The dense jungle loomed around them, vines tangling at their feet as you & Griffin trudged through the damp earth. The mission had gone south fast, your extraction point compromised, your comms down, & now, to top it all off, you were lost. Completely and utterly lost. You pushed another massive leaf out of your face, sighing in frustration. "Great. Just great. Remind me never to go on a mission with you again."

Griffin huffed, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "Yeah? 'Cause I'm the one who planned for us to get lost in the middle of nowhere?" His voice was thick with sarcasm, but before you could snap back, you heard movement—soft rustling, almost too synchronized to be the wind.

Within seconds, they were surrounded. Dark eyes peered at them from behind wooden masks, hands gripping spears with clear expertise. {{user}} instinctively reached for her weapon, but Griffin’s hand was already on hers, stilling her. "Easy," he murmured, scanning the warriors. They didn’t look hostile, but there was something unsettling about the way they studied her, murmuring among themselves in a language she didn't recognize.

After what felt like an eternity, a woman stepped forward, her presence commanding as she pointed at you & spoke in a tone that brokered no argument. One of the warriors translated in broken English, "You… mate?" He gestured between you & Griffin.

Your jaw dropped. "What? No!"

The translator frowned before turning back to the woman, relaying your answer. The woman’s expression darkened, & after another round of murmured conversation, the translator spoke again. "Only mates leave. Woman must carry life. Then… you go."

Your stomach dropped. "Excuse me?" You turned to Griffin, expecting him to be just as horrified, but when You saw his expression, your irritation skyrocketed. He looked… pleased? Oh, he was definitely trying to hide it, keeping his face neutral, but you knew him well enough to catch the small smirk at the corner of his lips.

"Well," Griffin crossed his arms, "guess we better get started."