Chapter Ten

The bells tolled ceremoniously in the misty dawn of First Day. Riat rolled in his half-wakened state and found himself falling off the bed with a bone-jarring thud. Tiera was sitting before she was fully awake, ready to climb out of the bed. She slowly came back from her anxiety as Riat stood up and began to laugh. "What an auspicious way to start a cycle."

Lyd and Zehro were talking in the kitchen when Tiera and Riat got there. The two had packed knapsacks with cold foods and were waiting eagerly for the adventure to begin. Lyd had traveled to the forest-park before, but Zehro was excited to see the sanctuary.

The forest-park was close to eight kilometers away; a fairly long trek in the Inner City where the small group had to move quickly to dodge squads of Hunters still searching for the runaway girl. For all the trouble, Zehro and Lyd were in high spirits, joking and pushing each other around. Riat spoke little, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence as he held Tiera's small hand and guided her through the maze that was the urban sprawl of the Inner City. They rarely left the protection of abandoned buildings to walk in the streets with the rest of the Inner City's population, preferring the long shadows cast in the alleys and the easy cover provided by broken doors and hospitable inhabitants.

Tiera reflected that Riat knew the City's confusing streets better than she had known the manor or castle she had spent her life in. She simply didn't think to pay attention when she lived there; she had concentrated every fiber of her being on placating her Masters and staying out of trouble. Trouble meant unbearable pain or a gruesome death; she had seen the remains of girls who had brought trouble on themselves and those sights gave her nightmares still.

Merely thinking about it now made Tiera's heart beat painfully and her breath shorten in fear. The knapsack she held fell from her fingers as she gasped. Alarmed, Riat called an abrupt halt. As Tiera met his confused gaze, some inner terror made her eyes wide. The sound of the Hunters' boots echoed angrily in the alley and Tiera whimpered softly, "I don't want to go back." Confused, Riat caught her around the waist as she tried to run, panic making her deaf as her heart pounded in her ears. He easily picked her and the knapsack up and carried her back to the building they had left moments before, silently following Lyd and Zehro.

The four hid in the shadows of room until the Hunters had passed. Zehro let out a breath and Lyd turned to look at Riat. "What happened?"

Riat looked down at Tiera, her face still impossibly pale. "I'm not sure. Little Rabbit," he stopped as she clutched his hand and buried her face in his shirt, her slight body trembling.

"Please," she whispered. "Riat, please, I don't want to go back."

"You don't have to, I'm right here. Little Rabbit, look at me." He tilted her chin and watched her eyes focus on his face. "What happened?"

"I'm so scared." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to die like them."

"Like who? Tiera you don't have to be scared. What happened?" Instead of answering, she held him tighter, fighting the memories. Riat put his arms around her and rocked gently until her shaking eased. He looked over at Lyd who shrugged and Zehro whose brow was furrowed in concern.

When she had found a measure of calm, Tiera took a deep breath and pulled away. As she looked at the worried men around her, she stuttered an apology and turned her eyes to the ground. After a measured look, Riat shouldered the knapsack and resumed their course to the forest-park, but at a slower, more cautious pace.

The forest-park was a lush vision that took Tiera's breath away. Tangled vines and unruly bushes had overcome fences and metal contraptions unfamiliar to Tiera. Tree roots had long since broken up the concrete and gave rise to mossy patches and grassy flooring. As Riat led her into the flourishing miracle, Tiera heard animals scamper between the trees. Full sunlight gave way to spotted rays as the group entered the canopied retreat and it was silent, save for the birds calling out to each other.

Riat grinned at her awe, pleased that whatever had plagued her mind earlier was now forgotten in her childlike astonishment. He looked over at Lyd whose eyes sparkled in laughter and nodded towards Zehro who was stupefied as well. After walking a length into the forest-park, Lyd broke the silence to announce his hunger and Riat smiled when the blond man's stomach growled loudly, almost echoing in the quiet, breaking the trance Zehro and Tiera were in.

Soon after, the four were enjoying the cold meal in a small clearing surrounded with wildflowers. Lyd positioned a knapsack beneath his head and lay back in the soft grass with a sigh, closing his eyes as the dappled sunlight warmed him gently. "I could do for a nap right about now."

Zehro smiled in agreement and the silence created an infectious drowsiness that soon had Tiera nodding gently. Riat put his arm around her shoulders and she curled into his arms as her breathing slowed into sleep.

Tiera woke to the whisper of the bells of Second Day to find the small glade empty. Her heart accelerated as she gasped for air, her fear of being alone overwhelming her rational mind. Tiera scrambled to her feet and whirled around, searching for any sign of life. He was gone. The trees were silent and the flowers bent gently in the breeze, but she heard only a muted splashing noise that came from beyond the edge of the clearing. She stealthily followed the noise until she was peeking through the bushes.

Breathing deeply to calm her anxiety, Tiera recognized Riat's figure floating in the river. He hadn't abandoned her. Zehro was splashing water on Lyd's prone body. Lyd swatted at Zehro feebly as he basked in the sun and Tiera observed that none of the men were wearing shirts. As she looked around the river bank, she spotted the pile of shirts and boots on a ledge near the water.

Zehro noticed Tiera's wary approach first and gave a shout in greeting. She flinched slightly but forced herself to continue towards the men. Riat righted himself and gave her a smile. Tiera found it hard to breathe as the sun gleamed off his tanned chest. She stumbled slightly and her attention turned to Zehro, who was sloshing through the water towards her at an alarming speed.

Once he neared Tiera, he reached out his hand to help her down the last embankment and into the river. Tiera hesitated before touching his hand, but as she looked up, she knew Riat was watching and reminded herself that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. She began to tug off her shirt when she heard Zehro's startled yelp. She cringed and looked up at his aghast face, wondering what she had done wrong.

"Little Rabbit," Riat's voice was amused as he waded towards her. "Why are you taking off your clothes?"

"Y-you don't h-have your shirts on," Tiera stuttered quietly. Lyd started laughing and Zehro flushed behind his tan.

"Tiera, you keep your shirt on. Just take off your boots and put them with ours." He pointed to the heap with a grin. Tiera was still confused, but she knew better than to ask questions.

The water was cool in the heat of the sun and felt refreshing as she splashed her way towards Riat, suddenly full of happiness. He caught her hands and pulled her to the deepest part of the river, where he could barely touch. She tread water gently and smiled widely up at Riat until he pulled her into a sloppy hug.