Runaway Royalty

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Sin are you done yet? You are taking ages," Princeton said through the trees and bushes. I pulled up my breeches and did a couple little jumps to get them up all the way, "If by done you mean dressed enough to be seen by you, then yes," I replied smartly. He chuckled as I pushed my way through the dark green ferns. He looked at me a moment and I could have sworn I saw something flash in his eyes. But as quickly as it had arrived, it vanished and he began ambling towards camp. "Prince?" I asked. "Hm?" He grunted, glancing over his shoulder. A low, small growl came from the woods and Princeton and I fell into a defensive stance. We were waiting for someone like a spy, or assassin to come out of the forest when a little black panther tumbled out from the ferns. "Aw!"

"Guard, Sin!" Prince hissed angrily. "What? – It's only a baby!" I argued. Having a talent for animals, I knew there was no danger from this little cat. "But normally when there's a baby, there's a-" He was cut off as a big black panther pounced on him from the nearby brush, her massive paws planted on his shoulders. I screamed, but quickly covered my mouth with my hand. The great beast turned to look at me. I fished around in my pocket for a treat for it. I normally have some for the dogs in the camp. I felt a slimy cube and pinched it, then pulled it out of my pocket and held my hand out, revealing a small chunk of meat on my palm. Her nose twitched and she stepped hesitantly towards me and off Prince. I knelt slowly as she crept closer. The black cat sat before me and her tail curled around her and covered her front-paws. I tossed the meat to her. She caught it and her cub climbed her back, looking over its mother's shoulder at me. Prince whispered, "That was amazing..." I felt his breath tickle my ear and I jumped. "Sorry..." he murmured. I shrugged and turned my attention back to the mother and cub. Jade and Sapphire, I named them.

The cub, Sapphire, tumbled towards me and I caught it in my arms and checked that it was a girl. "Yup, you're a girl..." I said, mostly to myself, "Sapphire. And mama's name is Jade..." Prince chuckled and reached around me to rub behind Sapphire’s ears. I looked up at Jade and saw her creeping back into the brush. It was the first time I saw her limping. The grass where she had sat was streaked with blood. "Jade!" I whispered. I stood, handed Prince the baby and went after Jade. I found her lying on her side panting. I knelt next to her and ran my hands over her side and closed my eyes. Her back left leg was broken. My eyes snapped open and I looked at her broken leg. “Oh God,” I said.

She was unconscious, passed out from exhaustion. I decided to set her leg so it would heal, finding a thick stick that would brace it, and tearing off strips of my shirt to tie it there. She wouldn't be able to survive if I didn't. Sapphire ran to her mother and sniffed her over thoroughly before curling up by her stomach. I rubbed behind Sapphire’s ears, murmuring, "Everything will be okay, Sapphire." I turned around slowly, distracted because I was thinking and didn’t want to leave quite yet. I hit something, and that something was Prince. I stumbled back and almost fell, but Prince grabbed me around my waist and pulled me back. I was flat against his chest. "Uh...." I said and looked up at him, embarrassed. He stared down at me, the sun shining through his hair, making it look white. He released me slowly, as if in a daze. I too felt like I was coming out of a daze. "I..." he said softly. My cheeks burned but I refused to look away. I tilted my head to the side a bit. He looked at my mouth, his eyes darkened and then he began to lean in towards me. I looked down quickly, my shoes were suddenly very interesting. I felt his lips brush my hair just barely, and the whole world slowed as I breathed in sharply at his closeness. He smelled so good, like a man – woodsy but clean. I saw his chest rise and he breathed in deeply, and I stared in awe at his chest and arm muscles as they flexed slightly. "We better be getting back to camp." His voice shattered the moment and I stared at the ground again, acting as if I were not just staring at his chest and arms. I nodded and when I looked up I saw him walking away, the sun casting his shadow in front of him.  I ambled after him, unsure of what had just happened.