You've undoubtedly heard the tale of Robin Hood, but what if I was to tell you they got it all wrong?
First of all, Robin is female.
{All characters other than my own belong to J. R. R. Tolkien}
Chapter soundtrack: 'Parallel Universe' by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
† Chp. XVI †
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The uruk-hai slow their pace to a mere stroll, and I sigh in relief, sitting down for a quick rest as I thump my back against a tree trunk. At this rate, they'll be easy to catch up to.
It's been about an hour of jogging, and if it weren't for my earlier days of cross country, my legs wouldn't be able to handle the chase. But with my injuries, I can feel my body beginning to give out.
Gritting my teeth, I look down to the arrow which still remains lodged in my shoulder. It absolutely kills, especially whilst running, but right now it's the only thing keeping the blood inside of my body.
I don't know how long the uruk-hai are going to keep this slow pace, so if there's a time to bandage the wound, it's now.
Grabbing my dagger, I tear two strips off the bottom of my ragged singlet and scrunch one of the pieces in my hand. Then with much hesitation, I twist the shaft of the arrow to see if the tip is stuck between bone, but lucky it turns with ease.
By the hole the arrow has made in my jacket, luckily narrowly missing the fabric of my new cloak, I can tell that the head isn't much larger than the shaft, meaning that not much damage will be caused if I pull it out carefully. Then, while gritting my teeth, I grasp the shaft and slowly pull the arrow from my shoulder. My other hand digs into the moss which sits by my side, drawing earth beneath my fingernails.
"Bloody hell." I mutter as my eyes water up. I sure as hell hope that I'm doing this right.
A slight sense of relief tinges my body as the head is removed, and I bring to tip to my tongue, spitting out the metallic, but thankfully not bitter taste of blood.
Atleast I haven't been poisoned.
With the slip of a swear word, I lift my jacket to see blood splurting out of the wound. Just my luck the arrow punctured an artery.
Thinking quickly, I apply the scrunched up cloth to the area and press down, wrapping the other strip beneath my armpit and around my shoulder to keep pressure on the wound, and hopefully prevent too much blood loss.
Well would you look at that, I'm officially a healer.
I place my jacket back over my shoulder and zip it in order to keep the bandage in place.
But a commotion coming from beneath grabs my sudden attention, and I furrow my eyebrows. A bush sits a top the cliff I am using to track the uruks, and I crouch down, peering through the leaves at the hideous posse which resides bellow. They have stopped completely, and one of the beasts sniff the air.
