Chapter Seventeen: waiting on baited breath

A\n: Question? Would anyone be interested in reading some one shots of out takes or alternative scenarios for this story? I have a couple written out that were supposed to make it into the story but for one reason or another, they didn't quite make the cut. If there's enough interest I'll certainly post some up! Anyways! Thanks for taking the time to read this! Lemme know your thoughts! Happy readings!

The next two months passed without much else happening. Tian had slowly learned the schedule of everything that was happening, and made sure to memorize it. She kept thinking in the back of her head that she needed to escape, but she was kept so unbelievably busy, that by the end of the day, Tian was too tired to even attempt.

I need someone to help me with this.

Even though Tian had decided on that, there wasn't a single person in the fort she trusted enough to even approach them with this plan of hers. Tian, as much as she loathed the part of herself that thought of this, wanted to see a familiar face that she trusted enough with this plan, and escape together with them. A part of her hated herself for even wishing this on someone she cared about, but it was the only way Tian would have the guts to escape, and she knew that.

Two months into Tian being in the fort, she got the break she was looking for.

It was an exceptionally hot day. It was a dry sort of heat, and with little to drink, Tian could feel her face beat with the heat that was building up. It seemed like they were working the people particularly hard that day. The guards seemed to be in a exceptionally bad mood as they seemed to yell or punish people over the slightest thing. Even Tian, who was normally careful to stay out of their way, became injured when a guard had pushed her down in an attempt to get her to work faster.

"See the wagons? They're bringing some more in."

"No wonder they're being harder than usual."

Tian ignored the others that were talking around her, and focused on her work. She scowled slightly, moving the brick into place when she gets the rumblings of the wagons. She glanced over her shoulders to see a couple of wagons.

"Alright! Pay attention! When we call to you, come! Some of you are being transferred to another site today!" The middle aged woman that had greeted Tian when she came to the fort was again walking around, loudly proclaiming her message a couple more times. Tian's heart beat just a bit faster as a slimmer of hope rushed over her body.

Tian waited for her chance patiently. She hoped that they would call her for the transfer, which is exactly what happened,much to her happiness. The guards roughly moved her, shoving her forward. Tiam was just happy that she wasn't tied up nor blindfolded. Maybe it was because they were cocky that they had broken her down enough.

"Don't even think of doing anything funny." One of the guards told her, staring at her as of challenging her to say something. When she merely stared blankly at them in reply, the man smirked, and closed the flap.

"Tian?" Said girl held her breath at the familiar sounding voice. Could it be? Was it possible? Slowly, the dark haired girl turned her head. Yes. It was.

"Ha-Seon!" She whispered, smiling as soon as she saw his face. The dark haired man, smiled slightly, looking relieved if not somewhat worried. Tian hesitated for a moment longer before hugging him tightly. He hesitated only a second longer before smiling slightly, and hugging her back.

"I'm happy to see you. Though, not happy about the situation." Tian nodded, pulling back from the hug. She looked over her friend.

Ha-Seon was dirty, and scruffy looking. It was as if he hadn't shaved or bathed in days. The red, ripped shirt he wore was not only slightly frayed, as were the white pants he wore which were mucked with mud and other such things, but his shirt was also hanging off of her at an angle. Had he lost weight? Tian shook her head.

"Same here." She said, smiling as she sat back. It was at that moment, after only loading in a few more people, that the wagon began to move.

This….. This could be my chance.

Tian thought to herself, smiling slightly as she reached for Ha-Seon's hand, and squeezing it slightly. He looked at it, and then at her, smiling slightly as he squeezed back, looking at the wagon wall as they moved along.

"You've really improved! I think this is the first time you've been able to knock me on the ground!" Yona praised Min-Soo as she took the older woman's hand, and propped herself up.

Min-Soo smiled, feeling both embarrassed and self-conscious as she looked over her shoulders with a sheepish smile. Currently it was Hak, Jae-Ha, Zeno, and Kija that were watching them spar. Shin-Ah had left with Yun on a scouting mission a few moments before the sparring matching had begun. Hak and Kija were watching intently, while Zeno was smiling slightly as he watched, and Jae-Ha wasn't particularly paying attention as he read a book. Although, he did look up, and grin in amusement, shaking his head slightly as he continued to read the story.

"Maybe so, but I really don't like the looks they give me when you get hurt. It's like they're gonna eat my heart out for dinner." Min-Soo whispered, glancing over her shoulders at a frowning group of men. She smiled again, and then looked at Yona as she continued whispering. "Frankly, it's scary. How do you live with these scary men?" Yona laughed, shaking her head as she shook her head.

"They're not scary! Come on! We'll try again, but this time a little less shove, OK? I don't think I'll be able to stop the bruising from forming if you continue using your strength." Yona grinned at Min-Soo as she got into place a few feet away from the woman. Min-Soo laughed, nodding as she looked out the corner of her eyes to the group of men. The only one not paying attention was Jae-Ha, who was reading a book. She laughed slightly, blushing as she took a firm stance.

OK. Don't hurt Yona or one of those men might really eat my heart for breakfast.

Min-Soo thought to herself, chuckling as she shook her head. She prepared herself, dodging when Yona came at her with a fist to her face.

"You're not paying attention to the spar, lad?" Jae-Ha glanced over at Zeno as he sat next to the Green Dragon with his usual grin in place. Jae-Ha continued looking at Zeno for a moment, and then looked back at his book.

"I'm just getting to the good part. Besides, as long as neither one hurts themselves or the other, I think they'll be just fine." Jae-Ha replied with a slight chuckle, shaking his head with his grin still in place.

"You've been watching the new little miss for a while. I guess I'm a bit surprised you're not watching her like a hawk like everyone else is." Jae-Ha shrugged again, turning the page in the book he had already read a million times before. It was really the only book he had really kept over the years, for nostalgia reasons, but even so he always found something new each time he had opened it. It was an adventure romance story about two traveling lovers who are from differing ranks, and have to overcome their differences while fighting for her safety.

"I'm sure they'll be fine without me watching them. I'm here anyways. So I'm sure it's fine if I don't look." He replied, shrugging.

Zeno was about to reply when suddenly Yun had burst through the trees, stopping as he leaned against one while he caught his breath. This action stopped all the action that was happening within the small group. Hak and Kija stopped watching the spar intently, both looking over at Yun while Yona and Min-Soo lowered their blocked arms, turning to face Yun. Zeno looked at him while Jae-Ha put away his book, and stood up immediately. At the moment that Jae-Ha had stood up, Yun looked up.

"Yun, what happened? Is everything OK?" Yona was the first to speak, taking her first steps towards Yun. The teenage boy nodded.

"While we were out scouting, Shin-Ah spotted a couple of wagons. We don't know what they're carrying, but he's watching them just in case we need to prepare for something. I came to warn you all ahead of time. " Jae-Ha had held his breath, adapting a serious expression as he nodded.

This could be our chance.

He thought, his heart beating a bit faster at the thought.

The sun was starting to go down below the horizon when they finally stopped. It awoke Tian, who jumped slightly as she looked around before deflating as she remembered where she was, and her current situation. It took her a moment to smile once again as she remembered her plan. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. She then turned to her old friend, shaking him awake. He groaned slightly, shaking his head. He opened his eyes, glancing tiredly at her.

"What do you want?" He questioned, looking like he was about to fall asleep once again. Tian sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Listen up, I got an idea. Wanna be crazy and try it with me?" Ha-Seon opened his eyes, eyebrow raised as he looked at her. Tian grinned, and then, in a low tone that only they could hear, began to explain the situation.