Enslaved

Chapter 3: Escape

Thane was hyper aware of their surroundings, of the horse hooves racing towards them not too far away, the distant shouts of their assailant and their feet against the hard ground. He held onto Nera tightly, not wanting to let go. He didn’t know how far they could run before their legs gave in or until they would get caught. 

But he pushed himself.

“Just a little further, Nera.” Thane found himself telling the young girl who tried to keep up her pace with his.

The exhaustion and hunger were taking its toll on them. They wouldn’t make it. Already his vision blurred from the lack of blood and lightheadedness. Nera didn’t fare much better. She was breathing loudly and her knees shook with every step they took. 

Thane was already losing hope and they haven’t even gone too far yet. 

He took one look at Nera and her desperate expression before feeling himself gain a little bit more energy. The slavers would ruin her if she was caught again. He couldn’t let that happen. 

Thane continued on even if it physically hurt him to do so. 

“We can do it.” He tells her, although if he was being honest it was more to convince himself than Nera.

Not too far ahead, Thane could finally hear the river. It was a river they had passed earlier on that week when the slavers camped and refilled their supplies. 

“I can hear it.” Nera gasped out, her hand tightening on his. “We just need to cross it and they won’t be able to catch us.” 

“Almost there.” He says breathlessly. 

Suddenly, an arrow pierced through the air, lodging onto a tree to their left. They ducked slightly but pressed on.

Thane turned back and saw a slaver behind them with a crossbow aimed at their head. Dread washed over him and he urged Nera to run faster. He didn’t know if he was imagining it or if he was actually hearing Brutus in the distance. He hoped not.

They didn’t wait and see. 

Horribly, they didn’t have to wait long because Brutus bellowed for them, breaking through the foliage and sprinting in full speed. Armed with an axe and surrounded by his men with crossbows, they aimed for Thane and Nera. 

“We’re not going to make it.” She tells him, her feet beginning to feel heavier than anything else, her chest was tightening and her lungs were begging for more air.

It was at this point when Thane saw the river and he nearly cried out. “We can. It’s right there.” 

Right as they were by the river, another arrow whizzed passed their heads and Nera lost her footing, falling roughly on the ground. With their hands so tightly clasped together, Thane tumbles down with her. Whistles of incoming arrows forced Thane to cover Nera with his own body. He pushed her down, eyes shut and heart beating rapidly.

“Get these children before I kill them!” Brutus ordered, pointing at Thane and Nera. 

Nera was in tears and shaking uncontrollably. The last few minutes finally taking its toll on her small eight year old body. “Go without me. You’ll have a better chance if you leave me.” 

Thane let out a grunt before standing back up and pulling Nera to her feet. “I won’t leave you.” 

“We can’t, Thane. If they have me, they won’t come after you.” She begged trailing after him nonetheless.

“I’m not leaving you.” The slavers were so close now that the ground shook as they charged forward. Thane pursed his lips inspecting the rapid river. They wouldn’t be able to cross it without being caught. The current is far too strong for them to swim. 

Just as Brutus caught the two of them by the arm, Thane pulled Nera down the river in the last second, letting the current take them. As they plunged to the cold water, their teeth chattered and they coughed violently as the waves drowned them. Thane held on to Nera for dear life. She was much too small and the currents were harsher on her. 

Nera sputtered in his arms, holding onto his chest as Thane watched Brutus and his men disappear from sight before another wave of water went over their head.

Brutus roared angrily, watching the children drift away from him too fast for his men to chase after. “Follow the river. Track them.” 

Not once but twice, Thane lost consciousness from boulders and branches that struck him. Thankfully, each time he woke Nera was still clinging onto him. She too had passed out. 

He let the river take them south, far away from the slavers and their slow caravan. Thane knew they were coming back for them. If Brutus’ words and determination for Nera’s price was any indication. Possibly the slavers would come with just the horses for faster mobility. It also meant he and Nera had to move quickly. 

When the current had stopped, Thane paddled to the shore with one arm around Nera. The poor girl was still out cold and was trembling from either the cold or the lack of nutrition in her body. Thane didn’t know much of where they were but from what he can tell it was far enough that they can rest for a little while. 

He hoisted Nera up and pulled her under a tree. With inexperienced hands, he checked her breathing and heartbeat. All he knew was that she was alive and hopefully well.

Tucking her with comfortable enough leaves, he made his way around the riverbank in search of food. His stomach was growling and he could almost taste his own thoughts from the hunger. Most of his meager meals went to Nera and although he didn’t regret it, he’d kill for a rotten piece of fruit right now. He had spent much of his energy running away.

Physically weak and staggering around the area where he left Nera, he scoured the area for anything to eat. Thane knew very little about surviving in the woods. When he was as young as Nera his father would take him camping but they always had supplies to use. When he was in the streets, he mostly ate from piles of rubbish thrown out by houses and such but never had he tried to find food in the wilderness. 

After what seemed like hours, Thane finally found what appeared to be a nest. Of what? He didn’t know or want to know but there were eggs. Hopefully... of some bird. Cautiously, he looked around for a possible mother in the area but found none. 

He trekked back to where he left Nera by the river. She was still asleep and her breathing was normal enough. Thane began to make a fire. He has watched the slavers enough times to know how. With a handful of dried leaves, a few sticks and two rocks, he was able to start a medium sized fire. 

They only had a couple of minutes, an hour and a half at most before Thane had to kill the fire lest they be seen by the slavers again. As he waits for Nera to come to, he cooks the eggs and gets himself warm and dry. 

Half way into his egg, Nera stirs. Eyes opening she sits up with a start. “Thane?” 

“We’re safe for now.” He reassured her after seeing the frightened look on her face. “Come by the fire and have some food.” 

Nera crawls to his side and peers towards the fire, shaking hands out. “How’s your cut?” 

Thane shook his head and smiled. “It’s all right.” 

“Let me see?” She asked, staring up at him.

He leans down low, the side of his face where the cut is towards her. Nera’s soft hands trace the sides. “How does it look?” 

“Handsome.” Nera says without hesitation. “My father says men with scars are the most handsome.” 

Thane grinned despite their circumstance. “I take it he has about a hundred scars.” 

“More.” She mused looking around. 

Thane watched her stand up and poke at a few plants. They all looked the same to him but to Nera it was different. She picked a few leaves off the plant and went back to the river, washing and then crushing it. “What are you doing?” 

Nera came back to him and started to lather the crushed leaves on his face. “I helped my father with his wounds. He taught me which plants help with healing.” 

He couldn’t tell if it was doing it’s job as it stung him but trusted Nera enough to know it would help. “Eat. We have to go soon.” 

“Will they still come after us?” She asked, accepting the egg he handed to her.

Thane solemnly nodded. “I’m sure of it.” 

Nera’s gaze falls to her lap. “They’ll pursue us and hunt us like animals.” 

“They will but I won’t let them take you.” He tells her determinedly. 

She stared at him for a long moment. “Why?”

Thane blinked, confused. “What do you mean ‘why’?” 

Nera bit at her lips almost nervously. She didn’t know him well but here they were, in the middle of nowhere, being chased by slavers. “Why does it matter if they take me? You should save yourself.” 

He met her gaze with his own. “Would you have left me?”

“No.” She said automatically. It wasn’t even an option for her.

Thane softly patted her on the head. “I wouldn’t leave you as well.” 

They rested for a few more minutes, waiting for the fire to die out before starting their journey again. Their goal is simple, find a village or town and have a better understanding of where they are exactly. Both have never been this far from home and knew nothing of their surroundings. If they knew which direction to head, it would be an easier journey.

“We’ll learn.” Thane encouraged placing his hand around Nera’s shoulders.

“We will.” She quietly agreed. 

The night came fast and soon they couldn’t see well as the tall daunting trees blocked the moonlight. “We should camp here. No fire.” 

Nera shivered, pulling the coat Thane gave tighter around her. “It’s cold.” 

“I don’t want to risk them finding us.” He reasoned, finding a nice big tree with thick protruding roots to call it home for the night. 

She watched him shove and stack leaves together creating a makeshift bed. Exhausted from the day they’ve had, Thane slumps into the pile of leaves and hugs himself. He shivered as the cold wind blew and was clearly uncomfortable but was too tired to complain or care. 

With the owl hooting and the insects sounding, Nera crawled up beside Thane. For days they’ve slept beside each other in their small cage. It was the first time they had so much space but Nera felt compelled and almost instinctive to stay by his side. Thane twisted and turned, pressing close to her as if he felt the same or maybe he just wanted to be close for her warmth. 

Nera shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around the both of them. Guilt, worries and fear creeped into her thoughts. 

As if sensing her distress, Thane innocently wrapped her in an embrace. “I’ll get you home.”