The whispering forest

Chapter 8: The Trap

We sat around the campfire and we were going over ideas for the trap, it turns out that setting a trap for humans is harder than setting one for animals. Once we had set it up we went over it a few times that way it was carved into our memory. We waited until sundown, once the sun was setting we traced our steps back to Alfred's campsite and proceed to follow the hoof prints to where they were holding him once we got closer to their campsite we shared a look together so I jumped out from behind the oak tree I was hiding behind, "Hey, looking for me?" they all scrambled up onto their horses. The chase was on. I ran to Charlie and hopped onto his back and we galloped away. The rest was up to James and Alfred. I headed towards the traps once we got close enough I pulled back an arrow and let it fly. It hit its target dead on, cutting a rope that dropped logs directly behind me, blocking the riders chasing me. I didn't look back, I kept going until, I felt something pierce my shoulder, I let out a scream and hit the ground I felt my arm crush under my weight I couldn't move at all the only thing I could feel was a burning sensation in my shoulder, the last thing I remember before passing out is an emblem with three overlapping circles.

When I woke up I was tied to a wooden chair, in what looked to be a shack of some sort. I tested the binds but when I went to move my left shoulder and wrist it felt like my arm had been lit on fire. My shoulder was bandaged but my wrist seemed to be dangling at an odd angle definitely broken, Now how to get out of here that is the question. They must have used some type of paralytic when they shot me and when I fell off of Charlie I must have landed on my wrist wrong and broken it. Some plan. I signed I took in my surroundings further it smelt like blood and mold, It was dark except for the light coming in from behind me, there must be a window then, I couldn't really hear a lot, and there didn't seem to be a lot of people though, so probably a small encampment. The light seemed to feel really hot on the nape of my neck it must be mid-afternoon then. I rocked the chair backward and it broke under the pressure, I quickly untangled myself from the ropes and sprung to my feet. I turned to look at the window. It was too small; the only way out was through the door. I grabbed a chair leg and some rope I tied the rope to the chair leg that way I had some sort of weapon. I took in a deep breath and opened the door just a crack. There weren't any guards which was weird, Since I remember hearing footsteps and voices while I was waking up, I swung the door open all the way it was really bright but there wasn't anyone around, it was like a ghost town. I debated yelling but decided against it. The first thing I needed to do was find a clinic so I could properly address my wrist. I walked through the town quickly trying not to make any noise as I went along. I found the clinic in the middle of the town I entered it, it was fully stocked so I splinted my wrist and put my arm in a sling. I found a bag and filled it with as many medical supplies as I thought I would need. As my mother would always say take what you can get because you never know when you may need it. While I was feeling the bag I heard footsteps outside I grabbed my weapon and hid behind the counter, at the time it felt like the best place to hide. The door creaked open. I braced myself and held my breath, "Ash are you in here?" it was James, I breathed out a sigh of relief and stood up.

" Yeah I am here," I said softly so I didn't startle him. He looked relieved,

" How did you find me?"

" Ace led me to you, he had made it to the cave with Charlie, I was concerned so I had him track your scent."

"Where's your father?"

"He is safe back at the cave"

"That's a relief"

"What happened to your arm?"

"I broke it when I fell off of Charlie", I explained to him everything that had happened since we had split up.

"Did you set it?"

"No, I just put a splint on it"

"Here let me help you"

After it was set he helped me put it in a splint and in a sling.

"Looks like you won't be using your bow for a while"

"Yeah it's why I have this," I showed him my self-made weapon.

"Well I hope it does the job"

"Why?"

"We have company" He motioned for me to look out the window, and we were surrounded. It looks like everyone in the encampment was there they were holding torches, and every other person was holding bows with arrows notched and ready to fly, there was only one entrance and exit, we were in a wood building, and they lit their arrows on fire, pulled back and let them fly, I grabbed onto James's arm and waited for the right moment if I time it right we can use the smoke as cover and get out of here. If we leave too soon they will spot us and if we leave too late we may not make it out alive. I counted to myself it was getting really hot, one, two, three I ran out the door making sure to pull James out behind me. We ran around the back and towards the Forest once we were a safe distance away, we stopped to take a breather, "Well they were nice" James said I snickered, "Yeah just peachy."