Summer watched over Leon the entire night.

He barely slept. His fever climbed to an unbearable high, his breathing grew labored and his side bled again. At one point, he started hallucinating. Saying things about how it was all his fault. He called out for Ari and Ria several times. Summer guessed they would be his son and late wife.

She had gotten out to bring water several times. He sweated buckets and needed to stay hydrated. By the time dawn broke, she was so exhausted she could barely keep her head up, and Leon had fallen asleep after a long fitful night.

She was so relieved he was still alive. She slept next to him until long after the sun rose. When she woke up, it was because she was hungry.

She left their shelter after making sure no one was around. The river water was a cool blessing against her face and down her throat. The sun was warm and bright today, a welcome change from yesterday's rain. The river glistened like a hundred jewels. It was difficult to believe this calm, peaceful river was the same that almost swallowed her whole.

She drank until she could no longer, then ventured a bit farther than usual to see if the forest had anything other than berries to offer.

If only she knew where exactly she was, or if there was any town nearby, she would go there and ask for help. But she couldn't leave Leon on his own if she didn't know how long she'd be gone. And those men could still be scouring the forest for them. She was in no shape to take them on.

As it turned out, she didn't need to worry about those men finding her.

She heard them as she was going back to the cave. Their voices came from its direction. Her heart dropped. She let go of the bundle of fruits and greens she had gathered and sprinted towards their shelter. The only thing she could think about was how Leon was on his own. People who put a child's life in danger would have no qualms about harming an unarmed, injured man.

She had a dagger. But the men could have swords or some long reaching weapon. She hoped they wouldn't spot the shelter. But if it came down to a fight, her best chance would be to take them unaware. She was still sluggish and slow, but she would damn well keep Leon safe. She didn't nurse him back to life so some cutthroats could kill him.

She saw them when she was within sight of the cave. Her blood chilled.

They had spotted the shelter.

There were only two of them, fortunately. One of them was already trying to move the bushes she'd placed there. Leon's dagger was well balanced, perfect for throwing. Summer had no time to think. She hurled the dagger at the man standing still while the other worked on revealing the shelter.

The blade hit home in the base of his skull. She hid behind a tree and heard the man's dead weight drop to the ground. The remaining man made a strangled noise.

She'd just killed a man.

"Blaze!" he said. "Damn it, Blaze!"

Summer had just thrown her only weapon. She was now unarmed, running on less than half strength, and she'd lost the element of surprise. She peeked around the tree.

"Show yourself!" the man called. After a few seconds, he started moving. He wasn't as quiet as he thought he was. He was still too close to the cave, though. She had to draw him away.

Summer ran out of her cover, slow and loud enough to be seen by him. He rose to the bait and ran after her. His steps echoed in the forest around her. She couldn't outrun him in her current state. So she drew him as far from the cave as she could and scurried up a tree.

She looked down when she sat on a branch far enough off the ground. The man was breathing heavily, right below her, looking up.

He was young. Maybe in his late twenties. With a long dark blond beard and dark, deep set eyes. "Well, well, what do we have here? Come down, little mouse, I promise I won't bite."

"Go screw yourself," Summer said. She was breathing heavily. Damn it, she was still weaker than she thought.

"Now why would I do that when a lovely thing like you is right there?" he squinted his eyes at her. "You look a little familiar. Colt! Hey, Colt!"

Summer looked around and cursed. There was another man! He came running from the direction of the river.

"What the hell are you doing there?!" Colt said as he closed in on them. He looked older and meaner than the young man.

The young man pointed at her. "Look. She got Blaze with a dagger to his neck. He's gone."

"Good riddance. I never liked him. Too lazy." Colt came to stand next to the young man. He, too, squinted at her. "She looks familiar-" his eyes widened, "my goodness, she looks exactly like lady Mauve. Girl! get down here! We won't hurt you."

Summer stayed put. Colt spit down and murmured, "smart girl."

"We found a cave," the young man said. "That's what we were doing when she threw a knife at Blaze from the back. A good throw, too."

"What's in the cave, girl?" Colt asked. He was sharp, this one.

Summer's heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest. She grinned viciously. "Go take a look. I'm sure you'll like what you find there."

The two men regarded her with weary eyes. Please, let them buy her bluff.

Colt smiled. "You know what, we will. Boy, go check the cave. I'll stay here and see if I can get her down."

The young man laughed. "Hey, don't have all the fun yourself. Keep her in one piece for me."

Sick bastards. At least she would only have one man to take care of. The young boy hurried away. Summer stared down at Colt. He had a mean looking sword strapped to his hip, with a short, wide blade. He didn't draw his weapon yet. This would be her only chance. Before she could overthink it, she scooted over the branch.

"Why don't-"

She dropped on him like a rock. He hadn't expected her to simply fall down from the tree voluntarily, and it worked in her favor.

She landed on top of him and they collapsed on the ground. He recovered faster than she would've liked. His fist connected with her jaw. Her vision blurred, she tasted blood in her mouth as she rolled off him and kicked his ribs.

The man grunted, still sprawled on the floor, and reached for her. Summer held his wrist and twisted, locking her legs around his arm and pulling it towards her. She used her entire body, put her elbow on his and pulled his hand up. Crack. His scream was as loud as the bone broke. Summer rolled away.

"You bitch!" he gasped as he pulled himself up to his feet, never taking his pain-crazed eyes off her, spit flying out of his mouth, "you broke my arm!"

He was tougher than he looked. He pulled his sword out with his left hand and held it awkwardly. So he was right handed. Thank God for small favors. Summer crouched down and circled him. The man was too angry. Good, she needed to finish him up quickly and get to Leon. He was big and strong, but slow. Very slow even for Summer in her current state.

"I'm going to rip you to shreds," he snarled, "then I'm going to use your body until you wish you were dead."

"Cute," Summer said. "Are you going to do something or will you keep running your mouth?"

He squinted his eyes. "You're her kid, aren't you? You must be her daughter, the resemblance is undeniable. I heard a long time ago she had a child."

"Who are you talking about?" Summer asked. It was no coincidence, she clearly reminded them of someone.

"Lady Mauve." He took a clumsy swing with his weapon at her, his right arm hung limp at his side. She leaned out of the way.

"Who is this lady Mauve?"

A scream shook the forest. Colt's eyes widened but he didn't take his eyes off her. "What the hell is in that cave?"

A half dead man, Summer thought.

Leon would not be able to effectively defend himself the way he was. She had to hurry. Summer feigned a lunge. Colt obliged, thrusting his sword at her. She twisted away then stepped inside. The blade left a trail of fire as it cut through her side. But she was in his space. Summer elbowed Colt in the chin and kneed his groin. He groaned and tried hitting her with the pommel of his weapon on the head. She dodged under his left arm, behind him, and jumped on his back, holding him in a tight chokehold.

He struck with his sword over his back. Summer saw it coming and took the blade to her shoulder. It felt like her arm was cut off, but she didn't let go. She squeezed with all her strength. The man made animal-like noises. He let go of the blade, and the short sword remained stuck to Summer's shoulder. He used his left hand to try and pry her arm away from his neck. But Summer didn't let go. He turned around, stumbled to a tree and slammed her, on his back, to the bark. Something crunched in her back.

Summer wouldn't let go even if it killed her, because it would.

Her vision blurred. She had to finish him. Summer pushed his neck down, locking his spine and twisted with a scream. The dry crunch of bones echoed after her cry, the man dropped to the ground, taking her with him.

She rolled off him and vomited. Spasms shook her entire body, tears streamed down her face. Her shoulder and side were on fire.

Breathing was painful. She dragged her forearm over her mouth. She had to get to Leon.

The blade was still embedded in her shoulder. At least she had a weapon now. She closed her hand over the sword's hilt and pulled out. Blood flowed out of the wound freely, drenching her white undershirt. She leaned on the floor using the sword and pulled herself up. Her left shoulder was useless, her right side was bleeding, and her jaw felt twice its size.

She reached the cave through sheer, teeth-gritted force of will.

"No," she moaned. Through her darkening vision, she saw Leon lying on the ground by the cave, naked, in a pool of his own blood. The young man who'd come after him was stretched a few feet away from him, one of his legs twisted at an unnatural angle, his face a bloody mesh as if someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. The man she'd killed by the throwing dagger a limp mass a short distance away.

Her legs gave out under her before she could take another step forward. She crawled the rest of the way to where Leon was bleeding, never letting go of her weapon.

"Leon?"

The bandage at his side was drenched crimson. Bright red blood flowed from a fresh stab wound on the other side of his ribs. His back, too, was seriously injured if the blood pool he lay in was anything to go by.

Summer touched his face. "Leon? Come on. You can't die now. If you die now I'll kill you."

He was cold. Or was it her?

His eyes fluttered open. "You can't kill a dead man," he mumbled, then coughed. Blood. "Remember, the whistle."

Summer felt hot and cold at the same time. Her hearing dimmed, the pain was so much until it was nothing. She could barely make sense of what he was saying. "What are you talking about?" she slurred.

He mumbled something. His face blurred. Then the sun went out and everything vanished.

--- ---- ---

Thoughts?

I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Also, follow me on Instagram (username: when_mia_writes) to get the latest news! xoxo

Much love <3 <3 <3

M.B.