(i mean,,, i had not originally been intending for them to escape this early. however, as we have discovered, i am Not Good at writing torture (at least of other people's characters). so, i think we have two choices? either 1 they both escape together into the woods, or 2 Kaylum drops Nik but escapes? or they could both get recaptured? idk. it might be interesting if Kaylum escaped and met up with Nik's guards somehow?? bc yes they survived)
(Yeah I figured, I was just wondering to see how likely or possible it would be. I’m also wondering if they could reach the woods but they still get recaptured anyway, either immediately or sometime later after Seren organizes like, search parties and stuff? I do think it would be interesting if Kaylum went on his own and found Nik’s guards but I’m not really into him just dropping Nik and leaving)
(hmm. What if they escape and Kaylum sets Nik down when he thinks they're far enough away bc he's going to scout ahead, and then Nik gets snatched by Seren's guys while Kaylum is gone?)
(Okay, the only snag I can think of is if Kaylum is going to scout ahead, he would likely do it by astral projecting. So either Kaylum would be captured with Nik while he’s out or Nik could easily alert him to what’s happening)
(oh that's true. Idk. We can just have them both be recaptured, then lol)
(Lol sure that’s fine by me)
(alright! how do you want to handle that?)
(Just basically your idea except they both are captured instead of just Nik?)
(sure! so do we wanna timeskip to that or?)
(No, I figure I can keep it going ^^)
(alright!)
Kaylum’s internal panic increased as more footsteps and shouting was heard behind him, as spears and arrows began to whiz past his leg or attempt to pierce through his scales. And as a result, his recklessness increased too. As they came to the edge of the camp, all he could think was, Why not? The forest was right there.
So he plunged into it, and as the forest engulfed them, he shifted to human form and grabbed tightly to Nikolas’s waist and kept running as fast as he could.
When Kaylum shifted back to human form, Nik grunted faintly and just clung on to the larger man, keeping an eye out behind them to try and see if anyone was following. He could certainly hear their pursuers, though he didn't quite see anyone. Every now and again, though, he caught flashes of metal glinting in the sun, and knew that they were not far.
Although he was slower as a human, and he had to carry Nik’s weight, Kaylum was more nimble this way too. And hopefully, the forest would be dense and thick enough to cover their tracks. His legs already burned from being unused, but adrenaline kept him going. The sounds of footsteps behind them were enough to push him forward.
Nik did his best just to breathe. His back gavev another scream of pain with each step, with each shift and jostle, but there wasn't anything he could do about it but breathe and hope that they managed to escape. Hope htat Kaylum could lose their pursuers in the forest.
After a moment, Kaylum slowed, but only to move Nikolas onto his back. “Sorry,” he muttered, because it surely hurt him. “Hang on.”
He sped up again, trying to control his breathing to prepare for what he was about to do. It was so hot here. He ran for about a hundred feet, then leapt into a tree. He climbed into the branches, his movements like that of a monkey. He hopped between branches and swung to other trees, hoping that at least if they caught up to them, they would be more hidden. That was the goal, really. To hide, to flee. To have the stealth and invisibility of a shadow dragon.
Nikolas inhaled sharply at the shift, trying to smother the pain that flared with each movement. He clung on to Kaylum, arms around the other man's shoulders and legs wrapped around Kaylum's waist. He couldn't keep an eye out anymore, so just closed his eyes and hung on.
Kaylum did not notice the sweat on his body or the ache in his muscles after a while, and the pain from Seren’s whip was long forgotten. Perhaps his attempts to control his mind and focus had worked too well this time. It was so hot. He missed the mountains.
Then he stopped. He found himself in a tree, clinging onto a few branches. He was breathing hard. Too hard, too loudly. He wanted to be quieter, but he needed air. Sweat dripped down from his nose.
“River,” he gasped. “River.” Sure enough, water flowed beneath the tree they were hidden in, hopefully covering the sound of his loud breathing. Was it an obstacle, or a miracle? Kaylum paused, both to recover and to try to listen for any soldiers.
Nikolas just held on doggedly, eyes closed as he did his best to just ignore the pain that twinged in his back with each movement. He didn't speak when Kaylum stopped moving, just took a few deep breaths and looked around, trying to see if he could see any pursuers. The running water was a blessing and a curse; it would muffle their moveemnts, but it also made it harder to hear if anyone was following them.
Indeed, the water was a double edged sword. After realizing that he couldn’t hear anything over the sound of water, his senses began to fail him all together. His vision blurred, and for a moment he forgot that he had Nikolas on his back. All he knew was that his body was burning up, and his muscles and lungs were screaming at him. And the water… it looked so cool and refreshing.
“Water,” Kaylum heaved. “I need…” he felt himself swaying, losing his grip on the branches. “Oh no.”
He slipped, and fell straight toward the river.
Nik's eyes widened as Kaylum began to sway, and he instinctively grabbed at the closest branches. Luckily enough for him, the branch was strong enough to hold onto when Kaylum fell. Unluckily, his legs were without support and his shoulders were taking the full weight of his body. Normally, this owuldn't have been a problem; with his back in the shape it was, though, it was almost immediately a problem, and it wasn't long before he followed Kaylum into the river. He grabbed at a tree root, blinded by water and coughing as he tried to catch his breath.
The water shocked him to his core. He did not think to hold his breath, partially because of the shock and partially because he vaguely remembered how thirsty he felt. Water filled his mouth and his throat, and already it was too late. Kaylum fell unconscious, and was carried upstream only partially floating above the water.
(wait how do you want them to be captured? do you want Seren's men to find Kaylum down the stream, or?)
Nik clung to the root, back screaming in pain at the effort it was taking. He watched helplessly as Kaylum's body floated away down the stream. Nik couldn't do anything about it. He was not a strong enough swimmer, in this state, to be able to help. Not when he could barely hold onto this root.
(Yeah they can find him in the river lol)
(alright, do you want me to change my reply or?)