It started to rain, late in the evening. The ground became muddy and each step felt like ten. With each heavy pelt Eldar'o felt on his skin, it seemed as though the earth itself laughed at his plight. It grew cold, as the night dragged on, so cold the mudpuddles began to freeze over at the edges, Eldar'o feared mostly for Mosi. If it got much colder, she would surely catch some sort of illness, one that would surely take her from him.
Eldar'o's footsetps began to come heavier. The strain of the past day was written clearly across his face. Though it was cold, sweat began to roll down his forehead, turning his rusty hair a dark brown.
But, most of the strain was in his mind. The village lay in ruins somewhere behind him, the slavers took what they wanted and destroyed the rest. It was entirely possible, that Eldar'o and Mosi were the only two free Outcasts left in Golden Reach. No matter how hard he tried, Eldar'o could not banish the horrors he hadwitnessed this night, from his thoughts. Women, children and men, laying in spreading pools of crimson. The smell of burning flesh still hung in Eldar'o's nostrils, reminding him pointedly of the night. Innocents, murdered for no reason, other then a few Slavers could not curb their bloodlust.
Eldar'o's mind continually revealed, causing him to physically slow, from his frantic run to the south. His thoughts were jumbled and at many points he cried great tears, believing that Mosi had died in his arms, only to find that her heartbeat was strong. This was how it was in Golden Reach, a constant struggle for survival. A constant stream of killing, death and heartache, with only temporary reprieves, as he had had with Mosi, just before the first grenades soared of the walls.
Just when Eldar'o felt all of his courage, strength and fortitude leaving him, and the onslaught of hoplessness began to overtake him, Mosi reached up and clasped either side of his face. She pressed her lips against his ear and said the words he had longed for his entire life. Before she lapsed back into unconsciousness, falling back into his arms.
A great weight was lifted off of his shoulders and this time, happy tears streamed down his face, as he hugged her tightly to himself. Mosi was not as cold as Eldar'o had feared, the blankets and her own condition kept her warmer then he, but she was still cold, too cold.
As if by magic, his steps came stronger and he was able to clear his mind of the night's turmoil, to focus on what needed to be done to survive. It was still many hours before dawn and if Eldar'o continued running, they would not survive the night. It was too cold.
Looking around, Eldar'o found himself in a clearing, somewhere in the ncharted woodlands south of the Outcast village. There was no people down this far, only wild game and forest and that made Eldar'o feel better about his decision. He walked to a great evergreen tree that reached far into the air. He pushed his way through the ly branches of the tree until he came out in a natural chamber, made by the tree's sloping down to the ground.
There ground here was softer, having had many years of pine needles and bows laying on the ground. It was also warmer here, no rain had gotten through the tangle of branches above their heads. Using his moccasin clad feet, Eldar'o kicked much of the pine needles together into a big pile, large enough for two people. Gently, he laid Mosi's limp body down onto the bed, plumping up much of the outer blanket to create a pillow.
It was cosy under the great tree, but Eldar'o knew he must make a fire. The Outcast went to the other side of the great pine and jumped into the air, grabbing a smaller branch he pulled down with all of his strength. The branch snapped and Eldar'o took it around to Mosi. He snapped it in many pieces and used the needles littering the floor as kindling. There was soon a small fire crackling in their new home.
Eldar'o's clothes were wet and they were making him grow colder by the moment. He took the moccasins off and laid them by the fire. He took all of his clothing and placed it by the fire, all but the long underwear pants he had on underneath his actual pants.
Mosi wasn't wet, except for the blanket, which was soaked through. With a regretful sigh, Eldar'o took the blanket from the unconscious Mosi and draped it over a branch above the fire. Eldar'o went to her and laid down. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close to him, as the darkness around him began to go black and wakefulness was replaced by sleep.
