He wole up with a start, hitting his head against a low hanging root.
?Ow!“
Where was he?
He didn’t recognize this earthy ground.
Was he…ah.
the memory flooded in, memories of fires and screaming and his escape.
Ferrion! he needed to get moving, quickly!
He must have fallen asleep, the excitement draining his energy.
He turned around, the hole not quite big enough to stand upright.
crawling on his hands and knees towards the exit, he almost forgot the dagger he had been given.
It was an ornate thing, silvery and polished, adorned with religious symbols.
He wondered how Ferrion was doing?
He must already be on his way!
Quickening his step, he continued on the winding path covered in twilight from the huge trees on both sides.
Light was coming from directly above, thankfully hindered by massive Leaves and branches.
On his way, he found a good number of berries and plants that looked plenty edible but thankfully he kept his Hands away from them.
on a second glance, he had spotted a family Quarfs, small and lizard-like in appearance with four pairs of legs and a pretty long tail. They spanned maybe two hands of a grown human.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
He had always seen them outside of the cellar window, playing and ?hunting“ the food wastes of the others people.
But not these, for these ones where dead.
Their strange and yellowish blood streaming from popped eyes, remains of the berries he was about eat still smeared on their mouths.
After that he kept his hungry eyes away from any and all yummy looking berries.
It didn’t take long for his path to rejoin the Main Street.
It looked like the refugees had passed through just a few hours ago, the road muddy and now deserted.
But he kept on trecking, blatantly disregarding the horrible road conditions in favor of reaching Ferrion.
It had been hours since his stomach first started complaining. His parched lips followed soon accompanied by a thumping headache.
And yet he kept on moving…however slowly he could.
Not shortly after, his legs started quivering, and he moved to the side of the road, collapsing in the shadows of the ginormous trees.
And slowly, veery slowly did he fall asleep.
ONLY TO BE SHAKEN AWAKE!
He blinked confused, the sun was just rising to the south.
He let his eyes drift further, and an oily face came into view, scaring the living hell out of him!
He took his surroundings in, and noticed his hands and legs tied together by an uncomfortably prickly rope.
He was at some kind of camp site, dirty people packing their stuff and carrying wicked looking weapons, some seemingly from the old town guard…
These must be Bandits!
“Awake? Good. Now listen up, brat! We rescued you from that scary jungle, and as thanks ye can carry my stuff. And no, ye got no choice in the matter. Sound good? Glad to see ye understand.“
Elison gawked at the scrawny man who was suddenly yanked back by a much more… filled person, this one clothed in things of finer quality and once vibrant but now faded colors.
“Hold yer fucking horses Piete, i got some questions for the boy.“
The first guy, Piete gave the latter a poisonous stare before trodding away.
?Fine fine, do your fucking thing.“
“Good. now, boy, tell me where you got This.“ And behind his back, he produced the dagger he was gifted by ferrion.
“Hey! T-thats mine! Give it back!“
SMACK
The hand slapped across his face.
“Answer the question.“
“…“
The man prepared to strike again.
“It was a gift! From a Paladin!“
“A Paladin? Don’t make me laugh! You stole it, didn’t you?“
“No, i swear! I lived in the church, see?“ He pulled out his necklace of faith, an ornate rope with a valuable symbol of the God.
The man stilled, greed and fear seemingly fighting behind those dry eyes. without another word, he turned and hurried back to the fireplace.
