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"The Wounded Traveler" (Just outside of Radat) The wind blew past them in quick gusts, and Hannah watched clouds start to form above them. They were low and gray. 'Perfect.' She thought, moving her shoulders slightly, 'A storm is all we need at the moment…' They had been traveling for well over an hour after picking up supplies from Radat Town. At the pace they were going, hopefully, they would be able to make it to South Window before anything unseemly with the weather did occur. In front of her, Sudda and Richi walked at an energetic pace, the girl humming an unfamiliar tune under her breath. She watched them for a few moments and shook her head, 'If they keep going at that rate, they'll be tired out way too soon…' she almost opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it. It was best for travelers to learn on their own, anyway. "Miss Hannah?" Sudda suddenly stopped, her brother nearly colliding into her, "I think there's something coming…" "What is it?" the woman walked forward, narrowing her eyes as she looked out across the road. There didn't seem to be anything… A dark blur of movement from one of the fields on their left caught her vision, and she spun her head around just in time to see a stallion racing forward. Froth came from its mouth, and something running down the horse's side made Hannah blink for a few seconds. Was that…blood? As the horse started to approach them, Hannah raced in front of it. The stallion wasn't a wild beast, a saddle with a slumped over figure told her as much, but the glint in its eyes glowed what appeared to be a reminiscence of the days when its ancestors ran freely across the world. Grabbing the loosely hanging bridle, the woman pulled on the leather in a quick and hard manner. The horse's head jerked up in response, and it kicked upward. The slumped figure upon its back slipped off onto the ground with a wet thud, a trail of crimson staining the saddle and horseflesh behind it. Pulling down with her hands and getting a secure hold on the horse, Hannah turned the creature around. Its breathing started to slow somewhat, and it trotted for a few moments in uncertainty. Sweat glistened off its body as its muscles twitched. Hannah blinked for a few moments as she walked the horse around, helping to calm it. She looked up at the stallion and was surprised to see that it looked very familiar. All black, save for a few strands of white hair in its mane. 'It looks a lot like Father's stallion…' a frown appeared on her face at the thought, remembering the dream she had the night before. Once the animal calmed down, it looked around with curious eyes. Glancing over the woman with tousled brown hair that was keeping it in check, it turned to the children, and then distress appeared in his eyes again. He whickered, loudly. "Night…Night Rider…" Hannah raised an eyebrow at the sound of the quiet, halting voice. She was surprised that the rider was alive, let alone capable of talking. Another whicker came from the horse, and she let it lead her over to where the wounded man lay in the tall grass. Blond hair was starting to turn ruddy looking on account of the blood on his face, and his eyes were glazed over. He had rolled himself onto his back, placing a hand tightly on a large knife or sword wound at his side. "Is…is he okay?" Sudda asked quietly, stepping forward. Richi kept lookout behind her. He seemed somewhat numb as he stared at the blood sticking on the horse and the man. Hannah did not reply to the thirteen-year-old's question. Instead, she bent over the horse's rider and looked him over as the beast bent over his head, and, in a very fond gesture, started licking the man's face. He smiled at this, and then winced in pain, "Your breath…still…stinks, pal…" he mumbled, green eyes closing for a few moments. "…What happened?" The woman's question brought the man back into reality, and he looked over at her. Or he seemed to, she couldn't tell if he was really seeing anything in the condition he was in. "Raiders…" his voice was strained, and he closed his eyes again. With a slight moan, he was lost in unconsciousness. The woman sighed and stood up, trying not to let her disappointment through. The man needed to be taken care of immediately, and the closest town was Radat… Trying to do so as gently as she could, she heaved the rider back onto his mount's saddle and took the reins up again in her hands. Her eyes turned to look at the two children, and she could tell already that they knew they were heading back. As they started walking, she briefly prayed that this would be one of the last few detours they had on their way to Tinto City.
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