(SE) Of Gods and Mushrooms

I R I S Iris saw a suspicion in his narrowed eyes. He knew something. She accepted his offer, her throat aching for the relief. Still, she sniffed the liquid before trying it, taking a small sampling sip. She then proceeded down it all in a few long and determined gulps. A sigh of relief left her lips as she handed the flask back, the knife in her other hand finding its way back into its sheath. The relief was short lived, as her suspicions were confirmed. "Too long. How far away is Sanctuary?" She'd been wandering for hours after all. Nothing she had read about the woods surrounding the Grounds suggested she would experience all that. Her reminiscence of the carnivorous rabbit was cut short, however, as the man's words came into focus. Ludo. That explained some of what had happened, but the possibility that she had desperately been chasing an apparition for hours was proving hard to swallow. Adding salt to the wound, the man's question was met with a frown, her mouth shut tight as anger started brewing. She propped herself up on her knee, standing up and immediately noticing something was off. The weight on her back was gone. Shock took the place of anger as she spun around, hoping to spot her luggage. "Shit! I've lost it. My pack is gone." She placed her head between her palms, stunned by the change in fortune that took place in mere hours. Then, she looked straight at the stranger. He has wings. "Help me and I'll make sure you're rewarded."