After stopping to train every few hours all day, Raiden decided it was finally time to make camp. The sun was just beginning to set, and I decided to find dinner for us. Hoping to find a rabbit or bird nearby, I took Andra's bow and arrow and started walking.
A few minutes later, I found a good spot and climbed a nearby tree. I sat on a sturdy branch and waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Until there was rustling just below me, and a rabbit hopped out of a shrub, plump and relatively healthy. Slowly, I took an arrow from the shaft and readied my bow. As quietly as I could muster, I pulled back and aimed at the rabbit. I let go and the arrow landed right on its target.
I climbed back down the tree and walked over to the rabbit. I carefully picked it up, inspected it, and swallowed my disappointment. Instead of it being a clean shot through the eye like I had hoped, it went through its neck. I straighten up when a force behind me pulls me back.
A firm hand covers my mouth, and the other is wrapped tightly around my neck. Struggling to breathe, I drop the rabbit in my hands and pull at the arms of the stranger behind me, quietly begging for reprieve.
Without thinking, I bite the hand covering my mouth, hopefully hard enough to draw blood. When they release, I take one of my arrows and stick it into their leg. I run as I hear the pain-filled howls of my attacker behind me.
I don't care to look back, to identify them. I need to get back to Raiden and Andra, to warn them. To make sure they're safe. Where did we stop? Did I walk east or west from our camp?
Panicking, I look at my surroundings when I see the orange firelight just to my left. My lungs burn as I sprint toward it.
When I reach the fire, I'm horrified at what I see. Andra and Raiden are nowhere to be found, and neither are our things. The only thing that is left is the fire.
Just then, a hard object smacks against my skull, and I crumpled to the ground, slowly losing consciousness. All I see are boots, attached to two legs, one with an arrow lodged deep in its thigh, blood dripping.
And I blacked out.
~
author's note:
hi! sorry today's chapter was so short. more chapters coming soon, i promise!
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Life or Death
FantasyNessa's parents were murdered by Queen Morana Ashbrook of Asmen almost seven years ago. Since then, her older brother Matthias has ruled over Tarnow, nicknamed the Kingdom of Life by their subjects. Nessa's life is filled with books and sword fight...
