Fire and Ice

Thick Rope

                       
     ~Nashi's POV~

I didn't want to bother Lady Juvia anymore. She was tired, all out of energy.
She was now sleeping against the wall, leaning up on my shoulder.

Previously one of Wendy's men came in with our food. We were able to have or hands untied for five minutes to eat but retied right after.
When my hands were free I was finally able to look at them to see what condition they were in.

My hands were a little purple, cold, and sore. They hurt a lot from the temperature they had to rest through.
My wrists where also purple but mostly red. They had to constantly be against a thick rugged ropes, tightly fastened against my raw skin.

Now having new ropes and something for my stomach to do I leaned against the wall like the queen but not to rest, to think.

Being left here in this cold room I've had plenty of time to think about several things.

I now understand why Nash was angry that day at the stables when I looked down at him through the window.
The reason Nash left his old life for me was to make sure I didn't have to bend to the will of the Ice kingdom. But now that I am arranged to marry Storm, Nash must feel that his sacrifice. . . was for nothing.

I felt light tears form in my eyes. This was all my fault. Nash probably hates me now.

I'm even starting to doubt if Storm is coming for me. It would be easier for him to just leave me here. I don't really know what to think anymore.

                            ~Storm's POV~

It was clear that my group couldn't go the same way as Gale and Rose went.
The guards had already flooded that area so there was no way to get past them.

The men eventually started moving towards the region the arrow must have come from.
Meaning we had to move. . . and fast.

"Let's go, quick." I said back tracking, moving farther from the street and more into the scenery. Nova and Reiki followed. . . and so did the guards.

It was late so running deeper into the woods did not help for sight. Our group did the best we could to weave through trees and dodge rocks and unearthed roots.

"What's the plan, Storm?" Nova panted.

"I have an idea." Reiki said, running a lot faster than Nova and I so he would be in front of us.
"Those goons can only follow us if they see our foot prints in the snow. But if we travel quietly by tree. . ."

"Then we will be able to confuse the crowd and escape while still advancing with our plan!" Nova said excitedly.

"Right, sounds good. Let's do it. I'll put it on your call, Reiki." I said looking at our ecstatic red-headed friend.

After a few more seconds of dodging the crowd behind us Reiki loudly whispered,
"Now."

The three of us jumped into three separate trees ands quickly climbed up them.
When the determined hunters finally caught up to our position, Reiki's prediction came true.

The men grew confused, looking around them. They looked up but we were to high in the trees and to hidden in the shadows for them to see us.

The ground crowds eventually split up and continued to search of us in other directions, moving farther and farther way from the warehouse.

"Perfect." I whispered to no one in particular.

The three us traveled as Reiki instructed. Gliding tree to tree in this thick forest until we reach the warehouse.

I directed the group so we were going to the right of where we were running, then back up to the front of the warehouse to find a new way to get onto the roof.