A wave of relief washed over Steppe Archer as they emerged, stinky and covered in doo doo, but very much alive if nothing else. Shade would go off to report their failure...but, heck, that was way more than they could handle. Besides, whoever wrote up that quest clearly had no idea what a "nest of rats" actually implied, since as many as ten could be crammed into one, all ready to rush out in a torrent. Without a mage, or some sort of experienced trapper with lots of prep time, trying to go in with just a sword was suicide. And heck, she knew goblins were smarter than rats, so that one was out. As she pondered what to do while waiting for Shade to return, the sound of retching and violent barfing. Steppe Archer cringed just a bit, wondering WHY Guard Lady did that, when they still obviously stunk worse than skunks, but soon her mild disgust turned to palpable fear as she saw the blood on Guard Lady's hand and neck. 

Dashing over and crouching before her, Steppe Archer would support Guard Lady's back with one hand, before turning her head towards the stable and letting out a loud whistle with two fingers.

It was as if the very thunder of heaven beat in the heart of Torchfire as he was called for, the great galloping beast easily jumping free of the gate that was intended to keep him corralled as he made a mad break towards his owner, forcing many townspeople to get out of the way, lest they be trampled by the horse that ducked its head low before Steppe Archer. With some difficulty, Steppe Archer would get on with Guard Lady in her arms, directing Torchfire towards the temple. [color=CC6633][b]"Don't worry, you'll be okay. You'll be okay. I promise."[/b][/color] Steppe Archer said, continuing until they reached the temple, where she would entrust her friend to the clerics there. A disease, they called it...curable, but most certainly very dangerous. Steppe Archer would give what money she had to the temple, leaving her very much penniless after paying on her friend's behalf. It was the least she could do.

A wave of guilt panged at her as she walked back to the stable with Torchfire's reigns in her hand. She...should have told them to go back as soon as Guard Lady got bitten. Leading Torchfire a bit of a ways away from the town, Steppe Archer would find herself a stream far from prying eyes to wash herself, and her horse. After all, she'd kinda just plopped her sewage covered garments atop the beast. Keeping an eye on her belongings as she washed, she cast a melancholy look at Guard Lady's halberd that she'd decided to hold onto, at least until she could go back to give it to her. She couldn't quit. Not because of one set back. But...the idea that Guard Lady got such a nasty wound from protecting her...especially after she'd run from those bugs...

Steppe Archer would slap herself across both her cheeks, returning a bit of red to them. [color=CC6633][b]"No sad thoughts! She'll be okay!"[/b][/color] the nomad girl reassured herself, before putting on her cleaned clothes. Admittedly they were still a bit heavy from water, but walking about in the sun should dry them off. Torchfire looked pleased at himself, all shiny and clean, so much so that Steppe Archer couldn't resist climbing a small tree to pluck a juicy red apple just for him. [color=CC6633][b]"Good girl, good girl..."[/b][/color] Steppe Archer said, petting its snout as she walked beside it, the beast's teeth crunching the apple to pieces. 

With her horse once more stabled, the halberd given over to the guild to give to Guard Lady upon her recovery, and her hair now extra poofy after drying, Steppe Archer would take a look at the guild hall. She didn't see Shade anywhere...nor that Steel-rank from before. She did however take notice of the massive red-scaled Lizardman that was present, seemingly eyeing the same jobs that she, Shade, and Guard Lady had poured over just before. Standing on her tippy toes to try and peek over his shoulder, the girl strained, but didn't even get a look past him. Pouting at her own inability to be huge, she would eventually just gingerly tap the large scaled man on the shoulder, asking: [color=CC6633][b]"Excuse me, Mister. Is that job for ditch cleaning still available?"[/b][/color]

What stood behind the lizard man was a young girl who looked half-lion given how violently her hair was frizzled and poofed up. Like a human Chow Chow.