How long had she been listening? Did it matter? If Chloe wanted to think Hildegunde had seen little - had not heard her talking to anyone - she would feign ignorance. There was no need to answer her question when she came up with her own happy falsehood. 

[color=007236]"If you say so-"[/color] Hildegunde says, but cuts herself off. Her shoulders rise and her body tenses. The sudden rustling of bushes, the tearing of vines; Hildegunde instinctively goes on the defensive, summoning her PB. By the time arrows go flying, she had begun to run; forget gracing the quip of her attacker. For reasons she couldn't understand right away, she can feel the curling lips of her Adapa in her mind.

And then it hits her.

She was leaving Chloe behind.

Why did this bother her now? She'd have been glad to leave the half elf behind yesterday. She'd have left most anyone behind then. She had thought her classmates unwell of mind for risking their safety for each other the day before. Why did that smile compel her so against her own instincts? Why was she now doing the same?

Despite all of her own logic, Hildegunde stops in her tracks, one of the obsidian arrows whizzing past her head as she does. 

"The attunement ceremony will commence in five minutes. Make your way to the leyline attunement zone, where students will familiarize themselves with Wingram's leylines and declare their choice of Wund or Nero! And speaking personally, I respect, but do not expect fashionably late individuals. That is all."

The announcement gave her a moment's hesitation. She'll be late if she stops. Ultimately, she knows she won't make it in five minutes anyways.

She makes a motion towards Chloe, gesturing for her to follow. And in case it wasn't clear enough, she punctuates the gesture with a single word.

[color=007236]"RUN!" [/color]

Otis's message would be left unread. Her focus was elsewhere. Perhaps, if she checked, she'd have sent a distress call. As it were, Hildegunde was focused on two things: To ensure her own survival, and to ensure Chloe's. If Chloe did not follow, she would run back for her and drag her out of the forest herself.

[@Nanaya]