"So," Bridgette said as she gnced at Alice over a casual dinner the two were sharing in Alice's kitchen. "There's something more you're not telling me."

  Alice blushed, refusing to meet Bridgette's eyes. "I mean, you saw the worst of it before you left."

  "No, that's not it. You wouldn't be blushing and acting guilty over the tentacle sex bit. A, I trust you. I love you. What happened?"

  Alice flushed almost scarlet. "We, uh, accidentally fell on top of each other while masturbating because the curse/poison thing got so intense. She was grinding into my leg while I hammered at my pussy, both of us screaming and cumming all over each other."

  "Sounds pretty hot," Bridgette said, "But I feel like there's more. Also, I'm not upset at all about that. Shit happens, especially when you py with sex tentacle magic. Which is, literally, the entire point of both your css and hers."

  Alice sighed, finally meeting Bridgette's gaze. "We, I don't know, we acted like flirting kids - like you and I used to do - when we were at the stock pond trying to clean up. We were skinny-dipping because Fi shut off our rings so we couldn't get bathing suits, and Erika got the jump on me counting to three, dunked me, we wrestled a bit while swimming, and we scrubbed each other's backs to ensure we were clean before we got dressed. It was all so natural that I didn't even realize what was happening. I'm so sorry, B."

  "Well," Bridgette said, crossing her arms and staring across the table at her lover. "I guess I did leave you two to your own devices in a pretty vulnerable state," she allowed. "And you've never been able to say no to a cute girl."

  "I'm not into her," Alice said bluntly, coming around and moving a chair to sit next to Bridgette. "I have zero interest in ever repcing you. No matter who she is, she cannot compete with the love of my life, the woman I grew up crushing on, who Fi herself came in and appuded when I confessed to you. Nothing and nobody will ever convince me that repcing you is the right choice."

  "Even though she's another of Aphrodite's Chosen?," Bridgette asked calmly, measuring Alice's reaction.

  "Yea, fuck that. That doesn't matter to me at all. I'll take you over her any day."

  Bridgette nodded, seeing the conviction in Alice's eyes. "Okay, I believe you. And look, she's cute, she's quite the frisky handful, and you two had just been fucked senseless and left in a naked pile. I'm not upset at what happened. I just ... wanted to make sure where I stood. Just in case."

  Alice got up and sat, straddling Bridgette, and pulled her lover into a long kiss. "It's always you, B. Always. Now let's go upstairs so I can prove it to you."

  ---

  The next week passed quickly as the group continued practicing together. Erika did her best to make herself useful, trying to tone down her crazed sex jokes. She had also apologized profusely to Becky, begging to be allowed to stay in the tavern as a week wasn't a long enough period of time to try to find other lodging. Becky finally assented, under the condition that Erika not engage in any more "tentacle shenanigans" while staying there. Erika's offer to include Becky resulted in a shriek of anger and a thrown cooking dle, so Erika generally assumed that meant "no," or maybe just "stop asking while my boyfriend is present."

  The witch did her best to fit in, spending each day working hard with Alice, Bridgette, Colin, and Deirdre, learning their fighting techniques, their skills, and how they communicated. In return, she did her best to share knowledge from her own experiences, the enemies she faced over the previous two years, and what spells and capabilities she possessed. The necromancer discussion in particur was an interesting one, as the friends had never faced the undead before, and Colin had hundreds of questions about fast zombies, slow zombies, wights, and every other type of undead creature his nerd lore could imagine.

  Finally, it was time to depart. Nearly the whole vilge gathered to watch the friends leave, many vilgers giving home-cooked treats for the girls to store and eat along their travels. Many hugs were exchanged, tearful promises to "not be gone too long," and "come back safe," were repeated again and again.

  Over the previous year, they had managed to gather together horses suitable for adventurous travel and so this time they were departing instead of just walking or jogging off into the distance. Alice sat perched on a white horse while Bridgette's own massive bck warhorse stood impassively next to the healer's mount. Bridgette was walking around, checking the straps on Erika's mount as she finally helped the witch up onto a brown mare. Erika gnced down nervously at the horse, then to Bridgette standing on the ground next to her, as the giant animal stood there pcidly.

  "I've never done this before," Erika admitted quietly to the redhead. "I don't know anything about horses."

  Bridgette snickered, patting the witch's leg. "Don't worry," she said with a smirk. "She'll be gentle for your first time."

  Moonwhisper, Deirdre's enormous primal wolf companion, trotted forward to tower over the horses. Colin and Deirdre sat atop the wolf, the shorter ranger sitting in front of the wizard, snuggling into his chest as he reached around her to hold to Moonwhisper. "Ready everyone?," he called out, gncing over to the other three women.

  "Show off," Bridgette scoffed, looking at the two elves.

  "That wolf is something else," Erika said, impressed. "I'm still not used to her."

  "Just wait until you see her in combat," Bridgette said. "Real combat, that is. She's fucking brutal. Tore through a pack of Orcish wargs st year. Anyway, you're gonna do great. Just try to get into the rhythm of the horse, and it won't pound your tailbone too much."

  "I can take a pounding," Erika winked at Bridgette. "My butt's seen worse."

  Bridgette chuckled, shaking her head at the innuendo. "I'm sure you can, but this is going to be different from what you're used to. Seriously, if you need it, ask Alice for healing. She won't mind, we need you healthy, not whining about how your legs and ass are sore. Within a week though, you'll get used to it and the muscles will adapt, and you'll be fine."

  Bridgette straightened back up, happy that the witch's saddle was properly adjusted and gently patted the mare on her side. "All set. Just take it easy and she'll treat you fine. You need to be gentle as you break her in. If you try to force it, she'll fight you."

  Erika nodded, lost in thought as she considered Bridgette's words, and fell in behind Alice as their horses trotted down the path away from Persistence.