<div style="text-align: justify;">Nadya was startled out of the self-induced almost-coma she had slipped into after the henchman had decided to set everything ablaze rather than answer her properly, when a blade was plunged viciously into her upper arm. She didn't even have time to scream. Actually, she was surprised. <span style="font-style: italic">That's it?</span> It seemed to be nothing but an act of pettiness on the inquisitor's behalf, stabbing her like that.<br/><br/>The fingers that brushed against the hot skin of her neck were initially the cause of far more panic than the knife had been. As long as it was in her arm, she would not bleed to death, but if someone decided to choke her, Nadya would be utterly helpless, tied up and weak as she was. Whoever the other person was, they were surprisingly gentle, even if the water nymph did not appreciate the abruptness with which she was moved, as it jolted her impaled arm.<br/><br/>"Oi, careful!" She croaked in an attempt at defiance. The new owner of the horse did not seem to hear her, and soon, Nadya did not care. She thought that her heart, already beating rapidly, might just burst out of her rib cage entirely. "Fossil is here?!" She screamed at the strange person, not caring if anyone else heard, not caring if her attempt at hiding their connection was now exposed as a total lie. Fossil might be nearby, and that was all that mattered. All that mattered for one precious moment, until she, with a shake of the horse's rump, was jostled back into reality. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.<br/><br/>"What are you <span style="font-style: italic">doing</span>? Move!" She howled again, as loud as she could.</div>