The Chicken Lover

Hostage

I grunted as the man threw me onto the ground. Edana looked on angrily at their 'esteemed' leader. He called them all into a huddle and I heard laughter erupt.

"We've decided to spare your lives." The leader said, "It seems that Evan here doesn't want any bloodshed." He gestured to a young boy that looked no older than I, and I was only 19.

"...but if you cause us any trouble, I will punish." He smirked again. "Come lads! Let's get us some dinner!"

They marched away to a clearing with a small fire in the center. Over the fire was a spit for roasting food.

"Edana, what are you doing!?" I whispered. She was holding a knife in her mouth and slicing the ropes on her wrists. She freed her arms and began to cut free her legs.

"I am getting us out of 'ere!" She finished with a snap and began to free me. "I never leave home without my knife. Keeps a lady safe, as I have just proven." Suddenly an animal started squawking loudly and a man let out a yell.

"Wretched bird, I'll get you skinned if it's the last thing I do!"

"Calm down Digby, it's just a little old chicken!" The leader laughed.

"Maybe, Daray, maybe, but it sure is rascally." He answered. "Hey, Phillip! Bring that bird back here now!" He yelled at a small man who was running off with the bird.

"No! You always want to hurt these poor animals."

"Darn it Phillip, they're just chickens! We gotta eat sometime! Honestly, quit being so obsessive over animals! You'd think you were one!" He shook the butchers knife so violently I thought he might end up impaling someone. Reluctantly he handed over the bird, and that's when I saw her. Edana was sneaking along the trees towards a wagon full of chickens. I knew we were in deep trouble, so I kept quite still. The fellow Digby handed the bird to another man and retrieved another bird from the wagon. It was a giant, red rooster. Edana let out a screech and leaped toward him.

"Not my Bry-Bry!" She called as she snatched the bird up in her arms. Digby's frightened face soon gave way to anger.

"Stop that girl!"

They all ran over toward her, but she sprinted off into the trees. I decided to do likewise and ran toward the forest. Quickly and stealthily the young boy Evan jumped out of the darkness, grabbed my arm, and we both toppled to the ground.

"Let me go!" I yelled as I tried to kick his arm. He just dodged me and laughed.

"Calm down, miss. I don't want to hurt you."

I had no choice. I stopped struggling and let him pull me up. His breath slowed and he looked over his shoulder. Edana held her knife to his throat.

"I suggest you let her go before you make me angry. And don't make any noise, I don't want yer friends to find us."

He raised his arms and dropped mine.

"Oh Edana, thank you!"

"Shh! Not so loud. You want 'em to catch us before we leave?" She whispered. "You, Evan was it? You're coming with us. We may need a hostage." Edana tossed me his sword. I caught it clumsily and dropped it right beside his foot. He flinched and smiled at me.

"Sorry" I said.

"You needn't apologize to him! Let's get on our way!"