»Act I - 'Girl'

»Chapter I-IV 'Mute'

12E/Y381/M8/D4

New La'Rivera, Tierra de la Angeles (Reah)

A gunshot rang through the woods, followed by several rapid follow-ups.

Both Iryna and Laelynn jumped.

It was close, too.

Iryna got to her feet, swearing. It was really close. They could hear the splintering of bark at the tree line.

"Go!" Iryna pushed Laelynn to run, and started to follow before staggering, and falling into the well with several scraps of wood digging into her shoulder.

Hitting the bottom with a loud thump, her vision faded.

Laelynn screamed, but knowing better she backed away, grunting loudly, she ran towards the gunshots. Panting, panicked, with her breath already shallow, she burst into a clearing with a man back against a tree, rifle in hand. A bear slowly approaching him with several gunshots, he glared at her wide-eyed, "You, girl, do something!"

Looking back between him and the bear, she bolted forward, slamming shoulder-first into it. Causing it to stumble, she looked back, "Run!"

Scared, he nodded and made for the way she came through.

Kicking its side for good measure, the bear waled, and reared. Frozen for a split second, she pivoted, and followed suit with the hunter.

They ran, with Laelynn barely trailing behind.

The distant roars grew closer, and looking back the hunter yelled, "Any ideas?!"

Thinking about it for a moment, she nodded, "Yeah! Keep going, wait for me at the treeline!" She spurted before disappearing into the thick of the foliage.

Ah, fuck… The hunter thought to himself. Gritting his teeth, the booming steps behind him growing louder, he redoubled his sprint.

The snapping at his back pushing him to his limit, he burst through into one of the larger paths, and with a loud crunching, and creaking of wood he stumbled forward, falling onto his back. Collapsing, and resigning he sighed, before watching a tree crush the bear.

He stared in shock as Laelynn walked out of the underbrush, resting her hand on a tree, catching her breath.

"S'quite impressive lassie. How'd you pull that?" He asked, pushing himself to a sitting position.

She waved him off, "Nothing just… dead, rotting trees aren't too uncommon around here. They're a huge danger to hikers like us." She huffed, and collapsed into the dirt.

"Smart girl arn'tcha?" He gave her a wide, toothy grin. "Glad I ran into ya'. I'd be 'er lunch if it weren't for yourself."

She smiled, "Hey, look it isn't a problem. But I can use your help in return."

He tilted his head, "What woul'ja hav'a me?"

"My fiancé… when you were firing, some of the shots were hitting nearby us. Hit a tree, and the bark splintered." She spoke in between breaths, "It hit her in the shoulder and knocked her off balance… she fell into a well nearby."

"Apologies, lass. Di'in mean ta' hurt'cha or anyone really…"

"I'm sure she's fine. But I could use your help getting her out."

He nodded, "Aye. That I can certainly do. My camp's nearby. I can treat 'er there."

Laelynn gave him a scrutinizing look. She wasn't sure if she trusted him to do that, but she shook her head. Iryna needed the treatment… if worse came to worst, she'd figure it out.

"A'ight…" She said, resigning, "Please, follow me."