It's not much, but it's something," he thought.

With the garments in hand, Nat returned to the cave. Abby was tending to Amiya, who was now more awake but still weak.

"The soldiers from Arvendon... they said I was a traitor," Amiya whispered. "Erik ordered me to flee. I had nowhere else to go."

Abby nodded, handing her the clean clothes Nat had brought. "We need to keep you safe. Change into these, and then we'll figure out our next move."

As Amiya changed, Nat continued to keep watch, his quill ready to write any additional protections or distractions they might need. They had a long journey ahead, but with Nat's powers and their determination, they were ready to face whatever challenges came their way.