Kenza looked up at Derrick's prompt, realizing that -- frustration or not -- she'd held up the group, not living up to her part of the informal pseudo-leader. But, on the other hand, there was no sign of that the gargoyles in pursuit -- no noise at all echoing up from the stairwell, in fact. [i]Have the given up chase?[/i] she wondered, relieved confusion relaxing her. If the immediate threat was gone, the group could afford to stop for a moment to rest. However, that time would be better utilized if put to keeping the hunters ahead. Luck was hard-found for prey, and Kenza knew they shouldn't waste it.

"Let's keep moving," she said, meeting the other hunters' eyes as to let them know that she was back to trying to be -- to being -- the leader they needed. "We need to stay ahead, but the route split a while back and I it's worth checking out the last floor. Or should we continue up?"

Relieved to see that Kenza wasn't struck with despair after her battle with the spruce -- she'd seen many a hunter fall into a pit, unable to climb back out after they see their chance at hope stolen away from them -- Mistletoe straightened back up, considering the other woman's question. "I'd say keep going up -- we can always go back down, but if that's a dead end, I don't want to be stuck fighting until my last breath while backed into a corner." Such circumstances were never favorable for the weaker pursuant, and Mistletoe had little confidence in the rubble --  flimsy shards and time-worn spears -- that the group had scavenged.

[hr][@hekazu][@lord of evil]