Social Outcasts

Maddox

From where I sat on the tree branch I watched Nokie scrub the blood and dirt off of his arms, "I sounded like you, Lex" I whispered and smiled. I then went stiff and smelled the air, What?, I questioned myself and sniffed again. Something wasn't right.

"Nokie, I think we need to get back to the camp. Now" I said and kept sniffing.

"W'hat is it, love?" Nokie asked me, looking up.

"Something isn't right" I told him and continued sniffing.

My ribs hurt so much that it was tough to stand, but I wasn't going down without a fight this time.

However, as Sydney, Zire and I prepared to defend ourselves, I pretty much realized we were doomed. I was positive we wouldn't make it. Each of the camel men were at least twice the size of Zire and he was much taller than me or Sydney.

The huge man in front grinned foully and took a couple steps towards us. I flinched but held my ground. The other two didn't budge. Then all of a sudden they were on us. One pushed me over since I wasn't prepared enough for their attack. My head hit the ground hard but my leg was positioned very conviniently between the giant mans. I kicked as hard as I could possibly manage (which was pretty hard; I used to play soccer) between his legs. He groaned and fell to his knees. I grinned at my success, crawling close to him and grabbing the knife off his belt.

Just then Nokie and Maddox jumped down on the scene. In the blink of an eye, they were each on top of one of the huge men, punching and sratching the best they could.

Aw, no' again. Nokie was thankful he didn't have his knife anymore, and bit the man's ear hard. It was a dirty move, but better then a knife through the eye. The man screamed, beating Nokie with his large fists, causing Nokie to grunt in pain. Maddox was scratching at the other man's head, and blood dripped down his face.
Nokie's opponent roared, trying to pry Nokie off his head, but Nokie had wound his tail around the Man's throat tight, and watched as the man's face went from read to purple. Nokie held on grimly until he felt the man go weak, and loosed his grip. Grabbing a rope off the nearest camel, he tied him up securely and leaped to help Maddox.
"Good things commin small packages," he told her, climbing onto the man's shoulders, "An' so does poison."

I looked at Sydney, "Well look on the bright side" I said "We didn't have to get into any fighting."

I helped Danielle up. She tried to let go of the knife "Keep it" I said then added "You'll need it, and so will we"

"Zire's right we should get the weapons they carry with them so next time we'll be prepared." Said Sydney.

"Next time?" Asked Maddox puzzled.

Danielle handed them the letter i had found and then they looked at me.

"Yes, they're coming for us, and they wont stop until they kill us, the reason is given in the letter." I said.

"but..." Started Nokie.

"Wait, we're are the rest of us?" Asked Danielle suddenly.

Maddox

"Um... I left Ballow by the riverbank at the camp" I told them all, trying to hide the tears of knowing that I was to die. How could we hide? Most of us weren't even humans and we wouldn't possibly be able to fit it with other races, if there were any left.

"We really should go find them, then we should try to find a different camp" Zire said and I nodded.

"A'h! No, I r'eally li'ked this 'en!" Nokie said sarcastically, he was back and I smiled.

They all turned towards the attackers, looting the bodies. Nokie pocketed most of the coin before anyone else found it, and took the extra water bottles.
"We shoul' take the camels." Nokie suggested, but Zire looked skeptical. "I can move faster on foot."
"I was thinkin' of the human lassies."
"We'll see. For now, fill up your water canteens, in case we don't have fresh water in a while."
As they turned towards the river, Nokie glanced around the group, briefly wondering whether they thought worse of him.
Nokie smiled at Maddox. She looked more relaxed, now. He bounded up to her and grinned cheekily. "So, love, I'm all clean, d' I get ma hug now?"

I liked the idea of being able to ride on the camel. I was getting a little dizzy. I mean I'd hit my head pretty hard.

"Hold me up," I mumbled.

"What?" Zire asked from my side.

"Hold m-" I began but I don't remember if I finished it or not.

Maddox


I smiled and hugged Nokie, "Yeah monkey-man, you get your hug now" I said.

"Ya' sm'ell nice, lass" Nokie told me and I laughed, I would return the compliment but Nokie didn't smell to nice right now, which made me laugh just a bit more. I didn't know why, but in the past day and a few hours I felt as if I was reverting back to my old self, the self that laughed and smiled a lot, it felt weird to be that person again.

Nokie smiled brightly at Maddox. She seemed a lot happier, and Nokie was grateful.
"Lassie?" He paused, his face more serious now, his tone sincere.
"Yeah, Nokie?"
"Thanks."
"For what?" Maddox looked a little confused.
"F' coming t' get me. I woulda gone insane ot'erwise. And, love, Nokie always remembers when some'n does somefin' good f' 'im."

Sydney Grain

I looked at everyone and suddenly felt alone. I missed my friends and family and wished I were with them right now. It hurt to know that they were dead.
How could humans do this to our race? I thought. I couldn't take it and broke down and started to cry again. I sobbed and sobbed and didn't even notice the people looking at me. I felt numb. I felt invisable. I felt like I was nothing.

Ballow


I was a coward and I knew it. But if I had stayed all that blood would've driven me into hysteria, I wouldn't even know who I would attack.

I swallowed, should I have gone and helped anyway? A tear went my face, I should've I knew it, I should've went after them! But I could've hurt them.

I stood there torn between what I wanted to do and what I knew would happen. Would I be able to control myself?

I took a deep breath and went after them - following their scents. Thankfully they were all in one piece. I glanced around, "Why the glum faces?"

Maddox turned to me, "Camel people are after us!"

I stared at her, had she gone mad? I looked to Zire for confirmation and he nodded. I opened my mouth, "What's happened?"


*geh, i've been out for a while - here we go. ^^)

I kept Danielle's warm body on the ground softly careful not to hurt her. I opened my water pouch and sprinkled some water on her face. Eventually she awoke, and looked at me.

"What happened?" She asked standing up.

"Well you fell off the camel" I said.

"Oh, really?" She said.

We looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

"You better not ride on the camel again" I said after my laughter subsided.

"She nodded and then looked around glancing at Sydney, who was watching us intently before listening to Ballow's conversation with Maddox on the recent incident.


**So guys what really made these Camel men chase after us? I'm empty on it.**

"I bet they came just to get rid of us. I mean, why would they want to keep us alive?" I spoke up. It didn't seem like they were here to just capture us... but then again, how come the first guy hadn't just killed me right away?

Maddox


"I think we should hide in the trees whenever we camp, and it might be a good idea if we cover ourselves with mud just incase they're tracking our scents" I said and nodded.

"Er, mud? Lass?" Nokie said and I nodded again.

"Madds is right, if they are tracking our scents then we should cover ourselves with something. Not neccessarily mud, but maybe something that smells stronger then our own scents" Ballow said, reassuring them that I was partly right. "And sleeping in the trees would be a good idea to".

I hoped my balance would be good enough to sleep in a tree, but my head already felt a little clearer, so it might work out. Maybe I'll just sleep in the lower branches, just in case.

"Are we gonna take mud baths?" I laughed. That'd be fun.

"Maybe," Zire answered me. "Do you think you can stay in a tree all night? I mean... you did just fall off a camel." He made a face.

"Shut up," I answered, laughing, and puching his arm. "Although, I'm not really sure, I guess..."