<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/RoDooxQ.jpg)</div><br/><em>"Contestants Eren d'Canti and Pipa Truebridge, this is elder Zapha Brightwind."</em><br/><br/>Pipa waited respectfully as the elder spoke of his first hand experience of the history of the war against Pandora and the existence of the Dungeon. His age was almost astonishing to her. The occasional elf she had encountered in her  life had been nowhere near so venerable.  His reminder of their danger and probable sacrifice was sobering.<br/><br/><em>It is this child, my fourth aft-daughter, who will be joining you on your journey.  I will not ask that you keep her safe, for she is a capable girl, only that you do her no overt harm or malice."  He smiled and added, "Also that you try your hardest, for I do not wish to see any woman fall."</em><br/><br/>Pipa's bow was stiff compared to Eren's, but as sincere, “Of course Elder, thank you.”<br/><br/>Pellenistra Shadowstep was fiercely beautiful, and seemed (in her near nakedness, her relinquished blade, and her wolf companion) more suited, capable, and prepared than Pipa and Eren combined. Pipa thought she looked like she was born for it.<br/><br/>Before, she had thought her strength, whatever she could learn at the Temple, and a little luck would be enough to give her a good shot at getting out alive. She found herself doubting her chances, as she walked down the line of wagons and horses to stretch her legs alone. She was tailed by a couple soldiers who followed at about 15 paces, and watched the thick forest intently for threats as Pipa enjoyed the soft, short grass underfoot.<br/><br/>Pipa was a realist, perhaps not as much a realist as her father with  his hard half-orc temperament, but she endeavored not to kid herself about important things. At first, taking on the Dungeon had looked like a dangerous challenge and a chance to serve and protect all of Eden, an ethic she had embraced throughout m her upbringing. Now, the reminder from Elder Brightwind that few generally are ever released, most are corrupted or killed, brought her attention to the fact that, chances were, that was her fate.<br/><br/>As she came to the end of the line, she caught sight of the mangled mage lying in the road. Yes, there were fates worse than death. The idea that she might remain within Cyril’s dungeon and live on as a corrupted creature there, was most repellent to Pipa.<br/><br/>She forced herself to look for another long moment at the tortured man before turning on her shapely, pale orange heel. As she returned to her fellow contestants, she knew she would prefer to survive (or die trying) than become a tool used against future contestants and harm girls like her. She also firmly reminded herself that all outcomes were possible, even the unlikely event that she might cross the bridge and enter the unseen levels, where she might decide the fate of the world.<br/><br/>Eren was waiting when Pipa approached the coach. She handed her a hard biscuit slathered in damson jam, and Pipa thanked her before devouring it. She scrubbed away its sticky remnants, and enjoyed a quick wash after relieving herself, before climbing back into the coach.<br/><br/>There was<em>Pellen kneeling on the bed like surface inside the coach.  A wry smile on her face as she nodded to the two women.  She waited till the coach door was closed before commenting, "a carriage that has a bed, and the strong scent of love tell me how you two have been spending your time on this trip.  Tell me, how does the addition of a third affect this for you?  Am I an intrusion or perhaps you see me as prey?"</em><br/><br/>Eren was speechless, but Pipa found her tongue,  “Correct me, but you seem to be more the huntress than either of us.” She was doing a half decent job of looking the nearly naked elf in the face and not be distracted by her compelling form.<br/><br/>She did allow her gaze to drop briefly before adding, “We’ve taken advantage of our time, and we're happy to welcome you.”<br/><br/>