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Kayla's eyes grew wide and she followed him, hiding beside him and listening |
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Gale dropped to one knee, carefully easing the weight of the deer’s leg to the ground beside him. His chest heaved as he listened, waiting, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. His eyes scanned the forest, every rustle of the trees, every shift in the breeze felt like a warning. They weren’t out of danger yet. The guards were still searching. He could feel them closing in, but they hadn’t found them just yet. He motioned for Kayla to keep low, his fingers pressed to his lips in a quick, silent gesture. They’d have to be patient, wait for the right moment. His mind raced, weighing their options, but every one of them felt like a gamble. The deer’s leg, now resting on the ground, was a reminder of what they needed to survive, but also what they couldn’t afford to carry much longer. It was heavy, and Gale knew they’d have to move again soon. The night was coming fast, and with it, more dangers. The guards would eventually split up and search with more intensity. He slowly pulled an arrow from his quiver, testing the tension on his bow with his fingers as he kept a watchful eye on their surroundings. His grip was steady, the familiar weight of the bow a small comfort. Minutes passed, each one dragging on, and still, no sound of the guards getting closer. He let out a breath, a small release of tension. For now, they were safe. He shifted his weight, preparing to move again, eyes flicking to the tree line. It was time. They couldn’t linger too long. "Let’s go," he whispered, voice barely audible over the wind. The hunt wasn’t over. And neither was their escape. |
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Kayla nodded and followed him silently once more |
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As Gale pushed through the underbrush, his senses keyed to every sound, the dense trees began to thin out. The pace was exhausting—his muscles were sore, every step a struggle—but he knew they couldn’t stop. Not yet. The moonlight filtering through the canopy had been a small comfort, enough to guide their way. But then, something shifted. The woods around them grew darker, the shadows stretching longer as the last slivers of twilight bled away. The quiet of the night settled in like a heavy blanket, and the air turned cooler, the chill biting at his exposed skin. It wasn’t just the fading light—it was the deepening quiet. Gale paused mid-step, looking up as the sky above darkened fully, the stars now visible in the ink-black expanse overhead. The night had arrived. For a brief moment, he stood still, listening. His heart was pounding in his chest, but the stillness of the night almost felt heavier than the noise of the forest during the day. The sense of being exposed hit him hard. Without thinking, he reached up to pull his cloak tighter, yanking the rough fabric over his shoulders. The cloak—dark and worn—wasn’t much, but it was enough to shield him from the cold. His hands worked quickly as he drew the hood up over his head, the fabric brushing against his cheek, until only his eyes were visible—narrowed, sharp, and scanning the woods around him. The cloak swallowed his body, but those eyes—those eyes were still watching, still calculating. In the dark, they were the only thing that could be seen, gleaming with determination, with focus. A shadow among shadows, blending into the night, but never quite disappearing. His mind was already ahead, already planning their next move. The hunt wasn’t over. He adjusted the bow slung across his back, the weight of the weapon oddly comforting now, and pulled the quiver tighter against his side. When he looked up again, he could feel the night wrapping around them, as if the world had gone silent just for them. This was their moment. No one would find them—at least, not easily. With the hood now settled low over his brow, Gale exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the cool night air. He didn’t say anything. The dark had a way of giving you space to think—space to act without words. And in that silence, all Gale could hear was the sound of their footsteps blending into the night. They moved on. |
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Gale’s instincts flared as he heard the rustle of leaves, sharper now, the crunch of boots unmistakable. But there was something else—another set of footsteps, not just one. Two figures, their movements slow and deliberate, weaving through the forest like hunters on the prowl. The low murmur of their voices was barely audible, but Gale's ears caught every word. They were speaking in low, urgent tones, their conversation drifting to him through the stillness of the night. His grip tightened on the girl’s wrist, pulling her in closer to him, drawing her to the narrow gap between two towering trees. There was no room for error now. “Did you hear that?” one of them asked, the voice gruff and rough-edged. Gale tensed, his eyes narrowing as the pair came closer. His mind raced. “Must be a fox,” the other replied, voice cooler, more calculated. “But we need to find her. She couldn’t have gone far. The princess won’t last long out here by herself.” Princess. The word hit Gale like a stone. His thoughts raced back to the desperate escape, to the night he had stolen her away from the palace. She had been hidden, safe in his arms as they fled, but now, they were no longer alone. The guards were looking for her—actively searching the forest, thinking she had run away or been taken. Gale didn’t move, his heart pounding, but he knew the urgency in the guards’ words. They would stop at nothing to find her. He could hear the slow march of their steps growing closer, the tension mounting with each passing second. Gale’s fingers wrapped around the girl’s arm, and he pulled her tighter against the rough bark of the tree, the pressure just enough to make her press close to him, blending into the shadows. Every breath felt too loud, too noticeable. His hand covered her mouth for a brief moment, urging her to stay silent. His eyes never left the figures as they passed. The first guard spoke again, the edge of frustration creeping into his voice. “She’s not far. She was last seen near here. If she’s not hiding, someone’s taken her. Damn it, we can’t let this slip. The king will have our heads if we fail.” “She’s a clever one,” the second guard said, his voice colder. “We’ll find her. Keep looking.” The guards were so close now, not more than five feet away. Gale could hear them breathing, could feel the tension in the air. His pulse hammered in his ears, the only sound louder than the guards’ footsteps. Gale’s free hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, but he didn’t draw it. There was no need yet. If he moved now, it might be worse than if he remained still. He could hear the rustle of the guards’ armor, the sound of their boots moving forward again, passing right by them. One of the guards stopped just a moment longer, as if sensing something was off. Gale’s breath caught in his throat. For a heartbeat, he thought the guard might turn and see them, his eyes scanning the darkness. But he didn’t. Instead, the man gave a short, frustrated grunt and started walking again, his voice carrying through the woods. “We’ll find her, don’t worry. The princess didn’t get far.” Gale waited, breath held, every fiber of his being still. The figures moved on, the sound of their footsteps gradually fading into the distance. Only when the last sound of their retreat had disappeared into the night did he finally release a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His hand gently pulled the girl’s wrist again, urging her to step away from the tree. Without a word, he guided her deeper into the woods, keeping close to the trees as they slipped through the shadows. The sense of urgency was palpable now—every moment counted. They had to get further away, deeper into the forest, where the guards wouldn’t dare venture. His heart still hammered in his chest, but it wasn’t just the threat of being found that drove him. It was the princess, the girl he had promised to protect at all costs. And the reality of what the guards believed—the fear that they would never stop searching, that they would scour every inch of the woods until they found her. Gale’s grip tightened around the bow on his back, the quiver against his side—a quiet reminder that this hunt wasn’t over yet. |
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Kayla waited and stayed silent, his hand warm as it gripped her arm. She waited and listened |
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The footsteps were closer now, too close—only inches away from Gale and the girl pressed against him. His breath was shallow, his pulse thundering in his chest as the two guards moved like shadows in the night, unaware of the figures hidden just beyond their reach. Every instinct screamed at Gale to hold still, to not even blink. The tension was unbearable, but he knew if he made even the slightest move, they would be caught. He tightened his grip on the girl’s wrist and pulled her in even closer, his body pressing hers firmly against the rough bark of the tree. His chest was against hers, his breath steady, but his heart raced with every second that passed. He didn’t dare make a sound. The first guard was so close that Gale could hear the faint rustling of his armor, the scrape of his boots on the forest floor. His body tensed, preparing for any movement. His free hand instinctively moved to cover the girl’s mouth, his fingers brushing against her soft skin, urging her to remain silent, to not even breathe too loudly. The second guard’s voice floated through the still night air. “If the princess really ran off, she wouldn’t have gone this far. Someone must have taken her. We need to keep searching. If the king finds out we’ve lost her, it’s our heads.” Gale’s eyes never left the guards, watching their every step, his breath barely a whisper as they passed by. His whole body was rigid, every muscle locked in place, but his focus was razor-sharp. He was thankful for the moonlight filtering through the trees, casting just enough shadow to keep them hidden, but the closeness of the guards made every second feel like an eternity. The second guard’s footsteps slowed, just a hair too long. He paused, and Gale’s heart nearly stopped. For a moment, he thought they were done for. But then, without warning, the guard muttered, “Nothing here,” and continued forward, walking past them. The first guard followed, their boots crunching away, their conversation fading with each step. Gale didn’t move for a long moment. His body remained pressed against the girl’s, his hand still covering her mouth, his breath shallow. He waited, straining to listen for the sound of the guards’ retreating footsteps, listening for any sign that they weren’t turning back. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, until the sounds of the guards finally disappeared into the distance. Only then did Gale slowly, carefully, release his grip on the girl. He pulled away just enough to glance at her, his eyes dark with frustration. “Not a word,” he hissed, his voice low but fierce. He stepped back a little, his gaze burning with intensity. “Not one damn word. You think they were just looking for some runaway girl? They weren’t. They think you’re the princess. And now, because of you, I’m wanted for abducting you.” He clenched his fists, the weight of his words hanging heavy between them. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? The king is out there right now, and after tonight, he’s going to hunt me like I’m some wild animal. If they find us… if they catch me with you, they’ll kill me without a second thought.” His breath came harder now, the anger and fear mixing in his chest, a storm of emotions he couldn’t suppress. “I escaped. I had a chance to disappear. But now, with you… with the princess in tow… I’m as good as dead. They’ll find me. The king won’t stop until they do.” He took a step closer to her, his voice sharp, barely containing his rage. “You can’t keep acting like you’re some innocent girl out here. The world doesn’t work that way. You’re not some lost traveler. You’re a damn princess with a king who will move mountains to get you back.” Gale turned away for a moment, his chest heaving with frustration. He wanted to punch the nearest tree, to vent the anger that was boiling in him. But there was no time for that. They had to keep moving. “You should’ve said something. You should’ve told me from the start what you were. I could’ve planned better, I could’ve made sure we weren’t in this position. But now…” He exhaled, his voice growing quiet, the anger turning to a bitter, resigned edge. “Now, I don’t know how the hell we’re going to get out of this. And it’s your fault.” Gale’s eyes flashed back to her, his anger still simmering but now tempered with a grim determination. “So no more playing games. You’re the princess. And I’m stuck with you. We keep moving, and you don’t say a word about it. Understand?” He didn’t wait for her reply. Instead, he turned and started moving again, his steps quick and deliberate. Every moment they wasted was another chance for the guards to close in, another moment closer to being trapped. The night had grown deeper, the shadows longer, and Gale knew that if they weren’t careful, they wouldn’t make it through the next few hours. He glanced over his shoulder, watching her closely for any sign that she might say something, do something that would give them away. They needed to be silent, quick, and above all, they needed to stay ahead of the people who were hunting them both. |
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Kayla glared at him as he hissed at her. She wanted to argue, but didn't speak for his sake. She wanted to ask him why he had taken her with if she was such a burden |
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Sunny
