This is a 2 or 3 part One-shot. This first chapter is very short, but I didn't have much time to write this week.
The day had started off well, Aramis dismally thought as he trudged along.
Treville had asked him to take a gift from the King to a highly-regarded nobleman at his estate. It had been a day going to the estate, a day of what Treville called relaxation, and a day back.
The mini-mission objective had been taken care of, and Aramis had been on his way back when something had badly startled his horse, not his usual mount but one he was using temporarily. The animal had taken off at a gallop, Aramis' pulling back of the reins not even fazing it as it flew along.
The horse had galloped right into the forest Aramis had seen long before they reached it, and then more trouble hit.
The horse swerved once again unexpectedly, a rabbit or some other ground animal darting swiftly across its path causing the horse to rear up.
Aramis, who was an excellent horseman, was unseated as the animal galloped on without him. Landing hard on some broken off branches and underbrush, he lay there for moment dazed, before slowly starting to get to his feet.
It was then that he found his right arm wouldn't support him. Examining it, he realized he seemed to have badly sprained it.
Switching to his left arm, he made it this feet.
Taking a look around, there were trees in every direction, with thick underbrush. Branches blotted out the sky overhead, so he couldn't tell the direction.
He had always loved forests and woodlands, ever since he had been a boy. He was a little apprehensive, though, at being on foot in a place he had never been before, and probably having to spend the night there. He still had bad memories of a time he had been left to die in the woods, and nearly did**. He firmly told himself, don't remember the past, just keep moving and find a way out of here.
Sighing, he decided he would just choose a direction and hope that it led him out of the forest, and added a prayer that it would be before nightfall.
He kept moving for what seemed like hours. At one point, he found a small creek, and was able to quench his thirst and rest for a short while.
Then he thought, maybe I can follow the creek and see if it leads out of here (but his treacherous thoughts continued, saying 'or further in').
They won't even realize anything happened until probably midday, he realized. He was supposed to be back this evening, bit when he didn't show, they would probably think he got delayed at the nobleman's estate. But when he didn't show the next morning, he knew that all three of his brothers would insist on coming to look for him.
With any luck at all, his horse would have headed back in the direction of the garrison. He had never known how most of the garrison horses had the ability to do that, but right now, he was hoping the one he had been riding had it, too.
Belatedly, he realized that he should be leaving some form of markers behind him to give them some idea as to where to look, once they hopefully had found and followed the trail that showed on the ground. His footprints had ceased to show when he had run into his present attempts to get through dense foliage, creepers and underbrush.
Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he quickly began to tear it into small strips. I'll use the bottom of my shirt when I run out, he thought.
Tying the first piece around the end of a low-lying branch, he then moved on, leaving one at different intervals as he walked.
A short while later, he decided to find somewhere to rest for the night, as it was becoming too dark to continue.
A stout oak trunk provided as much comfort as he was going to get, he decided, sitting down and leaning his head and upper body against it, before closing his eyes. He kept his weapons ready to hand in case some night predator decided he was an easy meal.
He was asleep very soon afterwards, his body exhausted and craving the rest he was at last providing it.
He didn't know what caused him to wake up very early the next morning. The only sounds he heard were what he had heard during the day, minus the now-sleeping birds, except for the occasional howls from hunting predators.
And then he saw it.
Aramis froze.
Sprawled over his lower left arm was a snake, its black eyes fixed on him as he looked back.
Aramis heart thudded as he recognized its markings. Poisonous, he thought.
At that thought, the next one rapidly followed. I have to get it off of me before it strikes.
My main gauche, his mind scrambled to make a plan of action. With the thought, his free hand inched forward to grasp it's handle.
Unfortunately, the snake felt the slow, slight motion Aramis was trying to use to get to the dagger, and it struck.
Aramis felt the fangs enter his flesh right below his elbow, screaming as the fangs injected the snake's venom into him.
He slashed at the reptile, cutting off its head but too late.
As the venom began it's deadly work immediately, Aramis quickly used his main gauche to slice into the wound. Next, took his sash off with fingers that were trembling from the effects of the bite, and tied it tightly around his forearm above the wound. He bent his head down, and did his best to suck the poison out of the bite.
Leaning back afterwards, he could feel his heart racing, and a pounding headache beginning. The area around the wound was red and puffy, and the pain was excruciating. He knew the effects of the bite would get worse, and probably very soon.
He hoped and prayed with all his heart as he began to pass out, that his brothers would come, and come very soon. Before it was too late.
TBC
**Refers to an earlier fanfic of mine called Concealed.
