Mongrel Girl

Slap, slap, splash, the sound of bare feet slapping the wet ground echoed in the Great Forest. The moss covered trees seemed to swallow the sound and spit it back out louder and louder. The muddy ground spit back at the girl as she ran covering her feet and legs in a black mud, her strange black and gold hair was whipping her face in the strong wind, the rain stinging her bare skin as she ran. Then another echo, the sound of angry horses as their masters whipped them to run faster, the yelling of Elite men as they chased the petite Mongrel girl through the heavy forest in the storm. The girl ran as fast as her clawed feet would allow her. As the rain poured down onto her body she felt a different sting, a sharp pain in the back of her right shoulder as though she had been stabbed. The girl didn't stop to look; she could only think of running, getting away from the monsters before they caught her. As she continued to run, her grip on the apple she carried in her left hand began to loosen, she began to feel heavy and sleepy, she dropped the apple and slumped to the ground, only then did she finally look at her shoulder to see a crossbow bolt with a slimy substance on it. The monsters caught up, an Elite man with blonde hair and green eyes dismounted his horse and walked up to the girl with his whip in hand, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes and simply said, "I'm hungry" before passing out.

"Clayton, she's waking up." A soft voice spoke in the darkness, as the girl opened her eyes she saw an Elite girl standing over her, a girl about her own age with light red hair tied in a bun, freckles, and green eyes. The girl smiled down at her and the Elite man she had seen earlier walked up next to the Elite girl.

"Thank you for your assistance Vyra." Clayton said to the Elite girl.

"What is your name Mongrel? You spoke our language earlier so I know you understand me. Do you know that stealing from an Elite is punishable by death?" Clayton asked.

"I am Kitra, I picked an apple from a tree, that is not stealing." The Mongrel girl replied. Clayton let out a small giggle and smirk.

"The tree was on the land that belongs to the Elite city of Endeavour, therefore stealing from Elites." Clayton retorted with a smile.

Kitra lifted her hands, which were tied together, to brush her hair from her eyes. As she lifted her hands both Clayton and Vyra took a step back. Kitra brushed her strange black and gold hair from her face and ran her hand down her neck to feel the collar she knew would be there.

"Indeed there is a limiting collar around your scrawny neck, you will not be able to use any of your abnormal strength or magic here." Clayton said with a smug look on his face. "You Mongrel scum have become weaker over the years, each generation weaker and looking more like humans. (Kitra under her breath said, "We are humans, asshole") You could have passed for Elite if it weren't for the claws on your feet and hands, and the sharp canine teeth you have, your skin is even similar to Elites. Your hair is certainly different from any other Mongrel I have seen though. What are your special abilities Mongrel bitch?" Clayton was trying to bait Kitra into giving him information about herself, and her clan.

"I have no special abilities, unless you count being able to claw your eyes from your head." Kitra replied. Clayton laughed at Kitra's response and raised his hand as though to hit her, Vyra grabbed his hand before he could and shook her head no, "You will not beat her bloody to get answers from her. Then you are no better than the Mongrel monsters."

"Who are the monsters? Who chased a barefooted, starving, girl through the forest on horseback? Who poisoned a girl to make her sleep? Who has a girl tied up and a limiting collar on her? Elites are the monsters, not Mongrels. Elites turn weak Mongrels into slaves for their benefit, to use in war, or however they please. Mongrels just try to survive." Kitra was angry with being called a monster by the true monsters. Clayton giggled again and walked away. Only then did Kitra take notice of her surroundings. She was in a root cellar, tied hands, and feet chained to a support beam. She was on the ground, the cellar did not have much in it, a wooden chair, a few jars of preserved food, and lots of dirt. The wooden cellar door was old and splintering, and the stone walls looked as though they could collapse at any moment.

Vyra stood there looking at Kitra for a moment, then left the cellar herself. Kitra began trying to untie her hands with her sharp teeth, and succeeded. Then she tried to remove the collar, but it gave her a shock when she attempted to un-clasp it. The chains on her feet were indeed shackles, tight and locked. There was no way for her to escape at the moment. She thought about how she would try to plead with the Elites to allow her to live, thinking on the argument that the tree she picked the apple from was in the forest so it did not belong to anyone. At this moment the door opened and Clayton entered the room once again.

"Your luck day, our leader has decided to allow me to keep you as my new slave rather than putting you to death."

"I would rather be put to death than to become your slave, you monster."

"I saved your life bitch, get used to it." Clayton said as he unlocked the shackles from the beam and grabbed Kitra's arm pulling her to her feet. Clayton tightened his grip on Kitra's arm as he led her out of the cellar, she winced in pain but tried not to let him see her.

As Kitra was dragged from the cellar the sun blinded her for a short moment, then Kitra could see several run down buildings that looked abandoned and several other Elites with their leather armor and weapons standing around looking at her. There was one man who stood out, an older gentleman with light brown hair, and bright blue eyes. His armor was adorned with gems and gold. Kitra assumed that this man must be their leader. The man in the gemmed armor mounted his horse and looked at Kitra with intent to kill, his eyes pierced her soul and she could feel the hatred this man had for her. She couldn't help but to look away from his gaze.

Kitra looked at Clayton, for the first time noticing exactly how he looked, his blonde hair was too long and getting into his eyes, and his pale skin was so delicate it seemed as though you could see his blood veins through it, his green eyes were like emeralds. Clayton was slim, but muscular, he wore light leather armor over his body, except his hands. Kitra then glanced at Vyra, the girl was also wearing light leather armor and her eyes were the same color as Clayton's.

Clayton pulled Kitra to his horse and assisted her onto the saddle, side sitting due to the shackles. When Clayton climbed onto the horse behind her, Kitra was tempted to shove him off the horse, but knew that it would be bad for her if she did, so she just glared at him hoping her eyes would pierce him the way the gemmed man's had pierced her.

"I suggest you follow my every command little Mongrel, if you wish to survive." Clayton whispered as they started galloping behind the rest of the Elites, back into the forest.

This is Just the first chapter of my book. You can find the whole book on Amazon at,

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G861SYQ

Free on Kindle Unlimited and 4.99 to buy.