Chapter 4

BETAS Saddletramp and Nakoosay

Slim POV

If I my face wasn't almost complete frozen, I would smile at how much I wish I had been able to get my horse from my kidnapper. A horse right about now would be extremely helpful. I don't think I have ever wanted something so bad before in my life. I shake my head as my mind wanders to a warm place in my mind and I can feel myself getting sleepy. I trip over something and catch myself just in time. I shake my head and look up at the sky to clear my mind.

The snow has started to fall. Darn it all, I thought I was freezing before but this is so much worse. The body is starting to slip again and this time I can't stop it. He falls with a thud to the lightly snowed ground and I stop, utterly exhausted. I can't carry him any longer. Suddenly I hear the sweetest and the terrifying sound I have ever heard in my life. The sound of hoof beats nearby and coming in this direction. I know it could be the kidnapper's gang but there is the possibility that it could be my rescuer. I decide to take the risk.

I start to pour the last bit of energy I have into running and yelling with a hoarse voice "Hey! Stop! Hey!" I am so concentrated on making sure the rider saw me that I didn't notice the rock in my way. I trip over it and one minute I see snow falling, the beginning shape of a horse then snow-covered dirt and darkness.

I fade in and out shapes, flitting in front of my eyes. I hear someone dismounting- it seems so far away. Every time I blink the world spins and tilts, making my stomach want to give up what is does not have. The boots come closer and the sound of snow crunching crisply fills my ears. - I try to move but I'm frozen.

A sudden horrible thought fills my mind as the boots stop right by my face and the wearer squats in front of me. What if it was one of the gang of men that I'm trying to stop? I knew what at the risk was when I attracted their attention, but the cold reality was setting in and I realize that I may not have been truly prepared for the possibility that it was one of the bad guys.

With that horrifying thought in my mind I try to rise to get away. But the darkness calls out to me once again and what little vision I have dissolves into black waves of unconsciousness.

TBC