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Aylwen Dreamsong · 06-11-2003, 05:35 AM

Haven and the other women had been told to get some rest, and get as much sleep as they could in what little time they had. Haven’s eyes were bloodshot and her hair was tousled and messy, but she could not bring herself to sleep. Some of the other women did, she knew, but she didn’t bother to keep track of who slept and who didn’t. Haven watched as Rhûnnaro began to speak with Turos, his hands moving occasionally to add extra emphasis to his words. When the two were finished talking, Rhûnnaro stood, and Turos stayed seated at the entrance to the clearing

Haven blinked confusedly at this, but was too exhausted to pursue an answer. Rhûnnaro left Turos and continued over to speak with Tenzin in hushed whispers so no ears could overhear. Tenzin soon remounted his horse after the conference and had gone off and out of the clearing.

Haven stood, unable to sleep and wanting something to occupy herself. She felt nervous and tense, for she knew that something was coming, presumably the hunters and the death of the slaves. The dry, short grass under Haven’s feet crunched as she walked over to Rhûnnaro, her eyes watering from exhaust.

“You should sleep while you can,” Rhûnnaro said simply. Haven shook her head slowly. Rhûnnaro had begun to prepare his sword and a long knife, and Haven squinted at the weapons.

“I can’t sleep. What is going on? How long before they find us?” Haven asked, blurting out everything she could before she had to take another breath. Rhûnnaro looked out towards the trail that Tenzin had taken away from the clearing, then turned back to Haven. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, the sound of hoof beats became an echo among the clearing. Some of the women woke up at the sounds, and groped for their newly given spears.

Tenzin’s horse galloped into the clearing, and the Easterling was slumped over. As he came closer, Haven could see that a sickly dark red liquid was trickling down from his shoulder, near the crook of his arm. When he was close enough, Tenzin leapt from his horse a bit clumsily, as though he were drowsy. The women who had woken up rushed over to join the group, and soon found the shaft of an arrow protruding from Tenzin’s back, just above his shoulder blade.

Almost all the women volunteered to help Tenzin, and as they began dress the wound Rhûnnaro cleared his throat to get the attention of the women. They acknowledged the Easterling, but continued to work on Tenzin, who seemed to be wounded harshly, but would be fine in the end.

“We need to move quickly,” said Rhûnnaro solemnly. He gestured to places around the clearing as he spoke. “I will position you around the clearing with your spears. Fionel, you can use a sword if you think you can handle one. This is it. We can’t keep running.”

[ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ]

06-11-2003, 05:35 AM	#134
Aylwen Dreamsong The Melody of Misery Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Island of Conclusions (You get there by jumping!)... Posts: 1,147	Haven and the other women had been told to get some rest, and get as much sleep as they could in what little time they had. Haven’s eyes were bloodshot and her hair was tousled and messy, but she could not bring herself to sleep. Some of the other women did, she knew, but she didn’t bother to keep track of who slept and who didn’t. Haven watched as Rhûnnaro began to speak with Turos, his hands moving occasionally to add extra emphasis to his words. When the two were finished talking, Rhûnnaro stood, and Turos stayed seated at the entrance to the clearing Haven blinked confusedly at this, but was too exhausted to pursue an answer. Rhûnnaro left Turos and continued over to speak with Tenzin in hushed whispers so no ears could overhear. Tenzin soon remounted his horse after the conference and had gone off and out of the clearing. Haven stood, unable to sleep and wanting something to occupy herself. She felt nervous and tense, for she knew that something was coming, presumably the hunters and the death of the slaves. The dry, short grass under Haven’s feet crunched as she walked over to Rhûnnaro, her eyes watering from exhaust. “You should sleep while you can,” Rhûnnaro said simply. Haven shook her head slowly. Rhûnnaro had begun to prepare his sword and a long knife, and Haven squinted at the weapons. “I can’t sleep. What is going on? How long before they find us?” Haven asked, blurting out everything she could before she had to take another breath. Rhûnnaro looked out towards the trail that Tenzin had taken away from the clearing, then turned back to Haven. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, the sound of hoof beats became an echo among the clearing. Some of the women woke up at the sounds, and groped for their newly given spears. Tenzin’s horse galloped into the clearing, and the Easterling was slumped over. As he came closer, Haven could see that a sickly dark red liquid was trickling down from his shoulder, near the crook of his arm. When he was close enough, Tenzin leapt from his horse a bit clumsily, as though he were drowsy. The women who had woken up rushed over to join the group, and soon found the shaft of an arrow protruding from Tenzin’s back, just above his shoulder blade. Almost all the women volunteered to help Tenzin, and as they began dress the wound Rhûnnaro cleared his throat to get the attention of the women. They acknowledged the Easterling, but continued to work on Tenzin, who seemed to be wounded harshly, but would be fine in the end. “We need to move quickly,” said Rhûnnaro solemnly. He gestured to places around the clearing as he spoke. “I will position you around the clearing with your spears. Fionel, you can use a sword if you think you can handle one. This is it. We can’t keep running.” [ June 11, 2003: Message edited by: Aylwen Dreamsong ] __________________ ...Come down now, they'll say. But everything looks perfect from far away - Come down now! But we'll stay.