Barre
When Salsh lifts his snout to the wind, I know that he's discovered something. The rain slices down around us, but he's still able to uncover scents lying underneath the wetness.
"Go." I order a one word command that he knows well. He pads through the underbrush in a hurry, leading me to the prey.
I sling the bow off my back, pulling a long arrow out of my pack and loading the string. The coarse feathers tickle my fingers as I move forward in anticipation.
I'm on guard, moving slowly and quietly to not scare off my victim. One glance and a Lilarc would run the other way. They are skiddish creatures. I have to be careful.
I look ahead, seeing that Salsh has stopped in front of something. I spot a small flash of movement, the scent of blood wafting to me, and I pull my weapon up to my face as I take aim. I must be quick.
Whatever it is, it's injured and cannot run. My rasler has it cornered, huddled inside a tree pathetically awaiting its death. I will give it what it wants.
I squint, holding my arrow at the ready, seconds alway from shooting, and that's when the little thing moves. Long, red strands of hair come into view. I pause. My weapon remains firmly in my grasp.
What have I discovered?
I have never seen a creature with red fur.
Curiosity gets the best of me, so I lower my bow and arrow, slinging the thing over my shoulder once again as I make my way to whatever this thing is.
The first thing I notice is that Salsh is wagging his tail in excitement, which is rare. When I step into the scene, I look past my pet to discover something I never expected. A female.
My steps falter. I stand as still as stone, my muscles tightening in alarm as I drink in the sight of the tiny she.
She's huddled inside the base of a tree, her clothing wet and sticking to her trembling frame. She clutches at her body, rolled into a tight ball of shivering limbs. I can barely see her.
When she spots me, she whimpers.
Her sad green eyes are filled with tears, and she stares at me with so much fear that I might choke. Her hair is dampened by the rain, but I can see the strange color of it from here. And her pale face is speckled with brown flecks. She must be covered in dirt.
I cannot believe that this is happening. I knew the capitol had females, but why is there one here? On my lands? Injured and alone?
My chest constricts at seeing such a beautiful, helpless creature. She is so small. I remember when female Rytarians walked the planet. They did not look like this tiny thing before me. But she is not Rytarian. She is a "human".
I feel my throat burn, my heart thudding erratically. She does not look away from me.
"Are you... are you alright?" I murmur, too afraid to get close out of fear of frightening her off. She needs medical care. I stare vehemently at the tear on her forearm, red blood pouring out. Her blood is red. How odd. Red hair and red blood. Unheard of.
She doesn't respond, and I wonder if she has no translation device. I do not have one either.
They are not necessary in the woods, and they would break often when I was a gladiator. I have no way of communicating with this perfect being.
And she is perfect. So feminine that I cannot think straight. All I want to do is take her away and care for her. Looking around the forest that is still being covered in rain, I see no male in sight. Somehow, she ended up all the way out here. We are far from the palace, but she got here on her own it would seem.
No male would leave a female in the wood alone. But she has made it this far alive.
So she is not completely helpless, which confuses me. Her soft, small body tells me that she is weak, made for protecting. She is not unscathed from the forest. Her arm wound could be one of many.
It is a miracle I have found her now.
"Do not be afraid." I know there is a possibility that she cannot understand my words, but I must try to soothe her.
Coming closer, I lower myself onto on knee, staring at her as if she will disintegrate.
The female blinks at me, huddling closer to the tree. Salsh follows her movements, nuzzling her face with his nose. He sniffs her hair and her neck.
Amazingly, the female reaches out her hand, tentatively petting the hunting rasler as if she knows him.
And he lets her, happily, a smooth chuff of pleasure leaves his throat.
My mouth parts. Salsh has never let someone other than me pet him. He typically growls and snaps at any hands that reaches for him, but not her. It's as if he knows her priceless value.
"gewd dawgy" She whispers, and then sniffles, tears still leaking down her pink cheeks that look soft to the touch.
Her language is light and airy, her voice the most beautiful sound to have graced my ears.
I gulp, not knowing what to do with myself. Clearly she is afraid. The last thing I want is to scare her even more.
For many I am a hideous beast. I terrify most Rytarians. My name is infamous, my power god like, my scars a curse from my evil occupation. I have never cared how I appear. But now? Now I do.
Does she see what everyone else does?
I shake off the question, moving closer to her. Those dull, green eyes flick back to me, distrust heavy in her gaze. I press my lips together.
"I will care for you. Please. Let me take you away from here." I keep my tone even and soft, and my theory is confirmed when she squints at me, no recognition. She has no translation chip.
Sighing, I put my hand on Salsh's back, giving him a firm pat. If it weren't for him, I may have never found this female.
She would've died out here on her own. The thought drives me mad.
I reach for her slowly, and she doesn't scoot away. I count that as a small success. I touch her pale wrist, lifting it until I can see the scratch.
The wound is spotted with dirt already, the angry skin smothered in red. It leaks continuously, much like her eyes.
"I need to treat this. And soon." I say, more to myself than her. I dare a glance at the female. The fear has evaporated completely. I gasp.
She's... smiling at me.
Her full, pink lips are turning up at the corners, green eyes glinting. I've never seen anything as spectacular in all my cycles.
Clearing my throat, I stand, making a motion for her to follow. She stays sitting in the tree. I rub at my forehead, wondering how I can even begin to get her to follow me.
"You do not want to come with me?" I wonder, but suddenly she's moving.
She crawls out, sitting at my feet with her head turned up to me.
Her legs try and fail to work as she attempts standing. The female makes a sound of frustration, clawing at the tree with effort.
Dear gods. She's too weak to even stand. She looks like a lilarc kit stumbling for footing.
She collapses, and my panic sends me to her side, she falls into my arms, and the feel of her skin against mine is indescribable.
The creature is unbelievably tiny. She must weigh less than Salsh.
"sarryy. iam soe sarryyy" She mumbles, trying to wiggle away, but I don't let her.
She needs shelter, and I'm a fool for letting her stay in the cold for so long. I haul her into my arms, resting her legs over one arm and supporting her back with the other.
The female gasps when I stand, so I freeze. Her dainty arms are wrapped around my neck, her breath tingling my skin with every exhale.
She's so close, pressed against me. Her body is shivering, her soft skin cold to the touch.
I curse myself for allowing her to sit on the ground while I just stared at her.
She deserves better. She's had better, I know simply by the clothes she wears. A dress made of the finest silk, a ribbon in her hair. Even if I didn't know the palace had females, I would take one look at her and know where she came from.
And now I'm going to bring her to my cabin in the woods. It is as far from luxury as a den could get. But now isn't the time for thoughts like that.
She needs a roof over her head, a bed to lay in, warm food in her belly. My den may not be much, but I have the necessities.
There's no more time to waste.
Welcome to my favorite story ever. I hope you'll stay awhile, make yourself comfortable.
It's important to me that y'all know how in love I am with this story. I've been WAITING SO LONG TO WRITE IT OH MY GOSH. There will be 2 more chapters really soon! Be ready!
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