After our conversation earlier on that day we headed out along the meandering road. The familiar rhythm of my shaky steps set the tempo of our march through the trees. "Shuffle, shuffle, tap." My contribution to the sounds of nature. I rarely ever heard Olvia's movements, her stride being smooth and powerful. We made quite the contrasting figures as we strode together, feline grace alongside quivering shuffling. Made all the more start by my my own hunched and bandaged stature next to the obvious grace and beauty present in the vast majority of Olvia's ilk.

     It would not be uncommon for Olvia to disappear from my side, either for a few minutes or hours she would be gone, a shadow amongst the tangles of the wood. She would always be back come either sundown or when I would have to rest though. Until later on, after we had walked for most of the day. She had left a few hours previous, but now the rays of the sun passing spotted through the canopy grew dim and slanted. Yet I could not see her.

     I began to grow uneasy. Had something happened? I knew that we traveled through mostly unsettled lands. And dangerous things lurked in thickets. Images of trolls, ogres, and other barbarians mothers warned to scare children with races through my thoughts. But what could I do? I was little better than a cripple. So I sat there resting and watching the light fade.

     It was dark when I could no longer stand it. Though we barely spoke, and I doubt she had any compassion for me beyond duty, I wouldn't survive on my own. The lands we traveled through were unfamiliar to me, and my weakness surely meant death at the hands of some terror or another. I struggled to my feet and continued down the path, leaning on my cane and managing a brisk shuffle through the darkened trees. 

     I had no reference of how long I may have walked like that having no clear view of the sky. But after a time I started to suspect that she may have finally gone. Perhaps finally sick of looking after a sick human. I couldn't really blame her, though the thought still raised a wave of fear in my gut. It wasn't a minutes since I started to have my doubts that I heard the distant sounds of a struggle, and saw the flicking shadows of distant fire. My legs already trembled from the exertion of the days walk and the bumbling pursuit that followed the setting of the sun. I still attempted stealth, or some excuse for it, as I approached the light.

     I hadn't made it a few trembling steps before tripping over something, sprawling and sending my makeshift cane flying off to clatter in the brush. Cursing under my breath I heard a voice with a thick peasant accent call to someone else "Ya ere that?" I lay motionless, not daring to try to right myself. "Aye. mays a bear? Or mays sumun de elf bitch's friends come lookin fer er." My eyes widened, though I remained still. Listening. "Keppo, go an look eh?" In a higher, somewhat reedy tone came an answer. "Whys ye sendin me ta look fer whata that is eh? Wake up Krasser an the boys an les all check it out." The lower voice answered. "If we wake Krasser up fer sum dumb bear siffin round our cook fires fer scrap he'll have us. Bad enough mood hes in after the she elf took out some o de boys fore we ere able to knock er out."

     I held my breath. There couldn't be anyone else it could be, whatever or whoever this was they had gotten hold of Olvia. Though it sounds like they may have paid. The higher voice whined "Nah e wont, de elf got im arm member? He was so mad after we took down de bitch e told us nota touch her tell he gets to her first. Fucker takes all e fun outta catching some elf bitch. We avent had onea those for a while." I can't say I was surprised. Barbarians or bandits, either human or not wandered the wild places that weren't kept by the elves. Their only law was strength. Those that didn't have that either from number or prowess were prey.

     My heart pounded as I heard one of them sigh, and footsteps crunching through the brush towards my general position. My mind raced. I couldn't fight them, I could barely take care of myself, let alone fight another man. Or dozen. My eyes frantically began darting, I had to find something, something I could do. I didn't survive the damn pit just to be butchered by these damn bandits. I could see a smaller fire through the trees, a torch making its way slowly. The fire swayed here and there, no doubt looking for the noise they had heard. As he approached though, the outline of an idea bounced in my thoughts. Quickly, a scrambled to right myself, and I croaked out "I come, I mean no harm!" It was hard to raise my voice, and I could feel my knees shaking as I stood. "Who de fuck are ye?" The higher wheedling voice answered, flame headed my way  quicker now.

     I tried to adopt a pitiful and non threatening stance. Not hard to do seeing as that was all I was really capable of looking like nowadays. "Please sirs, can I come and sleep by your fire?" I rasped and took hesitating steps towards the approaching outline of the man. This is probably going to get us both killed.