Canopy chapter 2
Thanks for all the good reviews everyone
Erika ran into the forest leaping over branches and uprooted tree roots as not to make a noise. She had no clue where she was going; just that she had to get somewhere.
After about an hour of running through the darkness into nowhere, Erika decided to sit down, take a rest and figure out what she was going to do.
"So I have no family left, if I go back they would put me in some home and I would probably never see you again," she whispered to Melody who nuzzled her neck in an attempt to comfort her.
"But then if I stayed here I might go mad, forever waiting for nothing," she started again, truly confused.
"What do you think?" She asked her cat. Melody jumped off her back and climbed the tree closest to her.
"I'll take that as a stay here." Erika laughed as she climbed up the tree to look for her only friend. She quickly found Melody, who was batting at some leaves with her paw playfully; she was just about to fall out of the tree when Erika grabbed her by the scruff of the neck.
"Careful or you'll be a flat cat." She smiled, as her cat jumped back onto her shoulder.
Erika continued to climb up through the branches until she thought that they would both be safe from anything. Taking off her bow, quiver and pack she leaned back against the tree trunk and tried to get some sleep.
Erika's eyes snapped open, just in time to see a figure jump off the branch with her pack, bow and arrows. "Give them back you thief!" She jumped down from the tree, putting one hand on her shoulder to keep Melody from falling off.
Erika landed hard on the ground. Ignoring the pain shooting up her ankles and continued to chase the thief, who was setting a fast pace. Too bad Erika was much faster.
She tackled the thief to the ground and flipped the thief over baring her teeth. "Who are you?" She growled.
"I'm not telling," the thief said with a look of mirth in his eye.
"Well then you won't mind that I beat you to an inch of your life," she said raising her fist ready to pummel the jerk. Melody hissed trying to do her bit too. Erika was just about to make the first hit when someone grabbed her roughly and pulled her off her victim. She didn't like the idea, so she grabbed the wrist of her attacker and barrel rolled over their back, flipping them to the ground.
Quickly grabbing what was hers, she pulled her sword from its sheath and brandished is threateningly. "Now who wants to play my game?" Erika asked grinning evilly, bursting for a challenge.
"I will," a voice said angrily.
Erika looked in the direction of the voice and saw a blond man jump down from the trees. He pulled two curved swords from either hip and spun them around in his hands, he looked quite skillful. Erika raised an eyebrow but got into fighting stance.
The blond launched himself forward so fast Erika only just got out of the way. She whipped around to clash swords again with the man. Back and forth they went until Erika got sick of the games and brought her sword down hard on his. The man seemed to see this coming and hit back twice as hard, forcing Erika to drop her sword. The man brought one his swords to her throat, Erika walked back until she hit a tree, the man still continued to walk toward her until he was pressed against her tightly, blocking her escape.
Erika tried to shift so the sword wasn't sticking into her throat and branch sticking painfully into the small of her back. She started to panic, she was going to die, be cut up by some stranger. No, she had to be strong.
Erika swung her leg up and kicked the sword out of her attacker's hand, then wrapped her legs around the man's waist and jumped up grabbing a tree branch above her. She then pushed the blond away with her feet and scrambled up the tree into its greenness.
When Erika was as high up as she could go she looked down. The blond man climbing up after her! Her eyes widened, she had nowhere to go it was over.
Then she remembered her daggers, pulling them out she prepared to throw one at him.
"Stop!" He yelled, climbing onto the same branch as Erika.
"Why should I? You tried to kill me, one good turn deserves another," replied Erika standing her ground.
"Why don't you hold your unruly tongue and get out of the tree," he retorted.
"As you wish," Erika smirked then turned at leapt out of the tree, she was flying. Just when she was eight feet from the ground, she grabbed an overhanging branch of a tree, swung around it once and let go, somersaulted in midair and hit the ground running.
Erika came to a halt, thinking she was safe when someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to the ground. "Owff." The wind was knocked out her and she lay on the ground trying to catch her breath. She was finding it very hard as someone quite heavy was on top of her.
Erika felt something being wrapped around her hands, realizing it was a rope she tried to wiggle free but the person on top was too strong for her. She tensed when her captor said, "calm yourself maiden or you ropes shall become tighter."
"Get off me or I'll scream," Erika threatened. Feeling the weight lift from her back she started to breathe again.
"It is not your place to make demands," the man said yanking her arms upwards, motioning for her to stand up.
Erika winced but didn't make any attempt to move. He yanked again, harder this time and Erika begrudgingly got up. "At least let me see your face." Erika gasped when she saw who it was. The man who followed her up the tree, it wasn't possible she was on the ground running when he was still in the tree, no one was that fast. "H, h, how did you catch me?" Erika questioned dumbstruck.
The man gave her a questioningly look before answering "I followed you," he said.
"But no one can be that fast," she replied.
"Well you are mistaken and under arrest," he said pulling her by the rope she was tied with, back in the direction she had run from.
"On what grounds?" Erika asked aggressively.
"Trespassing," was all he said as he pulled the rope again. Sighing Erika walked along.
While Walking Erika actually bothered to look at the man who had captured her. He was in very much the same attire as she was, except his were of deep chocolate brown.
His hair was quite strange too, it was long white blond with the top half pulled off his face and tied up at the back. Strangely his ears were pointed. Erika realized he was quite good looking in a strange manner. She wondered if she had found a gang of gypsies in the woods.
"So," said Erika, trying to make conversation. "What are you? The human fairy?"
The young man raised an eyebrow. "I am Legolas son of Tharanduil, Prince of Mirkwood," he replied proudly.
"Oh," was all Erika could think to say. Where she had heard that name before though? Oh well she could figure it out later, for the time being she had to figure out how to escape.
Legolas lead her round a corner that she recognized as the area where the fight had occurred. There were two men sitting down, one was holding a wriggling bag and the other inspecting Erika's weapons and pack. The one who was inspecting Erika's weapons was the same man who had tried to steal from her in the first place.
Erika was furious; no one had any right at all to go through her things. Struggling with her ropes Erika ran at them "Get out of my stuff before I-" Her speech was cut short as Legolas pulled on her ropes, causing her to fall back down to the ground.
The three men laughed at her misfortune, Erika snarled at them. Then she realized Melody was not on her shoulder anymore. What if she had fallen out of the tree and broke her back? What if she was all by herself in the forest?
"Melody, Melody! Where are you?" Erika cried out. Panic rang clear in her voice.
"Don't worry," one of the men spoke, "Your friend is safe in here," he said gesturing at the bag. "She's as feisty as you." The men laughed and Erika blushed in embarrassment.
"Pack up your things Herenyo. Lieveryo hand me her weapons, we need to be back by nightfall."
Erika did not like to be left out of a conversation. "Where are we going? Release Melody, she doesn't like being in there and what are you?" She questioned.
"We wouldn't want to let the cat out of the bag," said the one called Herenyo.
Erika scowled; when she got free she was going to beat the crap out of these three.
"What is your name?" Lieveryo asked curious about the young girl. Erika just looked the other way there was no way she was telling these freaks anything.
"Fine I shall call you wild one," he said laughing the name.
Legolas looked up from Erika's weapons. "Where did you get these weapons?" He asked sharply.
Erika just smirked and shrugged.
Legolas pulled on her rope so she was facing him, he stood a good 5 inches taller than her but Erika was not intimidated.
"Where did u get this?" He asked again in a threatening tone.
"Why don't you answer my question first? What are you?" She snapped.
"Have it your way," Legolas turned to the others. "She isn't to eat until she tells us what we need to know." The others nodded in agreement.
Erika glared at them.
"You're going to be very hungry, I suggest you talk soon," said Herenyo smiling at her.
Erika just sniffed.
So what do you think is it better? I tried my hardest with grammar on this chapter just click the review button to have your say.