The group arrived in a clearing. At the end of this clearing was a small ravine, inside it a small river was running, and a simple metal bridge was going across it. Or rather, there was once a metal bridge. Now there was nothing but an exploded heap of metal. Eranor wiggled in her harnessed seat on the scale beast. She noticed the rail tracks they were following continued on toward the once bridge, now pile of scrap metal. Rosewood was right earlier it seemed. Their neighbor Na Mqio had destroyed the rails leading into the country. Likely in an attempt to slow the advancing elves should they overtake the country.

“Yep just like we thought,” Aldyn said lowering his binoculars.

“What’s it matter?” Rosewood chimed in. “We knew we weren’t going to be able to follow the rails.”

“Yeah, but it would have been easier to use the bridge to cross at least,” Aldyn sighed. “Now we’ll have to skirt the forest to get around it.” Eranor could only faintly hear the two as they had wondered a bit away to observe the bridge. She was concerned about what they were saying, but she had a more pressing concern on her mind. They had been riding for several hours now, and Eranor’s need to use the bathroom had arisen not too long into the journey. Only, she couldn’t work up the nerve to actually use her diaper, with the scale beast’s constant movements and also the eyes of Rosewood on her. Now that the two were away and the scale beast’s movements were now just little nudges as it ate some grass, she thought now would be the best time to relieve herself. With same strain Eranor was finally able to open the floodgates into her diaper. With a blush she started to fill it, though the relief was overwhelming the shame. It helped that Eranor was a late bloomer and still had some memories of wearing and wetting diapers. Though the decidedly different circumstances brought out decidedly different emotions. The harness like seat pressed the sodden warm diaper against her, and caused a blush and another wiggle.

Aldyn and Rosewood were still talking logistics, but Eranor got the general idea. Her country, Pal Miqo, was bordered by the elf empire to the east and Na Miqo to the west. The forbidden forest was to the North. When the forces from Vas Naga arrived they cut through the forest, which is difficult to do, and probably why they were able to surprise the elves so easily. There was no way they could cut through the forbidden forest with Eranor being dragged along, much less the covered cart from the other scale beast. The forest, or more accurately the large tree in the middle of it, was the source of magic for the realm. As such, the area around the tree was charged with magic. The trees in the forest are known to move on their own, covering any path cut through in mere moments, and preventing anyone inside from using them as landmarks. The beasts in the forest were charged with magic as well, and capable of casting strong magic. It had been told in old tales that the first Beastkin, who still walked on all fours, made their home in the forbidden forest, protecting the world tree at its center. Now, however, the forest was just as hostile to the Beastkin as it was to the elves.

Without going through the forest they would have to go through Na Miqo to get to Vas Naga. Vas Naga bordered it to the north, being itself bordered by the forest to the east, the Border Mountains to the north, and Tel Naga to the west.

“I’m taking a leak,” Aldyn said with a groan, walking a fair distance away. “Then we can get going.”

“Righto,” Rosewood said cheerily. “And maybe by now our passenger has finally stopped holding it and used her diaper.”

“Wha I …” Eranor wriggled and blushed, but she couldn’t stop Rosewood from sticking her hand against her diaper.

“I thought as much,” Rosewood smiled. “Good girl,” Rosewood smiled and patted Eranor on the head.

“Don’t – don’t,” Eranor was flustered speechless.

“Shush dear,” Rosewood tapped Eranor on the nose playfully. “You’ll have to wait until we stop before we can get your diaper changed.” Eranor huffed and turned away causing Rosewood to giggle. “Gosh you are cute. Tialla’s going to love you. Well as much as she can.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eranor looked to Rosewood, who was scratching her scale beast behind the ear.

“Well it’s not really my story to tell,” Rosewood said in thought. “But the short version is that my master is not actually very keen to have another slave.”

“She kept you,” Eranor said pointedly.

“That she did,” Rosewood conceded. “Though I think it’s more accurate to say I wouldn’t let her let me go,” Rosewood giggled. “I helped raise her you know. I’m sure you too had a slave for a nanny growing up, being a princess and all.”

“Yeah,” Eranor’s thoughts drifted do the Naga slave that she spent most of her childhood with. “Maria,” Eranor said thoughtfully. “I freed her as soon as I could. I think she fled back home.”

“If I had a home to go back to, maybe I would have too,” Rosewood pondered. “But my master is all I know. She’s never getting rid of me, whether she wants me or not.”

“That’s probably why you have so much freedom you know,” Eranor said pointedly. “She probably finds it hard to order her former nanny around.”

“Quick to jump to conclusions about someone you haven’t met.” Rosewood countered.

“I don’t need to meet her,” Eranor countered just as quickly. “She forced my parents to sell me into slavery to her.”

“It’s not that simple,” Aldyn said, surprising both Rosewood and Eranor by emerging from the woods behind them, evidently having finished. “We need this alliance just as much as Pal Miqo does. If the elves take Pal Miqo, they’ll use it as a staging ground to enslave all Beastkin. We have to stop them, or at least hold them as much as we can.”

“Then why even take me at all?” Rosewood said angrily. “It sounds like Tialla is just taking advantage of the situation.”

“That’s enough!” Rosewood said sternly. “I’ve given you your time to vent, and that’s over. Remember our place Eranor. We belong to our master, and we will respect and obey her. You will stop disrespecting her or I’ll get a gag out for you.” Eranor turned away in defeat. “Yes master!” Rosewood said in a way the indicated it was a prompt.

“Yes master,” Eranor said through gritted teeth. Rosewood sighed, releasing some of her pent up tension and her cheery attitude returned. Aldyn gave a respectful nod to Rosewood.

“Let’s get moving girls,” Aldyn said confidently.

“Lead the way general,” Rosewood said, fully back in her chipper attitude.

The group go back on the road. Eranor now notably more uncomfortable riding in her seat now that her dry diaper, wasn’t dry any more. It was a bit of a frustrating walk as they followed the river looking for a spot to cross over and not finding a whole lot of luck. All the while the forest around them grew denser as they continued on. Eventually though they came to a spot where the ground dipped down into the river bed and there was a spot flat enough for them to cross.

“All right we can fjord the river here,” Aldyn said indicating a shallow, but still fast moving part of the river.

“We can what?” Eranor asked.

“Fjord is a fancy way of saying cross,” Rosewood explained hopping off of her scale beast. “Just hang tight for a bit.” Eranor watched from her seat as Rosewood approached the covered cart and start casting some magic on it. Going over any holes in the wood, and using magic to reform the wood and seal it shut.

“What do they have in there that’s so important?” Eranor asked to no one in particular, though the scale beast did respond with a long grunt. “Well your opinion is noted.” Eranor said rolling her eyes.

“All right you’re up here with me,” Rosewood returned from her task of sealing the cart up. “Wouldn’t do to have you washing away now would it.” Rosewood released Eranor from her seat on the side of the scale best and helped her up onto the saddle proper with a push against her diaper.

“Hey!” Eranor complained as she finally made it on the top of the saddle, a real feat considering she was still in the strait jacket.

“Wow you do need a change,” Rosewood said as she climbed up behind Eranor, basically keeping the girl situated in her lap. Eranor huffed in a blush as the group started to cross the river.

Eranor noticed almost immediately that she may have underestimated how harrowing crossing the river would be. It wasn’t that deep, but the water was moving fast, and it was deep enough to carry any one of them away if they fell off. And they were forced to move slowly, as the scale beast struggled with groans against the rushing current. Especially Aldyn’s scale beast struggling with the covered cart that creaked against the strain.

“I got you sweetie,” Rosewood said tightening her grip on both Eranor and her reins. Eranor was very aware of her strait jacket, and that if she fell in she was basically doomed. Under these circumstances, Eranor found comfort in Rosewood holding onto her.

After what felt like an agonizingly long time Aldyn’s scale beast crossed the river with what seemed like a triumphant roar, quickly getting the cart out to. In a few more minutes Rosewood’s scale beast did the same. Everyone, even Aldyn breathed a sigh of relief once they were across.

“General,” Rosewood said bringing her scale beast up to Aldyn’s. “Perhaps now is a good time to make camp?”

“Agreed,” Aldyn said releasing some tension. “I’ll find us a safe place over in those woods, keep close.”

Eranor was glad that they seemed to be too eager to find camp to put her back in her harnessed seat, even more glad that she didn’t have to ride in that thing while they crossed the river.

“What’s in there?” Eranor though to ask.

“That’s classified,” Rosewood said quickly.

“I hope it was worth it,” Eranor said with a sigh.

“I hope it is too,” Rosewood commented.

“Now what the heck is that supposed to mean!” Eranor was even more confused.

“Quiet back there!” Aldyn shouted back. “Unless you want to attract some forest beast.” That comment got Eranor to shut her mouth. “I think I see a good spot up ahead,” Aldyn added.

“Good,” Rosewood said in exhaustion. “I’m beat, and Eranor really needs a diaper change.” Eranor grumbled quietly. She didn’t audibly protest, because Rosewood was right, she just wished she didn’t have to announce it like that.

AUTHORS NOTE: Here's the next chapter everyone. This is another chapter where we get some more time to flush out our little adventuring party. I also wanted to try and highlight how harrowing something usually done off screen, crossing a river, can actually be. It also injected some action to keep things moving. If you want to keep moving faster, you can read the next chapter right now on my patreon at patreon.com/bigred0603. As always hope you all enjoy.