How did they find us? We didn't even know where we were! It's probably just my luck anyway, thought Eliza. As their pursuers drew closer, she urged her mount off the beaten path once again. Maybe that will slow them down...I can't let them catch me again, not now that I've tasted true freedom!

Eliza was alone. Very much so, and in all ways possible except the one she needed: physically. Even in that form, the only people around were her pursuers; why oh why couldn't she get rid of them? Once she thought she had finally lost them they'd just show up the next day closer than before. She looked over her shoulder again, trying to remember the days before running.

That's when she saw him; a boy had galloped onto the trail she had just abandoned. Was he chasing her as well? Eliza doubted it; he was going in the wrong direction. He also seemed to be slowing down...Is he insane? They'll catch him for sure if he keeps that up! Eliza couldn't let that happen; she knew all too well what happened to the people who were captured. She wheeled her horse around to follow the boy from the safety of the woods. But how could she help him? Give up her chance for freedom to cause a distraction? Attack the band of Leeacks alone? Would any of it do the lad some good and aid his escape?

I'll do it. She urged her mount closer to the path, but all of a sudden the boy flipped around of his horse and let loose a small volley of arrows, bringing down the Leeacks one by one. How in Blorag’s name did he do that? No one has ever been able to stop them before! Eliza brought her mount to a halt, wondering what she should do.

"You can come out, now." She nearly fell off her horse when she heard his voice. The last time she had heard a human speak was as she was escaping the Leeacks' holding cells, almost a fortnight ago. Is he talking to me? Does he know I'm here? "I apologize if I have taken you by surprise, I mean you no harm, milady." Eliza quickly and quietly rode towards the mysterious boy, never once letting him out of her sight. "Are you all right?" the boy questioned, dismounting to retrieve his arrows.

"I believe so...have you been following me?" Eliza asked uncertainly. She had a strange feeling that, as the boy had stated, he wouldn't hurt her, but there was something strange about him and it made her uneasy.

"Yes, for about five days now. I've been trying to lead the Leeacks away from you so you could escape, but they appear to have been better trackers that I originally thought. I shall have to improve myself upon my return."

"Your return?" Eliza questioned, "Do you live out here? In the wild?" Maybe that is what seems so different about him. Or maybe it's just that he doesn't act like all the slaves on Quinzar. I guess being born free changes you.

"Yes, I live within this expanse of forestry, 'the wild', as you call it."

"Surely you don't live alone? That would be horrible!" Eliza blurted out. I would really hate to live out here all on my own. I don't know if I'd be able to stand it!

"No, I don't live alone. I live with my family. I've lived out here all my life actually...but enough about me, what will you do now? Should I escort you somewhere, or would you rather accompany me back to my home? I must warn you, my family can be quite territorial and might try to ward you off. In truth, they also have a tendency to attack strangers they fear to be a threat, but they will protect others with their very lives."

"I've had enough of running scared and being alone. The way I see it, I can continue on the way I am and probably get spotted by more Leeacks, or I can go with you to your home to either be slaughtered or sheltered. I think I'll stick with you. It has to be better than the slave trade," Eliza reasoned as she unconsciously began to rub her right arm.

"As you wish, milady," the young man said with a bow, and then remounted his horse. "My home is three hours of easy riding from here, but we could easily reach it in one with a quick pace and a few shortcuts. Are you up to more heavy riding?"

"I could use a bit of a rest, but I fear it will be dark soon-"

"All the more reason to hurry, milady," he said eagerly, cutting Eliza off, "I long to sleep on familiar grounds once again. Are you in danger of falling asleep? I could share my horse and tow yours if necessary."

"Alright. We'll ride hard until we either reach your haven or I can't stay awake for another moment."

"Very well, milady. As it is getting dark, perhaps we should be off. This way, if you'd please. And be sure to stay close; I would hate to have helped you from harm just to have you stray and become lost or worse. There are old things in these woods...some that even my people fear," he said over his shoulder as he led his horse onto a small path through the woods.

And so they rode for nearly an hour before the boy finally brought them to a halt. "We are very close now," he whispered, "The closer you are to me, the safer you are; let me once again remind you not to stray. there will be a clearing ahead with two guards. They will try to bar our way, but I should be able to convince them to permit us to pass quite easily."

"Are you sure this will work?" Eliza whispered back, "You said yourself that your people were highly protective. Will they really let me in just like that?"

"They might. So long as you act normal and have nothing to hide, you will find haven here," he smiled, "Do not fear, milady, everything will be all right now."

Together they rode into the clearing and were confronted by a very stout guard, "Halt! State your name and your business in-"

"Oy! Vanguard, that you mate?" the other, much taller guard interrupted.

"Yes, Vlad, it is I, Vangard Lupiére of the Gemwood Guard, returning from my patrol at long last."

"And who might this be, Vangard?" asked the stout little man suspiciously, "You of all people should know not to bring strangers here, boy. You can cause us serious-"

"Trouble? Yes, I know Batholem. Trouble is what brings the Lady here, in fact. She was fleeing a small band of Leeacks, so I did what I believed was my duty to rescue her. I admit, I did bungle up while trying to disrupt their tracking, so in hopes of making amends I slew them and led the Lady here," Vangard explained to the two men.

"The 'Lady', eh?" Batholem asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "So are Vlad and I in the presence of royalty, or does 'the Lady' not have a name?" he looked at her again, this time with curiosity.

"It would appear that as I rushed the Lady to our little corner of heaven, my manners abandoned me. For this I apologize!" said Vangard, "Batholem has kindly returned them to me, so now I must introduce my comrades and myself properly! I am Vangard Lupiére, this," he motioned to the stout man, "is Batholem Lupren, and this," he motioned to the taller man, "is Vlad Lupiére, my older brother. All three of us are of the Gemwood Guard, which has kept our home safe for many a year. Now who, pray tell, might you be, milady?" Vanguard finished as all eyes turned upon Eliza once again.

"I'm Eliza, the nobody of nowhere. My life is just a collection of struggle, labor, pain, and running...until now, that is. You saved me from all that, Vanguard. I know it doesn't mean much, but I am in your debt."

"The Nobody of Nowhere?" Vlad asked, letting out a low whistle, "You must've had a pretty tough life, lass. But what of your surname?"

"I have none; I am simply Eliza. None of us had surnames where I'm from. We were lucky if we even got a name at all, really. I guess they didn't want us to feel a connection to anything or to be unique. I only got one because the Punishers saw me so often; I guess I was their pet," Eliza reflected.

"I'm guessing that by 'they' you mean the Leeacks, yes?" Eliza nodded. "And would I be correct in assuming that while under the, for lack of a better word, 'care' of the Leeacks you gave them hell and rarely did anything without a fight?" She nodded again. "And on top of all that you managed to plan and execute small breakouts, leading to your own escape?" asked Vlad.

Eliza sat a little taller on her mount and with a faint smile replied, "Yes, sir, I did, but how could you know that?"

"Well," said Vangard, "for the most part, every single escape you lead has headed in the same general direction...including this one." Is that how the others escaped the Leeack's clutches, too?

"So the Gemwood Guard has been rescuing all the ones that got away?" Eliza asked hopefully. Maybe I'll get to see some of them again after all!

"As great as the Guard is," Batholem reluctantly replied, "we aren't the only ones who have been known to pick up escapees. The Yossari clan has been sighted, as well as the Kerobs and the Scaraabs. There's been word of the Dwarves and Dragons picking up the occasional runner, too. The Elves appear to be the only ones not bothering with them."

"What? No Unicorns out there snatching people?" Eliza joked.

"Now what would a unicorn do with a human? Besides, they barely trust the shifters; they wouldn't go anywhere near full-blown humans!" laughed Vlad.

“And how exactly would you know the actions of Unicorns? You’re humans too!” Eliza laughed back at him.

“You’d be surprised,” Vangard said under his breath. “Only time will tell, Lady Eliza, but since we’ve actually arrived at the edge of my home, would it strike your fancy to enter? If Vlad and Batholem would be so kind, of course,” he said as they finally stepped aside with quick bows and two big grins.

Vangard’s mount started towards their goal again, barely able to control its excitement at being home again.

"See? I told you I could smuggle you in," Vangard grinned over his shoulder at Eliza.

"Well I bet it sure helped to arrive when your brother was on guard. I meant what I said back there, you know," Eliza replied, "I owe you my life, Vangard. I don't know how I can ever make it up to you, though."

Vangard slowed down again, "Don't worry about it, Lady Eliza-"

"Enough with the 'Lady Eliza' already!" Eliza laughed, "It's nice and all, but I'm no Lady. I'm just Eliza."

"Well 'Just Eliza' if you ever have to repay me then you will know. For now, however, I suggest we simply find you a relatively empty tent to sleep in," Vangard said jokingly as they rode into a large camp.

There were men in light armor sharpening swords, polishing shields and armor, and re-fletching arrows all over the place. Everywhere Eliza looked she saw tents and makeshift armories set up, as well as a few fires being started in preparation for the night.

"Well you sure weren't lying about not living alone, were you Vangard?" Eliza said, slightly amazed that so many people could live together in the woods and still be unknown to others.

"Actually," said Vangard," I don't live here. This is just a training camp. My home is a bit farther on and it's a good deal bigger than a tent," he chuckled, to which Eliza promptly rolled her eyes, "So I guess you are wondering why I brought you here instead of home, right Eliza?"

"If I say no are you going to tell me anyway?" Eliza joked.

"Yes."

"Then yes."

Vangard grinned. "Knowing the way of my people, I know there is the slightest chance that they might not allow you to stay, or might force you to prove you are worthy of staying. Since I brought you here it is my duty to prepare you, and as such I wanted to train you so you would at least be able to defend yourself if you were turned away. So where better to train than one of our camps?"

"You sure like to give little speeches don't you, Vangard?" Eliza questioned.

"I tend to ramble on sometimes," Vangard admitted.