Game Of Survival •in editing•

7 Ashes and Arrows

The General dismounts our animal companion, offering me a hand. I want to roll my eyes and shove my tied hands in his face. Instead, I smile my sweetest, most sarcastic smile, and throw my legs over the mount, landing easily on my heels.

"Well, you could've just said no."

"How much fun would that have been?"

He sighs, keeping my gaze under the grey veil that protects his eyes, as he instructs orders and assembles his subordinates into groups of five. Two groups will stay in the peak of festivities, keeping an eye on order and to make sure foreign citizen dwellers behave themselves while blissfully ignorant on booze. Our group will head to the abandoned warehouse in the south, hopefully to collect any clues of whereabouts. And I will go with them.

Rider, Kay, myself, Turlock and a burly man with ginger hair and stone set features— whom has not said a single word on the trip; Burkley I think was his name, follow a mental map to the tiny warehouse distract near the overall abandoned port. Word has it the port shut down due to gang violence and drug trafficking rumours, therefore it fits my opinion on whether or not it may serve as a hideout for the outlaws.

We journey along Maiden River, through a woodsy area known for secret marriages and nighttime adventures for young couples to escape the harsh, crushing reality the world spurs around them.

The river gushes blue and yellow with fallen peonies and weeds that brush the bank of the river, curious fishes peaking at us through the surface. Three men fishing nearby turns their attention toward us, specifically to me and the leash tied around my hands. One of them smirks at Rider; the said man who handles the leash.

"Got you a beauty there, Red General." One of them coos, leering; actually leering, at the length of my body. "Finally found a worthy mistress among these young women." The way he laughs at his inherent misogyny is like an itch under my foot I can't scratch. My jaw ticks.

I hear the slight inhale of breathe The General takes before he responds. I beat him to it. "Not a mistress. I am being punished for attempting to murder the general." I grin from ear to ear, a bittersweet contradiction to the sour words. The general eyes me from over his shoulder, but does not retaliate. The men stare at me like I've gone mad, clearly at a loss for words. "Do enjoy your fishing, I hope they all avoid you and you starve tonight."

Their eyes keep hold of me until they are no longer in sight. Rider tugs on my leash, cautioning me, warning me. "One of the rules was to keep quiet."

"I'll allow it. It's fine, Rider." The General announces, his broad back still striding with confidence and ease of a true General. There is something laced in his words, an emotion I'm not accustomed to hearing from him. His nuanced tone is new, but not unwelcomed. Rider huffs a response, and drops his hand to his side.

When the silence grows over the next hour and my feet become sour in the tight boots Poppy had proffered, I glance toward the now still river.

"Do you want to hear a story?" A distraction that I so desperately need?

"No."

"You're no fun Rider. I'll tell you anyway." When Rider rolls his eyes and a huff of laughter leaves the other men, I continue. Well, except for Burkley of course, the man never laughs. "Do you know why they call it the Maiden's river?"

"I don't care." Responds my oh so wonderful companion.

"Do tell." Kay falls in step with me. His height is not that intimidating, maybe around five foot ten by my average. His gait is relaxed, and even if I can't remember the exact outline of his looks, he reminds me of tough edges and strong features. He looks like a stone cold killer, but has the voice of a newborn puppy.