Hey everyone who reads this. I really hope you guys are enjoying my little story. I have been having fun writing it and the ideas I have for the furture, yes I said furture, chapters are funny, dark, and romantic. Thanks for reading everyone! *Note* If you hit download you will get the full story. This is just chapter 3. Also it is important to note that the download is not spell checked. My computer is old and sort of dumb so I used FA to spell check. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy


Chapter three: Life on the run

Entering the small town I was hit with the overwhelming smell of civilization. Though not as bad as some of this cities I have visited this place stunk of manure, labor, and poverty. A tall wooden sign said "Rivers reach" and I took it to be the towns name. People watched me cautiously as I moved up the main street and examined the buildings I passed. Honestly I was a little disappointed with this place but desperate for food and shelter I would need to make the most of it. As I passed the next building I shivered with fright and lowered my head in fear. Three or four bounty notices were posted along the broad side of the structure. Each one had my face upon it and each one offered a higher bounty for my capture. Even out here in the middle of nowhere I am still a hot target. Will I ever find a place to live peacefully?

This town probably wouldn't even show up on a map. These people were so alerted to my presence I dared not even look at them. But I needed to eat something before I continue my trek across Thraskar or I will surely die. Ahead was a pair of buildings that created a wall effectively ending the town. Looking behind me this place was only about eight or nine buildings... I should be safe for a little while. This loose string of buildings hardly even had a proper form, let alone the population to warrant the title of town. As I reached the two large buildings that ended this glorified village I chuckled reading the signs above the door. The left hand building was adorned with the front of a sailing ship and had a bright glass sign that said "Come get some!". It was a brothel but by the looks of the woman standing outside, not a very good one. The right hand building had a set of double doors and its modest wooden sign read "Drinks". Nodding to the ragged woman who had taken notice to my presence I headed into "Drinks".

The atmosphere in this place was different than the tavern I was in only a night ago. The bar was silent and no one even moved at my entrance save a few twitching ears and swishing tails. A chubby polar bear stood behind the counter lazily reading a book as he drank from a large brown bottle. Behind the bear was a wall of bottles each crafted with a unique label and glass color but all sharing a weathered appearance. Approaching the bar I climbed onto a barstool and knocked to get the barkeeps eye. He glanced over at me, his droopy bloodshot eyes hardly visible. As he lumbered to the other end of the bar I prepared my five remaining coins and looked about for any food he may have.

"You need somethin?" He said in a deep gravelly voice that was booming to someone of my size.
"Anything on the menu?" I asked sliding the stack of five coins toward him, without raising my head.
"I've got something for ya." He replied snatching up the gold pieces quickly and then returning to his end of the bar.
After the clinking of dishes and the rattling of metal I saw him pouring a thick white soup into a clay bowl. The smell of it was sweet from here and sharpening my focus I could sense it was some form of turkey stew. My tongue was practically out of my mouth as he approached and slid the bowl to me from a few inches away. Thanking him I took the spoon from his enormous paw and set it down. As a canine liquid foods are not easy to enjoy with a utensil. I lifted the bowl and blew gently before sipping a little bit to test it's temperature. Finding it satisfactory I began slurping down the soup with little care for manners or guile. It tasted so good to my starved stomach and it wasn't even that well prepared. Bits of potato and celery complemented the flavor of the turkey pieces that had been mixed in. Unfortunately though the portion wasn't very large and soon I was lapping at the bottom of the bowl. My stomach felt warm and I let out a content sigh before gently patting my gut.

After I was done eating I began planning my next move. Being chased by that dreaded bug threw me so far off course I don't know where I was. If I continued through the wilderness I would probably die... but if I follow the road out of this place I risk capture. Grunting softly I leaned on the bar and yawned a little. The feeling of having a full belly was making me drowsy and soon I felt my eyes drifting closed. I awoke several times and each time an overwhelming panic was the first thing to greet me. But the warmth and security of the rustic bar lolled me back to sleep easily. Honestly it was the best sleep I have had in a long time.

The next time I awoke was morning. The bartender shook me awake and I quickly shot up almost attacking him. He stared at me with a bizarre look that slowly sharpened into an alerted anger. At first I thought it was because I had pushed his hand away but I quickly realized my hood was off! His examination intensified as I quickly scrambled to slip the deep hood over my huge ears. Before I could finish the bear had grabbed me and lifted me off the ground. Grunting from frustration I swung my legs sharply but only manage to kick his flabby arms. A hopeful smile developed on the white bears mug as he effortlessly pinned my arms against my side causing me to yelp slightly. As I squirmed in his paws I felt him flick me backward in a jarring motion to remove my hood. Kicking and growling I felt the claws tighten around me causing slight pain.

"The entire night..." The bear laughed as he looked me over. "The largest bounty in Thraskar was in my bar the entire night!" He bellowed as I struggled in his grasp.

"You got my money. Don't be greedy now." I struggled to say as his crushing paws held steady.

The bear threw his head back laughing at my statement. "Five gold pieces is hardly enough. Considering your bounty I think your a couple hundred thousand off the mark." He said leaning toward me with a smug scrunched up face.

My opportunity presented itself as he came closer. His slightly pointed muzzle moved just within range of my long pointed one. I swiftly snapped my jaws forward and felt contact. The bear let out a shrill shriek that I wouldn't have expected his huge lungs to be capable of. I had caught his nose in my mouth and the pain on my torso led my jaws to lock shut with immense force. As he fought to free his tender nose he first resorted to simply squeezing me harder. Though it probably would have killed me, had he kept it up, my instinctual reaction to this pain was to bite down even harder. He cried out again and began trying to pull me off but I only threw my head around to cause him maximum pain. Suddenly I was flying through the air uncontrollably. I had blood in my mouth but no flesh and as I hit the wall I caught a brief glimpse of the bear charging in my direction.

"You little bastard!" The bloody nosed bear shouted as he raised his huge rounded paw and attempted to stomp me.

Not having enough time to react I simply lifted all my limbs and caught his weight with all of my strength. It wasn't even a few seconds before his huge foot began lowering and forcing my limbs to flex. Focusing all my energy on my arms and legs I tried my best to keep from being crushed. He began to laugh as I began vanishing beneath his huge clawed paw. My arms ached and my legs had been numb for several seconds but I desperately kept fighting. He leaned forward putting more weight on me and I felt his now sweaty paw slip from my grasp. I cried out in pain as he pressed down on me and continued laughing.

"Ya know? One of those posters out there says... dead... or... alive!" With each word he pressed down a bit harder and toward the end of his statement his twisted his foot.

In terror I squirmed and kicked pointlessly for freedom. I soon couldn't take in any air and my breaths became short gasps for salvation. As I felt his paw twist and grind me to the wooden floor I got the instinctual driven idea to sink my teeth into his big toe. Avoiding the claw as best I could I bit down with a ferocious snarl. He screamed and stumbled backward before falling on his ass and slamming me to the floor. The impact from that hurt far worse due to my already pain enveloped body. I writhed on the ground for a moment but the piercing cries of the bear soon turned to angry roars and I knew I had to get out of here. As I got up the bear was lumbering to his feet, but I quickly changed that with a flying drop kick to the upper chest. He rolled backward from the impact and I landed causing great pain through my battered body. Staggering to my feet again I saw to figures appear in the bars doorway. They didn't seem happy to see me but then again no one ever is. They each drew swords and blocked the doorway but I just smiled wearily and dove out the window opposite the bars entrance. A cacophony of shattering glass and shouting voices filled my ears as I smashed through the window and tumbled into a patch of grass behind the bar.

"No! Don't let him escape!" The bears sandpaper voice was the only thing I could make out over the ringing in my ears.

"Hurry! Head that way!" Another voice cried out from within the bar.

"Fuck..." I muttered as I staggered and strained to stand.

Ahead several yards was a wall of trees that I was shooting for. Looking back I saw that I was leaving a trail of blood as I ran. My mind raced as I now realized I was cut badly and they would be able to easily track me. No, I don't want to go back... Please let me escape. I stumbled into the first tree I saw and shouted in pain sliding down it a short distance. Distant voice drew closer and I felt tears burning in my eyes as I continued to run. This can't be happening! I have to escape! Never before in my three month journey have I been caught or even seen. One bad decision and now I am bleeding to death in the middle of nowhere. I collapsed and slid a few inches before coming to a stop and groaning out my last few breaths. The voices were far behind me but I was still scared of being found. Crawling as best I could I managed to make it to the next tree and flipped over onto my back. I want to die in peace. I don't want to go back to the castle... Let me die before... you... take...