“Where are we going?” She broke the moment of silence with the reminder that she had, quite literally, just been kidnapped. For her own safety, a voice, sounding oddly similar to her compatriot, remarked irritatingly in the back of her mind.
“The town a couple miles south of these woods.” He replied thoughtfully. “Mobs like you got caught up in are fairly common in these parts; from what I've seen, it's unlikely they're try following you any farther than these woods.” He cocked his head to the side, listening for any sound that might indicate they were still followed. “I wouldn't be surprised if they'd already started for home.”
“We can't go south.” Celina spoke with panicked written in her eyes. “It's not safe!” Garrett raised a brow in mild surprise.
“Are there any more angry mobs I should be aware of?” He questioned skeptically. “Maybe we should teach you how to make friends.”
“It's not that!” She growled, looking around wildly as she attempted to gain her barrings and figure out how close they were to the end of the wood.
“What then?” He shook his head, flicking the reigns to signal the mare resume her brisk walk. “I've heard nothing of any danger in these parts. Nothing I can't take care of, at least.” Celina shook her head furiously, fingers digging into his arm as she spoke earnestly.
“Please, I can't!” The waver in her voice seemed to catch him off guard. “Why not go east? Isn't there a better town in that direction, anyway?”
“Really, Celina.” His hand reached back to grasp hers – in an attempt to both assuage her fear, as well as relieve the growing pain in his shoulder. “There is nothing to be afraid of. On horse we'll be their before dusk, the only thing between us and the town are the trees and river.”
“Won't the horse have trouble crossing the river?” She rushed to counter. “Certainly it would be better–”
“Is that the problem?” He remarked with sudden clarity, followed by good humor. “The river is nothing to trouble over. It only just reaches Cara's calves. The current is hardly enough to whisk you away, let alone her.”
“I won't! You can't make me!” Celina snapped with not quite the venom she had intended. Before them a narrow waterway, not as large as her reaction might have suggested, but this by no means comforted her. In fact, as they continued their way toward the languidly lazing river, her panic doubled.
“No!” She screeched as she clawed her way from his grasp, throwing herself from the horse. The briars she found herself nestled in almost made her regret the decision as new cuts and scrapes irritated the still fresh injuries she had received during her previous escape from a different evil. “Go if you like, but I certainly will not be accompanying yo across that!” With that final snarl Celina pushed herself onto her feet. No sooner had she did a startled screech follow her quick decent back into the armored shrubbery.
The raven haired female clutched her ankle, definitely regretting her narrow minded stupidity. Now, here she was in the middle of a forest with a self righteous lunatic and a sprained ankle, to make this day even better.
How on earth did I manage to get myself into such a terrible mess? She wondered idly as she did her best to ignore the pointless – haughty – babbling of the man who, she was sure, was determined to see them both into an early grave.
“-get yourself killed – and then me too, as I'm forced to try and save your sorry hide!” She no longer found it particularly surprising as he turned the mare around, reaching her (rather sore) side before stepping into the edge of the thistles to haul her once again from the “mess she stupendously had worked herself into”.
“Fine! Before you break your ruddy neck trying to get your way – we'll go around the damned river, alright?” Celina once again found herself speechless. He wouldn't force her across?
“Th-thank you,” She finally managed with eyes downcast, almost ashamed of her behavior. Certainly not expecting any sort of thanks, it was his turn to stare in a momentary shocked silence.
“Forgive me if I truly frightened you so terrible. I was not aware your fear of rivers would be so strong.” He raised a hand to rake through ebony locks, “But please, refrain from throwing yourself of my horse – you're starting to spook poor Cara.” Celina resumed her striking glare, deciding it would be the more appropriate response to most of his remarks.
“I shall try to keep that in mind next time, Garrett.” He nodded, ignoring the twisting of his name as he held out a hand, as though awaiting a ladies accompaniment.
“Celina.” Unimpressed though she was with his apparent antics, she accepted his invitations and rested her hand against his arm as he helped her back onto the mare. She then proceeded to twitch uncomfortably as he resumed his place on the horse, but chose to seat himself behind her; arms reaching around her to grip the reigns.
“Forgive me if I'm hesitant to give you any further attempts to throw yourself to your death.” He explained simply.
“As though such a short fall would cause me any serious harm.” She scoffed, though the rustling of his sleeves across her own, and the resulting rub of the coarse material against her numerous wounds reminded her otherwise.
“Right.” He muttered, unwilling to engage in anymore arguments. “Regardless, I hope you do not mind, but I shall continue with our current arrangement.”
“Why might that be necessary?” Though she did little riding herself, she had learned enough to know it was customary the woman seat herself after the man when they shared a horse – unusual enough even then.
“With this detour around the river it will be midday before we can arrive in town. Cara has rested these past days as I was hunting. I'm sure–”
“You're a hunter?” A sliver of unease crawled down Celina's spine. It was hunters and trappers, so skilled and at ease with the art of tracking, who typically were recruited to hunt down those like her who had–
“Calm yourself, please.” He sighed. “Yes, I am a hunter, though tracking is my specialty.”
“Where are the hides you've come for, then?” Celina countered, knowing very well he had nothing with him.
“At camp.” He replied shortly, clearly losing patience with her mistrustful line of questioning. “I had planned another tree days out here before returning home. Unfortunately,” He gave clear insinuations through the stressing of his last word, “I ran into quite the dilemma, and find I cannot return and retrieve my catches lest I run into your dear friends.”
Celina held her tongue, again almost feeling sorry in light of this newest revelation. Trappers were running short on time as days were quickly growing colder and colder and animals were preparing themselves for hibernation. Soon, most of their prey would be gone and with them so would the rest of the mammals, prepared to wait out the winter season hidden away until spring and warmer weather returned.
(Haha! That's more like it!
Although, I feel like it's serious quantity over quality, but that's the point of NaNo, isn't it?~)
Current Word Count: 3,120
