Mayb’ I shoulda let the crow have me.
Walking hurts so damn much, breathin’ too, and my head’s pitching in. Damn Horem and them boots of his.
I ever see his ugly face again, I’ll kill him.
Bloody lip, swollen eye so crusted in blood I can’t open it, fire on my cheek, and in my hand. Smallest finger’s broke, I think.
Killing him’d be too easy – toss him in a cage with them wolves he loves so much.
See how he likes it.
Wanna just sit and sleep, but can’t. Roads ain’t safe; if I learned one thing with Horem’s gang, it’s that.
They musta thought me dead, since they di’n’t drag me back. Wasn’t like I stole from them or nothing, but then again, mayb’ my running amounts to the same thing.
Throats dryer than the road, so I need water. Stomach hasn’t spoken up yet, but I’m betting I need food, too. Used to hunger, though – it can wait.
Scan the sky with the eye that’s clear. Late morning, clouds threatening to make my day even worse.
Hobble down the road, eyes an’ ears open for anything, nose too – and the wind sending a rank, musty smell my way. Stop. I know that smell.
Vicious claws and heavy bulk, roaring bets, slick blood coating me. Crawling out, a hollow victory – or maybe not, since I wa’n’t dead, and have to do it all again for Horem.
Sabre cat.
Some rocks nearby, big and good cover. Creep to ‘em, peer over, the rock rough and cold against my bruises.
Damn thing standing in the road. What the [&@%!] is it doing’?
Can’t go that way, along the plains. That leaves into the forest and up the mountains. Dunno the land much, but it’s better than back into the Reach.
Bloody Forsworn’d be too much for me t’ handle, and if I ran into the guards – I wa’n’t gonna give up this freedom – painful though it was – for a cell. Or the mines.
Careful, one slow step at a time, up into the hills. Once I’m outta its range, I sit against another rock, tired and sweating even in the cold.
Good thing, too, ‘cause moment later, I hear footsteps on the road. Far enough away to be safe, but gather my feet under me, just in case. Listen, and under their sounds, I think I hear waves.
Voices, 2 maybe 3. Clang of arms, rustle of nice cloth. Noble and their guard?
Watch ‘em walk by, griping about some wedding. Wonder what’ll happen when they hit the crossroads. Can’t tell ‘em – don’ trust any of ‘em.
Did make me pause, though. Got no way to defend myself. Sabre cats won’t be the only thing out here – wolves, bears, spiders, too.
Last makes me shudder. First two I can avoid – the one howls when you’re near, the other roared to get you to leave. Spiders, no noise, just attacked.
Vicious, poisonous, too many legs.
That put finding a weapon at the top of the list. Scan the path again, decide the waves are on the other side. Sneak across, over the short rise. Breath of relief.
Water
Lake from the look of it. Limp down to the shore, then stop.
Tent, fireplace, mer sittin’ by the lake.
Want his stuff – need is more like – but ‘cept for the hatchet, he’s got no weapon. String of fish and the pole means he’s a fishermer. Not a threat, no reason t’ touch him.
Creep closer, peek into the tent. Bedroll looks nice, but can’t sleep here. Book. Knapsack. Quick look, he hasn’t noticed. Open the bag, try a grin – and that was stupid, lip’s stinging.
Apples, potion, boots, another useless book. Took the first three – my shoes’re so worn the rocks and sticks’re poking my feet. Tale the fish, fingers fumbling to untie the knots, little finger on my right hand on fire and not helping anything. Stash it all in the ragged remnants of my shirt, slimy and cold against my skin.
Standing behind the mer, wonder whether I oughta kill him. Take his hatchet, campsite. Could survive with this stuff, get by.
Can’t do it. Got no good reason to. No one tellin’ me, just my own survival – and he ain’t a threat, so that don’t even matter much.
Farther down, away from him. Found some geese in the reeds, a mill nearby. Don’t see no one. Birds look good an’ fat, but too many feathers t’ deal with. Shoo them away, kneel into the water, sand soft on my bruised knees.
Face is a wreck. Blood matted in my hair, a cut along my scalp. That’s why it’s in my eye. Wash it away, icy and stinging the cuts. But ‘cept for the swelling, my eye don’t look damaged. Cut just below, jagged down my cheek.
Pop open the potion, chug it down, bitter and soothing. Close my eyes; relax as it washes through me, easing the pain. Cuts knitting, bones mending. Ribs ache less. Another glance in the water – swelling’s down. Wounds ain’t gone – finger’s still stiff and sore – but its better than waiting a few days I might not have.
Cup water into my mouth, ease the dry in my throat. Tastes so good. Wanna get clean, but got no fire and the water’s too cold, air’s got a bite to it. Horizon shows more clouds coming in.
Slink back to a tree, spear-shaped, needle leaves. Fresh, sharp scent from ‘em. Sit down, pull off the worn shoes, pull on the boots. Some warmth, cover my ankles better. Pull out the fish, peeling chunks off the bones with my fingers. Cold and slimy down my throat, but food’s food. Picked one clean, then ate the apple, crisp, sour green.
Gonna have to save the rest for later, though I’m still hungry. Can make it go another day, mayb’ two if I gotta.
Glancing at the mill, wonder whether it’s worth the risk. Mid-day, people there’d be working, cross the stream. House on this side, might be worth my while.
Lean back, still tired, crunch through the apple’s core, spit out the seeds. Wonder if they’ll grow.
Something feels… wrong. Off. Looking around, don’t see nothing. Hearin’ only bird chatter and the geese foraging, the blade cutting through wood down at the mill, plop of the fishermer’s line. Smell snow off the mountains, wood dust. No others animals, no other people within sight.
No threats, so why do I feel so strange?
Because there ain’t no threats! No fights, no one barkin’ at me or kicking. Feel… relaxed for the first time since…
Bang my head against the tree, let out laughter – hurts, but feels good, too.
Cold, aching, filthy, so close to dyin’ if I ain’t careful, but one thing’s so perfectly clear:
I’m free.
). She is rough, but I see her growing to something better, and I'd like someone at her side to help her through that process.
