Pounding through the trees and foliage we dashed into the forest hoping the trees would provide some coverage. The forest was lush and green with dozens of different types of trees, the only of which I could identify was the oak. Slowly I began to lose my breath and become tired from the long distance we had traversed. The Stabbingtons started to gain a lead on me, they were passing me their large bodies and full stomach providing more energy.
I clutched the satchel looking around me for some way to escape the brothers, I came up blank.
After running for about half an hour we passed a tree with posters nailed onto its bark. At first I paid it no attention but then I noticed they were both wanted posters, one was of the Stabbingtons and the other was of some unfortunate fellow with a nose that was exceedingly peculiar, I glanced down wondering what his name could be, I skidded to a halt.
Catching my breath I ripped off the poster bringing it closer to my face to examine it. "No," I muttered, "no no no no no! This is bad, this is very, very bad" I said anxiety entering my voice, "this is really bad." I turned the poster over to the Stabbingtons revealing the awful portrait of me some idiot must have drawn. "They just can't get my nose right" I exclaimed.
How someone could have done such an awful portrait of me, I wondered. I mean the guy in the picture looked idiotic and smug. I was dashing and handsome, I seethed at the so called artists work. "Who cares?" Patchless growled, I ignored his anger and bent down to look at their posters.
"While it's easy for you to say," I answered, "I mean you guys look amazing."
Somehow the artist had been able to capture the brutes perfectly in their usual creeptastic manner. Out of nowhere the loud sound of horses' hooves and the snicker of a horse pulled my attention away from the posters to see the palace horses up on a ledge overlooking us.
Shit, I thought, they had caught up with us, maybe the hay fever comment hadn't been so smart after all. The horses reared and turned to take the path down to us.
Turning around I slowly began to run and then picked up my pace hoofing it away from the spot we had just been as fast as I possibly could. Rounding the corner I jumped over roots and stones trying to keep my balance on the uneven ground while stuffing the poster into my bag.
Suddenly the brutes stopped running, for a second I thought maybe they were just stupid and that this could be my chance but then I realized there reason for stopping. We had run ourselves into a dead end; we were trapped. We had moments before the guards arrived.
Horrified a placed my hand onto the rock wall that rose ten feet in front of us hoping it wasn't real. Suddenly an idea occurred to me, perhaps the wall wasn't such bad luck after all.
"Uh," I muttered thinking fast, "alright ok, give me a boost and then I'll pull you up.| I had tried to use my most trusting truthful gaze I had but by the expression of sheer cynicism on their faces I knew they weren't buying it. Patchless glanced over to his brother in disbelief and then glared down at me.
"Give us the satchel first," he grumbled.
I forced my face into one of pure dibelief and hurt trying to avoid handing over the treasure. "Oh," I gasped, "I just, I can't believe that after all we been through," I stammered, "you don't trust me," I placed my hand over my heart trying to convey a feeling of dismay.
Patchless put out his hand expectantly he and Patch not impressed by my rouse.
"Ouch." I muttered pulling off the satchel and handing it to them.
Patchless struggled for a few precious seconds to get on his brothers shoulders so that I could climb u their backs to the top making me nervous about our trackers and their imminent arrival. Careful I climbed up their back pretending I was struggling, by doing this I was able to justify putting my hands everywhere, including right over the satchel.
Effortlessly I slipped off Patchless's shoulders as I climbed up, he didn't notice. Reaching up I pulled myself over the ledge a smile spreading over my face; I had won.
"Now help us up pretty boy," Patchless called up to me.
A cocky grin filled my face, "sorry," I replied, "but my hands are full." I revealed the satchel in my right hand and turned on my heel running away to the sound of their furious calls.
Sprinting at full tilt I found the main road only for the guards to find me.
Turning I ran as fast as I could away from them.
"Fuck," I muttered, maybe I hadn't won just yet.
I could hear their captain yelling to them, I didn't like the sound of "retrieve the satchel at any cost".
Crap, I thought, crap crap crap crap crap. I had not spent months planning this heist just to be caught at the last minute. I could hear them gaining on me, there was no way I could outrun the palace bred horses.
Sliding under a fallen tree I heard the unmistakable thud of cross bow bolts meeting their marks, I glanced back to see five bolts stuck in the very tree I had just slid under and made a split decision to grab a few of them, for all I knew they could come in handy.
Running down hill I made a sharp turn off the path avoiding another set of bolts. Dodging the overhanging branches I saw a wall of trees to my left with only a small opening through the branches.
I jumped through the opening hoping the horses would be unable to maneuver through such a small hole. Behind me I heard the distinct sound of rearing horses, I almost slowed down, but then I heard the sound of hooves meeting dirt; one of them had made it.
I heard the familiar sound of the captain's voice speaking to his horse (really who does that) "we've got him now Maximus!" he rejoiced. Not so fast I thought picking my pace up as much as I possibly could, heading for an overhanging vine, an insane idea sprouting in my head.
I leapt off a rock grabbing the vine and swinging as hard as I could. Swiftly I kicked off a tree changing the direction of my swing just slightly and propelling myself to go faster. Swinging around the tree of the vine I flew straight towards the captain on his horse. Sticking out my feet I kicked him right off the horse and took his position as rider.
I grinned in triumph; moments like these were the moments that I truly felt like Flynn Ryder, like a champion.
"Heya!" I yelled shoving my heels into the horse's sides.
That of course is when my victory was cut short, the horse, who was obviously smarter than I realized, skidded to a stop. The horse started bucking; somehow he knew I wasn't meant to be riding him.
The horse glared back at me his pupils dilating. "Come on flea bag!" I yelled annoyed digging my heels in again.
He responded by bucking even harder, spinning in enraged circles. At that point he noticed the satchel in my hands, leaning back he used his mouth to try and grab it out of my hands.
"Stop it!" I yelled, "Stop it!" The horse grabbed the bottom of the bag, but I still had the top, it was the strangest game of tug of war I had ever participated in. "Give it to me!" I yelled.
Suddenly the satchel flew out my hands and landed on the branch of a tree that just happened to be hanging over a giant chasm. I glanced at the horse before throwing myself off him towards the tree, probably not the best idea with the chasm and all but oh well.
Rolling on my side I got up running for the bag with my one chance of a good life in it. Suddenly the horse leaped in front of me and all I could see was the pure white colour of his hide. Grabbing him around the knees I pulled down, tripping it and ran in front of it. Abruptly I felt my boot being caught on something and fell on my face only for the horse to jump in front again, I pulled myself up and jumped up onto his back which he did not like and then up onto his head wrapping my knees around his chin and thick neck.
The horse shook his head throwing me off again. I was now clinging upside down to the branch that was suspended over the chasm, not a great position.
The horse looked down at me an evil glint in his eyes. He started stomping on the branch trying to step on my fingers ultimately sending me quickly climbing backwards towards the end of the branch. I felt the whole tree shake and saw the satchel start to slip.
Swinging backwards I turned through the air grabbing the tree again and the satchel. I turned and yelled "ha!" at the horse consumed by my final victory.
Out of nowhere a large snap brought me out of my glory, me and the horse looked back in terror to see the tree break from its roots.
We were falling through the air towards a ground that was coming towards us far too fast. Quickly I pulled myself onto the top of the tree just in time for us to hit a sharp ledge and the tree to break in half sending us in different directions.
I flew through the air with nothing except ground beneath me. Praying for my life I tucked myself into a ball hoping for some kind of inclined ground.
I hit the earth hard, and to my relief it was sloped enough that the impact was absorbed by a roll. Not stopping to access for injuries I pulled myself behind a rock to hide from the horse.
I heard the sound of a large animal sniffing the ground in accompany of hooves slowly approaching, I scratched my head, I hadn't realized horses had such a good sense of smell. When the sound had faded enough I popped my head out to see the pure white stallion off in the distance.
Careful not to make any sound, I gingerly pulled myself up stretching the kinks out of my muscles.
Leaning back I put my hand out to rest against the wall behind me, I fell backwards realizing that it wasn't a wall but a curtain of ivy concealing a cave.
Off in the distance I heard the horse whiny; it must have realized it had passed me. Quickly I parted the ivy ducking into the cave and behind an outcropping of rock. I had hid just on time because the second I rested my back against the cave wall I heard his fast breath right outside the entrance, I froze careful to not breathe.
His shadow slowly paused for a few moments before rushing away to try and find me. I let out my held breath and looked around me to see the condition of the cave; I paused for a second surprised. The cave wasn't a cave after all; it was a tunnel leading out into a valley.
Jogging out I glanced behind me double checking I wasn't being followed. Determining that I was indeed alone I faced forward again, I froze in my place.
I had walked into some sort of hidden haven. The valley was gorgeous, it was surrounded by walls of rock, one with a small waterfall flowing down its side and had dozens of gorgeous trees all perfectly maintained. The valley was almost silent except for a soft murmur of water rolling off in the distance and the sweet song of birds singing, it was like something out of a fairytale. In the middle of the valley was a beautiful tower, the tower was at least 70 feet tall and had one large room or house of some sorts at the top. It was the perfect hiding spot, I had struck gold.
I again heard the distinct sound of the horse whinnying so I stopped marveling at my luck and hurried towards the tower.
Reaching its base I looked around for some sort of door or ladder dreading the ascent, it would take ages and heaven knows what that kind of a work out could do to my perfect thigh muscles, I didn't want to bulk up t much, or worse, sweat. After circling the tower several times I realized that the door was either hidden or somehow gone.
Sighing I pulled out two of the crossbow bolts I had collected and began climbing up the side of the tower by jamming the bolts into the mortar every few feet and pulling myself up, it was slow tedious work but this hide out was too valuable to just ignore.
After about five minutes of climbing I had reached the window at the top of the tower where it became the house. Stowing away the bolts I pulled myself onto the ledge and pushed open the window. The tower room was large and spacious. It was open and nicely furnished, but I didn't really take time to assess my surroundings.
Breathing heavily I opened my satchel and gazed into it lovingly, "alone at last," I murmured happily looking down at my rewards for my effort. That was when I heard a loud clang and the world went black.