[with Thomas]

[no_thief]

[A day or two after this.]

There are five of the liveried guardsmen in the inn now, and two in the stables.

Kaya hid the night in a storeroom bin that used to hold apples, and is now peering through a crack in the wall into the common room and trying to find a way past them.

Comments

[no_thief]

"Ji, look out --" shouts the other man, his voice mingling with Kaya's shriek.

Thomas's belt knife scores a deep gash through the blue uniform, drawing blood. The guard called Ji lets out a hoarse cry and goes to one knee, and his grip slips off Kaya's arm --

-- and the other guard's sword comes out with a clear singing scrape, and he swings for the intruder's legs.

[vagrant_malkin]

He dances out of the way of the blade, just barely, and earns a tear in his pant leg for his troubles. He hasn't stopped moving, though, his other arm has a hold of Kaya, heaving her over one shoulder while he makes a break for the underbrush once more.

They needed to move and they needed to hide.

[no_thief]

The other soldier's right on their heels to the edge of the clearing, and then crashing through the underbrush right behind them.

[vagrant_malkin]

Move! Movemovemovemove.

He'll manage breathlessly, if Kaya is okay.

[no_thief]

Kaya's okay, at least for the moment, and has the sense not to struggle this time.

The soldier is still right behind Thomas, keeping to the track he's trampling through the brush.

[vagrant_malkin]

He's thankful, that Kaya is light. It allows him some maneuverability, still, vaulting over fallen trees and ducking under low branches without losing much of his stride.

If that guardsman catches up to them, it'll be their death.

[no_thief]

Thomas's death, perhaps. Not Kaya's. She knows that, and knowing it brings her no comfort at all.

She huddles as close to Thomas as she can, as she would to a fleeing horse, trying not to impede his movement.

The guard is panting behind them, and they can both hear him swearing aloud as he lunges with his sword.

[vagrant_malkin]

There's a soft grunt from Thomas, as something stings him. Though it's likely just a branch that's hitting him as they pass. All it manages to do, though, is just but the barest moments of a hitch to his step, before he presses on.

[no_thief]

And it seems that's as far as the guard cares to follow them, with his injured companion behind; he shouts a few vicious oaths at them before turning back.

Kaya buries her face in Thomas's shoulder and clings tight.

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas isn't letting her go anytime soon, and as soon as the guard is out of visual range, he does his best to move a bit more stealthily. It wouldn't do for them to get away, only for them to be followed easily.

[no_thief]

That same dull edge is digging into Thomas's side; something under Kaya's shirt. She doesn't seem to notice this time, holding tightly to him as he moves -- although when she can't hear the guard anymore, she lifts her head from his shoulder to look at their backtrail.

In a whisper: "I think he's gone back."

[vagrant_malkin]

"Doesn't matter," he pants in a low tone, suddenly feeling winded and a little light headed. "We have to put as much distance between us and them as humanly possible."

[no_thief]

Kaya nods. That panting; he sounds tired.

"I can walk," she offers tentatively.

[vagrant_malkin]

"C'n manage."

He's aware of a stinging in his side, now, and he shifts Kaya over to one arm while the other inspects. When his hand comes away slick with blood, he can only blink at it confusedly as he stumbles.

"...Oh."

[no_thief]

She's seen it, and sucks in breath in a near-silent gasp.

[vagrant_malkin]

"Well...this just fucks everything up."

Carefully, he places her on the ground, and presses his hand to his side to staunch the flow.

"We should keep going."

[no_thief]

"You need --" Shaky, but definite. "You need to bandage it. You need to clean it, and bandage it -- stop it bleeding --"

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas frowns.

"Let's at least get a little more hidden, okay?"

[no_thief]

She gulps, and nods, but her eyes don't leave the wound, or the blood seeping out around Thomas's hand.

[vagrant_malkin]

Not too much father away, they manage to find an overhang of rock, mostly covered by dense foliage. Nearby, there is the telltale sound of nearby water.

Thomas ducks into the alcove, grunting and using the wall as guidance as he sinks to the ground.

[no_thief]

"Lie down," she says, "you need to lie down, I -- I'll get you water, and we need some, something to tie it off with --"

Her voice is shaking, and she sounds on the verge of tears.

[vagrant_malkin]

He reaches with his free hand to squeeze her fingers gently.

"Easy, take a breath. Be calm, then act."

[no_thief]

Her fingers tighten on his in a quick spasm, and then she's off and away, hurrying toward the sound of running water.

She's back within moments, clutching a soaked kerchief, ragged but clean.

[vagrant_malkin]

He's vertical...ish. Looking sort of pale as he clutches his side.

"Quick one, aren't you?"

[no_thief]

She holds out the soaked rag, her hand trembling. "You need to clean it," she whispers. "You need to clean it or you could die."