Without a word, August leaned down and hooked his arm under her knees; he shifted her comfortably against him before moving on through the dark woods, one careful step at a time. They weren't moving much faster.

"Your flattery won't make up for the fact that you're heavier than you think you are," he griped with a small smirk, "and now I really can't see where I'm walking." He really, really couldn't see where he was going, and now his depth perception was gone as well. Sam was already in need of recovery without being dropped onto the rocks and branches as well.

Despite his concentration in keeping them both upright and out of the mud, Sam's words, her trusting touch, and her head on his shoulder weren't lost on him. The rigidity and anger that had for so long fueled his fight were increasingly impossible to maintain in her presence; he might even say he felt peaceful with her warm in his arms, as if everything really could be all right. His mind was clear and calm. But he couldn't afford to think this way -- not until the queen was gone.

He felt the prick of a blade at his back. "Keep moving, slimewad," Coralie's voice barked from behind them. "Hurt the girl and I dice your dick."

Alphonse and Florian emerged as well from the brush, looking worriedly up at Sam. "What've ya done to her?" Florian demanded.

August groaned, rolling his eyes, and he took a defiant step forward. "You're in the way," he growled.

Alphonse called, "Sam! Are you quite all right? What's happened?"