The damp grass gave way under his boots. With her head down, she walked alone, in silence. Behind her, only the poorly formed footprints she had left when leaving the ruined village surrounding the cave where she had met the tree demon. There were still bloodstains on her boot that she hadn't cleaned off.
Picking up the rope that tied her horse, Serena looked up at the sky. Heavy clouds drifted past her, slowly making their way, as if playing on her confused feelings of hesitation.
Despite having reached Bloodstain, things were not going well. There were few supplies and no water. The nearest river was a few days' journey away. The nearest village, two weeks on horseback. She could simply turn around. She didn't have to cross that barrier. She didn't have to die.
(If I go back to the monastery, will the nuns accept me?) she thought.
Serena hesitated for a moment, sighed. Then she got on her horse and rode on.
Even if she didn't know why, she kept going.