The Frost Phoenix

Chapter 8

Norril shouted, as she grabbed Silent's arm tossing the Tabaxi towards the other side of the tunnel" run!" The Tabaxi took off as Neek flared out her wings racing after him while both Dan and Balisk followed after Norril staying close by as they all ran thundering steps were heard behind them. The half elf said, as they were running as quickly as they could maintain their distance from the four" don't stop. Damn it this day fucking sucks it would be one thing if they were goblins or maybe more mercenaries of all things why these?!" She tripped, hitting the ground hard, cutting her hand on a rock as the others kept running unaware. The druid was grabbed by her cloak, her heart was racing as she tried to get free of its grasp.

The one who was holding her said" looks like I caught one." The Goliath dragged her back before dropping her to the ground. The five foot three inches half elf stared up at the eight foot male Goliath with wide terror-filled eyes as a female came in sight along with two other males. The one who dragged her back demanded his eyes glaring down at her" why were you sneaking around?!" Norril scurried backwards as the Goliath moved closer, hissing in pain when her hand landed on a burnt piece of wood that was still rather hot. She grabbed her wrist after yanking her hand away when the female of the group shoved the male aside as he exclaimed" what the hell Skyhunter why are you protecting it! It was going to steal from us like the previous group tried to!"

Skyhunter shook her head saying" honestly Lamar if it was going to steal from us it wouldn't have been walking with a group in the open. I think it was trying to sneak past thinking we were hostile." Norril's cyan eyes met Skyhunter's grey eyes before she asked, kneeling down holding out her hand" forgive my brute of a brother may I ask who and what you are?" Norril gulped before going to respond only to hesitate turning her head away. She spoke in a calm voice while Lamar was seething in the background" if you don't want to answer right now at least let me see your hand." The half elf slowly held out her hand as Skyhunter looked it over and she said" Tamhel, Vermix one of you two get me the first aid kit the other keeps watch for its friends." One of the two this one was covered in scars and a couple old wounds came over holding the kit as she set down there was shouting heard from the tunnel. Soon enough as Skyhunter was carefully cleaning the burn the small party charged through the entrance only to freeze seeing the Goliath treating the half elf.

Norril quickly spoke before any of them did something stupid" wait don't attack." Balisk came over to her side before she said" Bal I'm alright they didn't hurt me I burnt myself." After he let out a sigh helping her to her feet before passing the staff he grabbed on his way back to her. She said" I'm sorry it was my error in judgment we thought that if you saw us you'd try to attack us." She saw the confused looks before she went on explaining" you see for the last two weeks I believe, I lost count, we've been getting chased for a crime one of us didn't commit." She let out a sigh knowing full well that there was a bounty on her head from the council and that most areas have been told about her. The last village she was in which was about a day before they had reached the mountains had a poster with a cloaked figure. Under the picture had her name and a reward of thirty gold pieces for her capture. Glancing around she spotted a familiar looking paper her heart dropping as she resigned herself saying" I am Norril of Blackmoor a half elf." The cloaked druid watched realization cross their features when Skyhunter went to grab her; she took Balask's arm, yanking him towards the others. They started running as Norril took that moment to use wild shape to shift into a riding horse. She paused in front of Neek who's wings flared out before folding up as she climbed onto Norril's back. The group quickly went to exit Norril was unable to see now which she really didn't like however she listened to the sound of Silent's steps. When she saw the end of the tunnel though she moved ahead her hooves striking the ground with a loud clack. She went into the nearby woods as the three men followed as quickly as they could; they barely made it when the group of Goliaths came thundering out of the tunnel.