The way back home was a bit longer than she expected due to her being careful of Raban's condition. He was still too weak to move about - she felt his grip weaken every once in a while as he struggled to stay awake. To compensate, Janine opted to put her tail around his waist, but gently as to not along him off her back.
She glanced to Chestnut every once in a while. She wondered if she trusted her a little. Not a lot, since she didn'teven know Janine like that, but just a little. The idea that she could gain someone's trust naturally and not artificially would be nice. Her time in the Order taught her a couple of things - not everyone has to like you to work with you, and that the trust is somewhat forced upon one another. In order to work in a job like this, one has to trust that their partner will do something, or else risk death. But that was the problem - preservation was just that - preservation. It was not inherently reciprocal. One could save another for their own reasons and gain, not caring at all for the other person, so long as they live.
....
Janine realized that the same could be said for herself and Raban. They both had a secret, and to tell about one person would raise questions for the other. Janine gave an inward sigh and lowered her head a little. What if Chestnut thought that about her? What if Raban thought that as well, even for a brief moment?
Would that mean that he would betray her, to save himself and Chestnut?
No. Part of trusting someone was to believe that they wouldn't compromise that trust. Janine couldn't think of anyone that she could do that with at the moment... And she had to make sure that she didn't do anything as well. Raban had a life as well - everyone did. He has a right to live, like everyone else. Yes, she was going to strive to be a better person..... Which could also mean she had to work on her social skills...
Maybe later. Now, Raban was priority.
Thankfully, the rest of the way back out of the forest went off without problem. Other than a few animals taking a gaze at the strange party before running off, nothing bothered them.
Once the edge of the forest was in view, Janine paused and lifted her head. Amastad. Finally. She had never been so happy to see it again, even thought she was gone for only a night. Chestnut's snorting made her turn her head, and she saw the horse pointing at the saddle on her back with her muzzle. Right. Time to put Raban back where he belonged. With as much gentleness as she gave him the first time, Janine used her tail to put Raban back onto Chestnut's saddle.
"There you go. Finally back to town. If something comes after us at this point, I might have to move from this town," Janine joked. She let her tail fall to the ground once more, the muscles aching again since they hadn't had time to recover from the night previous.
"Now, here's for you to rest and get better. Both of you," Janine said as she lifted a paw with a wave. "See you around."
When those two went their own way, Janine sighed and sat down. She was comfortable being in this form, but she needed to get back home to her mother and horse. Not to mention rest. With a short huff, the young demon changed back into a young woman. Her clothes were intact, a thing that Janine would alway grateful for, and the scratches were under her clothes, so she wouldn't have to worry about her going into town bleeding or the like. She leaned against a tree to give her body a moment to get used to being on two legs, and soon began her own walk into town.
But instead of going in the normal way, she took a less common way in. The barns and fields were a more dirty and difficult way, but she had no qualms about it - after all, she did wrestle with a bear. And besides, she'd rather be seen by animals than humans. She didn't feel like talking to people right now.
After passing by multiple properties and fields, Janine was already close to her home. She just and to go down a couple of streets, and she was there. In her haste, Janine barely caught the sounds of hissing and rattling in her head. The woman looked up with a gasp. What the hell? What was happening now? Couldn't she rest? But the sounds made Janine alert. Why was there danger here, so close to her home? Warily, Janine kept walking, looking behind her every other minute. Suddenly, she bumped into someone. Janine gasped and stepped back to apologize, but the person didn't say anything to her.
Janine was a little irked, but the hissing was louder than before. What the...? With a look of alarm, the young Knight tensed her body up and turned to the person she just bumped into. But they were shrouded in a black cloak from their head to toe. The person stood there for a second before Janine stepped forwards, making the mysterious person flee.
"Hey! Come back here!" Janine shouted. She gave chase and turned a corner, but the person was gone. Unsettled, Janine decided it was truly time to go back home. When she got there, Janine greeted her horse, then her mother. Being as tired as she was, Janine opted to go to bed, where she slept for hours upon hours under a blanket.