While Kaleeth stayed tense, Janius kept fairly calm. The situation was under control unless the ogre woke up. The sense of control started to crumble when they found that the ogre would not be waking up at all. It shattered when the large shape of the wamasu blotted the light from the cave entrance. Janius didn't need see Kaleeth's reaction to have his own heart rate begin to soar. Thankfully for them, the wamasu's eyes would need to adjust as well, so it didn't spot them immediately.

Janius snapped out of an initial freeze of fear with Kaleeth's footsteps leading further into the cave. He followed her tentatively, but wondered what they would accomplish by trapping themselves further in. The hiding place that Kaleeth slid into made more sense. It wasn't a guarantee that they would survive, but it was probably better than trying to fight the beast, especially in its own nest. Janius followed Kaleeth's instruction and slid himself into the narrow passage beside her. The hiding place was small and they were bunched up close. Janius could feel Kaleeth's heart racing as fast as his, but he was too distracted with trying to stay silent and listening to the wamasu's movements to feel awkward about their position.

---

Slowing to a stop, Sabine turned around to look at Shaleer-Za and Thorantilth, breathing heavily. Completed? Sabine was confused at first. She did not complete the course, how could she have completed the trial? She walked back and looked on with a mix of astonishment and relief as the illusion sustaining Tunxeek's apparent wounds were dispelled.

As Shaleer explained the trial, it began to make sense. Sabine listened while she caught her breath properly, not knowing whether to feel relieved or betrayed. Honestly, she felt both, mixed with fatigue.

Tunxeek smiled at Sabine reservedly. "Sorry for... pretend... pretending. Thank you for carrying me, though." he chucked, "I was surprised. You are stronger than you look."

Deciding that the event was overall a good one, Sabine's mouth twitched into a smile while she looked to the ground. She started to come down from her rush of adrenaline and felt exhausted. Still looking at the ground, she turned to Meesei, wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly. Sabine didn't sob with sadness or panic, but she started to sniff as tears streaked down her cheeks. In her mind, she had been so close to failing, or worse, alienating the village by transforming. Everything turning out okay out of nowhere was overwhelming.