<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Naya brushed as much dirt and dust out of her hair as she could once the male stood up. A few of her arrows had fallen out of her quiver and her bow rested beside the grove tree. She sat up and grimaced; the throbbing pain in her leg felt like a thousand knives had been driven deep into her skin. Once she got to a safe place, preferably near a fresh water source where there were plenty of moist herbs growing, she'd have to strip down and take a closer look at the damage Amrak had done. Naya disliked being physically vulnerable to a stranger. It did her no good that her emotions were raw and clear as day.<br/>
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She winced as she tried to take a step forward with her right leg. The open wounds flared like fire and she blinked away oncoming tears. She didn't like the way he was analyzing her and bringing up her elven ancestors, talking as if he knew what'd happened. Did he really believe he was saving her? What motive did he have for stopping her in her tracks? She wouldn't fall prey to his soft, luring tone. The elf kept her head down and flinched when he suddenly reached out and touched her ears. An attempt was made to swat his hand away from her ear. This hunter had no respect for elven boundaries, much less her own.<br/>
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"I don't believe you. You keep touching me as if I'm some sort of prize to be cherished. I won't help." <br/>
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The elf grabbed her bow and immediately turned on her heel. She stumbled through the thickness of the shrubbery, dead leaves crunching beneath her feet. The trees were not as they once were, vibrant and full of life. They were a darker shade now and the greenery had begun to fade and cripple. Naya could hear the forest crying out, longing for their kin to return home. She didn't know where she was going, what she was doing. All she knew was that she wanted freedom. She needed to get away from that man who'd rudely attacked her while she was on the run from Hallow Council.<br/>
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Ten yards away, Naya stopped and  leaned against one of the red groves. Her breathing was shallow and her leg was swollen. As much as Naya wanted to take another step and push herself, she knew she could not. She hugged the tree, a calm hum rippling through the atmosphere and vibrating through her body. For a moment, she could see a hint of some small markings glow a light blue hue from underneath her long-sleeved shirt, but disappear just as quickly. Naya pulled away and glanced up at the sky. The leaves slowly dispersed, one by one, and the sun welcomed its warm arms to the forest ground.<br/>
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After a brief moment of silence for the passing of the tree, light footsteps began to approach and her fists clenched. She couldn't sense any sort of direct hostility from him and made a note to be wary. Any human would get their hands on an elf; surely, he was no different and his kindness was just superficial. Naya turned her body a little and regarded the stranger with suspicion. A part of her wanted to give up and relinquish herself into his services, but another part of her knew she couldn't be too trusting after the genocide. Everyone hated the elves, their divinity, and the grandeur illusion of perfection. <br/>
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"If you're here to try and manipulate me into helping, it won't work. I know what men like you want and why you're out here."<br/>
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