[Tag
@Soapies ]
His quarry couldn't be far. They rarely ever got to be anyway. It was amusing to be sure, to allow them to think that they could possibly escape. Ki'adan always got his man, or woman, no matter how fast, how far, how dogged they thought they could run. He had to admit there was a thrill in the hunt, excitement in the chase.
This runaway in particular was surprisingly good at covering their tracks. This one was older than most runaways, but Ki'adan figured this probably wasn't the first time they'd done so. Female, lithe of build, approximately 5'8" in height. Blonde hair, grey eyes. Fairly usual as far as descriptions went. This time, however, the exception was that she was not any one's singular asset.
No, this slave was one only in theory, and had not yet been purchased. The auction house that ran the usual sale of flesh wanted to keep the fact that one of its assets had escaped. They were wise to employ only the best for the task. Ki'adan had departed Ketra as soon as he could, following the trail doggedly. The pay was rather substantial, and a bonus was thrown in if the slave could be returned in time, and without any visible damage to her.
The latter Ki'adan could not guarantee. Those that ran as far as this one did, rarely agreed to be returned without a fight.
Then again, there were no guarantees in this business.
He sniffed, frowning in thought as he navigated between trees, his horse lightfooted over the underbrush. It was early morning within the Draconi Forest, unusually quiet. Nothing good ever came about when it was quiet. He'd tracked the slave this far along, and up ahead he'd detected a clearing. Dismounting, Ki'adan pulled the bow from his saddle, knocking an arrow against the grip carefully as he approached.
His mount knew better than to make noise, observing his rider, as he passed beside a tree, where brush and bushes were wildly overgrown, concealing his presence. The smoke of a campfire rose from a circle of ashes in the small clearing, and what looked to be the remains of a camp. Recent? He'd only be able to tell upon further examination.
Ki'adan crouched, slipped through the bushes and kneeling beside the camp, where a few bones of an animal had been discarded. "Where are you now?" he muttered, observing the grass and dirt around it for tracks. Suddenly the sound of hooves pounding behind him made him stiffen in alarm. The arrow that had been knocked was pulled taut in the bow and Ki'adan swiftly turned to fire it at the approaching stranger.
And fly it did, though prodding itself in the bark of a tree beside their head. Yet just as quickly, another one was pulled back in its place, held at the ready.
