Along the Southern Side of the Drawa River. Between the Blightlands and Ixchel Wilds
The sounds of water being splashed. Played in. A child ran through the shallow end of the water barefoot. An older man ran after him. Chasing the child in a game of catching the youngling. They continued to play as a woman sat back on a blanket. Covering the harsh grass and rock near the inlet. Watching the two play. She drank from a waterskin Enjoying the soft breeze. having gone through the Ixchel Wilds safely, this would be the last day that they would be here. Moving home and leaving for the isles. She smiled and stood.
I watched her from a distance. Hidden among the foliage and environment. The hood pulled over my head. obscuring my form to not appear like a person in the brushes. My eyes scanned the area. Looking, Searching. Knowing. Another cart was coming towards this direction. Headed to the river as well. However, I was not fond of the idea that someone else was coming close. I readied myself. Slowly, carefully drawing my bow. At this distance they wouldn't be able to see me unless I moved fast or hastily. Instead, I took my time. Staying back and watching. Pulling up, the two men came down and walked over to the woman. Talking to her.
The father stopped chasing the child. Looking to see two human-ish males near her. She stood up and started to back away. Holding her hands up. In that moment, I looked to the cart. Seeing movement in the back. Slowly, I knocked an arrow onto the bow string. Gently starting to pull. My attention was pulled. A loud smack sound. Turning to look, the woman was on the ground holding her face. Appalled and surprised. Yelling ensued and as soon as one of the men reached towards his waistline, I drew and released the arrow.
A quick draw of the weapon and release sent it flying in an instant. Covering the distance quickly to find the arrow lodging itself into his arm. He yelled out in pain. With how much of the shaft was sticking out, I am sure it hit bone. They turned to my direction. However, I was too fast, and they couldn't see me just yet. Another arrow flew across the distance. Slamming into the chest of the second man. Clutching it he stumbled back and tried to keep his body up. The woman already ran towards her significant other and the child. Trying to hide not from just the men, but the arrows of mine.
Another two men hopped out of the cart. Attempting to run over to the men. They yelled something to each other, but again. Arrow after arrow after arrow found its home. Slamming into them. Not killing all of them. Two were clearly dying. One had gone into the center mass of the man. Blood leaking from him profusely as he wanted to remove the arrow through the pain. Fine by me. The other had it through the neck. He laid on the ground writing and trying to breathe as he bled into his throat. Choking on his blood.
The other two were hiding. Clearly trying to stay out. One I had missed when he was running in a crouched position. The other was the man I had hit in the arm. I could hear him yelling at the other about how much his arm was now hurting.
Standing up from my spot, I drew another arrow and sent it flying near the bushes they were hiding from. Hearing a yelp of surprise. Not sure if I had hit them or just surprised them. However, as one lifted their head, he saw a chance. Knowing where I was now. He kept his head up. hoping I would shoot for it. Which I did. the arrow flew next to him. He knew he didn't get hit. But he rushed me. His thoughts were clearly about how I needed to draw another arrow and knock it, then fire it. Surely he could close that distance in enough time.
No. I had a second arrow in my hand waiting for him. No need to draw. Just knock and pull back. Releasing it to find it sliding through his throat. He fell hard into the dirt face first from running and rolled over. trying to stay alive but slowly stopped struggling. I walked over. Kneeling down next to the croaking man. His face filled with fear of what I would do. I reached down, held onto his chest, and yanked the arrow out. Sadly, the head stayed lodged into whatever bone it found its way into. Wiping the end off on his clothes, I slung my bow over my back. Standing up and looking over to the couple and their child.
"Didn't I tell you guys to keep your eyes open?"
_________________________________________________________________________________
A couple Hours later.
I had the small bag of coin in my hand. Hefting it into the air and letting it fall back into it. feeling its weight. A smile and nod to the man. He paid me for my services of helping to transport them across the Ixchel Wilds. To the meeting place where they would be dropped off and sent down the river. A small village by any name. I waved to the child and walked off. Placing the coin bag into the satchel I had around my waist. Feeling its weight be added to all that was in there.
"Alright, time to see if there is anything here I can find."
The sounds of water being splashed. Played in. A child ran through the shallow end of the water barefoot. An older man ran after him. Chasing the child in a game of catching the youngling. They continued to play as a woman sat back on a blanket. Covering the harsh grass and rock near the inlet. Watching the two play. She drank from a waterskin Enjoying the soft breeze. having gone through the Ixchel Wilds safely, this would be the last day that they would be here. Moving home and leaving for the isles. She smiled and stood.
I watched her from a distance. Hidden among the foliage and environment. The hood pulled over my head. obscuring my form to not appear like a person in the brushes. My eyes scanned the area. Looking, Searching. Knowing. Another cart was coming towards this direction. Headed to the river as well. However, I was not fond of the idea that someone else was coming close. I readied myself. Slowly, carefully drawing my bow. At this distance they wouldn't be able to see me unless I moved fast or hastily. Instead, I took my time. Staying back and watching. Pulling up, the two men came down and walked over to the woman. Talking to her.
The father stopped chasing the child. Looking to see two human-ish males near her. She stood up and started to back away. Holding her hands up. In that moment, I looked to the cart. Seeing movement in the back. Slowly, I knocked an arrow onto the bow string. Gently starting to pull. My attention was pulled. A loud smack sound. Turning to look, the woman was on the ground holding her face. Appalled and surprised. Yelling ensued and as soon as one of the men reached towards his waistline, I drew and released the arrow.
A quick draw of the weapon and release sent it flying in an instant. Covering the distance quickly to find the arrow lodging itself into his arm. He yelled out in pain. With how much of the shaft was sticking out, I am sure it hit bone. They turned to my direction. However, I was too fast, and they couldn't see me just yet. Another arrow flew across the distance. Slamming into the chest of the second man. Clutching it he stumbled back and tried to keep his body up. The woman already ran towards her significant other and the child. Trying to hide not from just the men, but the arrows of mine.
Another two men hopped out of the cart. Attempting to run over to the men. They yelled something to each other, but again. Arrow after arrow after arrow found its home. Slamming into them. Not killing all of them. Two were clearly dying. One had gone into the center mass of the man. Blood leaking from him profusely as he wanted to remove the arrow through the pain. Fine by me. The other had it through the neck. He laid on the ground writing and trying to breathe as he bled into his throat. Choking on his blood.
The other two were hiding. Clearly trying to stay out. One I had missed when he was running in a crouched position. The other was the man I had hit in the arm. I could hear him yelling at the other about how much his arm was now hurting.
Standing up from my spot, I drew another arrow and sent it flying near the bushes they were hiding from. Hearing a yelp of surprise. Not sure if I had hit them or just surprised them. However, as one lifted their head, he saw a chance. Knowing where I was now. He kept his head up. hoping I would shoot for it. Which I did. the arrow flew next to him. He knew he didn't get hit. But he rushed me. His thoughts were clearly about how I needed to draw another arrow and knock it, then fire it. Surely he could close that distance in enough time.
No. I had a second arrow in my hand waiting for him. No need to draw. Just knock and pull back. Releasing it to find it sliding through his throat. He fell hard into the dirt face first from running and rolled over. trying to stay alive but slowly stopped struggling. I walked over. Kneeling down next to the croaking man. His face filled with fear of what I would do. I reached down, held onto his chest, and yanked the arrow out. Sadly, the head stayed lodged into whatever bone it found its way into. Wiping the end off on his clothes, I slung my bow over my back. Standing up and looking over to the couple and their child.
"Didn't I tell you guys to keep your eyes open?"
_________________________________________________________________________________
A couple Hours later.
I had the small bag of coin in my hand. Hefting it into the air and letting it fall back into it. feeling its weight. A smile and nod to the man. He paid me for my services of helping to transport them across the Ixchel Wilds. To the meeting place where they would be dropped off and sent down the river. A small village by any name. I waved to the child and walked off. Placing the coin bag into the satchel I had around my waist. Feeling its weight be added to all that was in there.
"Alright, time to see if there is anything here I can find."