Day 5

As it dawned, Joe awoke. Rosaleighm had been using her leg as a pillow. The child woke up. She looked outside as if worried about something.

The streets were empty, a wolf like creature walked quickly towards the forest.

‘That’s a brave dog’ Joe thought.

Rosaleighm pulled Joe’s arm, she wanted her to leave the stables.

“I must try to find Natrica.” Joe said

The child quickly beckoned her to be quiet. She seemed worried about something. But Joe didn’t sense any danger. Rosaleighm pulled Joe’s arm again. Looking both ways she ran for the forest where the wolf had gone.

Then an early riser come out of their home. They looked like they had been wearing the same clothes for three days without bathing and sleeping in it. They didn’t look like oral hygiene was important and she didn’t want to be close enough to find out for sure.

When he saw them, he moved to the other side of the road and looked down as if he hadn’t seen them.

“Do I look bad or something?” Joe wondered.

Rosaleighm bolted from the forest line to Joe. But when the man saw her, he started yelling. He picked up a stone and through it at her.

“Hey!” Joe shouted

“Do that again” she dared him.

The man yelled something at the child and went on his way.

Rosaleighm smiled. Her teeth were yellow and it looked like floss was something she had never heard of.

Joe followed Rosaleighm into the forest. She passed Joe a big stick and she picked up a big stick for herself. She tapped Joe’s stick with hers. It was almost like she wanted to fight with Joe.

Then Joe understood. This child had helped her because she wanted to learn to fight.

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Joe showed her how to stand. How to hold the stick. They stabbed and poked a sad and sorry looking tree.

After they were done Joe was hungry and needed food. This world had been starving her.

She was bothered by how thin the child was. Her hair in a knot on the side of her head. Her own personal pillow. It looked like it had never been washed and she felt sorry for her.

She had old clothes that were too small for her and no shoes. Her honey colored eyed almost sparkled even though she was so dirty. Joe had no idea what color her skin really was.

They went to the river and caught some fish. Only managing to catch two small ones. Rosaleighm ate it raw. Joe insisted on cooking it. Fire seemed to scare the child. But Joe wanted cooked fish even if it meant the girl was edgy.

Afterwards the child seemed to want to give her a guided tour of the jungle.

However, Joe preferred town, people she could handle. Wolves however where a lot more difficult especially without her knives.

While in the dungeon all her weapons were taken.

But Rosaleighm seemed to know where she was going.

Josephina had started training Rosaleighm to fight. To be aware of her surroundings. They had spent the whole morning together.

Rosaleighm was skinny and weaker than most twelve-year-old. She had stamina and flexible but had no strength.

Joe insisted on returning to the town around the castle. She wanted to make sure Natrica hadn’t ended up in trouble. As they went into town people stared at them in fact some even ran to their homes. No one came near them. A young man ran off in the direction of the castle.

Something is very off about this, Joe thought

Joe decided that they would move away from the castle. A brisk walk took them to a farm outside the city Point. The cows and chickens in the barn objected to them being there.

They needed somewhere to rest and something better to eat.

Joe decided chicken was on the menu. So, she slaughtered a chicken and drained it. While it was draining, she started a small fire outside and not too close to the barn. Once the chicken was cooked, she went into the hay loft with Rosaleighm. They ate until they were full and then napped.

Autumn was growing tired. She had been hunting down these unknown women for over a day and she was now passed her limits. Even after being healed and charged by Ranger. Being awake for thirty hours took its toll. She followed halfheartedly another sent which she had smelt in the castle before.

But she didn’t completely trust her senses yet.

She wondered onto a farm and towards a barn. Somewhere to sleep for a few hours. But then she became aware of the two people sleeping in that barn already. She approached carefully and then, when she was sure she pressed her claws against Joe’s neck.

Alive, she reminded herself.

Joe awoke startled. A panther was looming above her and its claws were pressing against her neck.

She hit Rosaleighm so the child would wake up. Autumn was about to warn her prey when suddenly that terrible splitting headache returned. Her vision blurred. All her panther senses were overloaded. The cattle and chickens performed and she was forced to jump out of the loft window.

Rosaleighm sat with her eyes closed holding her knees against her chest. The cows were so distressed that they finally broke the door open and ran out the barn with all the chickens in tow. Joe tried to calm the child.

“Di’Ilk” she said.

Then a dark blue panther came up the ladder. Its silver eyes looked in pain.

Autumn had to take a full human form. Somehow, they were overloading her animal senses and even in full human form she had a headache. But it wasn’t blinding her.

A naked woman now stood before them. Rosaleighm hugged her knees tighter. The woman spoke but Joe didn’t understand.

“Put some clothes on” Joe said but the woman didn’t understand.

Joe picked up a knife she had found in the barn and used to slaughter the chicken.

“Go back to where you came from” Joe said

Then the woman grabbed Joe’s shoulder with claws.

The fight was on… Autumn push Joe out of the window she had jumped from moments before. The fall hurt Joe and the claws dug deep. As the woman jumped out the window she changed into the blue panther, landing on Joe. Rosaleighm screamed. Autumn couldn’t get away fast enough.

She limped off completely disorientated and unable to defend herself or even see an attack clearly.

Joe was hurt and didn’t chase the cat down, cat woman, well whatever she was.

The farmer came out angry and worried about his animals.

So, Joe and Rosaleighm left the barn before the farmer found them.