The Lost

Chapter One

As the sun rose it made the sands look like an ocean with ripples of waves spanning over the hills, in the middle of this sand ocean was a small tent. This tent was not bad for someone who never built anything before, it was a simple tee-pee that the walls had been made of patchwork leather from different animals. Holding the hides in place were a very rough-looking twin, that was made from fibrous plants. There was a flap in the font to enter that was held together by a small stick latch and hoop. The top had a small opening for fresh air and to let out the smoke. Takara had placed a small triangle leather piece at the top to help with any rain that might come into the tent. In the center were a few small rocks that she had brought in from the fire to heat the tent for the eve. On the inside was about fifteen feet in diameter one side she had her few bags the makeshift carry sled she pulled when she had to camp and a few rations that she had dried from alligator and deer meat for food, with berries she had seen some of the local tribes eat.

Opening her eyes she whispered a prayer to Fryea giving thanks for keeping her alive yet another night. Listing to the sounds outside she sighed and flipped back her hide blanket and sat up. Stretching, she slipped on her day clothes and shoes, Takara moved to the opening of the door. Takara squinted her eyes to the early morning light. Outside the warm winds had kicked up, and there was rain in the air. Takara’s raven-black hair was whipping and snapping from the blowing wind, she frowned as this would make traveling difficult. Using her finger to brush through her hair and quickly pull it back into a thick braid that reached just past the arch in her back and tied it with a braided twine.

Takara had to keep moving in order to escape one danger or another in doing so this had taken her across these dead lands many times.

Watching and listening contemplated her surroundings as she sat eating a meager bowl of porridge. “ How long had she really been in these lands?” Counting on her fingers trying to remember. “ I think two seasons,'' she said to nobody. But it was nice to hear a voice that was not hollering at her on how they wanted to eat her bones in a bowl of soup, even if it was just hers.

She was working her way to the edge of the Jungle so that she would have the protection of the trees and less sand in all those places that it seems to find and get into. Her dress was simple. She had sandals that were made of palm leaves, bark and leather. So her feet did not burn or get cut up on the rocks. She wore a simple leather wrap around her chest and hips. That was just barely able to keep her covered.

On her wrist was burned into her skin a large G, she had used what was left of her hair tie to cover the mark on her wrist. With a sigh, she went to the motions of picking up her camp and making sure that she left nothing behind so someone could follow her. Once she had everything carefully on her little sled she smiles pleased with herself with her sled. It was only about six feet and four feet wide and held together with leather twine and palm leaves. Picking up the leather loops she fastened them to her shoulders and she started the day’s journey to the edge of the Jungle.

After a few hours and stopping for lunch she came to the edge of the jungle and kept going about forty feet in. When she saw it. This was a nice area on the edge of the jungle. Most of the predators roamed deeper within the dense forest and tangled vegetation. Not far away was a river for fishing and freshwater and plenty of wood to make a small place to call her own and set down roots. She planned to build into the trees. She set up her usual encampment and went about clearing the area and setting up a twin with seashells around the area she was as an alarm if anything was getting two close. As she went back to the main camp she gathered weeds, more bark and grubs for dinner and a fire. It was not long before she had the layout all set up.

Well, this will be perfect I think. Tomorrow I will go and start the process of getting trees and other things she would need for her building. Gazing to the north she thought. "Maybe I'll head to the mountains. I need coal and silk from the spiders.

With the thought of spiders, she shivered of all the wretched creatures that were in these lands the spiders were the worst.

As the night grew closer Takara needed to wash and bath picking up a spear she had fastened out of rock and sticks she went down to the river and took a wonderful swim she had seen lots of fish. Once she felt clean she headed back to camp hanging her clothes to dry and slipped on her only thing left from her life, her nightgown. It is what they hand put her on the cross in and she had washed many times to get the blood out of it. It felt as if it was her only thing she had left before her banishment.

Sitting down she closed her eyes and prayed to her Goddess Freya to keep guiding her and keeping her safe. She gave her offering of the blood of the rabbit she caught and watched the night sky for a while. When the moon was high in the sky she moved into the tent to sleep.

It was a warm night and Takara had kicked off her blankets, but this night she did not hear the shells when they were set off by a breeze, nor did she hear the sound of the ruffle of the door flap moving aside.

They’re as light and sound all around her as the sounds of the temple and she had been dancing before the Goddess on the night of the full moon. Her acolytes had been all-around engaging in the love of their Goddess as well, The sounds of lovemaking were echoing through the temple. As Takara turned the priest walked out and she could not help but look at this tanned skin, she could see the silky black hair that spilled from his mask and the body toned it sent a chill of want down her. She kneeled and felt the hand of the high priestess of the temple lay her fingers on the back of her neck. Your destiny awaits you my child and together you will be the last of us left.

When out of the blue the sound of a snake hissed and she started spinning.

Sitting up suddenly she was breathing heavily and realized it was a dream. But on the wind she thought she heard, Find him.

Shaking her head she heard hiss again and slowly pulled one of the daggers she had found from under her pillowed and listened. The sound was right outside of the tent she held still, the sound of slithering through the sand went past the tent with a relief she fell back asleep.

Takara was making her breakfast when she heard the sounds of cries and whips. She sighed knowing what would be passing but she knew she was far enough away not to be seen. This meant they were taking people to the crosses to hang for whatever crime they made up to make themselves feel better. If they served and were able to get off the crosses they could live in the banished lands. Again on the winds she heard, Save him Find him. Startled, she bowed her hair in prayer asking for clarification and it came, save him was the whisper.

Quickly she gathered her belongings and headed for the desert at a fast pace, bow in hand, she ran from jungle to grasslands to desert. As always the journey was full of danger both ordinary and, in this land, the not so ordinary. Like fierce predatory birds taller than she was, giant spiders seeking to trap her in their web and the vaguely humanoid creature she called imps. Whos blood burned your own flesh away if you got it on you.

Takara had heard it too late the sound of hissing and skittering, Just as she turned to see what it was, a giant spider leaped from behind some brush and spit a large web at her. Reacting to slow the web caught her foot and started to drag her to its fangs. Desperate, she swung around grabbing her daggers, cutting the threads that held her feet as fast as she could, Scrambling back she found her bow. Quickly knocking an arrow, she missed the arrow and flew past the creature and she did not have time to rest her arrows. Pulling the other dagger she had at her side she tried to calm herself; she knew the beast would raise up on its back legs and that would be her chance. She crouched low ready, and the spider did it raised up on its back legs and hissed ready to come down on her and crush her fragile body between the large fangs.

With a prayer and a hope, she pulled both her hands around holding the dagger and jammed them into the side of the spider’s torso, making a horrible sound the beast jerked again, and with enough force, it threw Takara into a nearby pile of rocks. Landing with a heavy crash she felt the edges cut her skin and she heard a loud crack when pain surged through her side. Falling back she did not have time to protect herself as the spider charged her. Before her eyes she saw the creature reach and fall on her closing her eyes she thought this was the end. But nothing happened. She opened her eyes and she was pinned under the spider with the blood spilling out over her.

Her heart was racing so loud she was sure that predators miles away could hear it. Takara fell back panting her breath gone and she gasped as the air flooded into her lungs. Pulling herself out from under the spiders she began moving her eyes over the dead creature of doom that laid dead at her feet looking up into the sky, “ I owe you, one Goddess, I owe you one. Cringing at the thought of having to cut up the spider she groaned and cursed as she took all she would need from this giant spider. Silks the thorax and the venom from the sack near the base of the fangs. After cleaning herself she started on her journey once again.

When she reached the desert the sun was as it's the highest peak, the sands were stirring in small spirals of sand rising to the sky, brushes were bending, loose bushes of brown twigs rolled passed and once again she cursed under her breath these were all signs that a massive sandstorm was approaching. WHY… Damn you desert Damn you.

Wrapping layers of cloth around her head and face for protection and set off on the final trek of her journey hoping she could make it to the Shattered Highway in time. As Takara approached she could see vultures circling in the sky above a small cluster of crosses, naked bodies hung on them. Such a sight of disgrace and sadness. But this is what the rulers of the land nearby wanted. If you did not do something they liked they sent you here to the deadlands.

Before she moved down to the crosses she laid down on her belly and crawled behind the stones that were just in front of the crosses as everyone was hung for their crimes.

She checked the first one. Dead. Second. Dead. A moan came from the third when she reached up to touch her foot and the women let out a cry of fear. “ No, No, Please, I won’t do it again she cried” Stepping back Takara placed her hand just above her eyes to block the sun from them, the woman had blood dripping from a deep gash in her head. Her skin had been badly burned. She must have been from the land of ice, she was pale tall and she had blond hair. Takara closed her eyes and whispered to her goddess and asked for her help.

Takara pulled out her rope and makeshift hook and wrapped it around the back of the cross just above where the women’s head was, and she walked back and pulled and tugged in a downward motion as far as she could. till all that was left was to ram into the thick cross until it tumbled over, ignoring the weak cries from the woman as she pulled out the spikes that impaled her to the cross. Takara lifted the woman's head to give her water and then gently laid the women on the ground so that she could get a better look at her wounds. Takara knew that being on the road this close to the border was dangerous so she glanced down the road and could spy fire not far off from where they were. Damit she had about a half-hour before they could see her. She estimated She had to hurry. There was not much time and she knew the women would not be able to walk. Pulling the cross over and it was too heavy and with the bodyweight would make it too hard to pull.

“Takara think!” She said to herself. “ The Branches” Yes that would work. Staying low she started to collect large branches, she heard a faint noise. Just down from were the women lay. A man she had thought dead was still alive. Going to the cross and Looking up to him he was in pretty bad shape he was dark like her his body had been beaten, was he a fighter, He was dirty from the sand and must have been out here for a few days, His long black hair was matted and tangled his lips were dry and cracking, she was surprised that he was even able to make any sound. Quickly she downed the cross and freed him from it. Is he the one the Goddess spoke of? “ Don’t be stupid she scolded herself self this is not the time. Dragging the man over next to the women.

She stood to check how close the light flickers were getting and they were still a good distance off. But there was no time to get both of them away before they were upon all of them. Biting her lip she may have to leave them behind and hope they leave them be if she was caught here she would be dead too. When she saw a rock that was creating a good cover they could hide there pulling the two newly freed humans to cave under the rocks, she flipped out one of her thin sand blankets and started pulling sand around them it was night and as long as they were quiet they would not be seen.

It was not long before she heard the hooves on the stone and the heavy wheels of the wagons, the sounds of hammers and cries of the banished being put up for display as reminders of what happens if you misbehave. They brought out four men and hoisted them to the crosses, calling out their sentences and wishing them well if they lived they would be free in deadlands, and laugh taunting them as many would die.

Takara waited till the moon was high in the sky before it felt safe enough to emerge from the sand. Shaking the sand from herself she made a sleigh and loaded the two upon it and started dragging them to safety. Thinking ahead she tied a palm leaf to cover the track marks and brush them away as they moved on.

Takara’s body ached with pulling them, they had walked for a good hour and she felt they were far enough laying them down set about to make a fire before the night engulfed them during the witching hour.

Setting up her tent she was able to get them inside and settled. The male had passed out again and the women had returned to her whimpering. Now that she was able to look at both of them and assess their injuries. The woman was first. This woman was sickly-looking, her injuries were much worse than she had first thought. Takara took water from her canteen and poured it onto clean cloth dabbing her head. She whimpered and cried.. Kill him you have to kill him or he will kill us. I am not killing anyone now. I will try to make you as comfortable as I can.

He will take me back if you kill him, he will forgive me please, she cried and whimpered as Takara soothed her the best she could.

She must have fought them. The gash she had noticed on her head was weeping and had a deep bruise that was appearing, looking close the wound was deep, to measure about to the first bend of her finger, the wound was open down to the skull. Knowing that this woman was going to have a slow painful death. Takara went out to make her tea. It was made with some black root, nightshade, and a sprig of mint for taste. this tea would put her to a painless death.

As the fire started to have good coal Takra watched the stars as they twinkled in the black sky. The moon was high and burning brightly making her feel safe in its glow. Moonlight bathed the sands looking slick and smooth like a mystical glass. Losing herself in the beauty of the moment with a deep sigh she looked back to the fire they finally had a nice glow to them. Takara put the kettle on the fire hook to boil, chuckling to herself kettle she thought a moment it was more of a clay pot with a hole she had fashioned from the clay in the river and added it with some of the wheatgrasses to keep it held, but it worked well enough for warming water. The water had just started to make the pop-pop sound it does as it starts to boil.

When she heard the man cry out. Dropping the cup she had in her hand she rushed to the tent, once through the flap she saw the woman over the man, her fingers were wrapped around his neck and she had plunged a dagger in his side. Stunned at what she was seeing she reacted, pulling her dagger walking behind the woman, and looking down at the man. His eyes were filled with confusion terror and she was about to make his waking dream so much worse. Whispering to him,” I am sorry, close your eyes.” Upon the closing of his eyes, Takara drew her blade across the woman's throat. The blood sprayed in a thick hot fluid down her chest and onto the man's body, it all seemed to Takra that it was happening in slow motion as her body fell with a sickening thud. As the body lay there the blood pooled under the woman's shoulders as it ran from the wound. Quickly turning her to the moaning male that lay with his handheld the knife at his side and he had pulled it free causing the wound to gush its life essence onto the floor of her tent.

Takara wanted to scream the wound was deep, she raised her hand and held it on his side, even with the pressure from her hand the gash still pulsed blood through her fingers. He cried out again and tried to fight her, in his pain and delusions. He spoke in a language broken she could only make out half of what he was saying. Being weak from blood loss, he looked up to Takara and mouthed something but the pain took him and he passed out.

Please, goddess, help me don’t let him die too. Cutting some of the cloth she had on hand into small squares to use for packing the wound, after a few sets of bandages she was able to get the bleeding to stop. He laid so still. If it was not for his quiet breathing she would have thought he was dead. Now that she had gotten the wound to stop bleeding. Talara checks his neck where you could see bruises forming, bringing her ear close to his mouth she listened to make sure his breathing was clear seeing as it was she Covered him with the blanket.

Now it was time to dispose of the women, with sadness in her heart Takara loaded her up on the sled after wrapping her body in palm leaves, she walked her a good way from the camp and buried her body, and said a few words over her grave before returning to the tent.

It was late and the moon was almost gone when she found her way back to camp. Tending to the fire so they would have coals in the morning and putting all her ration away her weariness was taking over. Crawling into the tent she fell back in exhaustion next to this strange man that was a whisper on the wind.

Anjing awoke and the pain in his arms was gone from the days he had been on the cross, he was warm, laying down, his body was clothed, well he at least had pants on. He could see his hands were wrapped where the spikes had held him in place. Turning his head he saw a form of a woman lying next to him she was on her side with her back to him, her long hair spilled out like a curtain of black silk behind her and she wore a dagger at her side he could see the hilt at the curve of her hip.

There was a bow not far from her, could he reach the bow before her? Tipping his head and listening he could hear the sounds of a dying fire outside. Slowly he sat up not making a sound and felt a stab of pain shoot through his side he almost cried out.

Glancing down his lip curled into a sneer seeing he was bandaged, and that he had blood stains on them. Looking back to the woman he brought his hand to his head it was ringing and making his eyes see spots waiting it was... Yes, it was A woman who had attacked him and tried to kill him.

Out of pure survival, he moved like he never moved before in a quick move he pinned Takara to the mats she lay sleeping on, and grabbed the dagger at the women’s side, and placed it to the woman's throat. Takara started awake looking up to a face that was drenched in sweat and confusion.” She could see the fear and wildness in his eyes.” Why did you try to kill me?” he said angrily through clenched teeth.

I did not try to…. I got you off the cross. I am the one that brought you here she stammered. The woman had not moved or tried to defend herself. Her eyes were in his dream; he knew them why?

How he could not remember, how she knew him. His memory was foggy but she helped him, he remembered the kindness he nodded and unable to hold himself up from the pain, then collapsed on her.

With a grunt, Dear goddess, you weigh a ton! Thinking she could just easily roll him off she raised her hips to try and push him off, this did not work so she went to roll him off and was still not able to move him. This male was at least two hundred and fifty pounds and a good foot taller than her. After much pushing and pulling she was able to get him off of her and back to his bed.

Looking him over she saw that his wound had started to seep blood again, she was going to have to stitch him up. This was not something she was good at. She found her needle she had made from the quill of a creature that thought he should spit them at her. Taking gut from the remains of dinner she worked and pulled it into strands that would be thin enough to slip and a very thin thread. With a deep breath, she moved to start the stitching but her hands were shaking. Goddess guide my hand.

This time Takara was able to keep her hand steady and push the needle through the skin. Looking down at her work she let out a breath that she had not realized she had been holding. She had done ten neat stitches that were holding well. Wrapping the wound again in clean bandages she sat back with exhaustion.

It had already been a day and she had not been able to move or wake the male from his sleep. The first days she did not go far from the camp in case he woke she was scared if he woke and tried to move he could rip the stitches and cause an infection. If that was to happen to move him and getting him anywhere near a place she could treat that would be a feat alone keeping him alive is a whole other ordeal.

Near the eve of the second day of watching him, she noticed that there were beads of sweat rolling down his face. Reaching out she places the palm of her hand and on his forehead, he was burning up and clammy. Pulling the blankets away from him, she used a damp rag to wipe him down with water to cool his skin, doing this she had hoped it would be enough to cool him down. Fever was dangerous and they were in the middle of the hot desert. Lucky the eve was cool and helped her get his fever down. Knowing with a fever she was going to have to move him soon.

It had been three days now and Takara stood out watching the road she knew they were going to have to leave very soon the caravans would return anytime. And over the last few nights in his feverish gibber, she had talked to him. She told him of her time here. Sang songs to him. Cooled him with water and when he was cold laid next to him to keep him warm. Takara had tried a few times to get him to eat some broth she had made from aloe leaves, it was very bland but it would help him to recover. Able to get some of the broth in him, She felt it was safe to rest for the night.

Takara was very concerned and he was not improving. On the fifth day Letting out a deep sigh and sliding her fingers through her hair, she was going to have to risk moving him to a place where she could clean him and tend him better. Find the herbs she would need to break his fever.

Making some adjustments to the makeshift sleigh she loaded him up. Looking at her sleigh there were two problems, one she was going to have to figure away to keep the son off him directly and not put any blankets on him to spike his fever, they would be traveling during the hottest points of the day. She could not travel at night; it would be too dangerous and she would be at a disadvantage with pulling the sleigh. Second issue she was very low on water. Then she remembered reading in her studies that she could get water from plant roots in the desert.

Taking the time to big up a good amount to keep them sated she set to work to make a shade to put over the male. After an hour of fussing with branches and straw, she was able to make a thatch lean over him to keep the sun from beating down upon him directly granted it was rather messing looking but it would work. Popping one of the roots in her mouth to get the water she pulled the harness around her shoulders and her bow on her back. Takra set out with a prayer and faith in her goddess.

Takara had to move slowly as they started off to the west; it took two days to get him across the desert and into the woods near the western part of the river. Making them a small lean-to from rocks branches and twine with what she thought was clever, palm leaves so she knew would keep him cool and shield him from the elements.

After arranging him so that he laid comfortably on the hides that she had she draped the leaves so that he was well-hidden. Stepping out of the shelter Takara raised her hand and called out to her Raven. The large raven landed on her hand and squawked at her. With a ruffle of his feathers from being bothered when he was sunbathing.“ Hello My friend, I need your help, Please watch him and warn me of any danger Yeah? She spoke softly to the bird. With a tip of his head, the raven perched itself near the tent to watch the man. With a chuckle, Takara did notice that the majestic bird was put out about having to lower himself to a watch bird.

Knowing she could not wander too far she would always stay within a good range to hear the bird call to her if she was needed. The area they were in was rich with plants and bark, weeds, and eggs. Which pleased her because if she had to eat another fish she might just cry. Each day for a week she had to go out and gather ale, ragweed, and some of the pine needles that would be needed for his tea and soup. She found some red clay that works wonders for the cut and the rich minerals helped with the healing of him. Things went on this way for a week before he started to show improvement and she felt she might be able to rest for more than a few hours at a time.

Before Takara went to sleep she had made sure to comb his hair, bathe him the best she could. Takara had taken the time to go out and gather wraps for him and makeshift shoes for when he woke. She had also killed a few of the deer around and had skins laying to try so they might have more than just their bits covered.

His wound at his side was healing well, and to her satisfaction, the scar on his side would not be very large, patting herself on the back with small stitches for the win. Changing into her a throng to sleep in she laid down next to him. Covering herself and him to keep them warm with body heat from each other in the cold of the nights. Closing her eyes she let the wind in the trees lull her to sleep.

During the night she kept hearing her name called, As if she was walking through a dream, she would keep seeing eyes that were so enchanting to her but she could not make out a face, kindness, and healing. Where it was from she could not be sure as she moved to the edge of the darkness she heard a sharp voice Takara WAKE UP!

Takra opened her eyes and heard rustling and sat up her hand on her dagger, and To her surprise, she saw him sitting up watching her sleep. “You're awake?”. I am, he said with a rumble of a dry throat I was looking for water.

Handing him the water skin she let him take it as he drank from it. With a cough and a look of relief he looked to her “ I am Anjing.”