The Journey

Warning: Some details maybe triggering for some readers.

"You"

I woke to talking. I sat up, taking a few minutes to realize where I was. Then it all came back to me. Being denied. The Talusismen. The Henze brothers. I turned, Hector, was working on the fire and I couldn't find the other one. His smell was farther away,though not too far.

"He went to go find us some food and water" Hector realizing I was looking for Jacob.

I nodded. "Anything I can do?"

"No, we got it!"

-She's not a Princess anymore you can't keep treating her as such, she needs to learn to fit in-

-First off, every lady is a princess, she's just lost her crown, that's all. Second, it takes nothing away to be a gentleman! And third, oh alright I agree with you-

"Well actually come to think of it, wanna help me fold the sleeping mats up, so we can book it after breakfast, and make up for some lost time?"

"Sure. Wait...." I looked up it was about eight in the morning. "We lost 3 hours?"

"Don't worry we will make it up, we need proper rest, or the Taulsismen, get what they want, weak Azurains, easier to take us down." He responded with a grin. "Now, let's get to work!"

Within the next hour we were on the road again. "At this rate we will be to the Malatiens in three days" Hector said "this is great!"

"Depends on how you look at it, three days without being safe, anything could happen". I said

"She's right" Jacob said.

"You two our so perfect for each other, you such doweners" Hector said.

I was beginning to like Jacob, he was resourceful, agreeable, knew his way around, and had at least a brain.

"What's the plan?" I asked

"Where gonna stick to the woods during the day and hit the roads at night" Hector said.

"Hmmm smart" I said

And that's exactly what we did, for three days. We had spent a fourth day in a small town, where we bought a couple spare clothes each and some food. We had about the rest of the day before we would hit the Malateins territory. But then things went bad.

"I think when we hit the outskirts of their territory it would be best to camp that night, and then seek in audience to their King in the morning. Do you both agree?" I asked .

"Yeah, we see no problem, he'd probably wouldn't see us until the morning. But we probably should change, and get cleaned up though." They both said.

"Yeah, some of us smell" Hector said looking at Jacob.

I laughed "ok, but ladies go first"

"Of course" said Jacob, "there is a lake about 3 hours from here, we can camp for the night, and then bath tomorrow!"

"Sounds fine by me!" I said.

•At the Lake•

Alone. Well kind of I kept sensing Jacob wandering close enough if something were to happen he'd be here in 30 secs. Ughh can a lady not get 30 mins alone. It's not like if I didn't scream he wouldn't hear me. I waited just a little longer as he headed back towards Hector. Finally.

I started to undress when I heard a rustle in the trees about 10 feet from me. "Jacob??" I asked. I started to turn when I felt a hand grabbed my hair and yank me so hard, I let out a scream. Next thing I know my head is getting pushed into the water. I'm trying to stay calm, I can't panic. I start to thrash around, I need him to think he had control, I slowly quit thrashing about and stopped moving all together. He thinks I'm dead. I'm not. He pulled me out and when I could feel his face close to mine, I slam my elbow into his face. He let out a yelp and threw me away from the lake, my head slammed into the rock. I yelp. My head was spinning I could barely see.

I heard him say "Now, you'll pay!!

He grabbed my wrists and held my arms down, I heard him starting to unbuckle his belt. I knew what was coming but for some reason, I froze. I didn't know what to do, for once I was alone.

He started pulling down his parents. That's when my heart starting racing. I was saying no over and over again. And that's when he grabbed my dress I started kicking at him making it harder for him, trying to stop him. He was hiking up my dress spreading my legs, I let out a scream. And next thing I know I hear a roar and see a blurry streak of a lion. The lion lunges at the man who lets out a terrifying scream, the man's body falls to the ground. Dead. The lion turns at me, and changes into Jacob.

He rushes to me , grabs my arms, and pulls me into a hug "Are you ok? Did he rape?"

"No he didn't, he was close but he didn't" And right there in front of a man I barley knew, I cried, I bursted into tears. I had broken lesson 2.

Never let them see you cry. That's what I was told my whole life. And right there I broke it.

I stopped, "where's Hector?" And at that we both heard a loud scream. We ran, and when we got to where our stuff was, we saw what was left of a struggle, blood everywhere, and no Hector.