As she silently pondered what she knew about those who were considered fighters in their nation, Grennt returned with the rest of the deer and fresh water.

Yuli snatched the waterskins from him without thanking him and hurried to give one to Zara. Only once Zara had taken a good, long drink did Yuli finally move on to distribute the others. Everyone drank graciously, waiting while the meat cooked.

The smell of the fire and meat was making Zara’s stomach growl loudly. More than once she saw them all glance at her when it happened but no one said anything. Yuli had looked like she was going to once, her concerned expression coming back, but then Grennt had called out to her, drawing her attention away. Zara could feel her cheeks heat in embarrassment each time her stomach betrayed her. ‘When was the last time I’d eaten?’ She wondered to herself. She remembered nibbling on some hard bread the night before, anxiously thinking about the events of the next morning. Before that she had only had some wine and water. She had let her emotions and grief take over and cause her to have no appetite. She had also assumed she could just eat once her mother was buried. She hadn’t expected to work all night and then be kidnapped.

Suddenly, a dented metal plate was shoved at her from above as she was lost in thought. She looked up to Ta’Ga towering over her. She quickly stood, swaying on the spot from rising so suddenly. Ta’Ga raised an eyebrow but said nothing, stretching his arm out to her again with her dinner. She thanked him and took it, returning to her place on the ground before she fell over. She was starving and exhausted. The toll of her emotional distress had really worn on her. She used her fingers to scoop up the large chunk of roasted meat and took a large bite. It was extremely hot but she didn’t slow as she finished the entire plate in a matter of minutes. Immediately she felt much better, some energy instantly returning. She got up to give her plate back to Ta’Ga but stopped as she saw a shadow standing at the edge of the clearing.

It was just beyond the line of trees, only a vague outline visible. She squinted, trying to make out any features. The shadow looked to be human in shape but was hard to see them because they were veiled in darkness. As she watched, it moved back slightly, into the dark forest beyond. Zara unconsciously took a step toward the figure, trying not to lose sight of it, when she heard the voice.

‘Zara,’ It hissed, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Suddenly she knew it was no mere person standing in the forest. She watched the place where she saw the thing, trying to make out it’s general shape but knowing she wouldn’t be able to now. Just as she was about to turn around, Raio suddenly appeared beside her. She jumped, startled by his sudden presence. She glared up at him, taking a small step to the side to get out of his range. He stared off into the direction Zara was looking for a moment and then turned a questioning look on her.

Anger started to build as she looked into his narrowed green eyes. “What do you want?” She asked in an icy tone.

He gestured with his hand toward the forest, “what were you looking at just now?”

Zara shrugged, looking away from his calculating eyes, “I thought I saw something,” she said. “It was probably just a squirrel.”

Raio watched her for a moment before glancing back at the forest with a low, “hmmm," to himself.

Zara crossed her arms over her chest as she watched him.

“What is your problem, anyway?” She asked in a huff, aware of the heat in her voice. She wanted to know why he attacked her. She hadn’t done anything to him. She had barely said a single word when he knocked her out cold.

Raio turned back to look at her, his eyes narrowing again. He contemplated for a few seconds before answering, his lips slowly curling into a small, mocking smile.

“I knew you were going to either run or scream,” he said with a chuckle. “Little girls always run or scream when they’re scared.”

Zara glared at him. She was not a little girl and she wasn’t helpless. She knew how to fight. She also knew she stood no chance against the three of them and running or screaming would have done no good.

Just then Grennt came up on the other side of her just as she was about to yell a retort. He frowned down at Raio as he handed him a plate of dinner. As Raio reached out for the food, not looking at the half-orc and still smirking at Zara, Grennt used his free hand to shove him back. Raio, caught off guard by the sudden assault, stumbled and tripped, falling on the ground hard. Zara looked up at Grennt, startled and surprised by the sudden attack. He was glaring down at man on the ground in front of them, tusks prominently displayed in his displeased expression. He was huge, towering over Zara and Raio. She knew that if he had wanted, his shove could have done a lot more damage than that.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

Raio sprung up and immediately lunged at the large man next to Zara. Quick as a blink, Yuli was there, sword drawn and raised between the two men. Raio stumbled to a stop just before he ran straight into the edge of her blade. Yuli was looking up at the sky, the oddest expression on her face. She didn’t say anything to either man, letting the silence fill the clearing. The only sounds were the leaves rustling in the wind. The men also said nothing and were watching her tensely.

Yuli stared at the moon, her eyes focused and she was wearing the smallest hint of a smile.

“Don’t you boys make me spill your blood on a full moon,” she said, almost quiet enough that Zara didn’t hear her. Grennt and Raio said nothing, just stood there watching her. As they watched, Yuli slowly spun her blade up over her head and with measure, pointed it first at Raio and then turned to Grennt.

“Well,” She asked, “what’s it going to be?”

Grennt huffed and turned back to the fire, dropping the plate of food. It miraculously landed right side up but most of its contents exploded across the ground on impact. Raio watched it fall and said nothing, rage clear on his face as he stormed away to the other side of the clearing. Zara stared in wonder at the blonde woman before her. As she watched, she swung the blade back over her head and expertly let it glide back into its place on her back.

“That’s what I thought,” Zara heard her murmur to herself as she watched Raio stomp away.

She turned to Zara, her usually pouty frown back in place. She sighed as she glanced at the ruined meal on the ground. Zara bent to pick it up but Yuli caught her hand.

“Leave it,” She said, shaking her head slightly. “If Raio wants to eat tonight, that will be his meal and he knows it.”

Zara frowned at the woman before pulling her hand back and straightening up.

Yuli turned her head toward Grennt as she spoke. “I believe that was his way of saying he is sorry for the way you were treated earlier.”

Zara raised an eyebrow as she looked at the large man by the fire. He turned to meet her gaze and gave a single nod before carrying on with his business. He looked to be preparing the remaining deer for travel. She had thought it was odd they had brought so much back to camp.

Yuli sighed again and when Zara turned back she was gazing back up at the moon with the same weird expression on her face.

“You see,” she said, “Grennt and Ta’Ga told me Raio had told them I had ordered them all to bring you back for questioning. They thought you were involved in some sort of plot against us. That is the only time we take people to question them. Otherwise they never would have laid their hands on you.”

Zara looked up as both men were watching her. Ta’Ga smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. Grennt nodded once more as confirmation to what Yuli had just said.

“You see,” Yuli continued, “These three are all relatively new recruits and some of the first jobs given to new members are recruitment ones. They are low risk missions but allow them to use some of their training. They are paired up with a senior member to help show them some specialized techniques while away from home. I had sent them into your town to scope out the area for anyone showing particular ability in a number of areas.”

Zara listened raptly, realizing she was finally getting the whole story about how she ended up in this mess with four total strangers.

“Go on,” Zara said, wanting to know more.

Yuli sighed and shrugged. “I was also scoping out the area but had a very specific lead to follow up on that I was instructed to investigate alone. They were only supposed to identify anyone with potential, not drag them back to camp. Raio claims that you saw him observing you and was afraid you would give us away. That is why he claims he brought you here.”

“Claims?” Zara asked. “You don’t believe him?”

Yuli studied her face for a moment before glancing the way Raio had gone after the skirmish.

“I don’t really trust him,” she stated, putting her hands on her hips. “He hasn’t been very cooperative to follow any protocol since he was recruited. His motives for joining are… questionable.”

“My superiors assigned me to this mission with the explicit instructions to keep an eye on him. He does know they’re suspicious of him but he still pulled a stunt like this anyway. It is almost as if he is purposefully questioning authority, like he is above our way of life. I had originally thought he was just trying to prove himself but I’m not so sure that is the case anymore.”

A troubled look came over Yuli’s face as she turned her back to Zara and tilted her face up toward the sky. The moon bathed her face in silvery light and she closed her eyes. Her skin was flawless and it almost looked to sparkle in the light of the moon. Zara glanced over and noticed Grennt staring at Yuli too. He had a look on his face that was different than before. Zara thought it was obvious he was admiring Yuli’s beauty. How could you not? Zara thought to herself as she watched his eyes glide over her form. Suddenly Grennt’s eyes met Zara’s as she watched him and he turned away, busying himself with tidying up the remaining tools from cooking. She wasn’t sure before that it would be possible for the man to ever look embarrassed, but she was sure of it now.

“Zara?” Yuli asked, face still turned up to the sky.

Zara moved to stand next to the woman. Yuli turned her head toward Zara and opened her eyes. The second their eyes met Zara heard the same whispered hiss in her ear that she had earlier.

“Go, Zaraaa,” the voice whispered in a harsh, far-away whisper. “Follow…. Herrr.”