The splashing of footsteps barely echoes over the roaring downpour. A cloaked figure runs as fast as it can, struggling in the darkness of the night. The figure is raggedly panting, as if they are trying to escape from something. A flash of lightning reveals the figure's small, feminine frame and curves.

"You can't get away!" a gruff, strained voice echoes from behind the figure as an armored man chases after, muffled clanks and splashes in his wake.

'Must get away... Must escape... Can't be right on me still, can he?' echoes through her head, as fearful curiosity overtakes her.

She glances back at her pursuer, and lets out a rough gasp as her foot slips from under her. Her hand manages to find something to keep herself from falling flat into the muddy ground.

As she takes off, she feels a hand grab at her arm. "Gotcha--!" he says as his hand wraps around her wrist. She powers forward as his grip -- and his footing -- slips and leaves him to a muddy splash. "Urgh! Get back here!!" he yells as he tries and fails to stand up.

Many wet steps behind her, she barely manages to hold herself up against a tree as she stops to catch her breath. Glancing back, she slumps into the tree more. The man is still far behind, somewhere in the darkness behind her.

As she slumps fully against the tree, she seems to pass through -- more so falling into -- the tree. With a breathless gasp, everything goes black.

----

Somewhere, in the forest surrounding the tavern, her muddy form appears slumped at the base of a tree. Muscles aching, lungs burning, she tries to look around before exhaustion overtakes her.

"...Did...I...get...away...?" she manages to choke out between breaths as she takes in the surroundings, eyelids heavy as darkness overtakes her again.