Hunting Party|Mount Humontis

[Northen Light36]

Trouble was lurking just outside of Humontis as five men, or rather four men and a teenage boy, prepared for their day's work.

"Hurry up and finish," Norus snapped to the boy. Ildell scowled as he finished rolling up the nets and ropes. One of these days he was going to seriously enjoy breaking Norus' too pretty face into so many pieces that there wouldn't be enough healing water in the world to fix it. One day.

"I'm done," he muttered.

"Took you long enough, boy," growled Threim. The oldest of the group, Threim had the greatest experience in hunting slaves and so had put himself in charge of this hunt, over Norus' shouted protests.

"Would you all shut up before you bring the entire mountain out to see what the racket is?" Waren snarled. "Let's get this done already and get out of here. This damn mud is ruining my boots."

Muttering insults under their breath and shooting each other dark looks, the party of slavers made their way towards Humontis. Looking for prey.

[gandalan]

Ganda looked around the mountain- it was beautiful to his eyes. Though it was fall and the leaves had fallen on some of the trees in the valley, the pines further up had retained all their beauty. He heard their whispers, and he smiled as the wind came gently through the trees.

He turned, a bit red faced to Elise, who was following him, and brushed his hair back a bit. He smiled at her- they'd come a long way, those two, and he was really happy that she'd come with her.

He looked only at her, not at anything else. This was a beautiful day- a bit cloudy maybe, but otherwise, it looked great. He held out a hand to help her up, and stood there, looking down over the valley they'd climbed out of. "Look at that... isn't it beautiful?" he said, his blue eyes sparkling.

[ealintara]

She had tired quickly after quickening her step, excited by the sight of rocky peaks and a snow covered cap in the distance above the trees. Ganda had let her rest a few minutes on the remains of a fallen tree and she'd sat, enjoying the crisp air and new things hinted at before them. Taking his hand when it was clear he had decided their rest was over, she smiled and got to her feet.

"You won't take it wrong if the first thing I'd like to do when we get there is sleep, will you?" She chuckled lightly and shifted the pack on her shoulder. From inside the bad came a muffled rustling of her few belongs moving about.

[Northen Light36]

The five slavers grumbling turned to cruel smirking when they spotted the two travellers. Perfect. Nice, already worn down prey.

After a hurried discussion the slavers split up and quickly set up their ambush. With the exception of young Ildell, they were all well practiced at doing this without alerting the prey. Therefore the first warning Elise and Ganda recieved of something being amiss was when a heavy net dropped out of the trees above them.

[gandalan]

Ganda shook his head at her question. No, he didn't mind at all. She was a lot more worn out than he was, being used to traveling on foot, especially in the mountains. He had hiked these mountains for years now, and so it wasn't so difficult... but she'd never even wandered far. So he understood how hard it was for her. He smiled gently. "When we get back, you can rest all you want."

Suddenly, he heard a small noise. Very minute. Puzzling over what he was, the weight of the net soon dropped on him, and he lost his balance, falling to the ground. He managed to turn himself over, wriggling to get out of the net. Why would somebody drop a net on him? He looked to his left, seeing Elise was also trapped, and tried to help her wriggle out- it was difficult.

He was so tangled in the net, legs and all, that he made little headway- far too late, because they were approaching. They were caught.

[Northen Light36]

"Hmm," murmured Norus, nudging Elise with a foot. "This one's a bit scrawny..."

"They all are after awhile," Waren jeers. "Who cares?" Calmly pressing the point of a dagger against Elise's cheek, he nods to the other slavers who flick the net off of Ganda. "Stand up boy, nice and slow, and put your hands behind you. And don't you start yelling or anything. Wouldn't want me to be startled and take out your little friend's eye, would you?"

Waren and the other slavers laugh, apparently enjoying the idea.

[ealintara]

Her face expressed her relief at the thought of getting to truly rest when they got there. Unlike Ganda, she wasn't use to this type of travel, her and her grandfather having taken a more leisurely pace.

They hadn't taken that many steps forward when she was pinned to the forest floor by a large, heavy net. Ganda struggled to break free and she did as well, him helping her after a time, but her pack got stuck on the netting. Her hands starting pulling it towards her as best she could, thinking she'd find the end that way but people appearing made her gasp and stop as she glanced upward.

She scooted a bit closer to Ganda after the nudge, unsure of why anyone would seem to be netting them, but she knew it wasn't for good reasons when a knife was soon held to her cheek. Her hand fumbled for Ganda and she trembled as her fingers gripped his arm.

She'd only be willing to release him when he got up, and no sooner. Elise knew he wouldn't let them hurt her... if he could.

[gandalan]

Ganda had quickly looked over to Elise as she gripped his arm and put his hand on her back in a rather pathetic attempt to calm her. His own panic rose as a knife was placed against her cheek. He barely heard the demands of the man as the net was pulled off of him, staring into Elise's terrified eyes. He nodded, gulping as the man finished his statement.

He thought through the situation quickly. They were obviously slavers. He hadn't heard of them coming this far into the boundaries of the land- this was a daring move. It payed off apparently. He didn't want to be a slave, but it was worse, he knew, for this girl, Elise- who had followed him here to see mountains... and maybe for something else too. But not for this.

Utter worry and concern on his face, not for himself, but for Elise, he rose as fast as he dared, gently patting Elise's shoulder as he rose. He dropped his duffel bag from his shoulder, laying it to rest. "Ok... just take it easy..." His arms came to rest behind him, as he hung his head, waiting to be bound. "Just don't hurt her..."

[ealintara]

Ganda’s hand on her back did little to quell her trembling. It soothed her mind some, his silent gesture of reassurance that he was there, would watch over her. Elise might have calmed at some point if the knife hadn’t been introduced.

Her eyes followed him as he they removed the net off him. She didn’t want him separated from her, not even by a few feet when those around them terrified her. His touch, his proximity was the only thing that would ground her and he was standing while she remained pinned by a heavy weave of rope.

The beauty of the mountains was his reason for bringing her, and her desire to see it. In his eyes she swore she saw remorse, self-blame for this cruel twist of fate and she tried to convey to him with her own that he shouldn’t. Yet still, as she tried to silently console him, he was doing his best to comfort her and his hand on her shoulder was like water for a parched throat.

Elise gave a soft sob at the loss of his contact, her eyes closing against tears.

[Northen Light36]

Ganda's pack was taken and his hands were bound painfully tightly behind him and then Threim set his sword lightly against his throat. He nodded to the other slavers and the net was taken off of Elise and the knife removed, slightly.

"Your turn, girl," Threim ordered. "Stand slowly, drop the bag and put your hands behind you. Try nothing if you don't want to watch your friend here bleed his life out in the dirt." By Taed he loved it when weaklings were so utterly stupid as to travel with loved ones. It made things go so quickly and easily.

[gandalan]

Ganda winced as he felt the rope being wrapped tightly around his wrists, but didn't struggle. He didn't dare make a move that would cause Elise harm. He winced again when they finished the knot, as the bonds were very tight and hurt quite a lot. He then felt the cold metal against his throat, and gulped, trying to keep a strong face.

He looked down at Elise, and then at the men tending to her. He felt more scared at her than angry- he felt an injustice to their freedom as human beings, yes, but more than that, he was afraid. It was Efil's teaching that life was the greatest gift that could be given- and so he would not take it, even to defend himself. Perhaps, though, to defend a loved one, if so pressed.

But because of these teachings, he was more afraid than angered by this, and not for himself. He looked sorrowfully down at Elise as the net was pulled off her.

[ealintara]

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Ganda looking down at her, no longer the bright smile she had come to associate with him on his lips, but rather a look that saddened her. They had no idea what would become of them after this, but they both knew it wouldn’t be good. The sword at his throat made her swallow hard, frightened by the knowledge they were likely going to threaten him as they did her and so when the order came as she expected it, she did exactly as instructed, never daring to do anything that would hurt him.

Slowly Elise stood, letting her pack slip off her arm and onto the ground with a dull thud, her eyes on Ganda as she put her hands behind her. She knew the rope would soon follow. Terrified and trembling, she only found it easier to breath and not break into sobs by keeping her gaze on him. It took courage to be so calm under such treatment and were it not for his strength in facing this she wouldn’t have had any. It wasn’t fair to him, to draw such strength from him when he probably needed it in return and so she tried to cast him a reassuring look, tell him she’d be okay… so long as he was there.

The only thing she feared more than that sword by his neck was the thought of being torn from him. He was all she had now.

[Northen Light36]

Elise was also bound tightly before she was shoved over towards Ganda. "Find their signs and cover them," Threim ordered the other slavers. "We don't want anyone getting ideas now, do we?"

The other slavers nodded and smirked at Elise, deciding to start with her. Roughly they began to manhandle and search her, not caring if her clothing was torn in the process. Ildell in particular was quite rough on the young woman's clothing. Soon though the cruel amusement on the men's faces began to fade as a sign didn't turn up.

"Where's your sign, slave?" demanded Ildell.

[ealintara]

Elise winced when her hands were tightly bound and she gave a small surprised cry as she was pushed towards Ganda. There was something about the notion of ‘finding their signs’ that made her uneasy and she looked over at Ganda, a little confused. “What do they mean ideas?” she whispered. Was that why they would want to cover any? It still didn’t make sense to her and she glanced towards their captors in time to see the looks most gave her. Thinking back to her apprehension over the search to come, Elise took a step back that didn’t save her from the rough hands of the men.

They showed no regard for her modesty, their hands searching as intently as their eyes, it felt, and she began sobbing even as it was clear they found her treatment entertaining. Soon she was standing, trembling, cheeks damp with tears as her clothes hung from her in complete disarray. The one who seemed to enjoy ripping into her clothes most soon lost all mirth when he made his demand.

She swallowed hard and stared up at him, nervous as to what he would do… if he’d even believe her.

“I-I don’t have one,” she managed in a soft frightened voice. “I’m not an E-Elemental.” And without thinking she took a step back from the man and closer to Ganda.

[gandalan]

Ganda looked at Elise as she asked him what they meant. His mind was trying to think why they'd need to cover them- just another way to keep them bound? But she didn't have one, she was-

He started, suddenly trying to speak. "Stop! NO! Don't touch her, she's a clear! STOP IT!" But his voice was drowned out in their laughter. He kept screaming at them- but of course, they didn't stop until of their own accord, they seemed to finally realize that she was not an elemental. He took a step in front of her, shielding her mostly exposed form from view now.

Again, the teachings of Efil took precedence. He was not angry with these people for doing what they had done, but afraid for Elise at her body. It was not unattractive. He looked back at her for a moment, whispering encouragement. He turned back to the men.

"She's a clear, I tried to tell you..." He knew some reprisal was coming, but he felt a need to protect her, even if it was a pathetic attempt to do so. He gulped. "I'm plant... and my sign is obvious." On his forehead. He waited for whatever was going to happen now.