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Closed eyes, aching body, Maihue was still on the ground. She could feel everything. She could hear everything. She heard someone say that the beast wasn't dead. She heard something being smashed. Others scuttling around, and sometimes there was just silence. Wait, what is this feeling? Something wet.. She couldn't tell what, she felt like she was dead already. There was no way she was going to give up on her life, though.

Maihue tried to move. Everything just hurt, and it was useless. She moved a few fingers, and realized she couldn't feel her flail. It was probably somewhere around. She couldn't think. Everything was a daze, and she just couldn't think. Didn't want to think. The pain was in the way, and it wouldn't go away. Maihue lay there breathing slowly. Was a rib cage broken..? There was just pain everywhere. She figured she'd find out later when she'd try to move. After a few minutes, she couldn't hear the talking as clearly anymore. It was all just slurred together. She took an oh so slow deep breath, and tried to focus on the voices. No way was she going to become unconscious.

As soon as the leechmonster had dropped, screaming, from the cavern roof above, every trolls attention had dropped away from the redblood. And in that split moment, she had vanished. Now she appeared again, almost out of thin air, stepping forward from the shadows in the cavern mouth that led into the room. She glanced up towards Minist, the one troll who had actually completed her orders and retrieved a sample of the plant. A nod was given to her, curt approval. There was a small pause as she took in wounds, expressions, and body language.

"Nice teamwork. Of course, it could have been better, but as it was, I'm pleased. You kept all your comrades safe, took down that pest, and more importantly, retrieved the target. It's possible that there might be some soldier material here after all. However, you're not back in your hives yet. We have one final stretch to go.

Our priority now is to get that plant sample back to main camp as fast as possible. While we will be marching back as soon as you can all plug up your leaks, I require a runner to go ahead with the herb. We need to get it back to the mother grub as quickly as possible, seeing as if she dies we will have wasted everyone's time. Injuries and directions won't be a problem, I'll take care of both before you go. That being said, do I have any volunteers? Or do I have to pick someone myself."

Stepping forward fully into the light of the eggs, as she spoke the redblood rolled up one sleeve, revealing a gently glowing bracelet. A standard military healing trinket, obvious enough to anyone who had seen one before. Tapping it with one hand, it hummed into life. It was clear that for one troll, there wasn't going to be any rest right now.

So the beast was finally dead. Heck, it was dead ten times over. Ms. Freckle Face might have gone a little overboard. All the more reason to just leave her alone. Like a lot of highbloods she was crazy violent as well as stuck up. Hoping done from the eggs Minist diverted her attention away from the bloody mass that had been their common enemy and to the redblooded general. So, she had just been lurking in the shadows just like she thought. Never too far away to lose sight of the group of youngsters. While she may not fully trust the adult, Minist couldn't help but feel a certain amount of pride as she was offered the curt nod. She returned it and stood a little straighter. She didn't expect to be getting any pats on the back. She did what she was told to do, not all that hard to mess up. This was no time to have her hand held by her lusus. So to be acknowledged was an unexpected nice reward.

She listened to the short pep talk and at the mention of a runner she considered volunteering. Sure, she was time, sure he legs were bleeding from cuts, but she was the only one to actually have a sample in her possession and it wouldn't be all that hard of a mission. Just follow the opposite way she had come. Though, the more she thought about it the harder the prospect seemed. She had fallen into that fluffbeast cavern, who knew how she would climb back out. Then there was that old bridge. That drone had died on it. It probably would be better to stay with the group, more of a chance if she did something stupid someone would be there to bail her out.

Before she could weigh any more pros or cons on the matter she heard another voice speak up. Her attention was drawn to a tiny blueblood, a familiar blueblood. So, she was going to volunteer herself? It was a tad shocking, Minist had to agree. Here was that quivering troll she had caught under the abuse of a certain other blueblood, just as bloody and beat up as her and not anywhere near her snarling companion. Her voice didn't even falter as she faced Sir. Perhaps she had grown up a bit since she had last had an encounter with her. Fine, if she wanted to play errand troll Minist would concede. Laying her pack on the floor she retrieved the plant and waited to see if anyone else would step forward. She had no problem handing the plant off to whoever Sir sent off.

Cheese had just sort of collapsed into a heap after the battle, forgetting the reason why she was there until the redblood reappeared. Running...hah. Though she could normally run at a decent speed, she was exhausted. The drone lacked stamina. She figured she'd stay right here and help treat the wounded with her meager medical skills instead.

The pause in the air hung for a moment to long after Sarcel spoke up. The red eyes focused on her narrowed slightly, and became that much more sharp, trying to find and pick out all the flaws in the young troll. Advancement in the army was four times as hard for a redblood compared to any troll with cooler tones circulating in their blood system, and it was clear she was less than thrilled at giving anything to a blueblood, be it extra work or extra glory.

"Well I'll be. A highblood volunteering for manual labour? Changing times. Alright soldier, since you've stepped forward so nicely, you have the responsability for ensuring the safety of our prize until it it's returned to the camp. Step forward, and you, yellowblood, with the herb."



The plant certainly didn't look like it had an magical healing properties, in fact it looked as though eating it would only speed up your death, not slow it down. Nevertheless, it was handled with the utmost delicacy, lifting it out of Minists hands and transferring it to Sarcels. She gave the blueblood another long, critical stare.

"Follow the red trail back, don't stray. It will guide you back out of the caves. Don't stop for anything."

The instructions were low, quiet, and private. One of the redbloods hands landed heavily on the girl's right shoulder, and a green light began to drip off the metal cuff, spreading over the bluebloods body and concentrating on the wounds. The nanotechnology was almost like magic, if magic was a real thing. Which obviously, it wasn't.

The other hand reached up and brushed across Sarcel's eyes, sending a light tingling through her body. When she opened them next, the bluebood would see a thin red trail floating in the air, emanating from the older troll and leading back the way they came down the tunnel. Turning away from the girl, she eyed the rest of the remains of her group, sitting around and nursing their wounds.

"The rest of you, get busy! If you've got energy, spend it getting the rest of your fellow trolls back into marching order! The longer you all sit around here, the more likely we are to run into another one of those beasts."

The silence was enough to catch her.

Everyone's eyes turned on her, a field of luminous yellow eyes watching her. She held her breath, as if even breathing would mess up her chance, would ruin her, as if everything hung on this very moment; It was an over dramatization, of course, but the little lithe blueblood knew this was a very important opportunity. No shame would be worse then being denied this task.

Of course, she was the only one that volunteered, so there wasn't much other choice, less the redblooded Sir pick someone else; that would be embarrassing a** in itself. She hardly looked able, but she would speak up and say she was definitely the fastest one here, she knew she was. Pride was a sin she hardly partook in, but it was the truth, she believed it wholeheartedly.

Still, the stare from the superior tested her limits; trying not to quiver or shiver was difficult, be it from fatigue or from fear. It was a bit of both, of course, but she still didn't want to seem any weaker then she already did. She knew she was being judged, she had been judged a lot in her relatively short life thus far. She was a troll that was a disappointment to her caste, and to her kind in general.

She wanted that to change, she really, honestly did. Was it for the better? It had to be. She was certain.

Nonetheless, she forced herself to return the gaze. Weak and frail, but hero's came up in unexpected places, didn't they? The other Sir had spoken up, and she could sigh in relief-- she didn't, but the exhale was nothing short of noticeable. She had a huge responsibility on her shoulders now. This was her chance, the future of the mother grub suddenly depended so much on her returning the herb back safely.

She stepped forward, legs feeling stiff and limp at the same time; they hurt and ached, and she wondered how everyone else was fairing. She hadn't seen her Sir since the leech-heathen had died for good, only Pyruet among a few others. No-- she couldn't get caught up in thoughts like that. She had a task to fulfill now.

Resoluteness acquired, she watched as the yellowblood walked over, instantly recognizing her from prior incidents. Her eyes narrowed slightly, still sour from said incidents, but didn't say anything. Now wasn't the time; she opt to bite her lip instead, watching as the Militant Redblood transferred the strange looking plant from between their hands. She gave it a curious look over-- it hardly looked like a magical cure-all, but what did she know. Nothing; that's what.

Another critical stare. She faltered slightly, but she'd show her she was completely competent.

"Follow the red trail back, don't stray. It will guide you back out of the caves. Don't stop for anything."

She nodded hastily, wanting to get going and get this whole incident done and over with. She was tired, everyone else was tired, the sooner she could get this done the better. Wait-- what red trail?

She couldn't wonder for very long, the hand on her shoulder making her tense, eyes widening, she might even of flinched at the hand extending towards her-- no Sarcel, this Sir didn't slap. Even though she looked like the kind that would. Nervous shuffle, she was quickly distracted when a green light began to flow over. It was a strange feeling, bizarre really; as if life was being pumped back into her. Rejuvenation, wounds being healed, even though it didn't cleanse of the blood smears-- she still looked like a mess, in short, but when did she ever look completely presentable?

So focused on the light enveloping her, she didn't see the other hand, and she didn't have enough time to react accordingly. It was over before she had a chance to react or cringe, only enough time to squeeze her eyes shut of course.

She opened them again. Sir had turned away now, addressing the others. Minist was still close; she wondered if she had heard those instructions, not that they probably meant anything to the others, even though they had sounded private and 'for-her-ears-only' enough. Holding onto the herb carefully, she went to say something, but opted not too. She had to get going already.

When she turned, she saw something peculiar: a thin red line wafting through the air. She had to blink once-- twice, but sure enough it was there. When did that get there? Could the others see it? No no enough of that! She had to get going, no dawdling!

The trail in her sight, she bolted.

And god did it feel wonderful. Feet hitting the ground, she felt so alive. Her grip on the plant never faltered; all she did was keep her eyes on the path. She could do this, she could run, she felt exuberant, and she felt terrified. Trying to push her fears down; she couldn't let her fear get in the way, it would only make her more prone to messing up. She had to stay focused and concentrated. She wouldn't stray or get distracted, she wouldn't stop, not even if she felt tired. No quick brakes here, no nothing; she accepted a huge task, and she was fulfilling it to the best of her abilities.

Don't think of how long this cave system is, just keep running. Don't think of the monsters-- just keep running! Sheer willpower, she was coming to figure out, was probably her greatest asset of all; even better than her speed. She'd overcome so much...

God, she just hoped that someone would keep an eye on Sir-- not that he needed it, he was certainly capable!... No, that was a lie. He was capable, but hopefully someone would keep him in check. Maybe her only regret about taking the task on, not that it mattered. She was making something for herself here, and this would make him proud, wouldn't it? It had to.

Enough thinking already! The sooner she got back, the better. She urged herself faster, goal in mind.

Oh, is that how he was gonna be? News flash, princess, nap time is over. Lifting her foot up Minist then brought it back down as a quick stomp on the back of the highblood. Digging her heel in she said, "Get. Up." Really, some trolls were just so inconsiderate. Here she was, trying to be a good troll for the military and this lazy bum is dreaming. "You better get up or some other leechdrake is gonna come around and make a troll leather jacket." She didn't care if he got upset with her, he should be thanking her. You wouldn't want to get left behind in these caverns. She was doing him a favor by getting him up.

"Of course it would've done the same." Pyruet spat, staring the tiny purpleblood down. "It's a wild animal, it doesn't know any better. It's driven by instinct." She cocked her chin upwards, glaring down her nose at the girl. "I'd have thought someone so haughty and full of unwarranted pride would hold themselves to a higher standard than a feral beast." A light scoff, and she turned away from Frossa, walking back towards the entrance of the cavern.

Where Sir was standing.

Her posture instinctively righted itself, the jolts of pain from her muscles protesting the quick movement, ignored. She stared like she had at the debriefing, practically enraptured by their commanding officer; the authority she spoke with, the confidence she carried herself with, her no-nonsense attitude, and the fact that she'd come to be in such a respected position as a redblood spoke pages about her abilities. She hesitated when the adult called for a runner. Her limbs were plenty quick, she could stop a punch before it even got properly started, but running speed wasn't...well it wasn't even a little bit close to something she'd call a strength of hers. The desire to help, to shine was overruled by the knowledge that she would simply slow the operation down, and that was unacceptable in a situation like this.

Her eyebrows knitted and she turned to face Sarce as the girl volunteered in what was probably the most confident tone she'd heard out of her since they met. That phrase was powerful in its simplicity. Not a "me," not an "I'll do it." "I can." Firm and resolute. Her eyebrows unbunched, and she gave the blueblood a reassuring nod as she stepped forward--a useless action considering she was facing away from Pyre, but oh well, thought that counts. She watched on with continued silent admiration as Sir gave out orders, only prying her gaze away when the woman gave the order to get everyone back in shape. Pyruet supposed she should find Sempur, make sure his heart hadn't stopped from that burst of electricity or anything. Didn't exactly want to, but turning down orders from a superior over personal matters was incredibly unprofessional. Fighting back the urge to salute or something to show respect, she turned and scanned the room, looking for his hulking figure.