I didn't race anywhere. Just walked, casual as anything, with Maggie and Kassie flanking me on either side.
Silence settled over me like a second skin. I continued through the forest, stepping over roots and undergrowth, but the pain was getting harder to ignore. My shirt had essentially melted into my wounds — fused with blood and whatever else had been leaking out of me. Something close to that, anyway.
My swollen face had at least reduced after a few hours of walking. Small mercies.
Another thing — as much as I enjoyed peeking at Maggie's rear view while we walked, I had to dismiss her to the Nave due to the spirit essence cost. Kassie was currently here on no spirit essence sponsorship, so she was fine. But Maggie I couldn't manage. Not when my spirit essence wasn't exactly full to begin with.
I was going to miss her huge ass trembling with every step she took, but Kassie was no slacker either.
