A Hero?

Luna's Pov

I watched as the person who was supposed to be my new owner was stripped and then flogged. My lips pursed as I roved my eyes over the small crowd that had gathered to watch him get flogged. Seeing the expression on some faces, I could tell that they did not really fancy him because how else would you explain watching someone get flogged with a smile on your face? I couldn't blame them though because I was not a huge fan either. Who would be after being bought like a piece of merchandise and then bundled like a sack of farm produce to this strange place? True, my former place was nothing to write home about either but at least, I hadn't been dragged there. I had been surprised by his offer to take my punishment though. That really wasn't an action that I would have expected from someone like him. Sure, he had tried to save me from Bane but I had assumed it was just to convince me to come with him. This though was on a whole new level.

I was broken from my musing as I watched him being helped to his feet and into his coat. The woman from earlier bolted toward him and they exchanged a few words before she backed away from him as he was led away. I noticed him scanning the crowd and soon enough, his eyes landed on me. He flashed a smile at me, "I will be back soon master." He mouthed.

"Master!" I scoffed. He wasn't a hero. He was a crazy man. Who else would pick a random stranger in the woods and declare she was his master? He is crazy as is everyone else in this entire place. "I need to get out of here." I whispered to myself. The thought had hardly escaped me though before I noticed a brown skinned, long haired woman bouncing toward me. She was still some distance away but I could see her white eyes flashing dangerously like the sky during a thunderstorm. I knew she was headed for me and for a moment I wondered if I should slip away or allow her reach me. I chose the second option for obvious reasons. I had no idea where to go.

"You!" She scowled as soon as she reached me, slapping me hard across the face. She had grabbed two fistfuls of my hair before I could recover from the blow and understand what was going on. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?" She growled.

In between the sting of the slap and the pain of having my hair being pulled, I couldn't answer her question but I had a feeling she wouldn't listen if I told her that so I spoke the language she understood. I pulled her hair in return and soon we were two bundles of tangled hair spewing words that shouldn't be found within a quarter mile of a maiden's lips. Back in my former abode, I had grown used to being bullied and not fighting back but this girl just made me mad. Sure, I could understand that she was worried about her friend but it wasn't my fault that her friend had brought me here against my will and gotten in trouble along the way, was it? With one massive effort, I managed to wrest her fingers from my hair and pushed her to the ground.

"Get off me!" I spat as I turned to leave, deciding I would just find my way out of here on my own.

She hurled several unprintable insults as she jumped to her feet and raced after me. I turned toward her, my shoulders tensed for a fight when a huge guy stepped between us. Staring at his ginger colored hair that stopped just beneath his ears, I realized that I had seen him earlier. He is one of my 'master's' close friends.

"That is enough fighting for today, don't you think?" His voice, bold, yet soothing boomed.

"Get away from me, Jamil!" She snapped as she tried to shove past him but was easily captured in his huge arms. I narrowed my eyes as I watched him whisper in her ears.

"I don't care! Let me go!" She groaned but relaxed when he whispered something else in her ears. She didn't fly like a chicken that had landed in a brazier full of hot coals when he let her go although her eyes still blazed with all the liquid fire she could muster. I had no doubt about her burning me to a crisp if she has the chance.

"Hey, Luna!" He turned toward me and flashed a smile at me, revealing his nice set of teeth. I inhaled sharply as I took in his features. Bright green eyes, sharp cheek bones, a pointed nose and a tall figure, he was pretty eye catching. Let's not forget to mention his bulky frame. When I met his eyes again, he had a cocky smile on his face as though to ask, "do you like what you see?" I did. I wasn't about to answer an unasked question though as I arched my eyebrows and met his eyes.

"Oh, sorry! I am such a bad host." He slapped an arm against his face in mock embarrassment before meeting my eyes again, "I am Jamil. This here," he wrapped his arm around the still heaving ball of rumpled air, "is Blaire and over there," he looked over his shoulder at the man who stood some distance away, sending a wary look as though considering the odds of us pulling every strand of hair out of his head if he moved too close. "Hey, Ulo, won't you come say hi to our guest?"

Watching him move closer, I realized that I probably knew who his father is. The green hair they shared was unmistakable. "And this here is Ulo." They were both muscular and tall but somehow, Ulo made himself appear smaller.

"You are the son of that..." I paused, wondering what word would be best to describe him. Several words came to mind but I was pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate any of them.

"Now, now, Ulo here isn't that bad and I dare say, we aren't either."

I frowned for a moment before realizing what he meant.

"Do come with us. You look like you need one of Blaire's super kits." Jamil called as he extended his arm toward me.

"Don't you dare!" Blaire growled as I ignored the arm and started to walk knowing they would catch up to me.