Laura, Aerina and their companion set off on their journey once again in search for the exit, which was 2 hours ago and their progress since then has progressed smoothly, as smoothly as being a dungeon can be.
Multiple monsters sighted.
Multiple monsters fought against them.
Many times they have to hide due to the sheer number of monsters, which includes hiding in a tree, something two young ladies with no experience struggles to do so, which ended up with a hurried and panic striken of their companion who have to hurriedly bring them up to the tree.
The hordes of monsters caused the ground to shake due to their sheer numbers.
Laura watch in worry as the horde walking past them right at that moment, minutes have passed but they have yet to find the end of this long lines of monsters.
She is currently hugging her companion by the arm right now; with her breasts pressed against in close proximity.
FYI, the tree they are currently hiding from the horde is a large tree with thick trunks unlike normal trees in the outside world, but due to her lack of experience with being on top of a tree, Laura goes for holding onto her companion's arm to keep herself steady.
(Ahhhhh...I'm so shameful, I can't believe I'm doing this.....!!)
For her, physical contact barely registered in her mind due to her not actively seeking it except with her family members, even with her close associates and classmates everyone including her always maintained a certain distance from one another due to their upbringing and personal preference.
Aerina on the other hand is experiencing a time of her life.
She is currently being held close to her companion's body right now and the act made her brain short-circuit.
The story of how the three of them are up there began with the horde of monsters now passing them.
The three of them spotted the horde coming toward their direction with some flying ones in the sky hovering ahead and above them.
Having decided that it would be too risky to continue traveling with the flying eyeballs in the sky they chose to hide above the tree where they can avoid the ground monsters and use the leaves to hide from the ones above.
The only problem with this solution is that the two women in the group do not have experience climbing trees.
So their companion has to pull them up the branches one by one before settling on the fourth highest branch, due to the trees inside the dungeon being built differently they can handle the weight of three people easily.
And now to the present situation.
Aerina remembered climbing the tree branches with the help of her companion and successfully reached where they are now, but instead of grabbing the branch to hold herself, she opted for hugging the companion instead which surprised her.
Either unbothered or in a hurry her companion helps Laura up without much pause and now the two women are holding onto the companion tightly scared of the height and watching the monsters passing by.
(I don't remember ever hugging someone who isn't my family before) thought Aerina as she adjusted her grip on the companion to a comfortable one after some time.
She remembers hugging her sister when they were younger as well but stops after....certain events.
(It's really comforting)
She pushes her body even closer to her companion, unaware that her breasts are pressing against the chest as she is enjoying this long-lost intimate moment.
"...They should be far away from us now," said the companion after watching the ground unit and the flying eyeballs in the distance getting small enough.
"Ahem, that's great," said Laura loosening her embrace on the arm while her flushed face remained there for all to see.
"....But how are we going to get down?" asked Aerina.
"....Well, I have my ways, but what about you two?" said the companion.
"..." the two ladies look at each other in contemplation then at their companion.
"....."
(We don't know)
They share the same exact thought at that moment.
"...." the companion looked worriedly at the two and patted Aerina's back.
(This is gonna bother me a lot but I guess we have to get moving some way or another now since I'm worried for both our safeties)
"Please hold on tight"
"Okay?"
"Ms.Bernard, I will come back up later"
"Okay?"
Then the companion pushed off from the branches, with nothing down below but the ground Aerina felt the loss of sensation, and then gravity took hold of her.
"Aaaaahhh!!!!"
She felt her hair being blown back by the wind and then the body of her companion landed on the ground without an impact.
"Okay, we're on the ground now" feeling the pat on her back Aerina slowly let go, her companion kneels down to slid her off the back and onto the earthern ground before climbing back up to where Laura is.
"Ready, Ms.Bernard?"
Hearing that question, Laura shook her head.
"....Then what about I carry you down?"
"...I guess...that would be alright"
Laura's descend down the tree can be considered an improvement to Aerina's one as the companion move from the upper branches to the lower ones slowly and steadily with a combination of skills and footworks.
Though slower by a large margin compared to the first one, the two landed on the ground safely in a princess carry.
"...So, are you two ready to continue where we left off?"
Aerina nodded having recovered from her shock.
Laura on the other hand took a while to respond but nodded.
The three continue where they left off heading in the opposite direction that the monster have headed to, while in the back of their minds are:
(That was scary just now, with the wind blowing and gravity taking effect on me while falling....But being held like that is so comforting and reassuring...) Aerina replayed that moment repeatedly in her mind with a mixture of fear, excitement and warmth while look at her companion.
Laura on the other hand look around worriedly at the environment trying to spot any new hordes that they should hide from.
(No hordes in sight, so we should be safe for the time being. Too bad though...Wait? What am I thinking?!) the thought of hiding in the tree again made her heart pound, but what makes her look forward to the encounter the most is the thought of being princess carry down the tree again.
(Nonono, I can't let myself being held like that again! But that was so romantic just now!!!) her conflicted thoughts made her blush and frown at the same time.
(....What's with the horde just now though?)