They shackled her and threw robes over her head. The man who had found her looked down at her figure and scoffed as she was forced into the back of a carriage. “At least have some decency,” he said before returning to his horse.

There were three to five soldiers. They all shared what seemed to be a uniform for the guard of this country. Some of them were whispering amongst themselves. She heard a few refer to her as “It”. One of them pointed at her head, or more specifically, a tad above it. As he did this a few more times, someone told him to stop and gave his ribs a playful, nudge of the elbow. The young woman heard him being called by the name Elian; she thought it was a wonderful name.

Contrary to the others, Elian did not seem hostile towards the idea of her existence. He only rearranged the bow that hung off his back and scratched at his short, chestnut hair, whilst a flush of red peppered his cheeks that were once a lighter hue of pink.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

However, no matter how long she glanced his way, Elian did not look back.

“Elian…” she tested the feel of his name against her tongue, and wondered if they too would give her a title once she arrived at wherever it was that they were taking her.

The carriage begun to move into the fog of the road before them.

The noises of hooves beating the ground and leaving dust behind returned.

She closed her eyes and let her back rest against old wood. As curiosity got the better of the young woman, she reached up to touch what Elian had glared at minutes ago.

Antlers—just like the ones on the deer that had perished by her knees.

Antlers…

She gasped.

I have antlers!