The Broken Ones

Chapter 2:2 -Monsters

It was as the remains of the fire was dying out that Soi heard the first noises of something moving among the trees that surrounded them. His first thought was to keep absolutely still so that he might be mistaken for a rock or something else from nature. But the might-be weighed lightly on the scale of what was most likely to happen and his sword was a few meters away which was a few meters too far for him to reach. Had it been by his foot, which he now was cursing his thick head for not keeping it close to him, he would at least felt secure by the thought that he would be able to protect himself. He now had to leave his position to get it, causing him to be the centre of attention of any monster that was lurking about. Another few meters further away Ana was sleeping, seemingly unaware of the world around her.
-Ana, Soi hissed.
She rolled over at the sound of her name and mumbled in her sleep.
“At least she respond when being called upon.” Soi thought sarcastically.
-Ana, he tried again.
But this time the respond came elsewhere. From the trees behind Ana a low growl came ringing over the camp. This was a sound all too familiar for Ana to stay asleep from. She sluggishly opened her eyes by when the monster was already attacking her and Soi had run forward, picked up his sword and interrupted the monster’s attack by cutting it in the stomach and protectively falling over Ana who got partially flushed with blood from the monster. For a short moment Ana and Soi’s eyes met, hers expressing “why are you on top of me” and his “please don’t kill me”. As Soi scrambled off of her, the monster disappeared between the trees, leaving with a howling of hurt. Ana was soon standing on her legs and eyed their wrecked camp carefully.
-Light the fire, she ordered Soi.
-Do you think it will come back?
-What a stupid question, was all he got for an answer.
By the time the fire was re-lit and the camp somewhat restored, the hovering anxiety had dispersed and the two of them were staring at each other over the orange flames of their fire.
-So you cut its stomach.
-Yes.
-And as I am covered in its blood I’m guessing you cut it pretty deep.
-Do you think it will die from the wound?
-You can always hope, but I’m going to be a bore and say that we should watch our backs from now on.
-You mean it will come back for revenge.
-They are not dum, she said seriously but added, unlike others.
Soi glowered at her.
-Even if we would be so lucky that the others catch the wounded and finish him off, they could trail the blood back to our camp and keep tracking us.
-How many are they?
Ana sent him an annoyed shot, but answered.
-Too many. Not so many on this side of the mountains though this is a more preferable environment for them. A lot more of them up north, which is where we’re going.
Soi lowered his eyes.
-You’ll sleep now, and I’ll change with you later.
Ana got up from her position by the fire.
-And stay close to the fire.
-Where are you going? Soi raised his head and followed her limping steps to the outskirt of the light which was casted by the flames.
She turned her head to meet his gaze.
-I’m going to change out of these clothes and wash myself by the river. You are welcome to join, I would need someone to scratch my back clean from blood.
The fire and the surrounding darkness concealed Soi’s flushed cheeks. It scared him that her offer had been so honest. She was just a girl! Though she acted as a mature and know-it-all adult, she was strangely naïve at the same time.
-No, I’m alright. Be careful though.
Her eyes flashed dangerously.
-Who do you think I am? She said and marched off.
As she disappeared between the trees she called back:
-Don’t answer that, it wasn’t a question!

How he managed to fall asleep is a question still to be answered but he must have dozed off because the next time he opened his eyes Ana was back from the river. She sat close to the fire, trying to sort out her long hay-coloured hair from small knots. She had pulled on something that looked similar to a dress and her legs were bare.
For the first time Soi could see the reason to why Ana limped. Her left leg was utterly deformed and she held it stretched out in front of her while the right leg was gently bent by the knee. It appeared that the left leg could not be bent by the knee but was forever stretched out. Soi felt a wave of sympathy for the young girl as she sat there and hummed on a tune while untangling her hair. But he decided to stay quiet, he knew his questions was unwelcome. He closed his eyes again

Something hard hit him on the head and when he opened his eyes he discovered a waterbottle lying beside him. The sun was rising in the east. Another waterbottle hit him.
-Get up or I will go on without you. And as you probably haven’t got a map or a clue to where we are I’ll bet you couldn’t find your way back to Sofara. To make it short, you’ll die here, alone.
During Ana’s speech Soi slowly got up, his legs sore from all the riding the day before. He stretched his back before starting to collect his things. When Ana had finished speaking, he looked at her patiently then said:
-I just have to follow the river downwards, right.
If Ana was shocked she covered it well.
-I see you have no problem thinking straight although the early start.
-I keep it as a good habit to notice where I am going, so I wouldn’t get lost.
-Do you get lost often? Ana smiled wryly.
-Not these days, Soi smiled back. –Now, are we going to eat breakfast now or later?
-There will be no breakfast.
-What do you mean?
-I don’t eat breakfast. You can eat an apple if you like, but that must be from the back of your horse cause we have to get moving. Can you help me up?
She was already prepared to set off and had even saddled his mare and stood now, not so patiently, by it and waited to be assisted onto the horse. Soi sighed, helped her up and then himself and they were off.
They kept travelling or hours, either riding or walking to let Soi’s horse rest from the heavy burden of carrying two persons. Trying to be subtle about it, he let Ana ride on her own so she didn’t have to use her damaged leg. But as she kept sliding off he had to put his hand on her left leg to prevent her from falling. At first she didn’t notice that he’d even had placed it there. It wasn’t until Soi himself pointed it out, so much for being subtle, that she noticed.
-Don’t you have any sense of feeling in you leg?
Ana turned her head towards him and with a surprised expression saw his hand on her leg.
-Some, she answered stiffly. –Would you please remove your hand from my thigh?
He did and she immediately lost her balance and she fell. Right over Soi and they both tumbled down to the ground.
-It mostly hurts, which is a feeling I sure can be without, Ana continued to answer as she lay on top of Soi who was having a hard time to breath.
-I know what you mean, he panted.
-Good, I’m so glad that you understand me, she said sarcastically and patted him roughly on the chest.
She started to crawl off him and was soon standing on her own two legs.
-I’ll say that was our midday’s rest, so shall we continue? She limped towards the horse.
Soi sat up and looked confused at her.
-But… what about lunch?
-Eat an apple, will you. I’ll go on ahead, need to walk off the itch in my leg.
And off she went, disappearing among the trees.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick