The sun beat down on her back. Her long black hair didn't help with today's heat. She looked around green fields with trees spotted the landscape. She was getting tired of riding, it had been a couple hours now. Arrow let out a dramatic bray and gave her a startle.
"I don't think the lost cow is around here Arrow. How about we go back home and you can go see your girlfriend." She leaned down and patted Arrow's neck, he whinnied in response. She turned him around and they started trotting back. Aside from the heat today was quite beautiful. The flowers were blooming and the trees finally had all there leaves. "You know Arrow there was no set time we could take the long way and stroll through the woods." She took the reins and set off for the trail, it is faster then taking the fields around to get back home.
The forest was quiet a couple of birds were flying around. She looked around the forest, she always felt so safe here. The wind started to pick up and the trees rustled in such a melodic way her eyes started feeling heavy, she wondered if Arrow could make it home if she feel asleep on his back. Its started getting darker, her eyes felt heavy and soon she dozed off. Even though she slept Arrow continued walking and walking. But they never made it out of the forest.
...
She woke up after a couple hours, she was still on Arrow's back. A wave of relief flowed over her, till she looked around and realized she didn't know where she was. It was dark but the trees leaves had a green tint to them lighting up the ground with an eerie glow. Arrow continued walking at a very slow pace his ears pinned back, she looked around for what was bothering him. The bushes rustled behind them and Arrow let out a large whiney and started bucking. She tried to hold on but wasn't strong enough, she fell off and Arrow ran off. Dazed she stumbles to stand her legs giving out, she falls back again. A low yowl came from the bushes and she crawled back against a tree, this isn't how it ends. She closed her eyes tears starting to run down her face "No,no....no." she muttered to herself. A large panther like animal came out from behind the bush and jumped at her. She let out a scream, and waited for the pain. But nothing happened, she heard what sounded like a struggling cat. Her eyes opened slowly a dark figure stood before her. The figure was holding the panther by the neck and threw the beast away, it slunked off into the woods defeated. The figure turned to her and reached out a hand. She looked up to see a man's face, he had a thick beard and dark red hair. She reached up to grab his hand it was rough something you would expect of a laborer. "Wh...who are you?" her voice shaking
"Are you okay, can you walk?" His voice was deep, she stared at him for a moment lost in thought. "I'm... Uh, Reva." She leaned on the tree her legs still shaking a little.
"Okay, Reva. I am Jolon,what are you doing here. This clearly isn't your territory." He looked her up and down. She was wearing a tight jacket, jeans and boots. He gave her a rather quizzical look. "Territory, what are you talking about?" She struggled to look around, when suddenly something fluffy touched her hand. She pulled her hand back in shock "What was that!" she yelled out. "That was my tail do people from your area not have tails?" He took a step away from her and grabbed his lantern, she looked back at his face and gasped. He had two wolf like ears instead of normal ears, as she looked down she saw his tail. Her mind was racing, her heart was pounding in her chest. Her vision was darkening and she fainted. He cought her before she hit the ground. He lifted her up and carried her out of the woods, he opened his wagon door and put her on the bed.
...
He walked down to the little river by the road and gathered water, he noticed a horse lower down the way. He slowly walked to the horse and noticed it wore a strange contraption on its back. He slowly put out his hand to the tan horse and it nosed it cautiously. Swiftly he grabbed the reins and lead the horse back to the wagon. He opened the door and peaked in she was still asleep, the horse put his head in to and let out a loud whiny. He pushed the horse back and closed the door. "Do you know that girl in there buddy?" He took the reins and tied it to the back of the wagon. He walked around his wagon hopping up to the seat he set off.
...
They went down the main roads and side roads till eventually the small trio ended at Jolon's hunting cabin. He took them hours away from where he found Reva. This was his home away from home, he checked up on her to see she was still asleep. He was surprised to find someone to sleep that long. He untied his horse from the rig and the horse he found, and took them both to the stable. The strange horse was well behaved and stayed in his stall with great patience. He left the horses and opened up the cabin, it was supposed to get cold so he made up the fireplace. His cabin was higher in the mountains and snow was still possible. He decided it was best to get her out of the wagon before the weather comes in, as he walked up to the wagon he heard whimpers from her. He opened the door expecting her awake, but she must be having nightmares because she was still asleep. Carefully he picked her up hugging her to his chest, he looked down at her face and her lips parted in a small smile. She no longer whined ether. He pulled his gaze away from her lips and carried her into the bedroom laying her down on the large bed. He left her asleep, he decided it would be best to make some food. He wandered out to the main room which consisted of a kitchen area couch and fireplace. He decided to make a stew.
...
She awoke in a daze, her head was so comfy she felt her eyes get heavy again. But the pain in her stomach would not let her sleep, she sniffed and smelled meat cooking. She slowly sat up and looked around "Where am I?" she spoke slowly.
"We're at my hunting cabin." He said suddenly appearing in the doorway, "I'm sure your hungry, come eat."
He turned around and left her sight, she got up to follow. She couldn't help but notice he was wearing less clothes, what looked like a leather vest and pants. She left the room and sat on the couch, she looked around and saw him coming over with a bowl. Eagerly she took the bowl and started eating it was a lovely stew with what she guessed was venison, potatoes and carrots. She looked over to Jolon who was in the kitchen area "Um... The stew was really good thank you." He stopped what he was doing and look to her "My pleasure I can't in good conscious not feed a lonesome girl." she looked at him he didn't look much older then she was, why was he calling her a girl. She couldn't help but be defensive "I am not a girl. I'm 19."
"Strange to see someone of your age not mated to a man." He stared her down and continued "That being said, you don't look like a Lupen. So I'm going to guess your a human."
Her eyes widened "What?" She stood up "Your a what?"