Freya winced, her hand covering the large cut on her leg . She felt a wet substance on her palm on the fresh wound but she barely had time to fuss over it. Swinging the same injured leg over the closest branch, she pulled her self up on it, plopping exhaustedly.
Her heart hammered loudly and sweat trickled down her neck. Dont look down...don't look dow— She slapped her palm over her mouth, stopping the scream that threatened to claw out of her throat. Her eyes were opened widely as she stared the at the ground that was so far away from where she hid.
If she just slip, you could....
She shook her head, taking in a deep breath. She was not going to fall...she was not going to fall....she was not going to fall.
Her fingers dug into the rough bark, splinters biting her skin as she forced herself to stay still. The thick canopy of the oak wrapped around her like a cocoon, shielding her away from sight. She just needed to stay still all night...stay still all night.
It sounded easy but the distance between her and the ground reminded her of danger that was verily looming below her. Every slight sway of the branch sent her stomach lurching, but she held her breath and pressed her body closer to the trunk.
Her whole body froze when she heard a faint rustling sound from ahead. She hesitantly raised her head up, making sure she was still properly covered by the leaves. She squints her eyes, trying to make out the tiny figure approaching the oak tree she was on. Everything below looked tiny from her view so she was unsure if it was a person or a bear.
Her breath hitched when the vague presence finally became much clearer and the familiar tall figure of her buyer stooped in front of the tree. For a moment, she thought she had spotted her and was already putting up a fight in her head but he turned towards the left side of the tree.
The first path she planted her scent!! Her plan worked!!!
She did a little victory dance in her head but it was cut short when he stopped in his track, his head whipping around. He took a sniff in the air and tilt his head before taking another deep sniff.
" I have to commend you little one. You sure are very smart" he chuckled and all blood drained out of Freya's face "But you should've considered that I'm a 1000 years old dragon. Nothing get past me".
He found her! He found her!
A surge of overwhelming panic flooded her mind. He shouldn't....it wasn't suppose to happen so fast... her plan was solid!!
She held her breath, waiting for him to look up but her eyebrow arched in confusion when he moved instead, to back of the tree.
It was then she realized that although he knew that she threw her scent around to throw him off, he didn't know exactly where she was because her scent was all over the place!!!
There was still hope but she had no idea how long his confusion would last. Her lungs burned from holding her breath and every muscle in her tensed as she watched him circle the oak tree like a predator looking out for it's prey. Which was exactly what they were.
" I have to say, darling". He paused right below her " Fear has its own scent and right now, I can smell yours a mile away".
" Gotcha ". He suddenly tilted his head up, straight at where she thought she was safely hidden.
She screamed, taken off guard and in the frenzy of the moment, she lost her balance on the tree branch and her greatest fear played through her eyes.
She was falling.
She was falling!!!!!!
Branches whipped past her as she fell, scratching her arms and tearing through her sleeve. The rush of air stole her scream halfway, replacing it with a strangled gasp. Her heart rammed against her ribs, a blur of green and brown flashing before her eyes.
" Ahhhh" she closed her eyes just as she thought she'd hit the floor, bracing for the impact but it never came. Peaking one eyes opened, she screamed, realizing why she had yet to hit the floor.
She was floating!!! Hovering a little above the hard ground she'd have fallen in from that distance. She'd have died of course...or broken many bones.
The man who was responsible for her almost sudden death move forward. Hisboots appeared first, then his voice which was deep and unhurried, carrying that maddening amusement that made her blood boil."Well," he drawled, crouching just enough for their eyes to meet. "That was quite the entrance."
She blinked, her mindstruggling to catch up what her body was experiencing . It was like she was hold up by invincible hands and her momentarily distraught had distracted get from the threath at hand.
" W-w-what did you do?". Her voice trembled.
He tilt his head, his red tongue licking over his lips " Saved you". He simply said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.
" Please...put me down". She grits her teeth.
He stood up from his crouched position and almost immediately, whatever was holding her let go and she plopped face down on the floor.
She groaned, pain flooding her already exhausted body. Although she knew it'd be nothing compared to the pain she'd have felt if he didn't do what he did, she still stood up, balling her fist " You should have let me fall. I'd be happy to die than to be a monster's possession".
He arched an eyebrow, stepping closer until his tailcoat touched her bare feet and his overwhelming aura pushed into her, making her to want to subject to him " A deal is a deal, human. You should be grateful I decided to entertain this faux game rather than ripping off your throat when I caught you running away".
She swallowed, the thought of dying suddenly not so appealing again. His molten gold eyes glared into hers and everything in her was compelling her to look away but her body refused to look away.
Mara had always said her daring personality will someday get her in serious trouble. Maybe this was it.
But surprisingly, instead of hitting her or strangling her like she thought he would....hell, he looked like he was seconds into wrapping his hand around her throat...but instead he straightened, his expression unreadable.
He turned towards west and suddenly a whistle rang through the forest. A whistle from him. Before she could comprehend what was happening or what it meant, a strong gush of wind flapper through the forest, shaking the smaller trees and even the leaves of the bigger ones.
Her mouth gaped open and she fell to the floor in shock as a large black dragon landed on the floor of the forest, crushing some trees in the process.
She watched him mount on the dragon lowered back before turning to her " Come here, little one".
Her agape mouth closed and opened again almost immediately. Was she supposed to ride...t-t-hat thing with him???????