Constant

Chapter 1

(PETER)

Jericho had been the first to notice the two women making their way through the field of boulders. He had motioned to Peter and Ellie to catch their attention. The three of them watched the zig-zag motion that the two women ran in as they tried to stay out of sight. Ellie motioned with her chin out farther in the darkness behind the two women. There was a man following closely behind them. Ellie glared at the man and reached back for her bow that was always hanging on her shoulder. Peter nodded at her. The three of them had been tracking the large group that was camped out in the field in front of them. 

They had followed the progress of the group and they had seen the two women in chains. There had been a plan to rescue the women but the right time hadn't presented itself. Now that the women were running straight to them it seemed like the right time to step in. The man who had been behind the two women managed to loop around and sprint in front of them. He was now blocking their path to the safety of the trees. 

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked and one of the women lunged forward at him. 

Ellie released the arrow and it drove into the man's back. The two women who he had been blocking from entering the cover of the trees stepped back in shock. 

"Nice shot," Peter whispered and he saw her smile. One of the women gasped as she saw the man fall to the ground in front of her. Her hand flew up to her mouth and she stood motionless for a few seconds. The other woman started scanning the trees with her eyes to figure out where the arrow had come from and if the shooter was a friend or foe. She glanced back behind her shoulder reached for the hand of her companion. She pulled her friend behind her and the two women raced froward. 

Jericho, Peter, and Ellie dropped down from the branches that they had been perched on and hurried to the edge of the trees. Jericho moved behind one of the women and Peter moved behind the other. Peter was close enough to see her blonde hair in the moonlight. The blonde girl gasped when she looked at her companion and saw Jericho's large frame behind her friend. Before she could make another sound Peter stepped up and grabbed her around the waist and covered her mouth. She squirmed in his arms in an attempt to get away from him. This just made Peter hold her tighter against him. When she made to stomp on his foot and bite his hand Peter scooped her up in his arms and walked into the trees. 

Once they were deeper into the trees Peter set her down on her own two feet but he didn't let go of her. She was still held tightly against him and struggling more than ever. He trapped her arms down at her sides hoping that she would be easier to manage. Peter didn't notice the dagger in her hand until she attempted to drive it backwards into his thigh. 

"Hey!" Peter hissed in her ear as he realized what she was trying to do. "We're trying to help you!" She went completely still in his arms and stopped struggling. Peter looked up at Jericho in shock. Jericho shrugged. The girl that he was holding wasn't even putting up a fight. She just looked frightened. "Do you promise to be nice?" He asked and she nodded her reply. Peter was hesitant to uncover her mouth but he figured she wouldn't scream. What he didn't figure on was that she would turn around and shove him away with all of her might. Peter stumbled backwards as she marched towards Jericho with her dagger raised out in front of her. 

"Let her go!" She hissed. 

"Now there's no reason for all of that," Ellie interjected and Peter nearly sighed in relief as the blonde girl turned to stare at her with an open mouth. She hadn't expected a woman to be out in the trees. She walked forward towards the dagger wielding woman and Peter took a step forward to jump in the middle if he needed to protect her. "My name is Ellie, what's yours?" She asked casually. 

"Ryah," The blonde girl whispered. 

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ryah," Ellie said offering the girl a hand. Ryah looked down at the dagger in her hand and slipped it into the pocket of her dress. Peter wondered what other things she had hidden in that pocket of hers. She extended her hand and took Ellie's giving it a slight shake. "What about you?" Ellie asked looking in the direction of the girl that Jericho was holding. "Jericho, you can let her go now," she said politely and he immediately let her go.