chapter one

F**k the description just read it. You know you wanna!!!! (;

Emma was running for her life. She raced over craggy, moss covered rocks, splashed through bogs, traversed fields, ziggzaged through trees and lept crevasses. The lights behind her never fell behind, and at times they drew even closer. The barking of the dogs was very close, close enough to make her whimper in fear. Creatures scurried out from beneath her flashing feet. A branch caught her and she went tumbling over, landing spread eagled in the dirt. She gasped for air, little stars dancing before her vision, and then nearly screamed as a figure dropped out of a tree beside her. The figure was revealed to be a young man, who grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. She began to struggle but he covered her mouth with a work roughened hand and pressed his lips to her ear. "I mean you no harm. Follow me, I have somewhere safe." Emma, who could see the lights drawing nearer, threw trust to the wind and let him pull her along.

He did not bring her far, and she did not realize that they had reached their destintation until he was helping her inside. It looked like a small clearing, a tiny one, but in reality there was actually a small wooden cabin here. It was covered in vines and nature looked as though it had taken it over- one could not tell it was there unless it was pointed out. A small bush covered the entrance, and Emma had to duck to avoid hitting her head. It was a cozy little place. Small, vine covered openings in the thatch covered roof allowed some light in, and a small stone hearth sheltered the little fire that was burning. A rough stool sat beside this, accompinied by a small heap of bedding. There was a ice box on the opposite side of the little room, and on top of that rested a couldrin, two plates, and a knife. A bow hung over the door. The young man gestured for Emma to sit by the fire, and then hurried out, taking up the bow as he went. Emma could hear the shouting drawing closer. She huddled closer to the fire, praying that they would not find her. The shouts and barking drew nearer and nearer until they were deafening, literally right outside. "Hey, hermit!" Someone shouted. "Get your a*s out here!" "Behind you." There was startled laughter, but then even that quieted as the young man spoke again, words surprisingly cold. "If you do not vacate my property in the next sixty seconds, General Keesh, I'll take every last man of yours down." "Oh, come now. We aren't here for you, we're looking for a..how shall I put this." Emma heard him snap his fingers. "A little b***h. A pet." "English." Keesh sighed. "A girl. She would have gone right past your little hovel. Have you seen any such speciman?" "A girl?" The young man sounded genuinely puzzled. "No, I've not seen anyone, besides you and your little crew of headhunters. Now, as I said before, and I'll say it again." There was a very soft creak as he drew the bowstring taught. "Get. Off. My. Property."

Both mean and nervous laughter greeted his words, and then General Keesh spoke again, but much too soft for Emma to hear. Then, the sound of boots began again, this time marching away. For a long time, Emma stayed huddled by the fire, alone, shivering, and then the young man came back in. "They're gone now." He said, softly, and, with his eyes on her, he carefully placed the bow back over the door. "You look like you could use a hot meal, a good wash, and some sleep. Does that sound good to you?" She nodded warily and he began to turn away but before he disappeared into his work, she called him back. "Wait" she paused and he voice became much more quiet as he turned back to look at her. "Who are you" her voice came out as barely more then a whisper and he paused a moment before responding.He tentavily took a step towards her, and she cringed back. He knelt where he stood so that he was level with her. "My name is Grayson. You can call me Gray. What is your name?"

"Emma" her voice was still barely audible so she raised it slightly. "My name is Emma" she looked at his shirt still to timid to look in his eyes. "Pleasure to meet you, Emma." He stood. "You've got nothing to fear from me." He turned away and went to the icebox, and began to rummage through it. "So, tell me a little about yourself, Emma." "My name is Emma. I'm fourteen That's all I know. I don't remember anything." She looked up slightly but not enough to see his face. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her palm. "Fourteen, eh?" He sighed. "Poor you. Must have escaped after they administered the amnesia." He turned back to her. In his arms he held a tray rhat was full of food- a large round of goat cheese, a bowl of nuts and dried fruit, and two huge legs of mutton. He cautiously approached her, and stopped about three feet away. "Can I come closer?" He asked, softly, in the tone of one approaching a wounded animal. She nodded, and he stepped close enough to set the tray in her lap. As soon as she saw the food, raveonous hunger overcame Emma and she fell on the food. Her hosts eyes widened as she quickly emptied the tray. He quickly brought her more. "Here." He said, quietly. Emma finished off two whole rounds of goat cheese, several handfuls of nuts and dried fruit, and three legs of mutton. She managed to down a mug of mead as well- it dulled her fear and made her pleasantly warm and sleepy. She nearly slipped off the stool, but Gray caught her. She jumped slightly as his unusually warm hands touched her. She relaxed as he laid her out in the bedding, and covered her with the fur quilt. Now she looked him in the face, and her eyes met unusually kind gray ones. "You're safe now." He whispered. "Now sleep." And she did.

Three years later

Emma inhaled softly as she drew an arrow. She set it against her cheek, eyes on her prey, and pulled the bowstring taught. Her prize was to be a beautiful buck, with a rack that boasted confidence. He was grazing among the freshly fallen snow, and she was just waiting for that perfect moment. Then- it came. He lifted his head and looked around. She let fly with the arrow. It was a clean, one shot kill, straight through the eye. Emma let out a very soft cheer, then shouldered the bow and hurried to staunch the blood before it stained the snow. Just as she had been taught, she pressed a kerchief to the wound, and held it there while the blood soaked it through. "Alright, big boy." She murmured. "You're a perfect kill...but how in hell do I get you home?" She straightened, eyed her surroundings, and her eyes fell on a nearby tree. The bark was peeling off, in huge strips. With a sly little grin, Emma hurried over, and began to peel the huge chunks off. Soon, she had fashioned a makeshift sled that she hauled the buck onto. She dug through her pack, rubbed her numb nose, and took out a length of rope. This, she tied to the sled, and began to pull it along.

She found her way back, left the buck out front, and hurried around to find Gray. He was busy chopping wood, and had already built up quite the stack. He hadn't heard her yet, and so, with a playful yowl, she tackled him into the snow. They wrestled amongst the powdered grass and threw each other away before tackling them again. Laughter and yelps rang through the air like church bells. Soon Gray had her pinned and she was begging for mercy between her relentless giggles. "Know what I think?" He asked, with a rather evil gleam in his gray eyes. "Nothing! You don't think!" She guessed twisting her wrists in a failed attempt to escape. "Good one. But I think you need a bath." He stood, hauled her to her feet, and then slung her over his shoulder. She shrieked, pounding his back in protest. "I swear to god Gray if I get a drop of water on me you won't eat for a week!" She pulled and twisted in his grasp.

"We'll go together then!" He said, in a playfully bright tone. "Any last words before the plunge of death?" "Yes. I hate you." she said her words muffled by exhaustion. "No you don't, you love me." And then he jumped. The cold water shocked them both, and brought Emma wide awake with a shriek. She slapped Gray, then burst into giggles- he was swearing like a sailor, something he didn't do too often. "S**t it's cold. S**t. S**t! My balls are gunna freeze off!" "What balls?" She asked diving away as he lunged for her. They splashed around for a bit until the water got too cold, and then they clambered out and raced each other to the house. As soon as they were inside, Gray, who had not a single shred of modesty in him, not even after three years, stripped his clothes off. Emma covered her eyes with a mock groan...and then peeked through her fingers. "I saw that." He stated plainly with no big surprise. Emma blushed bright red, and then pulled her hands fully away. "I'd give you a..." She tapped her chin. "I'd give you a seven. No...a six." She reconsidered. "Eight." Gray was blushing madly now. "Eight? That's it? Come on, you've got to give these some consideration." He patted his flat midsection, and Emma rolled her eyes. "Quit whining, or I'll rate you a three." "Three?!" He huffed indignantly. "I'm insulted." He yanked his undershorts on, followed by his pants, and left it at that, then turned to Emma with a wolfish grin. Before she could protest, he darted over to her, grabbed her, and spun her around until they collapsed onto the floor, Emma on his chest. Dizzily, she put her head in her hands and looked down at him. He raised an eyebrow. "It's not fair." He faked a pout. "You gotten to rate me and I haven't even seen you." Emma fell back seeing where this was going. "Oh hell no" he grinned and jumped up faster then she could get away. He twitched her shirt up, and nipped her side. She gasped, and then grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his head up so that
she could glare at him. "I said no" she said firmly. His eyes where raised from the hair pulling but he still managed a devious smile. "Since when do I listen to you?" He lunged again his hand went around her waist as she twisted and squirmed. It was obvious she was restraining laughter. He nipped her side again, breath hot against her, and she squirmed again. "Goddamn you Grayson, I oughta-" He abrubtly silenced her with a kiss. Emma, despite herself, melted into it. She could feel a deep blush spreading along her cheeks. He pulled back and his eyes met hers, then he bent his head again and kissed her again, this time, it was more gentle, and more sweet, in such that made Emma's head spin.

Author's Note

Ignore grammar problems. Please review!!!

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[touchthesky]

I'm a lonely loner. Seriously please review. I'm a loner and I'm a desperate loser. Deal with it