The man stopped, looking back into the night, " By damn, don't know why I ever returned to these parts, to many people, and all nosey as a coon!" Seeing no sign of pursuit he turned and walked along the faint forest trail. He moved like a fallen leaf with little sound, years alone in the mountains had taught him well, one either learned, or died, and he was of the mind to live a while yet.
He had returned to the lands of his birth for no real reason, his kin long dead, friends old and settled in a sedimentary lifestyle he could never follow. His thoughts were turned west, back to the shining mountains he loved so well, when something caught his attention, stopping, he listened.
A faint crying and the sound of a whip on flesh came to him. "Damn," he grumbled to himself, turning, he moved toward the sound, a sense of justice driving him to see what went on.
Creeping carefully he looked through the brush at the edge of a small clearing, what he saw brought a silent curse to his lips, in the clearing three men stood laughing, as another swung a whip beating the back of a girl. "That'll teach you some manners!" The man said, reaching back to send the whip cracking again.
Anger boiling, the man stepped from the shadows, silently moving toward the group, drawing knife, and tomahawk as he went.
"I'll take no sass from a slave, even if she does work in the house, you slut!!" cried the man with the whip, the others were intent, watching him and never noticed the silent beweaponed man approaching.
"You'll beat the child no more, bully!" roared the man, as he raise the hawk, swinging to hit and not kill, he quickly sent two to the ground, then sprang on the whip holder, knocking him aside and turning to confront the remaining two. "YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! I'M HALF WAMPUSSCAT, HALF GRIZZ AND ALL MEAN!!!! YEEEEEEAAAAA COME AGAIN SOMETHING WHAT'LL FIGHT BACK YEE COWARDS!!!
The sight of two already on the ground, and the heavily armed apparition was to much, whip dropping to the ground the two grabbed the ones struggling to stand and all ran stumbling down path .
Chest heaving, in anger and excitement, the large man turned toward the now totally terrified girl, speaking softly to her. "Are ye able to stand girl? Those cowards run right well, but might return, and with help, we best leave."
"Ssstand? pperhaps Master, but run? Where would I run to escape? The night is dark, but ya can see I be dark."
"Dark be damned girl, nobody should be treating a girl so, Ye can come with me for a time, bit rough living, but you'll be better off away I says."
Nodding , the girl tried to rise, making it almost, shuddering with the effort. " Might hold you up a bit Master, they whipped me hard." the girl sobbed.
Stooping, the man lifted her to a shoulder, "Can't stop here girl, I'll try not to jostle you, but miles can be made afore sunup, and this'll be faster." He said, then noticing she had passed out, "For the best I reckon, this'll be faster anyhow." Turning, he slipped back into the trees, and soon fell into a traveling stride, despite the burden.
Morning found them miles away nestled in a small area beside a clear pool, the man had a tiny smokeless fire going and three fish roasting as he looked over the girl. "Hmmmmm, good looking lass." he thought as his body began to respond to the sight, " None of that, she's been ill used and needs time for healin." he thought, as she stirred from her slumber. He turned and left the clearing, searching for herbs for a salve.
Returning with a handful of yarrow, and some tender willow shoots, he proceeded to make a salve, hands working seemingly without guidance he quickly made up the salve and set it aside. Moving gently he nudged the girl awake, " Girl, much as you need sleep, we best see to your back, wake up now." he called gently.
