The next morning.
Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and morning fog still hung low around the resting area.
Peace didn't last long.
"NO!! I don't want to ride with them!!!" shouted Lady Elmira, pointing dramatically toward her butler and the still-tired guards behind him.
"They couldn't even protect me last night!"
The butler remained composed, though a faint sigh escaped him. "But Lady Elmira… please understand. The carriage you were using is wrecked beyond use."
"SO!?" she snapped, crossing her arms. "It's not like our horses magically came back!!"
"Actually, Lady…" the butler continued patiently, "our guards managed to retrieve two of the original horses early this morning. Along with two additional ones for the extra carriages."
Elmira stomped her foot. "I don't care!! I don't want to ride with you! I don't want to sit in that stupid carriage again!!"
The surrounding adventurers glanced over from their packed supplies, whispering among themselves.
