Rem held onto Hal's muscled arm. “No, my friend. She needs help,” Rem said, looking for Nia.
In the distance, she spotted Nia, although hunters were picking her up and putting her in one of the wooden carriages. Nia appeared to be out from the pain.
Rem’s pain either subsided from adrenaline, or her anger numbed it; she was free of physical agony while she hotly stared at the hunters that were taking Nia.
Not my Nia.
She hobbled in that direction, her heart charged with fury. Hal grabbed her arm, but she jerked it from him, slightly surprised she was strong enough to do that. She looked into the brown eyes of Hal and through broken Icelandic, said, "Help me, or I go alone, Halvar. I can’t do nothing while… Nia. Help Nia. We have to help Nia."
"You cannot—"
She didn't care what orders he had. "I don’t take orders from anyone. Not if Nia is in danger," she stated in a broken language, although it seemed to clear to her then.
There was something in his eyes that she was not used to: respect for the orders she gave. It only motivated her. She could do this.
"Alright, I'm coming with you. But the minute it's too dangerous, I'm carrying you out," he said.
"Okay. But stay back," she warned, waving an arm as he continued to follow. "I will try something."
Rem faced the two men that were kidnapping Nia, the she-wolf writhing in her silver chains, her eyes glossed over. Rem walked forward, arms raised at them. She could hear them bickering.
"Hey! What are you doing!" one yelled, pointing a bow and arrow right at Rem—one with a shiny silver tip—prompting her to stop.
The other pulled out a knife.
"I'm a Silver!" she shouted.
"Step closer!" the other yelled, motioning with his dagger. He had a dirty face and round cheeks.
"I am a Silver, see? My eyes are orange, hair silver, all that. I'm supposed to go with you. That’s what the queen ordered. I got injured.”
Nia examined Rem with confused eyes, panting through her torture.I'll get you out of here, Nia.
The hunters nodded. "Get in! We were told some of you were looking forward to leaving. Can't imagine why any of you lot would ever want to stay."
She smiled as she approached, terrified they'd see right through her.Steady, Rem. Believe that you want this, so they buy it."Oh, thank you. I don't get it, either. Just get me out of this damn place.”
They pulled Rem up onto the wagon, and she smiled at the cleaner hunter.
Then, she dropped all politeness as she punched him square in the nose, his bones shattering against her fist.
She lunged at the other to grab his dagger, although he already swiped downward, slicing through her palm. She screamed, lowering her sliced, bleeding palm as her other fist rounded to punch him, void of all remorse. The longer she was with these wolves, the more she grew familiar with the violence.
His face caved in upon impact.
Rem stumbled as she panted, slightly horrified at the damage dealt.
But it faded once she dropped her gaze to a distressed Nia, knowing she had to do whatever it took to save her only friend.
A few, straggling hunters mounted horses, ready to ride out of Scarlet with nothing in their hands. Rem stole a double glance when a light gray wolf bit one of their heads right off, clawing into the horse which cried out and reared.
Rem knelt back down to Nia. "Are you alright?"
Sweat beaded down Nia’s forehead and cheeks, her eyes listless, her braids scattered all over the carriage floor, but she managed to speak through gritted teeth and tears in her eyes, "Just get me out of here. I need these stupid chains off.”
The light gray wolf turned back into Halvar while Rem tried to figure out how to carry Nia. There was no way she could do that without hurting Nia more, and Rem was on her last leg.
"I got her," Hal said, and got into the carriage, everyone dipping with the weight of him. He grabbed Nia very carefully, and she grimaced with every little movement.
