11

Two weeks they hiked through the woods before Liga found something familiar. Another week, and she found the little cottage she had stayed in with Otreg the first couple of nights. She showed the girls to the bathroom, laid blankets on the ground for the cubs, then began cooking.

They were well fed that night, and slept more comfortably than they had with their captors or in the forest. They all huddled in the sitting area and slept on the floor.

The next morning, Liga went into the town with Nione to go the to bell tower, wanting to hang the scarf. When Nione asked why, Liga just said it would signal to trusted help.

As they headed back, Liga heard a familiar voice. She halted in her tracks and stared at the man exiting the store.

She and the man met eyes. She felt her heart drop in terror. The man began to stalk towards them. Liga was unable to move, even though Nione was tugging her arm.

The man grabbed Nione's arm and shoved her away, then grabbed Liga's hair and dragged her away.

Otreg was with Rumbarth and Kesar, who had Jose on his back. They were flying towards Citron's home to alert the man of Liga's being with a bunch of women and cubs. He didn't think Liga would try to find Citron, but he knew Citron would watch for her.

Kesar gave a growl, alerting Otreg to a glimmer to the right. A glimmer he recognized. Once again, his heart filled with hope. He and Rumbarth flew to that glimmer while Kesar and Jose continued to Citron's house.

When Otreg landed and shifted into a man, he strolled around the streets casually looking at every passers by, but no one stood out to him.

He grew frustrated, wondering where she could be. Where she would have gone.

He heard a subtle growl from the edge of town and turned. Rumbarth looked excited, eyes bright. Otreg ran to him, then followed the cub as he flew in a direction Otreg knew. His cottage!

Otreg began to run, his own excitement making him go faster than any human. When he reached the clearing, he saw a bunch of cubs and women playing in the grass, others sitting on the porch, and more inside. He didn't see Liga, but he knew this was her group of girls she helped rescue.

Before Otreg had a chance to stop him, Rumbarth ran into the fray, gurgling happily. The women were scared of what his appearance meant, but the cubs were delighted.

Slowly, with his hand up, Otreg revealed himself. The women all scurried to the house, afraid. But one, a tiny girl who looked ready to burst into tears, stepped towards him. "Who are you?" she asked softly.

"My name is Otreg. I'm here to help."

The girl looked him over, and her eyes caught on the scarf. Her eyes widened. She glanced back to his face. "Can you help her?"

"Who?"

"Liga?"

Otreg went breathless.

Liga screamed as her master whipped her again and again, beyond angry at her for stealing the egg and lying to him. Her back bled. Her body was in agony. Her mind was broken from too much pain. She couldn't think. She couldn't hardly breathe. She didn't know anything besides pain.

Her master whipped her for hours, then left her on the floor of his dirty shed, locking the doors. She couldn't move. She couldn't even speak. Liga closed her eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.

She woke to a kick to her ribs. Crying out, she curled into a fetal position as her master grabbed her hair and dragged her to a table and chained her down to it. She moaned at the chill the stone brought her, but he grabbed a large knife and moved towards her.

Otreg held Noine in his arms as she cried. The other women were left to be with the cubs as he asked her about Liga. He found out that she was taken the day before by her master. Noine hadn't understood who the man was, but when she described his appearance, Otreg knew.

He spent the night with the women. The next morning, he told Rumbarth to stay and protect them. Otreg went to Citron's house first. He found Jose standing outside with a thoughtful expression on her face. Otreg walked up to her. "Where is Kesar?"

"Talking," she said.

Otreg nodded and went inside. He found both men sitting. Kesar jumped up at his appearance and gave him a questioning look. "I need your help," he said and explained the situation.

Citron listened as well, and offered to go to the cottage to give the women some company. Jose would go with him so the women felt comfortable, and Kesar would go with Otreg.

Liga moaned. Her master had let her bleed, then put salt on the wounds, creating a searing pain she couldn't escape from.

Now, she felt numb. She didn't know what day it was or the time. She just knew that she had failed her friends. She had failed Rumbarth.

The doors to the shed burst open with flying splinters, letting in blinding light. She closed her eyes, unable to move her head. She heard her chains rattle, then arms about her. She screamed.

The person didn't put her down though. They carried her out of the shed and into the sunlight. She heard voices, angry and violent, but couldn't understand their words. Then, she felt the person move again, seeming to walk for hours. Every step created agony. All she could do was cry.

Liga must have passed out, because the next thing she knew, she was on a soft surface with a blanket on her. She saw bandages around her body, on her wounds, and felt confused. She didn't know where she was.

A door opened and in came a figure she couldn't identify. Her vision was blurry.

The figure sat beside beside her and touched her brow with a cool cloth. Next, Liga heard a female voice. "Liga okay. Jose help. Liga safe."

Liga now recognized who was with her. Her voice cracked. "Jose?"

"Jose."

Liga felt a little better, and fell asleep.

When she woke again, it was dark. Someone was sleeping in a chair across the room, arms crossed. She was squinting, unable to believe her eyes. But then, she thought maybe she was hallucinating. Liga squeezed her eyes shut, but when she opened them again, it was the same figure.

She began to move, wanting to get up. But the pain was too much, making her cry out.

The figure jumped and rushed over. Liga cringed away, not wanting him near. "Liga, it's okay."

She stared for a moment, then screamed.

The figure jumped away and slapped his hands over his ears as two other figures entered the room. One was Jose who went over and sat beside Liga. "Liga safe. Liga hush. Liga okay."

"No!" Liga cried.

"No?"

"No!" She couldn't talk much without her throat burned, but she gave Jose a pleasing look.

Jose turned and said, "Out."

"But-"

"Out. Jose stay."

When the man left, Liga calmed. Jose's companion came closer and stood behind the girl. "Liga, are you hungry?"

Liga took a deep breath. "Throat."

The new man nodded and left.

Jose stroked Liga's hair and spoke words that didn't mKe sense, but made Liga calm. Five minutes later, the man returned and handed Jose a cup.

"Drink?"

Liga nodded and let the girl lift her head to put the cold water into her mouth. She drank slowly. Her throat found relief. When she finished half the cup, she moaned and laid back.

"Liga, someone wants to see you."

She shook her head, not wanting to see that man ever again. "No!"

This man knelt and smiled sadly. "It's not him, Liga. It's Rumbarth."

The name was familiar. She turned it around in her head and remembered her cub. She looked at Jose's companion. "Alive?"

"He's alive. Can I bring him in?"

Liga nodded. He went and opened the door. A familiar gurgle made her heart beat with joy as the cub bounded over and gently lay his head on the bed beside her. She smiled at the big green eyes. He was safe! He was alive!

Liga felt tears pour from her eyes. Jose lifted the cub up onto the bed. Rumbarth turned into a baby boy and snuggled into Liga's side. Liga turned her head to touch his, and closed her eyes, content.

Otreg paced the kitchen while Kesar and Jose helped Liga calm down. Then, Rumbarth disappeared into the room and he knew Liga was not hallucinating. She hadn't thought he was one of her captors. She knew who he was. And she didn't want him around.

He cursed.

Twenty minutes later, Kesar came out and approached him. "She's asleep now."

"She doesn't trust me anymore."

"Well can you blame her?"

"No," Otreg sighed.

Kesar leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. "Let her heal. Let her gain strength, then you can start over with her."

Otreg shook his head. "I can't wait that long. My dragon won't let me."

"Liga isn't going to-"

"Liga won't have a choice!" Otreg growled. "I am not going to leave her alone again!"

The next morning, Jose cleaned Liga's wounds and rewrapped them. She then fed Liga and made Rumbarth leave the room so Liga could bathe in privacy. The cub growled, but Liga told Jose to allow him to stay. So, Jose let the cub be and gently washed Liga down with a warm wet cloth.

She was almost done when there was a ruckus from another room. She paused and stared at the door. Then, Otreg burst into the room. Immediately, Liga screamed. Jose flinched. She didn't know anyone could have such a loud scream. But she glared at Otreg. "Out!"

"Jose, I appreciate what you've done, but I will not leave again!"

"Liga no clothes! Out!"

"I will do the rest."

Jose rolled her eyes. "Otreg be baby! Liga no want Otreg! Out!"

"Jose," he warned.

"KESAR!"

Otreg cursed and reluctantly left the room. Jose smirked and turned back to Liga. She finished washing her down, then laid the blanket over her without a shirt. Liga was asleep a few minutes later.

Jose decided to leave her and the cub alone and went to her mate. Kesar was grinning at her as she walked into the living room. "Poor Otreg!"

"Jose no think Otreg like Jose say no."

Kesar chuckled. "He'll get over it. Besides, Liga needed him to leave before she thought to move."

Jose nodded. "Liga sleep."

Kesar nodded. "Good. Do you mind if I go home and get Zargis and Thelia? We are going to need their help with everyone."

Jose hummed and embraced Kesar. "Go. Jose Liga safe."

Kesar kissed Jose then quickly left. Jose then went and spent time with the other women.