Something Stolen (Paused)

Chapter 1

My legs cramped under me while I waited, the circulation long since cut off by my kneeling position. The vibrant green of the corn stalks that concealed me shifted with the wind, bringing the smell of smoke with it. I didn't dare move to a more comfortable position, it was difficult to even allow myself to breathe. My fingers curled into the soil beneath me, clinging to it while I waited. The chaos in the village could no longer be heard from where I hid, but I knew better than to give up my position to see if the invaders had truly left.

My ears snagged onto the sound of the green stocks scratching against one another. Someone was coming this way! I contemplated if I had enough time to make a mad dash for the woods when the person spoke at last.

"Cara?" a familiar voice called out not even five feet away.

"A-Althea?" My voice cracked against the silence.

I would have stood and run to the elder slave, but as soon as I attempted to put an amount of strength into my legs, they buckled from under me. A sharp pain raced up those two limbs as the blood flow got back on track. I sobbed openly while my legs trembled, hardly noticing my companion who came to kneel beside me. She lifted me by my shoulders, pulling me to be held against her chest compassionately, rubbing my back soothingly.

"It's alright dear girl, they're gone." she consoled, not caring that my tears soaked the front of her already dirtied gown. "Breath."

I tried, for her sake, I tried so hard to regain control of my breathing, but the air that entered my lungs rattled on the way back out. After several moments of being held by the healer, my legs had finally regained their function. Althea helped me stand, fine with the fact that I still desired to lean against her, the warmth she gave me was comforting. I was about to wipe the tears that still ran down my face when she captured my wrist.

"You have a cut on your cheek, use this." She pulled a piece of white fabric from her sleeve which I accepted graciously before dabbing my eyes.

She guided me to rest under the shade of a tree just within the village. I sighed to myself while she rummaged through the satchel she had brought with her. Today would have been such a good day had it not been for the raid. The sky had been a vibrant blue, now tainted with the smoke rising from a collection of houses that had been set ablaze. Birds that had sung this morning were now sworn to silence, their missing songs added to the eerie feeling of the village. The sun still shined brightly as if to mock those who mourned.

I jerked away from the healer with a hiss when an ointment she had applied seeped into the slit on my cheek. Whatever it was burned terribly, harboring a horrid scent that made fresh tears spring to my eyes. Althea shook her head at me with the ghost of amusement shining in her tired eyes. She clicked her tongue, crawling to sit that much closer to me under the sanctuary of the tree. I didn't see how the pain she caused me could be anything near amusing. I dashed at my tears with the white rag I still held, noting that my dirty hands had marred its pure color. I was about to open my mouth to ask what she thought was funny, but she was quicker to berate me.

"I'm surprised you're still so sensitive Cara. You're lucky this scratch was all you got." She claimed, taking a firm hold of my shoulder to keep me from squirming out of her reach. She continued to dab at my 'scratch' she chose to belittle, though she tediously tended to it.

"Just because it's small doesn't mean it hurts less." I countered once I had found my voice. I wasn't even sure why she was taking care of me right now. Master Maverik hardly ever allowed her to tend to anyone but himself and his mistress. She distracted me from this thought with her response, pressing down on the flesh wound a little too hard, earning a gasp from me, not from the pain but the intended action itself. "Althea!"