There's some awkward dodging and hustling before anything more happens conclusively. Pearl seems indecisive about whether to change weapons or rush to Claire's aid. The salamander is about to turn and flee but you strike first.
You stab the salamander through the roof of its mouth, piercing its brain. The flimsy spear is, surprisingly, still in one piece. Warm blood sprays down onto your arms. The salamander drops dead right in front of you.
Charlotte, just as it's falling, sinks her sword into its flank. Warm blood flows out around the wound and over her sword-arm.
Pearl makes up her mind and goes to help Claire. She's badly burned and unconscious. Pearl administers the healing potion from her pouch, pouring it between Claire's lips.
Claire's body begins bleeding profusely from her wounds. The blood cleans the blackened flesh and it begins to regrow and knit back together. The flow stops as the last patches of skin knit back together into scars, which dry and slough off leaving fresh pink skin behind. Claire heaves and turns over to her hands and knees and gulps the air for some moments.
Knowing Claire is going to be ok, you whip out the ocarina and play an appropriate
victory song.
You set about skinning the salamander. The knife Charlotte threw is slightly melted and will need to be sharpened again. She stows it. The arrow Claire shot is nowhere to be found. The salamander's corpse is warmer than a normal animal and it steams in the cold air, but it's not especially dangerous. Claire is the best at butchering game, and does an okay job - there's enough usable salamander hide for three large articles of clothing (cloak, dress) or six small (shirt, pants, boots, gloves) but it will need to be stretched and tanned.
Unsure of whether the meat is good to eat, the women pack up several days' worth in three spare sacks just in case.
You also pick up your thrown torch.
You're in the river tunnel, on the riverbed. Upriver is east, downriver is west. The cut-out road is to the south. Across the road to the south is a smaller side tunnel.
Claire, Charlotte, and Pearl are here. Everyone is completely covered in blood.
Equipment
Clothes: Fur Cloak, Trousers, Belt with Dagger Sheath and Pouch, Floppy Boot Hat, Cloth-Wrapped Sandals
Armor: None
In Hand: Flimsy Goblin Spear
Satchel [10/10]:a Big Heavy Book [Unlocked] (10 ENC), Densely-Written Love Letter (0 ENC)
Salamander Hide x3 (3 ENC)
Ceramic Ocarina (On cord around neck) (0 ENC)
Dagger
Bottle
Rocks x3
Torch
Lame Torch
Sausages x2 (1 ENC)
Bread Loaf
Jug (2 pints hard cider)
Small Items (No Weight) In Belt Pouch
Compass
Pocketknife
Engraved Lighter
Pack of Cards
Handful of Bugs
Engraved Gold Engagement Ring
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