Astrid

Prologue

 My heart was pounding in my chest and my breath quickened with each stride. I couldn't stop running now, there's no way. I have been running my whole life and I wasn't about to let it all come to end here. I could hear the dogs barking behind me in the forest as they charged in my direction, picking up my scent along the way. I knew I didn't have very long before they caught up to me, but I didn't stop. I had to come up with a plan, something to throw them off my trail. If I could just make it another furlong or so then I might be able to make it to safety. Without stopping I grabbed the blade from my waist belt and used it to cut across the palm of my left hand. Clenching my fist, I tore off a handkerchief sized piece from the bottom of my shirt and used it to soak up some up the blood from my fresh wound. Now all I needed was some weight. I was careful to inspect the path to make sure I wouldn't trip as i reached down to grab a stone, all at a sprinting pace. I could hear them now behind me, they were getting closer by the second. I quickly wrapped the small stone in the handkerchief soaked through with my blood and threw it off to my right. Hopefully that would keep the dogs distracted long enough for me to make it to safety.

I kept running barely noticing the trees leafy green branches that were repeatedly striking me in the face as I sprinted past them. I knew immediately when the dogs found the bloody cloth I had left behind. I could hear not only the dogs barking grow louder but I could also here the men's voices screaming in anger and frustration at the dogs incompetence.

It wasn't long however before the dogs and the men accompanying them were back on my trail. All I could do was hope that my little stunt had bought me enough time.

After running for what seamed like forever I finally saw it, my only chance of survival.

Something was wrong. As I reached the edge I came to a sudden halt. Crap, I had overshot south by about a furlong.

I stood there looking around for a few seconds when out of nowhere an arrow came flying through the air and landed firmly in the tree just a few inches to my left.

I was out of options. I knew that If I somehow managed to survive this it was going to hurt like hell.

I took one step back then threw myself off the cliff.