It was quite tough to get the now passed-out lamia into the carriage, especially since everyone was exhausted. The lamia coiled up to Lily immediately upon being set down. Samira wrapped both her human arms and tail around Lily gently. Lily had no choice but to fall asleep like that. The rest cleaned up before joining them. The watch was rough that night for everyone, but it was worth the enjoyable night. Claire expected to level up after recruiting Samira, but didn't.
At least they got a pretty new member, who, unfortunately, wasn't cured of her guilt and grief after that night. Samira ended up panicking that night and squeezing Lily too tightly. She wasn't injured, but that added to Samira's guilt. Samira still had a way to go before she was over her trauma.
Traveling was more of the same, but with less leg room. This time, they could be more open about being affectionate since Samira was now one of them. She was clingier with the rest of the party now, too, not just Claire and Lily. She was gentler with her tail after squeezing Lily too tightly, but she was quickly getting used to this level of affection. Without her episodes of guilt and shoddy memory, she fit in perfectly with the rest.
She was also quite the cook.
When she was feeling up for it, Samira would help with the cooking. It was something she and her human mother would do together. Sometimes, she'd get too emotional to continue, but other times it'd brighten her mood. Claire swore once again to reunite Samira with her people. She needed to see the lamia happy.
Other than that, Samira fit right in. She got along well with Toni and his chipper attitude the most. He even started teaching her how to play instruments. This helped with her mental condition since she had something to focus on and get her emotions out when needed. Nights were far more lively, beyond the sex, with their new members here. Not just Samira, but Toni and Hannah too, brought up the mood of the camp much more than previously.
Before, nights were mostly discussing tactics and plans, then sex. But now, they were filled with more laughter than just Elsie's. Her antics and smug laughter were a constant before them; now, she was joined with several others. Jasmine and Ursa, the more serious of the group, even joined in more on the jovial conversations.
Made traveling fly by even faster either way. Samira could brighten the whole carriage, or have a panic attack and make people focus on getting her better. Both ways made the usually monotonous travelling fly fast. It left no room for any silent moments, unless you were driving. Which was nice to have every couple of days. Let them think and revel in the silence.
Both Claire and Jasmine were on their last full day of travel. The excitement and chaos of the last week or so made travelling fly by. They were almost at their last destination for this excursion. Still, it was nice to have the quiet time for the two of them.
It let Claire think clearly about what they needed to do and figure out.
"How do you think we can cleanse Samira's magic?" Claire asked after several hours of silence. Jasmine pulled her head from Claire's shoulder and pondered for a moment.
"No idea," Jasmine rested her head back on Claire's shoulder. "I thought Her gift would do it."
"Me too," Claire sighed. "I hate how vague She is."
"You and me both," Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Still mad at her for giving me this stupid punishment. Have to pace myself now…"
"I can always shut it off," Claire giggled. She enjoyed seeing Jasmine drunk, too. "I've kept it off most nights, unless you look sleep deprived."
"Still," Jasmine huffed. "I hate having to second-guess whenever I see your cum. I just want to- Nevermind." Jasmine sighed. "Back on topic."
Claire laughed and watched the road. "Maybe Firewater is the key? His goblins were so different from the ones we fought."
"Could be," Jasmine snuggled closer. "I wonder if Victoria tracked them down. She had that flask and all."
"I hope so," Claire pursed her lips. "I hope they're safe. I miss that goblin with the hat."
"Yeah," Jasmine mumbled. "Once I got over them being goblins, they had their charm."
"I think She would have said that Firewater was necessary if he was," Claire rubbed her chin. "Maybe a ritual?"
Jasmine took a long, deep breath. "I swear to the Gods if it's just us "Cleansing her with our cum," I'm going to throw a fit."
"It could be," Claire giggled. She thought about the lamia coated in their combined seed. "That'd be so hot, though."
"I-I… yeah it would be," Jasmine sighed. "But how the fuck could we convince the public we aren't just some sex cult?"
"Ummm," Claire acted like she was coming up with something. But really, she couldn't. "I don't know. Let them in on the fun?"
"That'd be so much…" Jasmine imagined recruiting an entire religion of girls like them. It was tantalizing but dangerous. It'd definitely piss off those in power and other Gods. They had a physical incentive to follow Claire's Goddess, unlike any other. "Maybe if it was temporary."
"You never know," Claire giggled. She was already imagining a gathering of women all in the throes of lust. "It could be another ritual."
"Fuck," Jasmine shook her head. "We will just be a sex cult at that point…"
"Maybe," Claire giggled. "She may want that. It'd grow her power and let the women have actual families without nobles. Who knows? It could be exactly what She wants."
"It probably is," Jasmine shook her head. "Still, we need to find out how to purify Samira. Maybe then she won't feel so panicked or guilty. And can bring her home…"
"Would she go home?" Claire pursed her lips again. "She's one of us now."
"True, but it'd be nice for her to see Jolder more than once." Jasmine grasped Claire's free hand. "I know Lily is insistent on the two reuniting. Well, I get it. Lily also never really had a mother."
"Right," Claire had kind of forgotten that fact. She was also raised alongside Jasmine and Daphne by the mayor. "She doesn't ever talk about it."
"She was different," Jasmine sighed. "She was a baby when Sloane took her in. Found her on their doorstep with no trace of her parents."
"Damn," Claire watched the road. She hadn't ever talked to Lily about it, and she felt pretty guilty now. "Has she ever opened up about her feelings on it?"
"Not really," Jasmine squeezed Claire's hand. "Don't feel bad. She doesn't talk about it. Not even when we were younger."
"If you say so," Claire sighed. She still felt bad for never truly asking. "Though it does have me thinking about what Victoria said to you. Was it fate that brought her to Restol?"
"Who knows?" Jasmine shrugged. "Victoria knows far, far more than she's letting on. Why are they all so fucking vague or aloof about the truth? Why can't we get any straight answers?"
"Victoria seems to enjoy messing with people, from what Hannah said." Claire ran her thumb over the back of Jasmine's hand. "Makes sense that she wants to see us struggle and figure it all out."
"Fuck that," Jasmine groaned. She didn't like Victoria from the start; she was just getting worse. "She makes Elsie look like an obedient child…" Claire snorted at that. "Let's make sure those two never meet. That'd be a literal nightmare."
"True," Claire chuckled. "Maybe she'd teach Elsie how to be even worse…"
Claire heard the driver's window, and she turned. Ursa glared at her. "Stop. I don't even want to think about that."
Claire held back her laughter. Victoria did take a liking to Ursa. "Sorry, sorry, we're just bantering."
"No more, please," Ursa physically shuddered. "Was just starting to get used to her…"
"Agreed," Jasmine pulled away from Claire. She raised her hand and ruffled Ursa's hair. "I'll make sure the two never meet."
Ursa leaned into Jasmine's hand. Her eyes half closed for a moment before she shook off Jasmine's hand. "Good. She freaks me out. She's even quieter than you. Can barely even hear her heartbeat when she's right next to me."
"Is she even human?" Jasmine shook her head and retracted her hand. "I've never encountered someone so silent."
Ursa nodded. "She barely breaths and her heartbeat is faint. I counted fewer than ten beats a minute. It's creepy."
"Years of training and level-ups," Jasmine shrugged. "It's like what I do."
"Yeah, but yours stops at some point," Ursa grimaced. She shook her head and continued. "She lasted hours like that. With no change in rhythm or strain. Yours is normal now."
Jasmine shrugged. "It could be an elongated version of my skill."
Ursa's face scrunched up. "But even while she follows us, I have yet to hear anything."
"Hopefully, she stays out of our way," Jasmine said as she moved back to Claire's shoulder. "Or answers some of our fucking questions."
"I doubt she ever will," Claire giggled. She scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of their follower. "I'll have to ask about Samira's magic the next time She visits me."