Prince Meets Peasant (Hiccstrid) (On hold)

Chapter 11

Stormfly's P.O.V.

I huffed as I galloped through the trees, Astrid clutching my mane from time to time to regain her balance. My hooves clopped the ground in a rapid pattern as branches and thickets whipped my flanks and scratched my legs. I have to admit, I loved running, but this was a bit too serious for me to enjoy. I had no idea what she did with the prince, but it couldn't have been good if she left in such a hurry. Seeing a log approaching from up ahead, and a low hanging branch just above it, I let out a snort to warn Astrid to duck. I leaped over the log, and lowered my head slightly to avoid the branch. My heart sank as I heard a knock, followed by a thud and leaf rustling. She fell off...

I didn't look back, I had to keep running. The guards were too far back to have seen where she landed, they wouldn't have known she wasn't on my back anymore. I'd come back with Aaron later so he can help her. What was important now, was that I lead the guards away. Astrid was smart enough. She wouldn't chase after me, if she wasn't knocked out that is. If she knew the guards wouldn't see her, she wouldn't move until they were well away from her. If she ended up moving, I'll somehow get Aaron to bring the hounds so we can track her.

I noted as many landmarks as I could, while traveling at 53. Everything was blurred, but what I could see, I remembered. This was the way back to Astrid. The guards were still following me, their shouts angry and their horses heaving air in and out of their lungs. I went off track, into the raw forest. Astrid and I often did this while hunting. If it didn't slow them down, I'll still be able to lose them in the undergrowth. After a few twists and turns, I slowed down the slightest bit, trying to hear where they were. My ears swiveled as I only heard the sounds of the surrounding forest. I lost them. I shook out my main in contempt. Walking through the forest, I found a path again, and started following it, hoping it'll lead to town, or some source of water. 

Soon, I found myself on the edge of a field. Green hills rolled on all sides, and in the distance, there was a hut on the edge of a raised cliff, the sound of crashing water coming from below it. There were fields of wheat stretching out to the left of the hut, and I could see a figure hauling wood to the hut from a horse-drawn cart. I broke into a gallop as I saw the figure to be a man, hoping it to be Aaron when he showed the same build. As I got closer, I saw that it definitely was not Aaron. This man had brown hair, and markings on his chin. He stopped his work to look at me as I skidded to a halt a few feet away, rearing up in hopes of making him sense my urgency. I turned in an anxious circle to show him my tack.

"Help me, please, my rider needs help!" I whinnied, rearing up again. The man stepped closer to me, his hands extended to calm me. But I didn't let him. I leaped in the air and trotted away a few feet, hoping he'd follow. He did no such thing, just looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. How is this guy so stupid?! I moved back toward him and ignored his waiting hand to pace from side to side. He followed me with his arms stretched, trying to gain control of me. I trotted back to the forest and he followed a few paces but stopped as I got to the edge of the first wheat field. I snorted in frustration as I loped back and toward the Clydesdale.

"Please tell me he's not this stupid on a normal occasion," I neighed.

"He is. Where's your rider? What happened?" He asked.

"She's somewhere in the forest, she hit her head while we were running from the kings guards," I told him.

"Oh, that's not good for Eret, he's an outlaw," he whinnied.

"Don't worry, I lost them, I'm fairly certain they won't be able to track me," I reassured him. "Can he help?"

"Yes, he can, he's trained in medicine. Take me to your rider and he'll follow," he ordered. I tossed my head with a snort before loping toward the forest. The Clydesdale followed at a trot before his rider shouted in surprise at his action. The man ran after us before jumping in the cart and grabbing the reins. The Clydesdale neighed at me, "Run!" I took off at a full gallop toward the forest trail. He picked up sudden speed, causing the man to fall back into the cart and let go of the reins. We ran through the trees, trying to find the smoothest path for the cart. Sooner than I expected, I smelt Astrid, and blood. My heart pounded as I feared the worst. I saw the land marks, and then the log. I stopped by a clump of crushed bushes, seeing Astrid's body limp on the branches. Blood was still trickling from the gash in her head and her breathing was deep yet ragged. I shifted anxiously from hoof to hoof as the man got off the cart and walked toward Astrid, glancing at me as he knelt next to her.

"What's your name, anyway?" the Clydesdale asked.

"Stormfly," I answered.

"I'm Frost Phantom," he said.

"It's nice to meet you," I said.

"You too." I watched as Eret gently lifted Astrid in his arms and slowly laid her in the back of his cart. 

He got on the coach bench and flicked the reins, signalling Frost Phantom to start walking back to the hut. I walked behind the cart, as close to Astrid as I could. Her eyes were closed so heavily and her breathing was barely noticeable. A soft groan rumbled deep in her throat and she shifted slightly. I thought I saw her eyes flicker, but they stayed closed. I took a deep breath a I followed Eret and Frost Phantom back into the fields and to the hut. I had to remind myself continuously that she was going to be fine.

But if you hadn't been going so fast, she wouldn't be hurt at all and you wouldn't have to remind yourself of anything.