She hadn't been free for very long, but she had already lost more than what she had gained upon her escape. Still, she had already processed everything and was attempting to move on with her life. So she was not as scared as she pretended as she ran through the woods, heading for the felled trees in which the ogres slept.
As she had hoped, the ogres were out at night. Feigning oblivion of their presence, Fiona looked over her shoulder as she ran. When she heard the exclamations of genuine surprise, Fiona whipped her head to look at them and allowed herself to skitter to a stop so sudden that she thrust out her hands to keep her balance. Breathing hard, though she didn't have to, Fiona walked quickly toward them, noting how they reacted. Instead of regarding her as an unwelcome stranger they helped close the distance between them, coming to her in concern.
"Whatsa matter, honey?" asked a particularly large ogre with a pierced ear.
Fiona stopped and leered at him, angling her body. Happily, the ogres stopped where they were.
"Are you okay?" asked a rather chiseled ogre. Fiona remembered he had been addressed as Brogan.
Fiona raised her brows at him. "Am I okay!" she repeated. "I just got out of the palace. What do you think?" She turned and gave an unnecessary look to the sky. "I wonder if they saw me," she murmured.
"Uh, come with us," Brogan announced. "We can help you."
Fiona pretended to be wary of their motives, following hesitantly and giving them uncertain glances. As she expected, they led her right to the felled trees. The ogre with the pierced ear opened up his tree bed and motioned inside.
"We sleep in these during the day."
Fiona stared at it, then looked into his kind brown eyes. Pushing aside the regret she felt at having had to lie, in order to keep her secret, she looked from him to the other ogres. "Is that it?" she demanded. "This is your big plan? You're just going to turn the other cheek?"
The ogres looked quietly at one another.
Fiona flicked her hand, closing the lid so loudly that the ogres flinched in response. "Not me. Not after what I saw," she announced passionately. "If you really want to help me, we need to join forces."
"And do what?" the female asked.
"The right thing," Fiona answered simply. "Those ogres need us. I needed you. And all this time, you were hiding; like children."
"We've been surviving," the female muttered.
"Yes. But not living. Do you even know your purpose anymore?" Fiona asked.
Brogan sighed, but looked at her with an expression of consideration.
"Mine is to make a difference." Fiona narrowed her eyes at him and hesitantly added, "And I guess I need to start with you."
"Us? Why?" Pierced Ear asked.
"You've been sleeping with one eye open! If you want to be a valiant warrior, you need proper sleep."
"Whoa, whoa, what? We're not fighting!" the female insisted.
"Hang on, Gretched," Brogan said, unable to look away from Fiona's determined eyes. "Let's hear her out..."