Thread: The Broken Past and Uncertain Future

Richard followed the woman as she ran. Her trail was easy to follow and hardly concealed. Casually he loped after her, his long strides ate up the distance easily enough. He seemed to watch the forest carefully as he pursued the woman. After all it was possible he was not the only one whose attention she had drawn. He moved through the snowy wilds after the woman. The distance she traveled seemed evidence enough that she fled something. It could not be him for she had yet to see him. He smiled faintly as he trudged after the woman thinking this much like stalking a wounded animal, it fled so quickly you knew soon its breath would fail. Soon he saw the woman collapsed beside the river. He lingered behind a tree as his eyes appraised her. Young, tired, scared and cold were what he noticed rather immediately. She was pretty at that as he looked upon her. But the fear was what struck him, she fled like the fiends themselves dogged her footsteps. He grinned slightly as he reflected that it was he rather than any creature from the depths of hell that followed. But he rather imagined if she fled like that she was a slave from one of the towns to the east of the forest. The towns beyond the forest were in Richards mind - stupid. Hed ventured into one or two of them to trade but had no real desire to go back. They were full of petty thugs, slaves and people struggling to eke out an existence. Yet they all lived like parasites, seeking to feast off of the corpse of the world before it had been broken, or upon other towns and settlements or each other. They kept no animals, tilled no fields, nor hunted the animals of the wild. He doubt they even knew how. They were all doomed. The hunter moved through the tress slowly and quietly until eventually he emerged from the snow and brush perhaps ten feet from where the woman lay panting. He stepped out of the brush and he didnt point an arrow at the woman for she didnt strike him as particularly dangerous or liable to be able to run very far. Casually he inquired Do you have any idea where you are or where you are going? His tone was rather bemused as it was a mostly rhetorical question as it seemed readily apparent to him that she did not. He through back the cowl of the wolfskin cloak. He was dark haired man, with eyes of the same hue. He looked to be about twenty five years of age. He was tall perhaps six three or so in height, broad and strong in his build as well. An imposing figure to say the least. Although he looked at her and displayed no real hostility. Although he grinned to her and noted Im not a cannibal or anything like that. He made a face as he noted I dont know why they claim that those he live in the hills are. Its those out beyond the forest eating each other. We actually catch and raise our food. He peered at the girl for a moment as he noted You can stop me here if Im wrong but I presume that by running through the forest youre hoping to lose those pursuing you either in the wilderness or because they are afraid of the creatures and people they might find within it. Given that you dont seem to have any particular destination in mind that I can see, or much in the way of supplies - I rather think youre a runaway slave hmm? He glanced down at her and observed Now I suppose I shall get to the point, you can come with me and serve me. I promise I shall keep you fed and I will not eat you. Which is like as not a lot more than you can expect from those youll find if you wander out of the forest at some point. Or Ill leave you here and best of luck to you. Although I rather think youll starve or wind up dead in one way or another in or out of the forest. He offered her a bemused smile again as he noted Your choice. I really havent much use for a reluctant slave. He seemed to tarry for a moment as though to allow the woman a chance to make up her mind. Although already his head turned away from her and back towards the way he came. He did need to get his kill and head back up towards the mountains.