Chapter Two

Marra stopped. Her breathing had become ragged after walking for what to her seemed like hours. She figured now was as good a time as ever for her to stop and plan where exactly she wanted to go. Marra tossed her pack on the ground and plopped down beside a tree. She tried her best to recall the maps she had seen back at the inn and she wished now more than ever that she had snatched one up before leaving. If her memory served her correctly, Craneir wasn't too far away. She would most likely be able to find work there since it was the capital city. Of course, she would have to stock up on food somewhere since Craneir was a three days journey from the Stalderel Woods and she had only packed enough food for one day. She definitely regretted not bringing a map. She'd just have to rely on the stars to guide her.

Marra heard a low growl from her stomach. She hadn't eaten since breakfast and that consisted of only a piece of toast. She decided to wait on food until she made camp, which by the looks of the sky would have to be soon.

Marra slung her pack back onto her shoulder. She had been sitting for only a few moments and her body longed to stay put. Mustering all the energy she could, she started walking again.

The sun was starting to set. Darkness began settling in all the corners of the forest, causing the branches to cast eerie shadows along the ground. Marra groaned. It would only be an hour before she wouldn't be able see anything. And it certainly wasn't likely she would find her way in the dark. Sighing to herself, she decided to stop and set up camp right where she was. After finding a nice spot for her fire, she hurried off to gather some kindling.

As she searching for twigs, she heard a sound somewhere behind her causing her spine to tingle. Marra's heart skipped a beat when the howls began echoing around her in the darkness. She'd heard many stories about the Stalderel wolves; but she had never seen one. And she hoped to keep it that way.

The pack of wolves stood only a few yards behind her and slowly inched forward with their backs arched in attack position. Marra stood shakily and turned to face them. They crept closer until Marra could see the white flash of their teeth. She looked around frantically for something with which to defend herself. Finding nothing, she decided to resort to the only thing left to do. Run.

Dropping the little sticks she had managed to gather, she ran as fast as her short legs could take her. Limbs and briars grabbed at the hem of her dress as she dodged oncoming branches.

It was completely dark now under the canopy of leaves; the only light was the moon that shone softly through the trees giving the woods a silvery luminosity. Still, it was not enough light for Marra to see where she was running. Suddenly Marra felt the earth beneath her feet give way, causing her to slip over the edge of what must have been some sort of a ravine. She screamed out in pain and surprise as her sleeve caught on a root just as she slid over the edge. Pain shot up her arm as her wrist twisted. Marra glanced up to see the wolves pawing and peeking over the edge. Even though she knew they could not reach her, their howls still caused her insides to wriggle. She felt around the side of the ravine with her free hand for something, another root, anything to hold on to so she could relieve the pressure on her wrist. Much to Marra's surprise, she heard someone above trying to frighten the wolves away.

"Is someone down there?" A low-pitched voice called from somewhere above her.

Relief flooded through Marra's body. "Yes! Please, I'm stuck! Do you have a rope?" She called up in a strained voice struggling to hold herself up.

"Just hold on and I'll send one down." said the voice.

After a few seconds, something hit Marra in the back of the head. "Ow!" she snapped. Marra felt for it. The rope. She wrapped it around her and told her rescuer to pull her up.

Once at the top, she laid on the ground completely exhausted and gasping.

"How did you fall?" asked the man helping her to her feet, "I'm guessing the wolves had something to do with it." He smiled, humor glinting in his eyes. He was carrying a torch in one hand and had a pack much like her own over his shoulder. She could barely make out his features. Howevere, she could tell that he had the merriest blue eyes she had ever seen and wavy black brown hair. He looked to be a few years older than she was, maybe 19 or 20. She could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn't dangerous.

Marra brushed her disheveled hair back from her face before addressing his question. "Yes, actually. The wolves chased me right over into that ravine, there. When I fell, my sleeve snagged on a root. It's what kept me from falling all the way to the bottom." Marra shivered at the thought. "Thank you for your help. I don't know how much longer that root would've held me. What's your name by the way?"

"Kael. And yours?" He asked eyeing her wrist.

"Lemarra. But everyone calls me Marra." She said with a faint smile.

Kael stepped a little closer to the girl. He noticed she had been rubbing her wrist since he helped her out of that trench. "Are you hurt? Is that the arm that snagged on the root?" He asked pointing to her arm.

Marra winced as she tried to flex her wrist. "Yes, I'm afraid I twisted it badly."

Kael pulled out a pouch from his pack and handed it to Marra, "Here's some water if you're thirsty. You will need to wrap your wrist, though. It will heal much quicker that way."

Marra took the water thankfully.

"Now," Kael shoved the rope back into his pack, "We need to find your camp."

"We?" Marra's green eyes widened.

"Yes, you obviously don't know your way around in these woods; and I do. Besides, you might need me if you fall into another ravine." said Kael with a smirk.

Marra stared. She couldn't believe this man's nerve. She had just met him. "I would have found a way out on my own….somehow. And as for you coming with me, I don't even know you. You could be a thief for all I know."

"I'm not a thief." said Kael starting to walk off, "But you must be a runaway."

Marra hurried to catch up with his long strides. "What makes you so sure?"

Kale stopped in his tracks. "Well, you are alone in a very dangerous forest with very little provisions and no map. You can't be a thief because you're too loud. And you can't be a wood dweller because they're said to be ugly and quite shy, which you're not. That leaves a runaway or hunter. And you can't be a hunter because a hunter would know ever crack and cave of this forest and certainly would have never fallen into a ravine." Kael said laughing at Marra's reaction.

Marra tossed her head. "Alright fine, I'm a runaway. What are you doing here?"

Kael's face grew solemn at Marra's question. "I don't feel like talking about it right now."

"And why not?" demanded Marra with her hands on her hips.

Kael looked at her sternly. "I will tell you, just not now. Alright?"

Marra backed away at the anger in his voice. It was obviously a touchy subject for him.

"Fine." She sighed.

"Now," began Kael, "I passed your camp and if I'm not mistaken it was right…yes, here it is." He dropped his pack by Marra's, "I intended to use it so I lit the fire when I passed by. I assumed this was an abandoned camp. In fact, I probably wouldn't have found you if it wasn't for your scream."

Marra sat down beside her pack. She pulled out one of her skirt and tore the hem from it. Trying her best, she began wrapping her wrist, which was extremely hard to do with only one free hand.

Kael knelt down beside her seeing her struggle. "Allow me."

Marra watched as he wrapped her wrist quickly and carefully. "You've done this a lot haven't you?" She asked.

A smile broke across Kael's face. "No, my swordplay instructor taught me one time after I sprained my wrist from falling in it."

Marra looked down at her wrist. "I don't see why you can't just tell me why-" Her stomach interrupted her mid sentence with a loud growl. She felt her face burn in embarrassment.

"Hungry?" Kael asked pulling an apple from his pack.

"Very." Marra took the apple from him, still blushing. She let out a sigh as she bit into the sweet meat of the fruit.

"So, where are you headed?" asked Kael folding his arms across his chest and leaning back against a nearby tree.

Marra swallowed a bit of apple. "The capital. I'm hoping to find work there as a seamstress or something of the like." She paused for a moment, "Where are you headed."

"Same." he answered shortly.

"Why?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?" replied Kael with a slightly annoyed air about him.

Marra glared at Kael from across the fire. Then she took another bite of her apple.

Kael watched Marra in amusement. She was a feisty one. He could now make out her features in the firelight that he couldn't see before. Her eyes were an amazing shade of green and surrounded by dark lashes. Her hair was a dark brown with a few tints of red. Kael looked away quickly, afraid to be caught staring. He had to admit, though. She was pretty. Picking up a stick, he busied himself tending to the fire.

After a few minutes, Marra decided to break the silence. "Well if you're not going to speak, I'm going to sleep. You can take first watch," said Marra impishly, tossing her apple core carelessly behind her.

Kael opened his mouth to protest but decided against it. He wasn't tired. He had too much on his mind and needed some time to sort it out. After all, that was why he left his home. And somehow, he had the feeling he wouldn't get very much thinking done while Marra was awake.


Authors Note: Sorry, I have taken such a long time to update. I have been extremely busy. I don't really thinks this chapter flows enough.sigh But I would love to hear your take on it. So please review! I need all the criticism/encouragement I can get! And the plot should get going pretty soon.