The fearsome Junailijia warriors aren't just trained to keep their villages safe from neighboring threats; they are brought up in combat, hand selected at birth, not by blood relation, by status or even gender. They are more than defenders; they are...
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The roots of the forest floor grabbed at the young girl's feet, her frantic hot breaths mixed with the cold air, turning white and blending into the night. Deljuan grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her forward, struggling to find her footing. Ohna fell to the ground, she got up as quick as her body allowed, and pushed forward again.
"Quick, we have to hide" Deljuan's said in a rushed whisper, "Come!"
Ohna's heart never pounded as fast as it did just then, she knew she was running for her life and could not spare to lose any more time. She thought back to her mother and father; she thought of the man who asked her to wed, and how she truly loved him, she thought of the dreams she had, and the children she wanted; she was but seventeen of age and still had a lot of life left.
Ohna's steps fell a few behind those of Deljuan who was fit and trained in battle. Ohna was terrified and it frightened Ohna even more that this huge masculine man, who could kill any other man with his bare hands; was afraid.
Deljuan was indeed afraid; he knew they had to get away from where they were. Not far now he thought as his eyes caught sight of the narrow cave hidden slightly on the side of the mountain.
The cave used to be home to a black bear, now it was barren and lifeless; he thanked the gods that he knew of the cave. Jumping over fallen branches, rocks and roots from the forest trees, Deljuan sprinted forward, the cave would be their only salvation now he thought silently. The clutch he had on his axe tightened, and the knuckles beneath his dark skin looked restricted; the skin wrapped tightly around the bones and the bones wrapped even tighter around the weapon.
Ohna tried to keep his pace but kept falling behind, her breath caught in her throat as she heard movement from just behind her, she did not want to stop but it was as if her feet were bound to the floor, her body and mind was swirling in two different directions. Ohna had an awful feeling of fear that crept up her skin, to the pit of her stomach where it lingered, like a meal that could not be digested.
"Who... hh's out there?" She asked so soft that it sounded almost less than a whisper, maybe it was my imagination; but the hard steps that cracked the surface of the dirt, and the low throaty gurgle that followed, confirmed that there was indeed someone.
"Please, we have done nothing wrong." Ohna begged through sobs, "Why are you following us?" she questioned but still could not see anything. There was a deep silence around her for almost a minute and Ohna thought her heart would stop from the tension.
"PLEASE!!! What is it you want?!" she screamed desperately. She felt fingers on her shoulder and was spun around with force.
"Have you lost your mind? Do you want those things to find us?" Deljuan questioned, he noticed the expression on her pale face, and he knew instantly that they were already discovered. His heart beat quickened, and a cold sweat coated the insides of his hands. He felt lost; not of direction but of options. Grabbing Ohna's hand he ran, he ran with everything in him, he kept going forward, the pounding of his heart set their pace. The cave was no longer an option for it would now just trap them and result in their death. Deljuan felt the wet mud patches underneath his shoes, slipping and trying to keep his footing, he managed, but Ohna struggled. Deljuan dragged her more often that she ran, stumbling through mud and foliage, her legs were more bruised than ever before, her breaths burned her chest, and she knew she would not last much longer. The air in her lungs was getting thinner and thinner, her knees shook with every step she took. Deljuan felt her rip her arm from his hold and thought she fell, again.
