[kittiewhirl1677]

They were gathering food, herbs, and wood for fire. Lanbriel looked around herself, trying to find something to do.

Ever since the two friendly hunters had joined them, she started feeling safer. She was still suspicious, but as time passed, she began to enjoy the hunters. They were the first people in a long while who actually adressed the slaves as if they were equals.

Now, she thought, I think we might have a chance with all these weapons and supplies at our hands.

She smiled at this happy thought, and walked over to the older hunter.

"Anything I can do to help?"

She asked.

"A few others already went to find more wood for our fire, but you may certainly join them."

"Thankyou... Rhunnaro? Is it not?"

She dismissed herself from his company, and walked off into the woods.

She also managed to grab a medium-lengthed dagger on the way, which looked more like a short sword. She didn't get many chances to practice her skill with any kind of weapon, but she had watched the soldiers practice their skills with a blade and had learned a few things.

Satisfied with her supply, she quickly advanced into the thick bushes and trees ahead of her. She was still aware of the possibility that the hunters had tracked them all the way. She kept glancing about her, thinking that she was being tracked. Although renewed after the sleep, Lanbriel still felt worn out and tired, and the increasing number of logs she carried didn't help her much.

--*--*--*--*--

She had been picking up logs, bringing them to the campsite, and going back for more. Back and forth like this for a long time. She had then finally gone back for her final handfull of logs, when suddenly, she heared hooves approaching. She knew that the only people who would be around in the forest at this time, with horses- many horses at that, were... the hunters! She looked back at the path she had came from.

No, it would take too long to run back. Even running at her fastest speed would kill her. They would hear her, and go faster. No, she had to hide.

She looked about her frantically, and noticed a tree with a hollow spot in the middle. She carefully made her way to the giant trunk, avoiding to fall over any unseen roots.

She couldn't really tell what was where in this dark. Especially since the trees blocked off any light the moon would have to offer.

Then,she felt her way across the roots. Hand over hand, she managed to climb up the protruding branches. Some were too small, and she felt their weak grips start to fail.

She was almost there, when it happened. She had underestimated the strength of a small, leefless branch when it started to break. The loud, crackling sound grew ever louder as the branch started to bang against the leaves of the other branches and the tree itself. Lanbriel quickly took off her hand, and attempted to grasp another branch.

Now, the branch attatched to her other hand started failing too. She quickly swung her free hand at the opening-but missed. Then, she tried it again. The second attempt succeeded, and she quickly swung her other hand over and into the hollow depth of the tree. She then used all the strength she could muster, and threw her body deep down, into the dark, leafy trunk.

She tried to move, but that only made her faint faster. She thought she had probably broken a leg, or an arm. She couldn't tell now. Darkness took her.

[ May 21, 2003: Message edited by: kittiewhirl1677 ]