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Leaves and sticks crunching under foot. Labored breathing as feet just moved, moving away from the village. Tears streaming down the kobolds snout, bloodied arm knocking branches out of the way. Tet was running, fear driving him not to stop, ducking under a low branch, he felt the ground getting softer underfoot. Blinking a bit, the sound of flowing water filled his ears, his feet suddenly wet and very cold making him step back.

The moon overhead shone off the river before him, seeming to take him out of the fear filled fugue that drove him. Sharp pain shot up his arm, dull pain filling the rest of his body as he took a moment to breathe. "Stupid. Just stupid, Tet." Looking down at his hands, then up his arm he sighs, kneeling down next to the water. Scooping up some water, he brings it over to start washing the blood off of his arm. A long hiss of pain escapes gritted teeth as he slowly washes out the long cut down his arm. Reaching back for his bag, his eyes go wide as he just grabs at his tail. "Tetzahuitl you absolute..." He stopped himself, eyes watching the glimmer of the moon in the river again, gaze moving down till he's looking at his own reflection, the light glow of his emerald eyes shining almost like stars. "You've been here before, you've gotten through this, you'll do it again."

With a few quick tears, the already tattered and bloodsoaked sleeve of his shirt came off easily. Rinsing it in the river, he starts tying it around his arm, hissing again as he makes sure it's tight enough. "No weapon, no supplies, no money. With a whole lot of trouble after you, follow the river. It'll lead somewhere, you can do some work, get started again."

Standing back up and brushing some of the mud off his pants, he started walking with the river. Images of the looks of shock from everyone in the village filled his head. Seeing their fear, and their hatred, as well as those defending the dragon. Shaking his head as those thoughts sent a twinge of pain up his arm, he sped up his pace. Ignoring the constant pain in his legs, body desperate for a proper rest, the panic and fear in the back of his mind were keeping him moving.

The sound of wood snapping behind him made him freeze, eyes darting around as he turned to look where the noise came from. Continued rustling approaching, sounding too close and too quick for the small reptile to outrun, he looked upward. A quick muttered word, magic dancing around his fingers, and with a quick motion of his hands he found himself standing on a larger branch in a tree above. Swaying dizzily, he gently tucked himself onto the branch, looking down below.

The rustling got louder as the sound of rapidly moving footsteps were heard. Suddenly, two feral deer darted across the path that the kobold had been on. The two cervines showed no signs of hesitation as they bounded into the river, clearing a decent width of it. Splashing and continuing out of Tet's sight from up in the tree. With a heavy sigh, the kobold relaxed a bit, leaning against the tree, a faint chuckle escaping his lips at the situation. "Hid up a tree because of some deer, now to get yourself back down." Shifting a bit, he decided to wait a minute, to give himself a bit of rest, and to let the dizziness wear off.

The crunch of a couple leaves below made Tet pause, looking below to watch a canine follow along the path he had been taking. The faint sound of sniffing could be heard as the figure searched the area around the tree. Tucking himself as best he could on the branch he closed his eyes, shivering as he hoped the wolf would pass.

After the sounds of movement stopped, just hearing the sound of the flowing river, Tet slowly opened his eyes, glancing down again before freezing, seeing the wolf was now sitting at the base of the tree, their eyes meeting.

"You sure can move quick for a little guy away from home." A feminine voice spoke up, a hint of familiarity to it, between heavy breaths. Tet quietly watched the wolven figure, not responding to her comment. Chuckling, and shaking her head, "I'm sure you're plenty scared, but you will be safe back in East Bough. Willard won't let anyone mess with you."

"Right," Tet barked out a laugh. "Safe in jail? Or safe with the dead, perhaps?"

"No, safe in your room at the Hearth," the wolfess called back up.

"Heather, I believe it was?" Tet called down questioningly. "The shock and anger on everyone's faces. Your husband looked ready to kill. And now I find out you've been hunting. Real safe." He started glancing around, looking for a possible path through the canopy of the trees, feeling his heart starting to race again.

"The anger wasn't directed at you. The shock, probably. I know I was shocked." There was a pause. "Was a rather sudden, and violent action that rather effectively got Willard out of danger."

"Then why was everyone coming at me?"

"They weren't coming at you, or at least, the rest of the village wasn't. The rest of that dragon's cohort was. Everyone else was coming to you, to protect Gav and to protect you." A sharp wince shot up Tet's arm as she said that, followed by a quiet sigh.

"How are Gav and his father doing?" A similar sigh sounded from below.

"Not sure, I kinda set off after the problems were dealt with at home." She chuckled softly. "This kid's left his things at the inn, runs off scared, and has a pretty good wound with the amount of blood he's left in his path." Another sigh. "And I want him to know that he's welcome in East Bough."

"He's not going to believe you." Tet's voice raised a bit. "He's barely tolerated normally. People find out what he is, what he can do." A few tears started welling up in his eyes. "That's when the weapons are drawn, the threats are made, and when he escapes with his life." Hands balled up into fists, can feel his claws scratching his palms lightly. "No one wants sneaky, untrustworthy vermin around, especially if they can wield magic." His eyes widened as he heard his voice echo faintly, realizing he had grown to a shout. Trembling, he brought his hands to his face, quietly sobbing into them. "Just go home, be with people who care about you, forget the kobold who causes more problems than he's worth."

The wolfess smiled softly as she stood up. With a gentle wave of her paws, a light glitter of light dancing between her fingers, she gently started to ascend. Her feet left the ground as she looked up to where she had seen the kobold. "You saved Gav, Willard, and most everyone in the village." Gently she rose, weaving between branches as she ascended. "Those guys, that dragon has all been causing us a lot of problems the past few months, I'm surprised how bold they have been getting, but because of you, they'll be much less of a problem." She smiled softly as she slowed her ascent, her eyes falling on the kobold as she got to his branch. "Plus, it'd be rather hypocritical if they got mad at a magic user."

"What?!" Tet cried out with a start, jumping as her voice was suddenly a few feet from him. Looking at her with wide eyes, "You can..." He trailed off, glancing around, seeming more nervous.

"Nothing nearly as awe inspiring as you, but yea. Just a few things to help me move, scout, and hunt." She reached out a paw, that soft smile never leaving. "I know the world is awful, but you will be safe in the Bough."

"I saw them, they were charging at me, shouting. Like they always do."

"Because you were hurt," she said, reaching out towards his wounded arm. "They were protecting you." Stopping for a moment, she sighs. "I know, magic users aren't too welcome in this world. I've been there, it seems like the whole world wants you gone. They're kind, we'll look after you. Willard will make sure, I'll make sure too. We can even get your arm looked at." Seeing his hesitation, her smile softened a bit, "At least let me help you out of this tree?"

Looking at her, cautiously matching her outreached paw, before letting out a defeated sigh, he took her paw. Gasping as she gently pulled him close, finding himself getting wrapped in her arms, he squirmed a bit. "You're going to get blood and dirt on you." He said, noting that she wore the same outfit she had been wearing at the Hart and Hearth.

"Bit late for that." She said, gently feeling themselves lowering. Gently squeezing him with a hug, smiling softly as she heard a few sniffs from him, a quiet sob following. Letting him process, she let herself get settled back on the ground, before she started walking, thankful he was rather light.

Making her way through the underbrush, she eventually found herself emerging at a road. Stopping, she looked down at him with a soft chuckle as she saw the sleeping kobold. Making her way down the road, she let the kobold feel safe.

Waking with a start, Tet's eyes adjusting to the dark room. Pain shooting down his arm bringing attention to the ropes tightly binding him to the chair he sat on. Squirming a bit, trying to break free, he yelped out as more pain shot through his arm. A rumbling chuckle filled the room, "I've been waiting for this moment for a while Tet." Eyes darting around, trying to find the source of that voice. "The wolf and her buck were rather pleased with the reward on your head."

"They wouldn't."

"How do you know that? You cause lots of problems for them." He felt a presence looming behind him, turning around there was a set of burning red eyes staring down at him. "They gave you up as soon as they heard the price for your head."

"What did you do to them?"

"Nothing." A deep rumbling chuckle. "I paid them. They gave me you, and I left." He felt a pressure on his head. "Should have done something with what happened to that uppity dragon, but they were polite and rather hospitable so I left them off with a warning." Tet squirmed more, giving a loud snarl. "Cute." That voice observes. "Shame I paid such a reward for you." Tet tensed as he felt a pressure to his throat. "Just to kill you." Tet cried out, thrashing more, feeling a pain in his neck.

"Tet! Tet wake up!" a voice shouted. Paws moving to grab the kobold's thrashing hands. The small reptilian screaming in fear as his eyes shoot open, looking up at the figure over him. "It's just a dream. Just a dream. You're safe, you're ok."

"I'll kill you!" The kobold shouted, trying to swing a claws hand at the figure above. "I wont be kind, after all those years, it won't be quick." Tet continued kicking and squirming, trying to get free. Though as his eyes adjusted to the light, and as they focused, the concerned doe above him quickly calmed him.

"I'm going to let go now, you're going to be calm" the doe spoke, "right?" A soft nod from the kobold prompted her to let go of his arms. Slowly standing up, she gently started checking her arms and sides. "You're safe. We are in your room at the Hart. My brother is downstairs."

"How did I get here? I don't remember walking."

"Heather said you were out cold pretty much your whole trek back here. And from what I can tell, a lot of magic use without a lot of energy left. Mixed with hours of running and blood loss, you're lucky to be alive." The doe's tone was rather stern as she finished examining herself. "Might want to dull your claws a bit if you're going to be having night terrors like that."

"Sorry." His voice trailed off as he looked down, then around the room. His bag and cloak were on the table near the bed.

"I'm going to go down and let them know you're awake. We can get you some breakfast." Standing up, she started making her way to the door. Stopping in the doorway, she turned to look at him, that stern look having softened into a look of concern. "Whoever you're going to kill, they aren't here. They haven't found you. You're safe." She said before slipping out of his room, gently closing the door behind herself.

Sitting quietly, Tet let his mind calm down. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw those red ones staring at him. Shivering lightly, his hand reached over to examine his arm. Eyes widening as he looked down, finding the wound gone, just a small scar along his scales. That's when a flush of embarrassment washed over him, his top half bare he checked under the covers, sighing in relief that he was still in pants.

"Food." Tet remarked as a loud groan came from his stomach, the strong feeling of hunger making itself apparent now that he was awake. Though that hunger quickly became a side thought as Tet turned and hopped out of bed, a pained fatigue jolted through his legs as he landed. As he moved and got dressed, every muscle seemed to strain with familiar fatigue. "Food, rest, and more food." Slowly making his way downstairs, his thoughts turned to Gav, wondering if the puma was alright.