The light from the moon illuminated the forest. Standing in the center of a small clearing was Ravynne, practicing her combat skills. Verlian had given her a small stump to use as a target. It was much more difficult to land an attack now that she something physical to hit. Slash, slash, slash. She moved forward and back, continuing the motions as she chipped pieces off the stump little by little.
It was extremely late into the night. Ravynne was frustrated over her newly realized feelings for Verlian. She wanted him to hug her as he did Serin, she wanted him to hold her tight as if she was his most prized possession, she wanted him to kiss her deeply like he was starving for her. Too bad none of that would ever be realized.
Ravynne leaned against a nearby tree, trying to steady her breath. That's when she realized just how quiet it was. All that could be heard was her breathing and her feet shuffling against the snow. She closed her eyes. Suddenly they darted open. Wait! Her feet weren't moving at all. Then who's feet were they?!
She crouched low and got into a defensive stance, just as Verlian had taught her. She carefully and quietly moved in the direction of the sounds. As she got closer, she heard hushed voices, none that she recognized. She positioned herself behind a nearby bush and pulled her coat over the top of her head as she slowly raised it above the leaves to get a better look at what was going on.
Five men. None of them were people she knew. Their clothes were dirty and torn, and their coats looked like they were about to disintegrate at any moment. She stayed there, listening.
"Everyone should be asleep now, right Boss?"
"Yeah, let's hurry up already and take care of them."
"We've got the arrows and bombs ready. They won't know what hit them. As soon as one of these babies goes off. KABLOOM! The whole place will be destroyed. Anyone that manages to escape will be taken down with our arrows."
"Hush, you fools! Don't be so loud. We have to make sure our timing is perfect. We can't afford to make another mistake like last time. Tonight we MUST succeed."
What? Bombs? They were going to attack Evania?! Ravynne thought about all the people that were so kind to her there; Ashke, Dino, the elderly couple that sold bread, the young woman and her daughter that sold ingredients, all of the children that would play outside with hearty and genuine laughter….and most importantly….Verlian. "I can't get there in time, Evania will be gone if I don't act now." She thought.
Her skills in combat had gotten pretty good but she'd never practiced on an actual person, other than Verlian who would never ACTUALLY harm her. These people were out for blood. She gripped her dagger tightly, "You've got to do it Ravynne." She told herself.
She steeled her heart and lunged at the one closest to the bush, slashing his back. He screamed in pain, alerting the other four to her. Her attack didn't do much, he turned around quickly and tossed her to the ground. He went to grab her but she sliced his arm, causing him to instinctively grab his wound with his opposing hand. She used that moment to jump up, thankfully before the other four lunged at her.
The biggest of them all ran off, but he was unarmed. She assumed he'd lost his nerve. The others, however, picked up long swords that were stationed against a nearby tree. She wasn't expecting that all and cursed herself for not doing a better job of surveying their camp. Ravynne's dagger was already small for its kind, she didn't think she could take them. It didn't matter though, she was already in the situation, she had to either keep going or accept her death. She wasn't ready to die, not yet. She would have to survive.
Just like before, she crouched down into a defensive position, the men before her circled around her, eyeing her carefully as they waited for her to make their move. She analyzed each of them, desperately searching for any signs of weakness or openings. That was when the one from earlier appeared from behind her and grabbed her with his giant muscled arms. He squeezed her tight, ensuring that she would not escape. Her body felt like it was about to pop, it was difficult to breath and almost impossible to move, but she struggled as much as she could.
The one they referred to as, 'Boss' earlier was the one to come forward, stabbing her in the stomach with his sword. Ravynne screamed, the sharp pain spreading deep inside and all across her abdomen. As he pulled his sword out, she could feel the warmth of her blood soaking her clothes. She closed her eyes and went limp. The biggest released her and she dropped to the ground with a crunch against the snow. She didn't move.
The men smirked at their victory over a 'useless and weak woman' and turned their backs. Big mistake. Ravynne opened her eyes and fought against the unbearable pain in her abdomen as she kicked the biggest one right in the back of his knee, causing him to fall over. She jumped up and stabbed him in the back with her dagger and hit him on the back of his head as hard as she could with a tree branch she had grabbed while she was down.
It was enough to knock him out. Ravynne clutched her stomach and stumbled, blood pouring out over her fingers. She put her hand against a nearby tree to steady herself. The men looked even more angry now. They raised their swords and ran towards her, full speed ahead. Adrenaline took over and Ravynne somehow managed to dodge their attacks. She used her leg again to her advantage, ducking down and sweeping it under the 'Boss' causing him to fall over. He hit his head on a rock, although it unfortunately didn't knock him out, it definitely disoriented him. Another lunged at her and sliced her leg with his sword.
It burned and throbbed and blood spewed out across the snow. Ravynne knelt down and grabbed her leg, screaming in pain. The three of them came at her all at once. She quickly grabbed the tree branch that she used to knock the big one out, which had broken and splintered from the impact against his head. As the first one came closer to her, she plunged it into his stomach and shoved him backwards with her shoulder, sending him toppling into the man behind him.
Her energy was beginning to wane, but she had to somehow fend them off at the very least. There were only two left now. "Come on Ravynne. What is Verlian always telling you? Fight smart." She thought carefully, analyzing them as best she could. Her blood was dying the snow everywhere she went, it had soaked her clothes, and her vision was now beginning to blur. "No! Not now!" She rubbed her eyes and in that moment, her enemies took an opportunity.
They both came at her at the same time. One slashing at her, the other shoving her. She was sent flying into a tree, a cut going from her right shoulder down to her left hip. She groaned, the pain was shooting from her back up to her throat, feeling like there was a boulder stuck inside.
She fell to the ground and stayed there on her hands and knees. The snow felt good against the wound on her leg. She had all but given up when she saw two medium-sized, jagged rocks lying in the snow. She stood up, by this time the men had separated. Ravynne threw a rock at the first, hitting him in the forehead. It wasn't exactly where she was aiming, but it did enough damage that he stumbled backwards.
Then she yelped, feeling a familiar pain in her thigh, it was that of an arrow plunged into her flesh. As she was focused on the one, the other had gotten his bow and arrows. She threw the rock at him as he released another arrow. Her rock hit him in the crotch, sending him to his knees. His arrow hit her in the rib cage, just barely hitting her heart.
She felt dead, adrenaline and the will to survive were the only things keeping her going. Each step sent pain shooting throughout her entire body and each breath made her feel like she wanted to vomit. She stopped as she entered the village, and coughed up blood. "Just a little...farther…."
Verlian's house wasn't that far away from the village entrance on the forest side, and yet, it felt like it took her years to get there. She pushed the door open to see Verlian pacing the room. He stared at her, his eyes wide and he rushed to her side. "Ver-" she began before she collapsed. Verlian caught her just in time. "Ravynne! RAVYNNE!" he screamed out.
The arrows stuck out of her still, although the one in her rib had broken and was now dangling from a single sliver of wood. She was covered in blood, and a stream of the red liquid was coming out of her mouth and down her chin. "I….tried…." Her eyes began rolling back and Verlian shook her, "Ravynne! Don't! You have to stay conscious! Stay with me!" He picked her up and began running to Serin's house. His body was warm and she felt herself relax in his arms. She finally felt safe.
"Five...men...bombs"
"Ravynne, I'm going to get you help, stay alive!"
"Atta-" Ravynne started coughing up more blood and Verlian began running faster. He finally reached Serin's house and threw the door open. It was late. Both Serin and Dino sat up in bed confused, rubbing their eyes.
"It's Ravynne! She needs medical attention! NOW!"
Serin jumped up, fear taking over her face. She had never heard Verlian sound so upset and desperate before. He placed Ravynne down on the bed and Serin immediately got to work, yelling out demands to Dino who was following every order. Verlian held Ravynne's hand and stroked the top of her head, "You're going to be alright." He said. Serin glanced at him, his voice was trembling. Her heart broke hearing him sound so worried over another woman. In fact, over anyone. In all her years with him, she'd never heard him like this.
"In the…..forest…..they're..." Ravynne coughed up more blood and Serin rolled her to her side to make sure she didn't choke on it. "You need to stop talking, you're aggravating your injuries." Serin warned. Ravynne shook her head. It was such a slight movement that only Verlian noticed.
"…..want….attack...Evania….Verlian….." She gasped for air, "…..go…."
Serin's eyes widened, "Verlian, you need to go now! This isn't good, you can't be in here. Dino, you too. Both of you need to leave." She quickly began to unfasten Ravynne's clothes as Verlian and Dino rushed out of the room.
"Dino, you may either stay at my home while yours is occupied, or you may come with me." With that, Verlian turned on his heel and marched towards Ashke's house, his hands balled into tight fists. Dino, without missing a beat, followed behind him.