Lament of Innocence

TARRION

I was about ready to throw a fit. Aris and Kale were going after Tig, which was a good thing...but they were weaponless! I felt like I had failed majorly somehow.

I started coughing and trembling. Crimson-red blood poured from my mouth between Selene and me. I groaned and leaned back. Selene shrieked. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying not to pass out. The whole wagon went frantic. One of them yelled at Kale's father to do something. "I can't stop! Are you crazy? I'll do something about it when we get him to safety!" He shot back.

I groaned again. I opened my eyes and my vision blurred. I could feel my whole body slowing down. "Tarrion!" Selene shrieked. I stared at her, but her face was fuzzy. My head was spinning. I obviously didn't have very long left. I could only pray that I would make it to wherever Kale's father was driving us.

I tried to talk to her, comfort her and tell her that I would be alright, but things were getting dimmer. I slipped into darkness.

I walked over to Tarrion ignoring the rocking of the wagon I knelt beside him and ran my fingers lightly but expertly over his ribs and chest feeling for broken bones I felt a few broken ribs and I sighed crawling on my hands and knees over to a pile of coarse sacking I ripped it to pieces and crawled back over to him. I lifted his shirt and wrapped his side and ribs expertly as tightly as I could setting the bones. I dropped his shirt and sat back on my knees. The wagon pitched and my head slammed into one of the wooden beams that supported the canvas. My vision swam and I felt a warm stickiness on my head I touched it gingerly wincing slightly I took my hand away and saw that it was almost all red. I sighed and sat next to Tarrion kissing him once lightly on the lips. "Please don't die on me." I whispered sitting as close to the back of the wagon as I could without leaving his side my hand resting on my dagger. I felt a small twinge of hope as I remembered the herbs my mom told me to take with me everywhere she told me that they could heal anyone even on the brink of death or at least keep them alive until a doctor could save them. I pulled out the small dried herbs and crushed them into a small jug of water that was sitting in the corner of the wagon I crawled back over to Tarrion and whispered his name and he stirred slightly. "Selene." He murmured. "Yeah it's me now can you drink some water for me?" I asked quietly. He didn't answer just nodded I tipped the jug to his lips and he gulped it all down then sank down into unconciousness again. "Mom please be right." I whispered sitting down beside him again.

~Taeryn~

I sat in silence for some time, staring at the seat where my mother had been sitting only a moment before. Take someone else. Of course. That seemed reasonable, right? Talen couldn't be wrong. She was the Queen, my mother, of course she knew what was best.

So, who to take? I mulled over this for a moment more, realising there was no-one within the castle I would truly trust. Therefore, it didn't matter. I would choose whoever, ensure Mother agreed, then be off before sunset. Who knew how far the escapees would get if I waited any longer?

I stood up quickly, dusting myself off before gesturing to the nearest guard. "Come with me," I ordered, then made my way out of the room to follow Talen and offer my suggestion of accomplice.

Tigger: The guards threw me on the back of a horse and tied my body down with a length of twine. We were at the base camp now, at least everyone was gone. "Seems like that little runt gave a good warning call, the rest have escaped. But they could be hiding, search the perimeter." The head guard tied me to a tree on the outer edge of the clearing before leaving with the search party. When everyone was gone, I sighed and closed my eyes. I could deal with the queen, yeah, of course I could! "Tigger," someone whispered. I opened my eyes and nearly yelled. It was Aris and Kale. "Go away," I hissed. "Were here to help you!" I sighed. "No, well never get away far enough before the guards get back!" Aris groaned. "But, Tig, I can't let you just go back there." There was a low scale chatter and footstep noise from the forest. "No buts, now go!" Kale looked around franticially. "Aris...we should go. It's smarter to go." The sounds grew louder. "Go! NOW!" They ran away and not too long after the guards appeared.

Kale

The whole mission was hopeless. I didn't tell Arise that, though. Hope was the only thing keeping her going. I had learned reality long ago.

We walked towards the forest. Aris tried to sneak, but she failed- by a lot. In her defense, she was concentrating on finding Tig, not being found.

Eventually, we saw a clearing. The guards were waiting around for Tigger to wake up, as he was unconscious. Arise looked scandolized. I felt angry. What idiotic jerks! But not even Tigger stood a chance unarmed against this group if guards.

Aris looked about to hurry out towards him. "Us getting caught won't do any good," I said. "We'll wait for night."

TARRION

I gulped back the water. It had an awkward taste to it. Medicine? I groaned and shifted slightly. Something was wrapped tightly around my sides and chest...Selene must have wrapped me in something.

"Mom please be right," she murmered.

I put my hand on hers; a desperate attempt at soothing her. I'd be okay until we got somewhere safe. I had to be okay. She swept some hair out of my eyes gently and I managed a weak smile.

I coughed again, but this time no blood came up. That was a good thing I suppose. I shifted my eyes to where I had last coughed the blood up. It was still crimson and damp, soaked into the wood. Kale's father would be thrilled with me after this.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Kale said that he messed up and posted his reply the same time you did, Tig. We're in your situation.

Aris

I sighed. I knew they were right- we wouldn't do Tig any good if we got caught. But my feet kept me glued to the ground where I stared at Tigger worriedly. "We'll be back," I said to him quickly before we left. He looked annoyed.
"No, you won't! I can get out of this myself!"
I turned red with annoyance. "Okay, Tigger, no offense, but no matter what you say we're going to ignore it. So you either help us, or we come anyway. It's your call."
I looked at him expectantly. Before he could talk, the sounds got louder. We hurried away to go make another plan.

This has to be the shortest SB post ever.
Kale

"It's not safe to go back without help or weapons," I panted. Aris didn't seem to be listening to me. "Seriously, Ari, it's not."
She stared at me. "I've got a plan."

TARRION

I must have dozed. We went over a bump and I jolted fowards, every square inch of my body screaming at me. I groaned.

"Take it easy!" Selene demanded Kale's father.

I sat up slowly and looked around. Everybody was staring at me like I was a mutant. Then again, I didn't look exactly human at that point. "Selene?" I croaked.

She looked at me. "What?"

"Is there any water anywhere?" I asked. I wasn't really thirsty, but I needed some excuse for talking to her.

She nodded and handed me a jug. I sipped from it slowly. The water felt surprisingly good on my throat. "Oh no, just transfering a client from a farm to a town!"

We turned our attention to Kale's father, who had just spoke. We all froze when a low voice came through. "Through the forest? Doctor, we need to take a look at your wagon."

Selene's eyes widened in horror. "Sir, I would adivse strongly against that. His disease is very contagious and-"

The soldier cut him off. "I don't care. I need to take a look inside your wagon so that-" He grunted and we heard a thud. One of the prisoners held a bow-now empty in his hands. He was trembling.

"Watch it! You nearly hit me in the head!" Kale's father shouted.

"He saved your life! Be a little grateful!" I meant to sound fierce, but I couldn't push much out past a whisper.

We started on our way again.

Selene
I gently pulled Tarrion down so he could sit on the floor in the wagon and sat up in front with Kale's father. "That won't be the last time." I said quietly not wanting to alarm the other prisoners. " I know." He replied. I sighed and went back to into the wagon and sat next to Tarrion taking one of his hands in mine grateful for the contact. I kissed his cheek and smiled gently.

TARRION

Selene kissed my cheek and I smiled. There is no way I was dieing on her. We needed to get somewhere safe; which could prove difficult. There were soldiers everywhere. The queen was relentless. We all knew that.

My mind wandered back to Aris, Kale and Tigger. I hoped they were okay. They didn't have any weapons, no plan. I found myself wondering what Kale had done to get himself imprisoned. His father was a trusted doctor, so what had his son done?

I closed my eyes again. Sleeping seemed to be all I was good for.

Selene
I smiled as Tarrion fell asleep glad that one of us could relax I was worried as hell about Aris, Kale, and Tigger it felt like my stomach was in thousands of little knots. I wanted to jump out of the wagon and run as fast as I could back and I could as long as I followed the wagon tracks to wherever he was stopping. I bit my lip and eyed the back entrance longingly I felt sense of resolve and jumped out of the wagon and landed in a roll. I stood up and dusted myself off feeling all the bruises I had recieved while I was in my cage hurt afresh. I ran back to them and came up behind Aris and Kale just as Aris said "I have a plan." I tapped on their shoulders and they turned towards me I smiled broadly at them. "You may need these." I said holding out two swords.

TARRION

I didn't know how long I was asleep, all I know is that when I woke up Selene was gone. "Selene?" I muttered.

Somebody turned around to face me. "She jumped off the wagon. She's going after Aris, Kale and Tigger."

"She's what ?!" I demanded. The boy backed up when I coughed. By now everybody knew to get out of the way when that happened. I felt blood rising in my throat, but I forced it back.

I took a few deep breaths, trying to keep it down; to no avvail. It fell from my mouth and all over my clothes. I groaned loudly. My vision blurred before disaprearing all together.

Aris

I grinned. Selene had come to help us! Our chances would be a lot better. "Thanks, Sel," I said, grabbing one. Kale grabbed the other. "How's Tarrion?" I asked hurriedly.
"Better, but they're getting him more help." A shadow crossed Selene's face. She really cared about him. Aris didn't mind so much now, as long as Tarrion was happy with her.

"Okay, so you said something about a plan?" Kale asked, interrupting our small reunion.

"Okay, so here's what I'm thinking," I said, addressing both of them. "Now, you said they were in a... a camp of some kind? So, we start a fire. It's a pity to hurt this forest, but I care more about Tig than a forest, no offense to any nature lovers present." Kale laughed. "Anyway, when they go to douse this fire, he'll probably be underguarded. We can get him then." I waited for a reply.

Selene
"I agree but what if they leave soldiers behind?" I asked. She looked slightly crest fallen "No Aris your plan is brilliant and I can take care of the remaining soldiers." I said desperate to console her showing them my bow and arrows.