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Chapter 11: Gypsies

Chapter 11: Gypsies

So we ran, after the first two days I lost count of the sunrises and sunsets I’d witnessed. We would only rest for food and sleep. As the days passed on my strength slowly withered away, I couldn’t hunt. I barely slept anymore I would just lay against the tree pressed up next to Moorwin, Lady standing off to the side munching on grass.

As Moorwin grew he began to hunt on his own, I was growing weaker, I needed food; good food. Right now what meager meals I was consuming were far from what I required. Slowly I began to sleep more and more that I was barely awake. My dreams were plagued with horrid nightmares of my father’s death but were also tainted with wicked illusions of Violet’s death and Dimitri’s, and then fatefully my own.   

Moorwin had finally encouraged me enough to get onto Lady’s back and ride to seek help. I clung to the mare’s mane; if I had not I would fall to the ground in a crumbled heap, and that was a long fall. I could feel my heart beat slowing down, my eyes fluttering closed. My breathing was pretty much all the noise my ears could hear. I was going to faint, my eyes shut and I began to slid off of Lady.

 I hit the ground with a rough thud. It was a painfully fall that shook through my bones causing my head to ache from the impact. In a rush of voices and colorful blurred figures I was picked up in some man’s arms. Their strong arms and warmth reminded me of Dimitri.

‘Mother!’ Moorwin called his voice dripping with worry.

‘It’s alright Moorwin, I’m alright,’ I whispered dreamily before slipping into unconsciousness. I could sense Moorwin’s panic as I slipped away.

When I woke I was in a strange place. A colorful place but strange none the less. As I pushed myself up my head pounded wickedly, my stomach growled loudly.

“You’re awake,” A voice said happily. Surprised I attempted to reach for the sword on my belt but returned with nothing but thin air.

“Calm down, I won’t hurt you. We found you, you were very sick; you ate bad meat. I’ve been feeding you broth for the past day and half.” Smiled a girl about my age, I had to admit she was quite beautiful. With long dark chocolate waves of hair match with eyes like hot coco, and skin like the inside of an almond, she was exotic compared to my pale skin and hair as bright as flames.

“My name is Katarina, and yours?” she asked eagerly stepping forward; she was robed in vibrant reds, wild pinks and indigos so rich it reminded me of the night sky. 

“Ariya,” I managed my voice horse.

“Oh you need some water, stay here I will be right back.” Katarina smiled broadly before disappearing out a slit between two thick pieces of crimson fabric. Truly confused and lost I pushed off the caribou hide that was laid carefully over me. Looking down I realized I wasn’t in my leathers.

I was in the blousy white top Dimitri had given me but instead of the pants and vest a green skirt that resembled the color of new grass peeking out in spring was wrapped around my waist and the left over tossed over my shoulder. The skirt ran nearly to the floor. I noticed a coat lying on a chair nearby.

Getting up I snatched up the coat tugging over my shoulders. I did a quick glance around the room, it was a tent draped in massive pieces of fabric. All the bright wild colors felt out of place amongst the bitter dead colors of the Red Wood in winter. Pushing curiosity from my mind I stepped lightly towards the door where Katarina had left through.

Reaching my fingers out I clasp them around the soft as silk fabric. Pulling it back slightly I peeked through. Outside resembled a small town; tents much like the one I was in were dotted down a long clear way of trees smaller ones were immersed farther between trees. People dressed similar to Katarina busied around all possessing the exotic looks.