She thrashed and fought, trying desperately to free herself from the elf's grasp. "Bastard! Let go! Ghash!!"/"Ma'am, ma'am please!" spoke the man in her tongue. "No, get off!" she cried, "Ma'am, calm down, it's gone, you're safe!" reasoned the man. Still, she fought, desperately trying to get away, to get to him, but the man held tightly onto her shoulders. "Please, ma'am, calm down you're safe!" he pleaded. Finally, she began to still, breathing heavily, her throat burning. To the man, it seemed that she was calming from her hysterical fear, but in reality, she was realizing that there was nothing she could do, he was long gone.

The man gave a sigh, "Good. Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?" he questioned, she said nothing, as she stared into the distance trying to see him. Her mind was in a tangle of emotions. Was he ok? Would they catch him? And how could he do this!? "Are you hurt?" he demanded more forcefully. "NO, I'm fine damn it!" She barked. He might have been taken aback by her language, but after what she had no doubt been through, he wasn't going to judge. "Good. It's a good thing we found you, no telling what would have happened had we not picked up the creature's scent." he said.

She saw as the other horsemen returned from their pursuit. "Anything?" questioned the man beside her. "No, we lost its trail, but it can't be far. Shall we keep searching?" questioned one of the men on horseback. "Keep looking for a while. If you can't find it, come back." he said. The man on the horse nodded, and he, along with one other rider, turned and rode away. "You're really lucky we were riding this way. But what on earth are you doing all the way out here? These are evil times to be going for a walk! Where were you- Wait..." he said, stopping abruptly. "Do I know you?" he asked, but she wasn't listening as she stared after the riders. Mingled curses and worries raced through her mind. He had to get away! He had to!

It was then that her face clicked in his mind, and his eyes grew wide. "Wait, no. It cant be... Lady Elayin? Daughter of Lady Elena?" he questioned, though she said nothing. "This is- This is unbelievable! We had just about given up hope in finding you! Forgive me, my lady. Please, take my horse. We must get you back to your mother at once!" he exclaimed. He led her to his horse, urging her to sit upon his bare back. She did not fight though she did not feel complacent. She felt numb and cared little what the man said or did. She wasn't sure what to do and think. It felt like a bad dream that she desperately hoped she would wake from. But still, it continued as the man mounted the back of another rider's horse, and the small party began to ride, with her steed following as she sat in silent reluctance.

He ran. He did not care how far he must travel, or how tired he may grow, he ran. He knew that at any moment the horses of Murkwood would quickly overtake him. He could hear the drumming of their hooves on his tail, and though he had gained some distance, that wouldn't last long. He thought quickly, picking apart any and all plans that came to his mind. Even assuming that he could kill them, which he could not on horseback, the wrath of the Murkwood elves would hound him. He needed to ditch them somehow.

As he ran, he quickly drew his blade from his belt, and swiftly drew it across his arm. It cut a little deeper than he had intended, but at that time, he didn't care. Filling his palm with the inky liquid, he scraped it across a few trees as he passed them. Once he had done this, he stopped and turned back. He retraced his steps, passing the bloodied trees. He instantly caught a branch and heaved himself up into the tree. Perched there amidst the leaves, he fought to hush his heavy breaths and held tightly on his wound, in an attempt to control his bleeding.

He sat panting only to snap his mouth shut as the thudding steps of the horses flew past his tree mere moments after he had climbed it. He risked a sigh of relief as the elves seemed to have missed him, but he knew that if he did nothing, his luck may not be so gracious next time. But what should he do? Should he stay there and risk a second glance? Or come down and risk being seen then. Whatever he did, he could not remain there. He was not so light as an elf to jump from tree to tree, but to walk over field would be folly.

As he mulled over what to do, he heard the pounding of hooves return as the riders rode back. Closing his eyes and holding his breath, he waited until the sound of the horses grew distant once more. He tried to quicken his thoughts. He didn't know if they would be returning. If they did they would likely see him if he were to travel, but he supposed remaining as a sitting duck would be all the worse. Concluding that it would be a risk worth taking, he dropped from his perch and ran as fast as he could.

He ran, deliberately taking the most overgrown paths in the hope that any tracks he left would be unintelligible, or at least obscured. He had made some distance before he heard the hooves yet again and took refuge in another tree. His heart was pounding and his breath heavy, forcing its self through his lungs against his will. The two elves had spread out as they searched for him. He knew that to move would undoubtedly get him killed. All he could hope was to survive until dusk, at which point the elves may return to their city. He could not count on the dark to hide him, as the horses would likely sense him if the elves could not. He sat as still as he could, waiting until he had another chance to run.

She rode silently, staring into nothing. Her silence greatly disturbed and worried the men beside her. They watched her in concern until the man from before spoke up again. "Um, my lady... Are you alright? You're certain that creature didn't hurt you in any way?" he asked. She said nothing. He reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder. "My lady?" she finally broke her aimless gaze and looked to the hand that touched her.

She looked to his face and tried to smile at him, but all she could muster was forced and tired. "It's just, you seem sad." he said. "I'm not sad." she said, and she meant it. She wasn't sad. She was furious. Much like when one burns their hand in boiling water and can no longer tell if the water is burning or freezing. She was outraged to the point of indifference. Rage, betrayal, and terror all at once. Silent calm was, at that moment, the superior option to blind, screaming, hate. "Well, I am simply glad to see you alive and well, and I have no doubt your family will feel the same. I hope the stain of that fowl encounter will leave you by then. Come, let us waste no more time!" he said, turning back to the path. So that was it, they would take her back to that city, and she would lose Ghashnaga. She didn't even know if they had caught him or not. Could he battle them? He was a good fighter. She didn't want them to be hurt of course, but her priority was him.

Was there some way she could escape? Could she out run the hunter beside her? Not likely, the horse she rode would likely not help her escape. She had to do something... Looking around, her eyes landed on a low hanging branch. Better than nothing! So just as they rode under it, she reached up and caught the branch, heaving herself up. The hunter gave a cry of surprise at her as she perched in the tree. She quickly glanced about her self, trying to form a plan. She leaped to another branch, then another, skipping across them as fast as she could. "My lady! My lady wait!!" he called after her, but she just ignored him. 

She caught another branch, swinging her self to another to stand on. She wasn't sure how much distance she was making, but she didn't care, she was getting away from that damned city!! Then, as the leapt to another branch, her mind twisted, and her stomach turned! She tried to recover, and catch herself, but she was too late and fell to the ground, landing heavily on her shoulder. Muttering curses, she heard as the hunter reached her, and halted his horse. He jumped down to her, leaning to her. "What were you thinking!? Are you hurt?!" he questioned. She pushed herself off the ground with a groan, ignoring his extended hand. He gently took her by the arm, half to support her, and half to keep her from running again.

"What's come over you, my lady?" he asked, but she said nothing. Damnit! What was the deal!? It had to be now that she would be sick!! She was almost free! But now he held tightly onto her as he rode behind her on the same horse. A taste of freedom, but now she was heading back. Back to the beginning. Back home...