Kara316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLly82xXzx
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316Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKLFBoP4SC
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When the trees began to thin, I picked up on the scent. The scent of humans. When humans congregate in an area in a large group the ‘scent’ they leave is incredibly pungent and hard to ignore. Any animal that was used to living in forests that held almost no human activity would be thoroughly repulsed by the stench. However, in the months since I left my home my nose had become accustomed to the scent of human excrement.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡpht8QkJf4c
I stopped and moved to stand behind a hill when I felt the ruble of hoof prints hitting the ground. A group of horses were about to ride straight past us, and there were more than just a few. Jasper and Theo were slightly down the hill and I didn’t know if they were watching me.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LoZtSauEP
Jasper seemed to sense something because he looked up at me and nodded his head. He grabbed Theo and they ducked behind a tree. I slipped behind a fall tree as I heard a man call out.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡoctPH1YpWs
“Move it! We have orders and I don’t have time for your lack of punctuality. Let’s go men.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93VO2pTVWL
A man riding on a heavily armored horse rode straight past me with a trail of at least twenty other horses. All the horses carried a soldier, and all were dressed for a battle. From the symbol engraved onto the front of their tunics I knew it was the Queen’s soldiers. The final rider flew by and I stepped out from my hiding place.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3sGc4Z9Sa
Jasper and Theo moved over to me quickly. Jasper knelt beside me.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Yh1V1QC0
I said, “Is it common recently to see the queen’s men roaming these mountains in such force?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJCeWOKK8J
Jasper shrugged. “Don’t pay much attention. I tend to avoid them.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡStpqQ9Uhrr
Theo dropped down. “I’ve seen those guards before.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjtnYMLjEu
Jasper turned. “Where?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA6bbtdpXe
“In the village, yesterday,” he said.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2bE2UT5Dp
I looked up the hill to where they came from. Where the hill began to smooth out I could see the shape of some sort of fabric. It was standing on their own. “I think there is more of them.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YgH9jc2Lm
Jasper frowned at me. “What makes you say that?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0velSbaAQ
“Up the hill.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1Z6GLio3Q
Jasper took a few steps forward. “A tent?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kEdccrgIG
I nodded. “Let’s keep to the trees and go around the long way.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡboyNB0zi1T
“Good idea,” said Jasper, before telling Theo the plan.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cCggdnyVM
The hill leveled out quickly as we climbed. And the longer we walked the more tents came into view. And the more tents we spotted the more soldiers appeared. All the men appeared well armed and ready for a fight. But a better question was a fight with whom.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EWtaqzzx9
There was a line of guards that ran along the outside of the camp. All of them alert. The rest of the camp was quiet. Some guards were standing around fires trying to keep warm, others were stumbling along like they were drunk, and there was enough a few passed out in the snow.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BktHXh0Kd
I left Jasper and Theo behind a fallen over tree. It would be easier if I was alone. Humans were easier to spot, and an animal would attract less attention if I were spotted. As I moved around the edge I discovered not only more guards patrolling the trees but traps, that were hidden rather poorly, all around. Some were bear traps while others were designed to catch smaller animals such as rabbits. I made sure to watch my step.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZTnlfRDyH
On the east side of the camp I found cages. They looked poorly made and easy to escape from, but the six guards that surrounded the cages made up for what the cages lacked in strength. Only two of the four cages were full. One held a man who was lying face first in the snow. He was breathing, so he was alive, but from his uniform he looked like a guard. Why had they locked up one of their own? In the other cage was a young woman and an older man. From the bright hair, I knew that it Tiara. I wanted to jump around and call out to her, but that would no doubt get me spotted.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19gd3e8OCM
I slipped closer to the cages and laid down next to a log. There guard facing in my direction wasn’t really looking too closely. His eyes seemed to be glazed over with boredom. But I still stayed low.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mwJ1OBJ8s
I reached out to Tiara. “Tiara! It’s Kara.” I peeked up to see if she had heard me.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBSWwSzwU8
“KARA!” she said. She was clever to remember that I could hear her thoughts. If she started talking to herself no doubt that her guards would call her witch.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58AQeV8Zmt
“Are you and your dad alright?” I said.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzCQAXi3iV
“Yes,” said Tiara, “the queen’s guards kidnapped us.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OqHfvhMKC
“I can see that.” I looked at the guard facing me. His eyes were now closed. This man would be easy to sneak past. “What happened?copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kEVES9kRs
She sighed. “We were trying to find the place where you wanted us to go. Pa thought that it is what you would want us to do when you didn’t come back. He said that you would catch up to us. Guess he was right.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHYO3GSLff
It was what I would have wanted. But I knew this would happen if we got separated. “You did the right thing. But this is the worst thing that could have happened.” The queen’s guards were rude and piggish but they didn’t just take anyone. “Why did they take you?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtF055bg9O
“We have been accused of being poachers.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrTGx6ghe6
“Poachers? You aren’t…your dad carries rifles.” While rifles are mostly used for protection by most people, rifles are a poacher’s bread and butter. Easiest and quickest way to hunt animals.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyz1N7weZB
“Yeah.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jefihX6qw
“Dammit.” I swiped at the snow.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbeiA7hrrX
“What are we going to do?” she asked.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqhsBoQyRl
I took a deep breath. “We are not going to panic. I have some friends with me, they can help break you out.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡApBmnW7S8s
“Okay…” she said.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV18lVmzM0
Tiara was unsure, it was clear by her voice. I just needed her to trust me. “Just stay out of trouble, okay?” I said.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpLE0F189K
“Yeah, okay. You stay out of sight.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR9VokYXYX
“Will do.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfJxmjYhLj
I turned around and snuck back around the camp. Jasper and Theo were still waiting for me in the same spot. I laid down behind the fallen tree.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡulvSmCME5m
“What did you see?” said Theo.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9yGWnrNfd
“We are completely outnumbered,” I said.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7GTmPpS8F
Jasper repeated my statement to Theo.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC5kd4xct3
Theo frowned at me. “Really? I couldn’t tell.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F3fuJxtZA
“No need for sarcasm. But on a good note I found Tiara and Daniel.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8GVqes3YT
Jasper smiled. “That’s great.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPLE7f15Pl
“They are locked up in the makeshift prison.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkrqzVXSqP
His smile fell. “Not so great. But hey, you found them.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7XMP8mABm
Theo nudged his shoulder. “Explain.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRkBS9V0cQ
Jasper waved away his question. “All we have to do is break them out.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GoHPnhG8S
“You make it sound like it is so easy.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡULfHlyKA7T
He nodded. “Just leave it to me.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTkghoT1u6
Theo grabbed his jacket. “It sounds like you are about to do something incredible stupid.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9iSSeunRX
“Maybe,” said Jasper.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoZH3ZFkvT
“Do I need to remind you of the flower incident?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGlTRodBFT
Jasper paled and pulled away from him. “You promised to never remind me of that.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZguiRtoS0
“I lied.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEW0S4Rjdh
I frowned. “The flower incident?”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRxV7Ex0UP
Jasper shook his head. “Never you mind. Now, if you will wait here. I’m going to go on a jail break.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡHySuIkQQrx
I looked at Theo. I had no idea if he could understand my expression but not only was I concerned about Tiara and Daniel, but Jasper could do anything.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM6ekO1W8D
Theo’s expression reflected mine. He said, “I don’t know what he has got planned. But expect the worse. After growing up with him I simply expect it now.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B5PLXh1EI
I nodded my head and turned to watch as Jasper disappeared into the trees. I hoped that Jasper’s plan went well. And if it did Tiara, Daniel and I could finally get on our way. And Jasper and Theo can go off and do what they really need to do. Our problem wasn’t theirs.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡwztgtVV76W
The only thing I could see of Jasper was the top of his hat. It stood out from the white snow, and it was a miracle that he hadn’t been spotted yet. His popped his head around a tree, looked around before stepping out. He was insane.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjRRkJHtns
Theo groaned. “Oh, please don’t do what I think your about to do.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡCExLBOUb42
I looked at Theo.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCQNefyqfM
“He is going to get caught on purpose.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xPn1LZlcf
I felt like my eyes would have popped out of my head if they could. Was Jasper a complete moron. I moved to chase after him, but Theo placed his hand on my back. I frowned and nudged at him.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzKMNwcxMo
He shook his head. “There is no point in trying to stop him. You both will get captured and locked up. He probably thinks that he has a better chance of helping them escape from the inside.”copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYhbYtWMaM
I wanted to smack myself in the face. I had seen humans do it multiple times when they thought someone’s comment or idea was stupid. It would be appropriate. I settled back down and Theo removed his hand. The fact that Theo’s hand didn’t bother me was being to bother me. Before I met Tiara the thought of any human getting as close to me as Theo was seemed impossible. I had grown up believing the almost every human was out to kill and skin me. Humans, especially guards and poachers, were dangerous. Stay away from them was the one warning you got.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rUtuyAKq3
But now, after so little time with Tiara I had become comfortable around them. Maybe because the few humans I had gotten to know—such as Tiara, Daniel, Jasper and Theo—had been nothing but nice to me.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09eRXgJluy
There was still that nagging feeling though. It sat in the back of my mind. It told me to just turn and run. Get away from all these humans and hide. It was the only way to save myself. But Great Owl’s words overpowered it. His words. Tiara and I had to save familiars and their bond mates. There was no one else who could.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmhIjlDRJ7
I looked away from Theo and back to Jasper. He held his hands up in the air. He was surrendering. That stupid smile on his face though would give away his intention to anyone with a brain. He was too eager to get arrested. But the guards simply bound his hands and walked him off towards their prison.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdmfvmr8DR
This was going to go so terribly wrong. I could feel it.copyright protection312ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN9CPDKkCx
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