[CupcakeDolly]

Assuming from their mental patterns that the other two girls were nervous about being near them, or about going into a dark and smelly hole... or both, Rue took the initiative and climbed the ladder after Lev, jumping to the bottom halfway down and landing gracefully on aching legs. She had a brief moment of internal conflict to decide whether she wanted to use her hands to cover her nose and mouth or to draw her sword, and decided on the latter.

"Lev, was it?" Rue reasoned that it was worth knowing her own bodyguard's name, but she offered no such courtesy to their other new companions. "Lead the way, if you would."