Like it or not, there was no denying the rush of relief that came out of Raines' agreement there over heading back. Claire sighed, closing her eyes just briefly as she stopped fiddling with the blade of her knife, re-sheathing the thing at last as she turned away- freeing her hand to extend away from her body, palm up, as she allowed her barrier to fade back into nonexistence.
While there wasn't actually any sensation of that power coming back to her, she at least liked to pretend, grateful for the release either way. She felt her mood actually lighten just slightly as she wasted no more time in taking lead back towards where they'd been staying-- and the warmer air of indoors, coupled with an extra blanket or three specifically requested from the staff. Her experience in the wilderness was no doubt less extensive than that of her GC-aligned counterpart or probably even the man she was with, and it was no secret she wasn't enjoying it; nevertheless, at least her sense of direction was impeccable, leaving her capable of huffing her way about with a touch of independence here.
Not that she wasn't being careful still... for the most part. To be honest, she didn't really have much reason to assume that any danger would miss being seen or heard coming with plenty of time left to spare for taking responsive action.
As such--
It was almost too late before Claire realized that the sense of unease she was feeling wasn't any part of her host of mixed-up emotions over this whole thing... and was only getting stronger by the moment. Abruptly her steps slowed to a halt, her body stiffening.
"Wait," she said quickly, tone stressed enough that there had to be no questioning that she wasn't messing around. Already she was backing up, retracing her steps backward with evident alarm. "There's something--"
-- In the ground.
Scratch that, it was too late, because an instant later found the former lieutenant cutting off her words with a yelp of surprise instead, smacked into from below and the side by that unseen something with enough force to get completely swept off her feet with a flurry of disturbed snow.
Which was not-so-funny, considering nothing that was supposed to be living in this forest was typically known for ambushes.
no subject
While there wasn't actually any sensation of that power coming back to her, she at least liked to pretend, grateful for the release either way. She felt her mood actually lighten just slightly as she wasted no more time in taking lead back towards where they'd been staying-- and the warmer air of indoors, coupled with an extra blanket or three specifically requested from the staff. Her experience in the wilderness was no doubt less extensive than that of her GC-aligned counterpart or probably even the man she was with, and it was no secret she wasn't enjoying it; nevertheless, at least her sense of direction was impeccable, leaving her capable of huffing her way about with a touch of independence here.
Not that she wasn't being careful still... for the most part. To be honest, she didn't really have much reason to assume that any danger would miss being seen or heard coming with plenty of time left to spare for taking responsive action.
As such--
It was almost too late before Claire realized that the sense of unease she was feeling wasn't any part of her host of mixed-up emotions over this whole thing... and was only getting stronger by the moment. Abruptly her steps slowed to a halt, her body stiffening.
"Wait," she said quickly, tone stressed enough that there had to be no questioning that she wasn't messing around. Already she was backing up, retracing her steps backward with evident alarm. "There's something--"
-- In the ground.
Scratch that, it was too late, because an instant later found the former lieutenant cutting off her words with a yelp of surprise instead, smacked into from below and the side by that unseen something with enough force to get completely swept off her feet with a flurry of disturbed snow.
Which was not-so-funny, considering nothing that was supposed to be living in this forest was typically known for ambushes.