The Chicken Lover

Run

We stood on the edge of the clearing. It was early morning and the men were packing up their things. Briant looked around frantically for his sister.

"You wait here. I'm going to try and swap clothes with one of them to get in there."

I nodded. About five minutes passed when he showed up again in a dark cloak.

"Good enough. If I don't come back soon, call the sheriff." He whispered, disappearing into the trees. I watched silently, hoping they'd both return to me safely. And to think I'd just met Edana the day before. Suddenly something touched my shoulder. I jumped and I almost screamed but a hand flew over my mouth. It was Edana. She wasn't harmed after all.

"Where have you been? You had us worried sick!" I said.

"Us? Who's us?" She asked.

"Your brother, Briant. I saved him. He made himself human again. He's in their camp right now trying to find you!"

Edana grumbled. "Well now I have to find him! I guess, thanks for saving his life, Alana."

"It was my pleasure." I curtsied. Something about knowing where she lived made her feel more royal to me. She ran in after Briant and I waited.

Again something grabbed my arm.

"Edana, if you scare me like that again I swear-" I stopped. It wasn't Edana, it was Evan. I was caught. Now Edana would hate me forever. I began to cry. I couldn't control it. Evan's face suddenly looked very heartbroken. He dropped my arm and began to back away.

"What... what are you doing?" I whispered. He stopped.

"You'd better leave before someone else finds you." He said. He began to walk away so I grabbed his shoulder.

"But why are you letting me go? Won't that get you into trouble?"

He turned around. "Not if they don't know you were here. Please, just go before someone gets hurt." He pulled his hood over his head and retreated into the clearing. Suddenly I began to pity him. He was so young and lost. Sort of like me. I had a strong urge to hug him. To let him know he didn't have to live like that.

I shook my head, "No Alana. He doesn't want to talk to someone like you."

Edana appeared dragging Briant by the ear.

"If you ever leave home while you're an animal I swear I'll never speak to you again!" She whispered a little too loudly.

"Let go of my ear!" Briant whined.

"No sir, you aren't leaving my sight! Oh, we're back Alana." She whispered. An outcry arose from the camp and a man entered with Briant's clothes on.

"I've been thieved! My clothes are gone!"

Edana and I both looked at Briant. He chuckled; embarrassed.

"How was I to know he'd wake up so soon?" He grimaced.

"There! In the trees!" Another man called out. They sprinted towards us.

"Run!" Edana yelled. We took off towards the road. Edana was quick, I couldn't keep up with her. Briant was already yards ahead of us. I kept running; I don't know where I found the energy. Arrows were flying, obviously aimed at Briant. His cloak was hiding him slightly, but not enough. Edana grabbed her knife and flung it as hard as she could backwards. I heard a loud moan and a thump. She'd obviously hit one, but who? Suddenly my thoughts turned to Evan. Was he alright?