Kara158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGi5CjbuRl
copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7zj8XigqA
158Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGjQggiOiH
copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47i2fh2Ivk
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmznPNF7It
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFBWZJThZk
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3sa5Hs8qX
“Move it! We have orders and I don’t have time for your lack of punctuality. Let’s go men.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfj1C9Pigy
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDdnzd6tu5
Jasper and Theo moved over to me quickly. Jasper knelt beside me.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn9fyfX0nn
I said, “Is it common recently to see the queen’s men roaming these mountains in such force?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPCiRfrGyI
Jasper shrugged. “Don’t pay much attention. I tend to avoid them.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡekmsIVFOoa
Theo dropped down. “I’ve seen those guards before.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡUby4r6jo7H
Jasper turned. “Where?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5xpopEQ5d
“In the village, yesterday,” he said.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡykyUNgQt4e
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZqb3Shnho
Jasper frowned at me. “What makes you say that?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43uCsS17I7
“Up the hill.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhsScf83Id
Jasper took a few steps forward. “A tent?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡimcIygBPDS
I nodded. “Let’s keep to the trees and go around the long way.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIWJkoCmwk
“Good idea,” said Jasper, before telling Theo the plan.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQCVJPbSST
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6agiTOyuEc
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTUjCeIeAe
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡz45cZP1bHT
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N3l6W9FrO
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡROHL7j0PyB
I reached out to Tiara. “Tiara! It’s Kara.” I peeked up to see if she had heard me.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48F9kFYlQG
“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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVuihBfrgG
“Are you and your dad alright?” I said.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8uWUBgUrO
“Yes,” said Tiara, “the queen’s guards kidnapped us.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvXbFhQEDH
“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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSDPaUrpmH
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BQAxKcOFD
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb9AmPRdtv
“We have been accused of being poachers.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOnyEys5XP
“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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4qDEYoQM4
“Yeah.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡupgE0CtSQX
“Dammit.” I swiped at the snow.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLMKjqiMwg
“What are we going to do?” she asked.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjk1XZ0mQN
I took a deep breath. “We are not going to panic. I have some friends with me, they can help break you out.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkcGZdjs5a
“Okay…” she said.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsVbdfCw18
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCs8Ep7FLY
“Yeah, okay. You stay out of sight.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡsciFShScKX
“Will do.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaqhmEwYby
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zbz7QYfvK
“What did you see?” said Theo.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXWwCPOv1y
“We are completely outnumbered,” I said.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnJUF5zc3K
Jasper repeated my statement to Theo.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaJWKRMI6h
Theo frowned at me. “Really? I couldn’t tell.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkfpRSfFng
“No need for sarcasm. But on a good note I found Tiara and Daniel.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡeREXLk3kx7
Jasper smiled. “That’s great.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hiOe2F0LM
“They are locked up in the makeshift prison.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe7xEYpTEN
His smile fell. “Not so great. But hey, you found them.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSEPQp9TKG
Theo nudged his shoulder. “Explain.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PYjDcljd6
Jasper waved away his question. “All we have to do is break them out.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vkd2YbsSP
“You make it sound like it is so easy.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2ITSzj1t4
He nodded. “Just leave it to me.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuTHNxU8R7
Theo grabbed his jacket. “It sounds like you are about to do something incredible stupid.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXDzaFym7r
“Maybe,” said Jasper.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnuVhmvBoY
“Do I need to remind you of the flower incident?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6tzOg7JpY
Jasper paled and pulled away from him. “You promised to never remind me of that.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEVue69Nth
“I lied.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGEICV47ws
I frowned. “The flower incident?”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bzzLnQS6f
Jasper shook his head. “Never you mind. Now, if you will wait here. I’m going to go on a jail break.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXUMr9TBWn
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡSa3xTFsXNZ
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTaZsWniOu
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEstrUCkvz
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoKMVDsoBf
Theo groaned. “Oh, please don’t do what I think your about to do.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡn18y1BupTi
I looked at Theo.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsXlVofxJL
“He is going to get caught on purpose.”copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6saQe5uGt5
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ74o8FSyz
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr18NXx3uh
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBKZsY4XEy
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AoaENjkFR
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRiV06Sx9n
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 protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYZzXry1pc
This was going to go so terribly wrong. I could feel it.copyright protection154ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrNYCsLVMr
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