Hunted (part 1)

Posted on Sat Aug 13th, 2016 @ 2:25pm by Kalikana (Kali) & Keelan

1,060 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Shadow Dance
Location: The border between Jenefra and Qunari territory

ON

Kali was being followed. She'd seen three of them over the past several hours since the sun came up. They were dressed in black. Not the black of the average villager or towns person, but a black that looked like something she'd seen once on a highwayman when her mother's carriage had been stopped. They were getting closer, too. As she approached the edge of Jenefran territory, they were moving faster. Her heart skipped a beat and she picked up her pace.

The trail was not easy to follow but not as hard as some. Benda wondered as he strode silently anling the path, he was listening to the leaves in the trees; the brushing of branches and mostly the crackle of twigs and shrubs near the ground. The defined noises that would give her away. They did not have to run; she had not been spooked as yet but with the footfalls he noticed as he knelt down; running a finger along the edge of teh impression, the depth was one more of haste. She had caught their presence; too bad for her, the men were heading in a direction away from Jenfran boarders and a smile came on his face. There would be no safety for her in that one either.

"Accidents will happen Princess..." He said to himself and motioned forward.

There was a stream up ahead. Kali could hear it not too far away. If she could get there before the person or persons following her got too close, she could go into the stream and then to where the rocks would mask her exit. There were caves nearby, if she remembered correctly. If she could only keep from being followed, she could hide there until it was safe to journey further.

Like a good hunter it would be best to put a little pressure upon her so to spark her to rush and make a mistake. He had his two partners on each side to hopefully get a flanking action. He would just follow her trail and move faster and even allow a few twigs to break and hint to her he was getting closer and that they would be upon her quickly.

"Little Princess, you cannot walk away from us..." He moved more swiftly in her direction.

After the long night, Kali could smell the two on either side and occasionally -- but not often -- hear them. The one behind her caused her to feel for the small knife she kept on her belt. Would she be able to use it? She was afraid she might need to, but she was no match for three or more opponents. Her only hope was to get across the river and lose them.

Her pace quickened as she hurried towards the water. When she broke through a long line of bushes and saw the river ten feet below her she hesitated just long enough to judge the deepest part and jump.

Fortunately, she didn't hit any rocks. It took her several meters to get to the surface and gain some control over her direction. She was no more than competent as a swimmer, but she did manage to get to the far side, but it took far more of her strength than she anticipated. Exhausted, she pulled herself to the shore and made her way to the rocky cliffs beyond.

Orvack heard the splash from the water and quickly removed the small blade from its sheath. He was enjoying the serenity and silence from his hidden place when all of a sudden the splash from the water startled him. He found this hidden place long ago and used it as a way to escape from his responsibilities as tribe chief and be at peace. This break from his serenity would come at a price to whoever disturbed it.

He swiftly moved through the forest, blade in his firm grip, until he came across the sit of the Jenefran woman. Orvack knew who she was. Of course he would know the daughter of the enemy of his people. He slowly crouched down and observed her from a distance. She was wet and obviously the one who was responsible for the splash, but she seemed in distress. This was not normal. Jenefran's don't wonder away from their rich lives to Qunari territory. Territory that was full of dirt, insects, and wild animals. To survive in a place like this it would take experience and hard work, something a Jenefran wouldn't understand.

Orvack's ears twitched as he heard another sound. The sounds of heavy footsteps approaching quickly. As he turned he saw more Jenefrans approaching. This time they were different. They carried weapons and dressed in garb that would shadow them in darkness. The plot was slowly beginning to thicken as he let out a deep breath and narrowed his eyes.

Perhaps if he left them to their business they would leave him, and his people in peace, but there was something about her eyes. The woman's eyes reflected fear, something he wouldn't expect from a Jenefran dealing with her own people. Orvack slowly rested his hand onto the bark of a tree and allowed his eyes to move back and forth from the three men in black to the Princess. Three men and one scared woman was a situation no person should be in, Jenefran Princess or no. He began to bare his fangs as his claws dug into the bark of the tree. Orvack needed to stop this. Orvack needed to end this.

Kali focused on the cliffs. There had to be caves somewhere. She remembered there being caves, she wasn't sure if it was the same location, but she had a clear memory of cliffs like these near a river and caves she explored while her mother and some of her servants were doing some sort of business. She couldn't remember what it was. It didn't matter now. What mattered was finding a place where she could hide -- if she were lucky, or where she could have a tactical advantage. It would be brief, but if they came into the dark cave from the sunlight, she would get the first strike. It gave her a better chance of survival than continuing to run.

(To be continued...)

Kalikana (Kali)
Princess of Jenefra

Benda, others
Assassins

 

RSS Feed