Aberdeen city, 16 years prior
Ansel felt his head spinning as he was carried away like a dirty potato sack by the teenage boy who rescued them.
On the other hand, the little girl was comfortably carried on his arm, her arms intimately wrapped around the older boy's neck.
She was safe, protected, and very comfortable with one of the teen's hands making sure she didn't get hit by stray twigs.
Ansel in contrast was very different. There was even an occasional branch that hit his face.
The distinction was very stark.
"Garan…" he could hear the girl sob. "Are you okay?" She asked, a milky voice filled with worry.
Ansel couldn't see the teen's reaction though as his line of sight was on the ground the whole time.
As they ran, the boy responded with a simple "Hmm." And then they enter the denser forest and his pace quickened so they could get away from the kidnappers as soon as possible.
