Long gone from the forest and nearly upon the town, Serafina finally slowed to a stop to allow Corrine to hop off her injured back. "Are you okay?"

[i]Yes,[/i] the lioness said and left it at that as they continued to walk, side by side. 

Corrine frowned a bit, biting back her concern for only a moment. "Do you think that was [i]the[/i] guy? From the north?" she questioned. "The Rattler? He was so large, and the bear! I don't know what we would have done if they decided to give chase." She rubbed the area around Serafina's wound as they walked, hoping to ease the pain. The bolt had been small, at least, so it was probably more of a sting to the large cat. Though the girl scowled, thinking about the boy with dark skin who had escaped. "We had three of them and they all got away!" she exclaimed in frustration when her guardian didn't answer her questions. 

Serafina's gaze shifted to Corrine's face and the cat exhaled. [i]I know. I was there.[/i]

The Corrine realized why her guardian wasn't as talkative and arrogant as they entered town. They had failed, terribly. And as people gazed upon the soldier and her guardian, she was reminded that she was covered in cuts from the bird attack. This was going to be fun to report. Corrine gripped Serafina's fur whom responded by walking closer to the girl, comforting her with her warmth.