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Chapter 12: Her Disguise
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2024-10-29 19:42:56With my boots sodden and squelching, the leather rubbing on my damp softened skin, I ran as fast as I could for as far as I could.
But my clothes were heavy with water and my legs soon grew clumsy, tripping and stumbling over the roots and branches.
Half an hour of battling through the forest later, I tripped once more. This time so overcome with exhaustion that I couldn't save myself from falling and I dropped to the floor, catching my foot under the root. I whimpered, pressing my nails into the muddy floor as pain surged through my ankle. It already throbbed and when I hauled my self to my feet, I could barely put weight on it.
The storm was still raging on, refusing to have mercy even as I limped, dragging my injured foot behind me.
My eyes welled up and soon the rain-diluted tears dripped down my face.
"Are you trying to die out here, Esme?" a voice said from behind me.
I flinched and spun around only to see Alpha Rivers emerging f
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We walked on for hours more. I continued to help the woman and hold her child but she weakened more with every step as the child weighed down my arm. She was small and light but it had so long that my arm was beginning to ache as she kept slipping down.Alpha Rivers men still walked silently around us and although I knew they were for our protection, I couldn't help but feel unsettled by them. They didn't speak or smile or show even the slightest sign of humanity. So I held the child closer to me and just focussed on getting my people through the forest, across the border and away from these men as soon as possible.But when we finally crossed into Pheonix territory, Alpha Rivers lead us on further."Where exactly are you taking us?" I asked half an hour later."To the centre of my territory. A guarded camp has been set up for all of the Pheonix women, children and elderly. There are well-stocked caves to shelter in that will serve to keep them hidden too
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