Chapter Fourteen-- On The Run

That was my story up until now. I made choices I didn't regret, but I was suffering for them. My escape plan just barely worked, snd now I was running for my life despite being tired, overheated and in pain. I could hear the shouts of guards as they looked for me, and the pounding of horse hooves on the ground. I just kept running, refusing to look back. My backpack was heavy and painful against my torn up back, despite me being mostly healed by a unknown cleric. My entire body was on fire but I kept sprinting through the woods, branches snapping against my skin. I was terrified beyond belief, my chest convulsing and contorting from my ragged breaths. I got a stitch on my side, causing every breath to be almost suffocating. I couldn't stop though. It was like I was a puppet on strings, bolting through the brush with little to no control over my legs. It was pure adrenaline bursting through me. The voices if the men behind me made my feet the ground harder as I tried to follow the winding road. I didn't know how far a village was or even if I was going to be able to get to one on foot. All I knew was that I had to keep going no matter the cost. The branches slapped me and tore at my skin, tiny cuts appearing on my skin as they did so. Leaves and sticks got stuck in my hair. That was when I heard a thwacking noise, an arrow impending itself if the birch tree I just passed.

"There she is!" I heard a voice bark. More thunderous noises pounded towards me, and this time I heard the released on an arrow. I tried to move sideways to avoid it in fear. There was a shoving and tearing pain in my calf, causing me to collapse to the ground. I screamed, moving my robe and dress to see a arrow head jutting out of my calf. I cried out as the searing pain shot through me. Four white horses ran up to me, three men and one women wearing the Count's uniform. The woman was holding the bow and arrow, smiling down at me like I was prey she just caught. They were all smug as tears streamed down my eyes, and I tried to pull myself through the brush. It was a desperate and futile attempt.

"Nice try, you got pretty far." One of the men with strawberry blond hair and brown eyes laughed down at me, a sick grin on his face.

"Just pick her up Dirk," The women stared daggers at him. The man rolled his eyes, his two dark haired comrades snickering at him. Did slid off his horse, grumbling his way over to me red faced and annoyed.

"Stay away from me!" I cried out, trying to pull myself away from him. The three men laughed at me, but the woman stayed silent.

"Hey Dirk, hold on a second."

"Calm down Tira, she's unarmed." He stopped in front of me, grinning down like a fool.

"That's not it. There's no noise." Her horse started to get a little spooked, moving side to side and she looked around. My eyes were focused on the man in front of me, kneeling down in front of me. He reached out and roughly grabbed just below the arrow hole. The intense pain caused me to scream into the air.

"Scream all you want, no one is coming to--" Dirk didn't get to finish his words. One second I was staring at a pair of cruel brown eyes. The next, blood was pouring out of the stump of his neck where his head used to be. My entire body froze. It even felt like my lungs did. Tira was already gone, running like the wind to get away. The other two had swords unscathed, fearful looks in their eyes.

"What was that?" They screamed as the body twitched and fell forward, hit blood sputtering my feet. I couldn't help but tremble at the low, almost creaking growl. It sounded like a mix of animalistic and the creaking of old wood. The noise seemed to be almost all around me, creaking and moaning. I couldn't help my heavy breaths, but my chest almost felt stiff. I was sturgglingnto breathe, tears welling in my eyes. I could seenit out of the corner of my eye, just colours. It was barely moving, but I could see that it was scaly. I couldn't tell the colour, it seemed to be shifting. The guards were looking up in the trees and around, but were oblivious to the slowly approaching creature. I wanted to scream but my throat felt like it was closing. It was like a flash. In barely a blink, the thing lunged. One moment the guards were panicking and waving swords like pinata sticks, the next they were torn to shreds. Blood sprayed in the hair, holes and slashes across their bodies. They collapsed to the ground and the thing just stood there. On all fours, long taloned nails like a lizard. It's scales kept shifting colours in camouflage other than the parts coated on blood. It turned its large head and looked its beady eyes at me. It looked like a snapping turned with put the shell with the body of a more agile komodo dragon. It was about the size of a great dane, it's head the size of a pumpkin. It made a croaking noise like bark again, and it took a step forward. I felt my heart almost beat of my chest, tears streaming down my eyes from pain and fear. It flicked its bloody formed tongue at me, the croaking turning into a purring rolling noise. It stopped I front of me, tongue lolling out to sniff the air. It snapped around me like a chameleon, licking the air around my face. I could smell the putrid smell of death roll off its mouth like a fog. Saliva dripped from its teeth when it would open it. It looked at me, almost emotionless but somehow brimming with energy. I closed my eyes, now wanting to see the jaws and fangs of the creature as it devoured me. My second life was already ending, just as pathetic as the first. That was went I felt rough, sharp scales against the soft skin of my left cheek. Hot breath fanned against my face, as the thing seemed to be inhaling me. I opened my eyes to feel my skin being scraped off. The thing was nuzzling me, rubbing it's scales against my cheek like a dog. I was stunned, speechless as this thing continues, trying to get my attention. It backed itself up, it's tail swaying in the air. The back thing over its eye which I thought was she iris, blinked away to show emerald green eyes with bright yellow slits for pupils. It was as mesmerizing as it was terrifying. I didn't not what was happening as the creature swayed there, looking still me intently as if a dog looking for praised. It cocked its head up and down, the purring sound fading. I tried to find my voice, it barely coming above a whisper.

"A-Are you go-gonna kill me?" I stammered. The thing perked up at my voice, it's tail wagging even quicker. It was like a puppy getting excited, waving it's head around. I shifted my eyes, and I could seebits aura was a minty lime green of happiness, with stripes of a brilliant yellow of excitement. I sensed no aggression from it, almost as if was happy to see me. It sniffed my feet, pushing its face against my good good. Dots of pink bubbled through its aura and seeing that made the air almost clear. This thing scared but, bit it didn't seem to want to hurt me. I didn't know what this thing was. I knew there were monsters in this world but I was uneducated on what kinds.

"H-Hey..." It raised its head, cocking it to the side. I took a leap of faith, raising my hand to its face in an open palm. I was waiting for the thing to bite my hand off and tear me to shreds, but instead it excitedly pushed its hard nose into my hand, the purring noise coming back and intensifying. It's aura shone brightly, more pink blooming like flowers. I moved my hand side to side and it's happiness only grew. I actually managed to feel comfortable around this thing, but the arrow was causing mass amount of pain. I winced and cried as it flooded into my system. The thing looked concerned, leaning down and sniffing the bolt in my leg. I was nervous that my blood would make it go feral, but instead it gently licked the wound. I expected pain and even yelped in response, buts it's saliva was almost numbing. My skin began to tingle and prick, as if my nerves were shutting down. I could see the arrow in my leg, but it was like it didn't exist. Even the bleeding stopped after the thing cleaned my leg. I was disturbed it was licking my blood, but it seemed more in the way that a dog cleans whip cream off its owner than a vicious bloodthirsty beast. I was amazed, turning my leg to look as it looked down at me proud. It all seemed too surreal, the events that had just occurred. It also seemed like a blessing. I looked up at the creature, proud like the cat that ate the canary. My savior.

"Would you," The thing turned its head at me, "Like to come with me?" It seemed to understand my words, almost vibrating. It started swaying and jumping.

"O-Okay. I'll take that as a yes." It made a chirping noise back, pushing its nose against my cheek again. I actually managed to smile. The entire ordeal was making my head spin, but this mysterious creature had saved my life and seemed to be attached to me.

"You know, I never had a pet in my last life. I always wanted one." I reached up and stroked its nose. It felt almost natural. It bounced up and down.

"Do you have a name?" The thing just turned to my question, looking at Dirk's dead body next to its feet. Before I could say anything its jaw unhinged like a snake, teeth jutting out like one of those velociraptors from Jurassic Park. It sunk its teeth into Dirks body, gobbling him up and swallowing him. I was horrified as the thing went around and swallowed the rest of the bodies, cracking and snapping noises filling the air. It's aura was still happy and non-threatening, but I was still grossed out. It bounded back to me, it's footwork surprisingly light. It was creepily silent and agile, but it's bright eyes were cute and filled with joy. I couldn't make myself be scared of this thing anymore as it bent its head down. I thought it was going to push me again, but it seemed to sit there as if offering me help up. I reached up and grabbed its head. It pulled upwards, gently helping me off the cold hard ground. My leg was numb and I couldn't move it, so I stumbled forward. It caught me, holding me upwards.

"Thank you." I stroked the back of its neck and it cooed again.

"We should leave." I tried to step forward but I could move my leg. Before I could even try to problem solve, it wrapped its strong tail around my hips, lifting me off the ground with ease. I squeaked as it put me on its back. It moved me so my stomach was laying against my back, but my leg was laying against it with the arrow not poking its skin. I had to move my other leg to not touch the end of the bolt. The creature was so long, my feet only reached down have of its stomach with my head resting against its neck. It had its tail wrapped around me as it began to race away. The way it moved was flexible and agile, and it almost felt like moving intentionally to not hurt me. It's tail was pushing against the cuts on my back and bruises, but it was bearable.

"Do you have a name?" I asked as the thing kept running. It just kept purring.

"Well let's give you one. Are you a girl?" It stopped purring. The trees raced by us with ease.

"Boy?" It started again. Could have been a coincidence but I smiled against it.

"In my world, we had a show about mutant ninja turtles. You could have fit right in." I felt horrible for reminiscing while I was a broken and bloody. But for a moment I was relieved and happy I had an ally.

"I'm gonna name you Donatello."

I was cold and wet. We had been running for the rest of tbe day, Donatello never stopping unless I asked. The cuts on my back reopened from the constant movement, blood sticking to my back. Donatello's painkiller saliva had long worn off, now my leg feeling like a burning, aching weight dragging me down. I shivering in the cool night air. I was still riding Donatello, his body purring under my touch. I saw lights in the distance, heard the cheery voices of people. I looked through the brush, to see that I hadn't arrived at a village but a road side tavern on the outskirts. From there we were standing, there was a sharp incline downwards almost like a cliff in the form a a steep hill. There were more lights in the distance, the tavern below the bottom of the steep hill where boisterous laughter was flowing out. I managed to slip myself off of Donatello, not putting any pressure on my left. Donatello had a low growl in his throat, and I scratched behind the circles of his ear to soothe him.

"Its okay boy, I'm just going to ask for some help." He looked at me with emerald eyes, shaking his body as if trying to shake off worry. I smiled at him, and tried to eye a way off the drop. My legs were shaking, becoming unbearable to hold. My leg was burning with unholy fire, the bolt in my leg feeling even more invasive and painful than before. I tried to take a step forward but I almost collapsed. Donatello caught me with his head, and I couldn't stop from crying. I was just a helpless little girl.

"My leg..." I managed to sob, feeling vulnerable and scared. I couldn't even walk, and I didn't even know where we were.

"Donnie, what am I going to do?" I cried, hearing salvation so close but it was too far. I didn't want to bring Donatello down in case he got attacked. I couldn't go down the hill on my own. I was almost out of bread and water, and I was sure Donatello was tired. My wound was untreated and I was worried about infection. I had to find a healer, and needed directions to a village in the south close to Theosia. It felt like it was an impossible mission as I couldn't even move properly. I looked down and my blood ran cold. I could see two men outside the tavern, dressed in the Counts uniform. I wouldn't be able to go down there. I was so close to salvation but so far.

"I need a healer. I need to get to the southern lines." I muttered and sobbed. Donatello stayed with me, listening to me cry. He reached his head down and wrapped his tounge around my leg to numb it once again. This time, he yanked his tongue down and I screamed as a stinging pain rolled up my leg as he snapped the end of the arrow off with the feathers.

"What are you doing?" Even though my leg was numb the pain was shooting up me, tears welling in my eyes. Before I could even think, Donatello lifted me again and started to run away from the villiage and into the dark night. I didn't know where he was taking me, but for some reason I knew it would be okay.