Rosanna crouched, silent, in the forests. It was lush, and smelled of dew, for a spring-time storm had recently passed over. The fox was running, in fear of some creature of the unknown. The bowstring was pulled taut, her deep violet eyes trained on the orange creatures.
One...two...she loosed the arrow.
Meanwhile...
"I don't think this is a good idea." Aren said tentatively. He looked uncertainly up to the chieftain of the group.
"Who are you to contradict me?" The Bandit Chief snarled. His yellow eyes became dangerously close to Aren's green ones. He backed up a little. Great. Another week without food. His shrunken stomach was begging for anything, whether it fish, or skeever-hide.
He's not part of these bandits. Yes, Aren was dressed as one, his hands bound, and his pouch empty. And he knew of their plans. These horrible things would beat her, rape her, and take her money. Leave her to die. All too often, Aren had seen this cruel act within weeks.
There was a lone hunter, now in the lake, knee-deep in crystal clear water. A fox was fallen, on a rather risen piece of under-lake ground.
The beautiful Nord was crouched down, skinning the fox amd singing a song with no certain lyrics. She looked content, her eyes somewhere beyond this land.
Aren didn't know what happened: maybe she heard something. Maybe they moved too much in the shadows. But the girl straightened, and saw them, hiding in the rocks. She wiped her long fingers on her fur skirt. Aren noticed that she had a peculiar pelt 'cape' knotted at her pale, defined collarbone.
"I trust you're not planning any trouble. What can I do for you, friend?" She asked, her bright eyes on the Bandit Chief.
"Yes, there's something we need." he said, his face and lips begging, but his eyes malicious and unfeeling, as was his nature, waiting for her gold and body.
"What is it? I'm sure Crystal, Alessi, and I have something like it at the camp." The girl said. She had the body of the fox, gently stroking the sleeping face with long fingers.
"We were robbed! And have nothing. We need just a night somewhere safe, and some coin. Then, we'll be out of your life for good." Please, don't fall for it. You seem to nice. Aren thought. He longed to warn this lass, before her life was taken.
It was right at this moment, the Bandit Chief shoved Aren roughly into the water. He smacked his head against a jagged rock, leaving him dazed and half conscious. Silently, he leaned against the cool, craggy rock, trying not to black out.
The girl scrunched up her full lips, and glanced down to the pebbles, thinking for a moment.
Them, without skipping a beat, she pulled out a pouch from her slim hips, and handed over a bulging sack of coins over.
"Life savings. But it's worth it, if it helps you. And yes, I'm sure we have enough furs to make a few beds for the night."
Damn it
"DON'T LISTEN!" Aren suddenly roared, and somehow leapt up. For one, frightening moment, he wasn't sure if he could stay awake. "They're planning to rape you, then kill you and take everything!"
Rosanna hated violence. She hated any kind of conflict. She's a peaceful Nord. Rosanna even had a little graveyard, where any poor fox or rabbit she happened upon went. No doubt, Kev would bring back some kind of game tonight.
Now, she seemed to have gotten herself into a situation. Rosanna was too far from the camp for Alessi or Crystal to hear her pleas...but Kev, Irin, and Bolyn might. After all, they were dogs, with the keen hearing of wolves.
"Now, I don't want any trouble." She said gently, backing up, "Keep the coin. I just want to live my life.
"That's not an option." The Bandit Chief said. She screamed as he slammed his dagger into her side. Blood started to flow, nothing a good healing spell or potion couldn't fix, but still. Rosanna wouldn't fight. She didn't want to fight. Let him do what he wanted. Just let her dogs, and Crystal, and Alessi be all right. For once, her minder wasn't there to protect her from the world.
"BOLYN!" Rosanna screeched, her voice high. "IRIN! KEV!" in a matter of seconds, three dogs, all unique, came crashing through the foliage, responding to the call of their master. Bolyn was a brave dog, with a shaggy dark coat, and eyes that rivaled the deep brown of his fur. He was the oldest. Kev resembled a forest wolf, with his muscled body and wild eyes. Irin was a shaggy, white dog with green eyes.
They were her life-long companions. Fifteen years. Traveling into and out of Cyrodil, the beautiful and sunny land.
They fought. Kev unleashed a beast's fury, as teeth connected with flesh, and foam dribbled from his mouth. Rosanna had no choice. She bashed with her oakwood bow, and crouched to avoid otherwise fatal attacks. It was hard to see with all the water sprays and splashes of the lake.
"Please! Don't fight!" She cried whilst blocking an iron dagger to her abdomen. but they didn't listen. Now, Rosanna was forced to act woth violence.
Grabbing an iron arrow, Rosanna jabbed it into the throat of a bandit. The arrow pierced the jugular. Blood sprayed finely, like some horrible, ruby fountain. He went down. It was all she could stand. Simply attacking by bashing her bow into ugly faces, to stagger, and stabbing with arrows. When it was over, the water was pink with blood, and bodies floated, limp and face down in the water.
Instantly, Rosanna threw up. Down on hands and knees. When she staggered back, one bandit was left.
Authors Note*
Aren is MY character, and made up from me. Every other character (Except maybe Rosanna) is Skyrim's, and Bethesda's.
