Forbidden love ( knuxamy)

Chapter 6 New Beginnings

Chapter 6 New Beginnings

It's been seventeen months since we fled from the Southern Kingdom. We keep running when our names are called, and we don't even know why. We jump at every trivial noise. All that was familiar now was each other's faces. We live on our own now.

The only sound was the clopping noise of the hooves of our horses along the compacted dirt and stones. I looked to my left to see the only person I could trust, only person I could love. Her long wavy quills were swaying in every step of the black horse she rode.

Her muzzle and forehead were smeared and smudged with dirt and debris. Her bangs were braided to one side and her dress was ripped and torn. She took the fluffy padding out so it was less wait to carry.

She glanced my way, with giant green eyes full of pain and longing. I smiled a quick reassuring smile. She did the same and spoke, "We're close to Navitia. We'll make it before sundown so we can trade some pelts, food and stuff before we-"

Her ears flicked in every direction. I looked around and focused on a bush that was tall and overgrown. The leaves started rustling and shaking. Our horses froze and our breaths became silent.

The rustling stopped. I held up my hand to Amy, signaling her to stay, and I carefully slipped off my horse. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword.

I stepped forward carefully, my leather boots made small crunching noise every time a twig or something snapped. I stopped as I heard faint breathing sounding from behind the brush.

A sniffle and a small whimper came from the bush. I quickly spread the branches apart to see a young hedgehog quivering in pain and fear.

Her bright blue eyes full of pain stared back at me. Her fur and long wavy quills were a snow white. Blood was dripping off of her lip and muzzle.

I crouched down slowly, showing her I was friendly. She sniffled as a couple tears fell from her eyes. "Hello there little one, are you ok?" I asked. She bursted into tears and jumped up and clung to me.

Stunned, I carefully wrapped my arms around the child and carefully picked her up. Her legs then wrapped around my waist.

I turned back around to see Amy with her eyes wide with surprise. I stood up carefully and walked back over to Amy's horse with the small child. I crouched back down so I could talk to the young hedgie.

"What's your name little one?" I asked softly. She sniffled and hiccuped as she squeaked out, "A-Ashley."

I smiled and looked at her up and down, "Thats a beautiful name. Where did you come from and where's your parents?"

She shivered and responded, "They are gone.. I escaped and was helped by fellow slaves to do so. My parents, I couldn't say they had the luck I did."

I heard Amy slip off her horse and kneel down with us. "Oh my.. You were enslaved?" She inquired.

She nodded and added, "I've been a slave since I was born. My mother was a slave for thirteen years. I'm eleven." I understood more of what she was hinting to us.

"Was your father a slave too?" I asked. She shook her head no, "No he was a servant to the king of the Southern Kingdom."

Our eyes widened. I looked to Amy to see her jaw ajar. "Um.. I'm from the Southern Kingdom also." Amy said shakily. "Were you a servant?" Ashley asked softly.

Amy shook her head no and reached into her satchel made from skins and pulled something out. She held out her hands which revealed a gold crown with Sapphire and diamonds encrusted in the ornate curves of the metal.