Fairytale Really Isn't The Word For It (M)

Rei tensed as arrows flew past her, slamming into the surrounding trees and scattering bark over her back. Thorns tangled around her hooves, making the slow retreat difficult. A lucky shot grazed her lower shoulder. She bit back a hiss. For such a small wound it stung like fire. Deciding to keep her bow secure on her back, Rei spun around, pushing through the prickly bushes and breaking out into the clear. She glanced back behind her. Her attackers weren't following. Apparantley centaurs were claiming territory now, and they had opened fire on her without even letting her know she had trespassed. Rei shook her head, brushing stray strands of blonde hair from her eyes. What threat could she pose by herself, anyway? She had her bow, and was a rather good shot, but against three trained warriors who probably had carried other weapons besides the poorly made bows. Any idiot could wield a sword and feel confident about it if he was backed up by two others.

Questioning the logic of her kind, Rei slowed her gait to a steady trot. Her hooves clicked quietly on the pebbles, disguised by the subdued roar of the river she followed. The sting of her minor scratch flared up a little, and she sighed. It was a bright red line against her coat, longer than it was deep or wide. A small trail of crimson blood beaded along the edges, rolling down and falling onto the bank now and then. Rei sighed. She should be back there, demanding their reasoning for attacking her. But here she was, running from them like a wounded animal. An animal with a tiny scratch who could care less about if they were following her or not. Okay, so she couldn't be compared to a deer. That was good, in some ways. Rei wasn't exactly a doe eyed centaur anyway, and wasn't one to run and hide and sneak around. Hiding in the shadows could be considered 'caution' and for deer, it was okay. But for her, a warrior who was perfectly capable of defending herself, it was unacceptable.

Sighing as she contemplated if she was in fact a coward or not, Rei knelt, cupping some icy cold river water in her hand and pouring it over the scratch. Despite its size, anything could become infected if not cleaned. And a centaur without use of one of its legs was better off dead. 21 was a little young, Rei decided.