[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/RQaJfun.png[/img][h1][b][color=B22222]C L A R A[/color][/b][/h1][hr][b][color=gray]IFRISE FOREST — SOVEREIGNTY OF DRYADALIS[/color][/b][/center][hr]
[b]"[color=B22222]It stinks here.[/color]"[/b]

Clara didn't turn to look at Etoile. She kept trudging forward, pulling her shawl down further to shadow her face. As if the air itself didn't feel hostile enough already, things were turning sour between Etoile and Pythia. Clara couldn't stand to hear another round of their incessant bickering, it was wearing her patience thin.

[b]"[color=B22222]It's just a stomach ache, nothing I can't handle,[/color]"[/b] she groaned back at Etoile, heaving out a weary sigh. [b]"[color=B22222]Gods, it feels like we've been walking for [i]hours[/i].[/color]"[/b]

She wiped her sweat away and finally looked over her shoulder at the woman, inspecting her through hooded eyes. Pythia's last comment hadn't fallen on deaf ears.

Clara had her suspicions from the start, even though the previous skirmish had fully distracted her from them. Looking back, it had all been spelt out very clearly during her first meeting with Etoile; the fancy looking sword, the ornate metal arm, the fact she could even [i]use[/i] magic wtih such confidence and finesse. And that was all before Clara had even noticed what the woman was wearing under that large cape of hers.

Clara couldn't trust Etoile. But she also acknowledged the tension hanging around the group would do them no good in the upcoming battle, she was sure the crazy dark magi would take advantage of them if it lingered. The pressure had to be eased, somehow. She slowed her pace to move beside Etoile, staring straight ahead. 

[b]"[color=B22222]We will get through this, Etoile.[/color]"[/b] Clara murmured through short breaths, quiet enough so only Etoile could hear.

Surely, a bit of reassurance was what the woman needed after her outburst, even if it was all just Clara's wishful thinking.