Cataleya quickly cut the ropes attached between the horses and the carriage. As soon as the beast was freed, they dashed away from there. She barely managed to prevent the gray one from following the others or she'd have no ride to get away from there.
She clicked her tongue in attempt to calm the horse and it immediately stopped galloping. She caressed its long and sturdy neck.
"It's alright. I'm right here. I'll protect you." She said to it although she herself doubted if she could ever do it when she'd have the wolf to fight off with.
Nevertheless, she calmed herself since horses were really perceptive in sensing the emotion from people. If it ever felt that she was bat shit scared, it would run away from her. When she was sure that the horse was settled, she stepped into the coachman's seat and tried to climb the horse's back through it since it had no stirrups to step on its back.
"For now, let's leave here. Ride fast." Cataleya said to the horse before she gave it a verbal command to run.
Cataleya had to tighten her leg around its body when it stood abruptly before landing to the ground and then dashed away from there. It was a good idea to put the foam from the coachman's seat as makeshift saddle to lessen the impact of the rough ride.
She squint her eyes when the wind rushed through her face and her hair was in chaotic dance. But she didn't dare stop the horse from pushing forward. They galloped over dead trees along their way and her heart leaped in every jumped of the beasts. As if it sensed something was chasing them just behind them.
True to her suspicion, Cataleya felt that they were being followed. She looked to the right side where abundant bushes were covering almost their way. Her eyes widened when she saw a speeding beast just parallel to them.
The red eyes were visible in the dark skirt of the forest and it was enough to send Cataleya in nightmare for many nights to come. She knew that werewolves were fast creatures so, she tightened her legs around the horse's body before she vocalized her command to run faster.
The horse picked up pace as if it sensed the panic in her voice. The wind was almost cutting the flesh on her skin but she ignored it including the injury she incurred from the incident. She held tighter, almost hugging the beast now rather than on the reins.
When she looked back to the right side, the red eyes was gone and there was no longer any dangerous aura lurking in the dark. In disbelief, Cataleya thought to herself that they might have outrun the foe or it got tired chasing after them. Either of the two, she didn't really care as long as they were both spared. The horse and her.
Minutes later, Cataleya made out from there and trekking now common road where merchants passing by looked at her strangely.
"Milady, did you just come out from that path?" One dared to ask Cataleya when she slowed down her horse.
"You don't look too good." The other interjected.
Cataleya didn't really hear them as she tried to continue leaving that place. She just know that her body felt weak in exhaustion and hunger. The horse who was in full vigor when they were fleeing, was only trudging now on the road, dragging itself to find some water as its mouth foamed.
"Are you alright?"
Cataleya knew that there was another inquiry but she won't want to handle them since she had trust issues on people now. The one whom she was sold into was a decent looking man who want nothing from her but an entertainment in bed for his master he served. In short, a pimp. She can't have that anymore.
Wanting to get away from those merchants, she gave a light kick to her horse but it won't picked up pace rather than walk.
"Milady, your beast is unwell and you are too. Let's get you in the in so that you can rest." The merchant said and only then Cataleya spared him a glance that she knew that the man had a very kind-looking countenance. Beside him was an elderly woman, probably her wife who also looked at her in the same concern.
Only then that Cataleya nodded to them before her vision blackened. She was already closing her eyes when she was falling on her horse. Before she could feel the pain, someone caught her in time.
It was warm and comforting. Almost a home that she missed. And then the one who saved her had spoken and her heart raced mad.
"I'll take care of her. She's my fiancée."
There was no other man who possessed such authoritative tone of voice and the panic exclamation of the merchant just confirmed her suspicion.
"It's the duke!"