Outcast Among the Reeds

Chapter Four

***Ok, so I know last chapter I said that I would like Orlando Bloom to play Jachime but, as I was scrolling through some of his pictures I realized that he had dark brown eyes. That just will not do. Jachime has pretty blue eyes. So, I thought and thought and realized I knew someone much better for the role. *Points to the side* Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Matt Bomer. :D *audience cheers*

o.o *looks at crowd* "Where did you come from?"

*Audience glances around at each other then scatters like an infestation of koala bears*

No! Come back! You looked cuddly xD

P.S. I do hope at least some of you caught that referance....

Anywho...onto the continuation of the tense scene with the new baddie. This time, lets see what Jachime has to say about it. o.o

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   Jachime shot to his feet, eyes trained towards the river. That last rumble of thunder had drowned it, but he had certainly heard a scream rip through the softened rain. Could the bugbear have found another victim? His mind flickered to the family who lived in the house it had chosen as its target. He had given them advice on how to prevent its entrance; bolting down doors and windows, blocking the chimneys when not in use. He had even made them swear not to open the house or step outside once the sun began to set and he believed they would hold to their word.

   "Tal!" He snapped, signaling Ta'shiki to wake Aaron. Almost immediately the young man's head popped out of the tent to look around. Good, he hadn't fallen asleep yet. "We're going hunting." Tal's brows rose slightly then he glowered at the swollen clouds before dashing over to join him, bow in hand and quiver on the shoulder.

   Aaron appeared an instant later, not bothering to leave her tent even thought Ta'shiki stood barking just outside of it. She shooed him, grumbling until she noticed the men. She gave them a curious glance.

   "Stay here with Ta'shiki and the horses," Jachime called, not wanting to waste time on explanation. Someone needed to stay in the camp and  he had a feeling he would need Tal for this. Without another word, he led the way swiftly away from camp, heading straight for the river just out of sight.

   They stopped when their feet suddenly sank halfway to their knees in freezing water. That's not right. They shouldn't have reached the river yet. Jachime glanced around; muttering curses when he realized the entire bank had submerged beneath the rapidly swollen river. But how could it have risen to such an extent so quickly?

   Movement ahead of him, beyond the last trees on this side of the river, drew his attention and stopped him in his tracks. As he feared, the bugbear had indeed found a new victim. Knelt before its hunched form, a fragile figure clutched at her arm, swaying slightly as though she would collapse with the slightest nudge.

   What is an elf doing in the Lord's hunting grounds? He wondered even as his eyes cast about for a way across. He did not need to see her sharply pointed ears or graceful face to recognize his own kind. No human could ever have such an elegant figure; a figure he had no trouble seeing with her complete lack of clothing.

   Behind him, he heard Tal's bow draw taut and snap, releasing his first arrow without a moment of hesitation. Despite how he chased any and all females he found attractive, Tal was actually incredibly protective of women. He seemed to change into someone else entirely when they came across a 'damsel in distress' as he liked to call them.