The rising of the Shield Hero X One piece

The riseing of the Sword Hero part 3

After zoro left the castle he was thinking we're to head next. Until he notice the shadow from last night was following him.

Zoro decided let the shadow tag along for a time being.

Zoro left the city his second time out of that city. The forest was thick, but not overly so. Other than the easily popped balloon monster, there was nothing to bother him.

He gust wanted to find a way back home to his crew.

Snap

Zoro turned around to his left there was something close by.

He walked with sword in hand moving to the detected movement and snapped twig. It led him to a tree.

He looked around the tree and drew  his sword only to stop at what he saw.

It was a girl, small and frail. Her hair was a very light brown, cropped short at the shoulders and her eyes were a shade of light gold. They were dull and lifeless as she cowered in front of the hero. All she wore were rags, not even close to what would be considered clothes. On here head were a set of animal ears. Weasel if the swordsman was right.

There was something on her chest though, an intriget purple rune painted on with ink.

The girl whimpered and held herself tighter, causing zoro to snap out of his surprised state.

Zoro put away his swords and he then knelt down in the grass in front of the girl causing her to stiffen, "Don't worry, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." The swordsman said this in a voice so soft that the girl couldn't help but relax. Only a little thought.

My name is zoro Can you tell me your's?" He continued, his voice still soft. She didn't answer though, choosing to stay silent in the presence of the swordsman.

His eye drifted to her exposed limbs and noticed the purple tinge when compared to the color of her skin. The harshest of these wounds were on her wrists, obvious from the amount of scarring on them.

'She's been bound.'Zoro stating the obvious 'not to mention beaten.'

What with the rune on her chest?'

seems to be made out of magic. At least, that's what I can tell from here.

Zoro you don't look sow good I am going to bring you to a doctor okay , "... You going to do that?"

She finally spoke, her voice barely audible but hopeful nonetheless.

The swordsman showed a smile Yeah," He replied softly, the girl nodded slowly at his words, and zoro brought his left hand up, palm up.

Just before zoro could do anything the small girl's weasel ears twitched and her eyes went wide. She curled back up and whimpered again. The swordsman found out why a second later.

"... couldn't have gone far, so shut up and keep looking!" An irritated, angry voice of a man was heard a fair distance away,

The voice of another man responded, this one sounding more annoyed than angry, "There's no way the girl survived out here. Let's just go and tell that trader the girl died on the way here. She was going to die from sickness anyway."

The first man sighed, "As much as I would love to do that, this," zoro could hear an object, most likely wooden in material, being tapped, "Says that her slave crest is still active, meaning she's still alive."

The second man grumbled, "This better be worth the payout."

Slave crest. Is that what zoro heard? To zoro slavery was pretty common back in his world remembering the events with camie.