tomato soup 89p only in your wildest dreams

Cassandra had left in the early hours of the morning. It was almost lunch time, and she was ravenous after hours of non-stop walking (and cutting down innocent plants who had the misfortune of having been planted in her way).

After flinging herself down onto a perfectly seat-sized tree stump, Cassandra pulled her pack into her lap and dug out the sack lunch she’d packed for herself.

A simple cheese sandwich, an apple, and some licorice sticks she’d been given as a belated birthday gift this morning as she’d passed by Uncle Monty’s. She practically inhaled the sandwich and apple, and lounged back on the tree stump, gazing up at the sky, dappled as it was through the canopy above, and chewing on a piece of licorice.

Calm.

She had a small dinner packed as well, but it was far less glamorous. She’d have saved the cheese sandwich for then, but was worried the cheese would go bad in the warm weather.

But still, plain bread and another apple would serve just fine later. If she was still hungry- or fancied something more substantial- she could always forage or hunt. Or search out that seedy pub that lay somewhere within the woods if she was really desperate. Or if she really wanted to piss off her dad, which… to be honest…

The seedy pub was definitely on the table.

With all the apples in her pack, Cassandra was honestly a little surprised that the stallion her dad had recently been riding at work hadn’t followed her. Maximus was diligent and brave beyond his years (which possibly also made him quite foolish, Cassandra secretly thought on occasion), but very easily swayed when apples were involved.

As she rewrapped her licorice in the paper bag they’d been given to her in, Cassandra startled at the sound of a warning hoot from above.

Someone’s approaching.

Candy still in one hand- and one stick in her mouth- Cassandra grabbed her pack and bolted into a shrub. Thankfully it wasn’t holly or brambles, so, while it was uncomfortable, it wasn’t outright painful.

Now, Cassandra was no coward.

In ordinary circumstances she sure as hell wouldn’t dive into a bush at the possibility of crossing paths with another person.

But this was far off the beaten path.

Nobody came this way.

Nobody except for the occasional Guard patrol (who would surely send her back home), irritable teenaged girls who couldn’t get a straight answer out of their Royal-Guard-Fathers, and unsavoury folks trying to outrun the law.

Cassandra had her sword, yes, but she wasn’t looking for a fight.

Although it might be nice to let out her frustrations on some infamous robber or something, for now it was better to stay hidden.