Sana
Behind Sana the dog tore through dirt and earth, its claws gripping the ground with each long purposed stride it took; jaws open and a snarl on its features making it look near rabid as it charged towards the archer who stood there frozen in place. She took her time as she took aim; this was one shot she refused to miss. In front of her stood her target, the man that she thought was the cause of the lash marks upon the back of the man still tied to a post at this point; the one that had caused the laceration on her own features. The muscles on his arm rippled as he snapped the whip towards her, uncoiling as the world seemed to move in slow motion and everything but her target blurred around her.
Lips parted as a slow breath passed over them and her fingers released the arrow from its home and sent it on its path; cutting through the air towards its target but Sana was unable to see if it struck where she had desired it to. Piercing and burning pain tore into her senses as teeth bit down on her shoulder from behind and she leaned back, the crack of the whip echoing through the air as her bow was snapped out of her fingers when her hands came up. The bow flying to the side as Sana reached up and tried to rip the beast from her flesh but its jaw strength was far too powerful and Sana looked around as she continued to try to pry it off her. She screamed out as it continued to bite, small nips to deepening its grasp.
Falling to one knee she tried to flip the beast off, slamming her back down on top of it but it held its bite with a vengeance. Rolling over the ground Sana saw one of the fires flickering not far and did the only thing she could think of through the pain and blood. Rolling quickly she put herself and the beast into the fire; the flames flaring up around the beast, Sanas right shoulder and neck being scorched in the heat before it let go. Sana scrambled to her feet as she draw her dagger and lunged at the burning beast who yelped out in agony as she drove the dagger into its chest and ending its life. Faltering back into the dirt she frantically patted her clothing to put it out and cringed in pain. From her elbow to her ear she was burned on her right side, her cheek was cut, her right shoulder torn open from the beast as well as her calf from earlier.
Reaching into her pouch on her belt she pulled out one of the vials of healing that the Sister had given her and Hugh and drank it quickly. It stopped the bleeding and closed up some of the wounds but there was still damage; Sana didn’t care though, at that point it was enough to keep her moving. Stumbling to her feet she pulled the dagger out of the beasts chest, sheathing it and picked up her bow before it dawned on her that she still did not know if she had hit her mark. Turning on her heels she looked for the whipmaster, seeing him on his back on the ground. Walking over to him she nocked another arrow into place and aimed for him but it was not needed. Her first arrow had sailed true and embedded itself directly in his eye socket, killing him instantly. Taking a deep breath of relief Sana dropped her arrow back into her quiver and slung her bow across her back.
Drawing her dagger she ran over to the man tied to the post, his face buried beneath hair as his head had fallen forward and his back was to her. Sana reached up and quickly slashed through the binds that held him up; pulling him down slowly to his knees as she did. “It’s okay, I got you,” she said in a tired but kind voice, resting him against the post as she took his wrists and began to get the rest of the bindings off him. The man wobbled weakly, his head tilting back so he could see who was helping him. From behind matted hair dark eyes with flakes of amber fell on Sanas features and he trembled, his lips parting as a single word slipped over them.
“Sana?” the man whispered before he weakly onto his back. Sana looked at the man oddly, his face still mostly covered. Sana looked at the man quizzically before she slid over to him on her knees, how did he know her name? Pushing his hair back from his face Sana gasped. It was a face she had not seen in nearly fifteen years. He was much older than she remembered him but it was no doubt the same man that had tried to keep her from leaving the gypsy troop of her people a lifetime ago.
“Papa?” she whispered as she leaned over him, the man weakly reaching up and taking her hand, through all the pain he smiled at her; the same smile that came across Sanas features so often when not in the middle of a fight. The man simply nodded yes to his daughter as she sat there in shock and placed her free hand against his cheek. Sanas eyes looking at him and she couldn’t believe that he was there but what of the rest of her troop? “Where is mama? Ramara?” she asked quickly and her father looked away from her slowly.
“Gone,” was all he would answer. “I’m sorry for driving you away,” he whispered before he closed his eyes and the last of his breath fell from his lips. Sana started shaking her head quickly.
“No! Papa!” she screamed as she patted his cheek softly, shaking him somewhat but there was nothing that could have been done. He was far beyond help by the time Sana had reached him. There he lay, still holding his daughters hand and a small smile on his lips that had at least seen her once more before he died. Sana began to weep as she leaned over him, gripping his hand in hers; rocking back and forth slowly as it sunk in that she had not only lost her father but that her entire family was gone.
