The fire flickered across the forest as Arthur kicked dirt over the flames, smothering them until only embers remained. He moved quickly despite the ache in his body, gathering their scant belongings and stuffing them into the saddlebag. He worked almost manically as his ears were picking up the sounds of a group coming closer.
Mira hurried to the mare, her wedding dress hitching up around her legs as she untied the reins and checked the saddle, her hands brushing over the straps to ensure they were secure and wouldn't fall. The horse snorted softly, stamping a hoof, but Mira whispered soothing words until it calmed. The mare hadn't even had a few hours rest yet and now it was being called back to carry them both. Mira worried if they continued like this they would kill the poor horse. She turned to Arthur. "What are we going to do?" She asked as she swung up onto the saddle first, reaching down to help Arthur. "We can't outrun them forever."
Arthur mounted behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist to take the reins. "If we can get across the river, we might lose them," he replied, his breath warm against her ear.
Mira glanced over her shoulder, her face pale in the dim moonlight. "The closest bridge is ten miles downstream. The river's too rough here, we'd never make it across without drowning."
Arthur's jaw tightened, but he kicked the mare into motion, guiding her back onto the path. Heading towards the bridge, the river here was too deep, they had a little bit of a lead so maybe they could find a shallower part where they could cross.
The mare's hooves thumped against the dirt as they pushed forward, the forest closing in around them, branches whipping past them almost hitting their bodies. Mira's grip on Arthur's waist was iron-tight, her body pressed close, but the joy from earlier had faded into silence as their only thoughtss were on the people chasin them.
"How did they track us?" Mira asked with frustration in her voice, as she leaned her head against his back. "I thought we'd covered our tracks."
Arthur shook his head, his eyes scanning the darkening trees ahead. "I'm not sure. It shouldn't have been possible, but it doesn't matter now. We just need to escape, put more distance between us and them." His voice stayed calm, but inside, panic started to creep in, a cold knot twisting in his gut. They no doubt had a group; Father, Garlan, the Tanners, maybe more. Even with his new sword style, he was still green, barely able to handle one fighter, let alone a pack of them out for blood. 'Shit, what do I do?' The thought raced through his mind, his heart pounding harder as the barks seemed to grow louder and louder.
He glanced down at the tree branch dragging behind the mare, tied to her tail to scuff and disguise their hoofprints. It had worked so far, but with the dog on their scent, it wouldn't be enough. "Might give us a few moments," he muttered, though he knew it was a long shot.
Mira shifted behind him. "Arthur... you should just go. Leave me here. They won't keep chasing if they get me back. You can escape on your own."
"No way," Arthur snapped, louder than intended "I won't even consider that. We're in this together, I'm not leaving you behind."
Mira smiled at that and felt herself leaning further into his back, feeling safe despite the position that they were in. The path twisted, the river's rush growing louder as they approached its banks. They reached a spot where the tiver narrowed. It was the narrowest stretch they'd seen, but the river was a raging torrent, too fast and wild to pass without being swept away.
Mira peered over his shoulder. "How are we supposed to cross? It's too rough, we'll be pulled under."
The mare snorted as Arthur pulled her to a stop near a cluster of boulders by the river's edge, the water rushing fast and white over the rocks. He hopped off the saddle, his boots sinking into the soft mud, and turned to help Mira down. She swung her leg over, her wedding dress hitching up her thighs, and gripped his outstretched arm tightly as she landed, holding onto him with both hands as if afraid to let go. Her body pressed close, her massive breasts brushing his chest, and she leaned into him,.
"Arthur," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, "promise me we'll make it."
"We will," he replied, his arm wrapping around her waist, feeling the curve of her hips under his palmr.
But the distant barks echoed again, louder now, and Arthur pulled away, his mind shifting back to survival. He'd been ignoring the system notifications flashing in the corner of his vision since the chase began, but now, with a brief pause, he let them flood in.
_________________________________
[QUEST RECEIVED] PURSUIT
_________________________________
Description:
Your father, Gormon, and the Tanners are hot on your trail, fueled by rage and a thirst for vengeance. You must outrun them, leaving the shadows of Harrowfield behind forever.
Objective:
– Evade Gormon and the Tanners until you are beyond their reach
Bonus Objectives:
– Uncover how they are tracking you
– Defeat your father once and for all
Rewards:
– +1 to all stats
– 1 Otherworld Token
– Random Item
Failure:
– Death
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Arthur's jaw clenched as he dismissed the screent. "We need to keep moving," he said, his voice low. "But first, let's see if we can lose them here." He kicked the mare into motion, guiding her back onto the path. The river's roar grew louder as they pushed on. Arthur scanned the edges, searching for any spot where the current slowed, where the depth might allow a crossing without being swept away. Mira clung to him, her breath hot against his neck, the tension in her body mirroring his own.
After what felt like an eternity but couldn't have been more than a mile, Arthur spotted it, a stretch where the river narrowed slightly, the water shallower over a bed of gravel and stones, though the current still raced extremely fast. "There," he said, pulling the mare to a halt. "It's our best shot. We'll lead her across on foot. Hold onto me tightly snd don't let go."
Mira nodded, sliding down first, her dress hiking up as she landed in the mud. Arthur dismounted after, taking the reins in one hand and Mira's arm in the other. They stepped into the shallows together, the cold water biting at their legs like knives, the current tugging immediately, stronger than it looked. The mare snorted in protest, her hooves slipping on the slick stones as Arthur urged her forward. "Easy girl," Arthur muttered and stroked the horses side. They waded deeper, the water rising to their knees, then thighs, the pull growing stronger the further in they went. Mira gasped as her foot slipped, but Arthur caught her, yanking her upright. "Almost halfway, keep going!"
But the river had other plans. A hidden dip in the bed caught the mare's hoof, and she panicked, rearing up with a terrified whinny. The reins jerked from Arthur's hand as she bolted sideways, the current catching her fully. She stumbled, her legs flailing, and in an instant, she was swept downstream, the saddlebags with their supplies vanishing into the foam. Arthur lunged after her, grabbing for the trailing reins, but the water slammed into him like a wall, dragging him under. "Mira!" he shouted, surfacing with a gasp, the cold shocking his lungs. She was beside him, flailing as the current pulled her too, her dress billowing like a sail. He reached for her, his fingers brushing hers, then locking tight. With a desperate heave, he kicked toward the shore they had come from, his free arm clawing at the water, legs burning as he fought the pull.
They hit the mudbank hard, Arthur dragging Mira along as he crawled forward, his fingers digging into the slick earth, pulling them inch by inch out of the river's grasp. Water streamed from their clothes, mud caking their skin as they collapsed onto the bank, gasping for air, Arthur's arm still wrapped protectively around her. Mira pushed herself up on shaking arms, her hair plastered to her face, eyes wide with terror. "They're getting closer. What do we do now? The horse is gone, our things... Arthur, we can't run like this!"
Arthur rolled onto his back, breathing heavily, his chest heaving as he stared at the darkening sky. The distant barks were clearer now, the gallop of horses unmistakable even over the sound of the rice. His mind raced, panic clawing at the edges of his thoughts as he tried to think of a way to cross the river, but then it happened. His mind started to clear, the world sharpening as ideas flooded him. He sat up, eyes darting around; vines dangling from nearby trees, branches scattered in the underbrush, a few long reeds by the water's edge.
"Wait here," he said, scrambling to his feet despite the burn in his muscles. He grabbed his dagger and slashed at the vines, gathering armfuls of the thick, flexible strands, twisting them together into a rough rope as he worked. Next, he dragged two sturdy branches over, lashing them end to end with the vine-rope to form a long pole. He tied more vines around one end, creating a loop, then waded knee-deep into the shallows again, ignoring the cold.
Mira watched, confusion mixing with her fear. "Arthur, what are you—?"
He hurled the looped end across the river like a makeshift lasso, aiming for a low-hanging branch on the opposite bank. It missed the first time, splashing into the water, but he reeled it back and tried again. On the third throw, it caught, the loop snagging tight around the branch. He tested the line, pulling hard.
The vines held.
"It's not much," he said, tying the other end to a tree on their side, "but we can hold onto this and wade across. The current won't sweep us if we keep our grip."
Mira stared at the makeshift lifeline, the vines stretched taut across the raging river, then looked back at him, her panic easing but not gone. "Are you sure it will hold?" she asked quietly, not being able to help the doubt that crept into her voice.
Arthur tested the rope again, yanking hard. The vines creaked but held, anchored between the trees on both banks. "It has to," he said confidently despite the knot of fear twisting in his gut. "I'll go first. Stay close and don't let go."
He stepped into the river, the icy water slamming into his legs like a battering ram, soaking through his boots and numbing his bones. The current tore at him, threatening to rip his feet from the gravel bed, but he gripped the vine rope with both hands, his knuckles whitening as he leaned into it. Mira followed, her feet sliding on the slick stones, her hands clutching the rope just behind him. Her breath came in sharp gasps, the cold gnawing at her skin as the water rose to her thighs, then her waist. They edged forward, step by agonizing step, the river's thunder drowning out all but the thudding of Arthur's heart in his ears. The vine trembled under their weight, but it held, guiding them through the narrowest stretch of the torrent. Arthur glanced back and caught Mira's expression, her lips presed tight, her chest heaving under the soaked cotton of her dress as she fought the pull of the current.
"Almost there!" he shouted, his voice nearly swallowed by the noise. "Just keep—"
Mira's hand slipped. Her fingers tore free from the rope, and the river yanked her away with terrifying speed. She screamed, her arms flailing as the current swallowed her, dragging her downstream.
"Mira!" Arthur bellowed. He twisted, his own grip faltering as he saw her vanish into the white water, her blonde curls bobbing once before sinking beneath the surface.
"Arthur!" Her cry tore through the roar, as her head broke the surface again, her arms thrashing wildly.
Without thinking, Arthur released the rope. The current struck him like a charging bull, plunging him into the depths. His body tumbled, the cold crushing the air from his lungs as he fought to surface. He kicked hard, his arms clawing through the water, chasing the faint glimpse of her dress ahead. The river hurled him like a rag doll, but he found her, colliding with her in a tangle of limbs. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight against him. "Calm down!" he shouted, barely louder than the torrent "I've got you. Just breathe!"
Mira clung to him, nails digging into his shoulders, her body trembling with how cold it was. Her face pressed into his neck, her gasps ragged as she had fought to stay above the surface. . "Don't let go!" she cried, her arms locked around him desperate not to part again.
Arthur kicked to keep them both afloat, his were legs burning, his wounds screaming with each movement. The rapids tossed them, spinning them through the current, slamming them against unseen rocks below. He tried to angle toward the left bank, aiming for the mud, but the river fought back, dragging them further downstream. His arms were starting to burn as one held on tightly to Mira, while the other clawed at the water trying to get them to the bank.
Ahead, a massive rock jutted out of the water, splitting the current in two. Arthur's eyes widened. "Hold on!" he roared, shoving Mira to the right with all his strength as he twisted left. The current hurled him against the stone, as he couldn't avoid not getting hit. Mira's scream echoed as she drifted further away, her arms flailing to reach him again.
Arthur gritted his teeth and pushed forward, his body battered as more rocks tore at him, a deep gash opening on his arm. "Mira!" he shouted. He spotted her ahead, her head bobbing as she clung desperately to a half-submerged branch. He swam harder, ignoring the pain, each kick driving him through the river until his hand locked around her wrist. "I've got you!" he yelled, dragging her close, her body shaking against his. He thought they'd earned a little reprieve, but then he heard it. The river ahead dropped, a waterfall no higher than twenty feet but deadly in this current. His mind snapped into focus. He scanned the rushing water and saw a rock jutting near the edge, close enough to the bank.
"Hold tight!" he shouted, kicking toward it with every shred of strength left. His fingers brushed the stone, He gripped it hard, using it as a pivot. The river's momentum ripped through his shoulders, but he swung Mira toward the bank, flinging her into the shallows using the momentum of the swing. She crashed into the mud, scrambling frantically up the slope, clawing at the earth until she was clear. Arthur's grip gave way. The current tore him from the rock and flung him over the edge. His stomach dropped as the world tilted and the water roared in his ears. At the last moment, his hand shot out and caught a tree root jutting from the bank. His body swung wildly, the current hammering him as the root bent and cracked under his weight.
"Arthur!" Mira screamed from above, stumbling to the edge, her face streaked with tears. "Hold on! I'm coming!"
"Stay back!" he roared as the root groaned. "It's too dangerous!"
She froze, sobbing as she watched him dangle. Arthur dragged himself upward, his arms trembling as he reached for the rock face. The root snapped partially, swinging him down hard against the stone. Pain erupted through his ribs, but his hand caught an outcrop, blood running from his palms as he clung on. With ragged breaths, he climbed, inch by inch, his body shuddering with the effort. At last he hauled himself over the edge, collapsing face first in the mud. The roar of the falls faded behind him, replaced by the sound of Mira rushing forward.
She dropped to her knees beside him, throwing her arms around him, her body shaking as she buried her face in his shoulder. "I thought I'd lost you," she sobbed, clutching him tightly. "Don't ever do that again."
Arthur wrapped his arms around her, his chest heaving, his whole body raw with pain and exhaustion. "We made it..." he whispered. He turned his head, eyes drifting back to the falls and the river beyond.Arthur pushed himself up from the mud with a grunt, his body protesting every movement, the cold water still dripping from his clothes and stinging his wounds.
He staggered to his feet, the gashes from the rocks throbbing with fresh pain, blood seeping through his tunic and pants. Mira, still kneeling, looked up at him, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of cuts and bruises littering his arms and torso. "Arthur, you are bleeding," she said, her voice laced with worry as she stood, her hands reaching out to balancer him. "Let me treat you, please, before it gets worse." He shook his head, wincing as he straightened. "No time. We need to get away from the river and find somewhere to rest for the night. If we do not dry our clothes, we will freeze before dawn."
Mira's brow furrowed, her hand lingering on his arm. "But you will bleed out if we do not do something. Look at you, and see how those cuts are deep. I can treat them, I know—"
"I will be fine," Arthur insisted, his tone firm despite the exhaustion weighing him down. "We move first. The wounds can wait."
She opened her mouth to argue, but the distant sounds of galloping hooves cut her off, growing louder by the second, accompanied by the loud barks of a hound. Arthur's head snapped toward the noise, his face paling. Through the trees on the opposite bank, shapes emerged, and riders appeared, six of them, thundering along the water's edge. Gormon was at the front, his face twisted in fury as he spotted them across the river. "ARTHUR!" he bellowed, his voice carrying over the roar of the falls like thunder. "You thieving bastard! Get back here!!!"
Arthur scowled, his hand instinctively going to his sword hilt, but he did not waste breath replying. Instead, he grabbed Mira's hand, his fingers interlocking with hers. "Run!" he said, pulling her into the forest. They bolted through the underbrush, branches whipping at their faces and clothes.
Arthur led the way, his eyes scanning for ways to obscure their path by dragging a fallen branch behind them for a stretch to scuff the dirt, then veering off at angles to leave false trails in the softer soil. Mira kept pace as best she could, her bare feet slipping on roots and leaves, but she did not complain, her hand gripping his tightly. They ran for close to an hour, until Arthur spotted a small grove of trees ahead, a cluster of old oaks with low hanging branches that formed a natural shelter, shielded from the wind and rain.
"There," he gasped, pulling her inside. The ground was dry, carpeted with fallen leaves, and the thick trunks blocked most of the view from outside. Mira collapsed against a tree, panting, her dress torn and muddied. Arthur did not rest yet. He gathered a handful of dry twigs and bark from under the oaks, arranging them in a small pit.
Without flint or steel, which he had lost with the horse, he rubbed a sturdy stick against a flat piece of wood, the friction building heat until smoke curled up, then a spark. He blew gently, feeding it dried leaves until flames flickered to life. Mira watched, catching her breath. "We need to get undressed and dry our clothes," Arthur said, his voice low as he fed the fire. "We will freeze otherwise."
She nodded, her hands already working at the ties of her ruined wedding dress. It slipped from her shoulders, revealing her naked body, her massive breasts hanging in perfect tear drops, nipples hardening in the cool air. She shook her large behind as she shimmed out of her wedding dress, when she turned Arthur saw a thick patch of blonde pubic hair between her thighs, covering her sex. Mira blushed, her eyes flicking to Arthur as he stripped off his own wet tunic and breeches, but her gaze lingered on him, a heat building in her core despite the chill.
She ignored it for now, her worry overriding everything as she saw the numerous cuts and gashes across his body, deep gashes from the rocks, bruises blooming purple and black. She ripped strips from the hem of her dress in an attempt to help him. Arthur thanked her as she pressed the cloth to his wounds, covering the worst of them, but he struggled to stay focused, she was so close, her massive breasts nearly brushing his chest, her nipples rubbing against him.
He could not help it; seeing her like that, her body was the most incredible he'd ever seen, it made him harden, his cock stirring despite the pain and exhaustion. Mira's eyes dropped to it, her breathing growing a little heavier as she stared. "Is that because of me?" she asked softly, her cheeks flushing deeper.
He nodded. "Yeah." It was a little embarrassing so he made sure not to keep eye contact with her.
"I have never seen one before," she murmured, her hand reaching out tentatively.
"You saw mine a while back," Arthur said, his breath catching as her fingers wrapped around it, the shaft throbbing under her grasp.
"That was different," she replied, her voice breathy. "You were younger then, not like this." She felt the warmth pulsing in her palm, the skin smooth and hot. She began to rub slowly, her hand moving up and down, exploring the length with curious strokes.
Arthur groaned, his head tilting back slightly, the sensation building fast. It did not take long, the fact that one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen was touching his cock did not allow him to hold back, and he tensed, spilling over her hand in thick spurts. Mira watched, fascinated, then lifted her fingers to her lips, tasting his seed. She licked it clean, her eyes half lidded as she savored the salty warmth, liking it more than she expected.
Then she leaned into him, hugging him tightly, her naked body pressing against his, her massive breasts squishing against his chest. "I thought for sure we would die back there," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The water, it was so cold, so strong. I hope we would never have to do something like that again."
Arthur held her close, his arms wrapping around her, the fire's warmth flickering over their bare skin. "We will not," he promised softly. "We are free now."
Though in the back of his mind he did wonder why he hadn't gotten the completed quest for escaping? He did escape them, they'd have to travel for miles on the dark to find a bridge and then travel miles back to get back here. They'd be gone before then and with his [Tracker] ability he would easily be able to cover their tracks. Whatever scent that the dog was following was either washed away in the river. So why didn't the notification pop up?
"BOY!!!!"
(AN: So It was a pretty action packed escape, I tried to make it realistic tbh I know rivers can be dangerous, idk how dangerous they are to a horse. Anyway ya boy got a quick handy and now he is going to have to confront his father. Hope you enjoyed it.)
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