Mark felt strangely focused, he should have been terrified about being found by the rest of the bandits who will come sooner or later but his mind entered full survival mode (perhaps he was able to do this because of wilderness survival skills) He started by tying up and gagging the girl, not in a sexy or "convenient to fuck" way but to ensure that no danger can come to Hanna from the girl and that she can't free herself. He then dragged the bandit to Hanna and said "Here, a heater for you. Sitting on her should be far more comfortable than on the ground. And I can't start a fire yet, we don't want to be detected by their friends. You may search her, BTW. Or explore... OK no joking. Remember, everything will be good." His next step was recovering his spear and hatchet and searching falling enemies for anything useful before returning to his hobbit with the loot. Finally, he sat to think about possible traps he can do around their improvised camp, probing into his wilderness survival knowledge, hoping that he may know a simple trap or two.
Mark returned with loot: two knives, 4 silver coins, ax and spear. The traps were not easy. Mark knew how to make traps for small animals, but for people - this completely different. Still, he done his best to set a few traps - but barely few. He could feel the tiredness washing over him.
As he looked at them, he found the bandit unconscious, breathing steadily. Hana, seemed to have stabilized and was sleeping soundly.
Mark needed the rest and traps gave some guarantee that any intruders would produce enough noise to wake him up. He briefly considered "processing" Juka but he wasn't in the mood for fucking and didn't want to disturb Hanna's rest by the resulting noise. So, he landed on the ground near two warm female bodies and drifted to sleep, with his spear and Juka's sword within reach.
Mark woke up as the sun was raising. One of his traps snapped. As he went to chek it out, he found a hare cough into the trap...
"At least we'll have a nice breakfast," Mark said picking up the hare. He then grabbed some firewood, returned back to the girls, and started a very small fire trying to limit the amount of smoke as much as possible. He used the morning light to appraise the captured bandit, she was dirty and wearing rags but... she had certain qualities of an attractive young woman. Nothing much compared to the elven princess but, indeed she qualified for a tier 1. As he finished skinning and gutting the catch and put the meat above the fire, he woke up both girls.
The skill he bought has lead him on how to prepare the hare, how to remove the skin without damaging it much, how remove the guts, what was safe to eating... The meat hissed under the temperature - the trick of the fire was to create an appropriate temperature for meal, instead of great fire that would burn the meat. As the meat hissed, the bandit stirred. She froze as she saw Mark and scowled at him as she started trying to free herself.
"Good morning. Don't do stupid things, you wounded my friend and I am pissed, " Mark said calmly, contrasting with his words. " I will remove your gag and you won't scream, OK? I want to have a peaceful chat, this is all. Note that you are still alive and not even raped"
The woman glared at Mark, but said nothing as he removed the gag - at least she did not scream. As he moved next to her, Hana started slowly steering awake, blinked a few times, to sleepy to make intelligent conversation.
"Let's start simple, Juka," Mark knew that addressing her by her name will surprise her, "How old are you? I know that you are an adult because otherwise I wouldn't be able... Well, you don't need to know how I know that you are an adult. Why are you in this gang, attacking innocent travelers so close to elven lands?"
"I, thank you." She slowly pushes the door open, hoping that her other self would still be out. She'd just give him some of the coin she likely had in her room, and then set up in preparation.
The woman frowned. "How do you know my name? No, how do you know any of that?" She asked perplexed, ignoring the questions that were asked. She narrowed her eyes. "Tha'at some elvish sorcery?"
As she entered the room, she thankfully found that it was empty - the other Ivy was not here. It took her some time, but eventually she found where the money were hidden and paid the man. As he left, Ivy was left alone in the room... She was sure her other self would come soon, but she had some time to make preparations of her choice.
"Do we look like elves?" Mark, still sleepy, yawned, "Girl, it's not you who asks questions there. Listen, you got a chance for a far better life than being a member of a gang that will end on the receiving end of elvish arrows sooner or later. Say, who are you? Gang's whore? Or are you enjoying the status of someone's important daughter or sister that temporarily protects you from being fucked in all holes? "
The woman blistered at the words. "Come here, pretty boy and I will show you who's going to be who's whore!" She barred her teeth. "You think you done something!? My comrades are going to screw each and every of your holes once they find you!" She snarled. "You both are going to our whores so prepare some lube, boy, because your ass will be on fire!"
"To your whores? Do you have a stock of sex slaves?" Mark put the tip of his spear into the fire "And, please, ignore more of my questions. I fucking dare you. Remember, you hurt my friend, I need only a small excuse to repay you."
"Oh? She is alive?" The bandit asked mockingly, then looked at Hana. "Indeed. She is a... small, excuse~ I wonder, is it the size that made you take her as your woman? Only such a small hole could fit you properly?" She chuckled.
Mark shook his head in disbelief. He was uncomfortable doing what he was about to do but the captive's attitude made it easier "Well, perhaps, one day you'll learn my size. But I am in no mood for fucking a dirty arrogant stupid slut, I have way higher standards" he stood up, hot spear in his hands "Hanna, please, gag the bitch. She'll scream really loud now. We don't need that, right?" He was giving the girl the last chance to start behaving
"You think he's not going to be an issue? Generally heroes don't like it when they find out people they know are getting kidnapped." Felicia sighs. "But whatever - you're clearly not going to get it." She sighs again, hopelessly, and then raises her leg, kicking out hard at the woman's knee, before pivoting and slamming a roundhouse kick into her side.
