From: richk@tekeda.PEN.TEK.COM (Richard C Kurschner)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [L&S] Run-away 1
Message-ID: <9866@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 7 May 93 16:55:06 GMT

[ADMIN:  This follows the L&S Awakenings series.  Serveral people helped on
  this and following posts; thanks to Laurie Alden, The Dreamer, and Stephen
  Hutchison.  Special thanks to Andrea Evans for her suggestions.]

Why?

Always questions.  Questions about where she was from.  Questions about her
early life.  Questions about home.  Even in everyday conversation there were
open-ended statements designed to bring out information on her life before
she came to Generica.  Before she came to live here.  Why couldn't they just
leave her alone?  She did not want to go home.  She did not want to keep
being reminded of what she had lost.  She had no home.

No home.  That thought reverberated through her young mind.  No home, not
even here.

Oh these people were nice enough, but what did they want from her?  They were
friendly, but they always wanted answers.  Answers to questions she didn't
want to think about.  She didn't want to think about home.  She had no home.

No home.  This place certainly wasn't home.  It was dark and warm and
comfortable here in this tree called Shadehaven.  It was almost like home.
But it wasn't home.  Why was she still here?

She was here because they wanted to keep her here.  They wanted something
from her.  Sure, they let her out, but always with someone.  Besides the
questions, she was always being watched.  The last time she was watched this
closely was...

She choked. 

The last time she was watched this closely was... Before her father sold her
to the slavers!  It WAS just like home.  Her chest heaved in panic.  She was
caged.  Luthor, Serene, the Captain, they were going to sell her!  They were
keeping her, just like before...  at home!  She had to escape.  She had to
leave NOW.  She would not be a slave again.  She was gasping for air.  Fear
choked her.  NO! It could not happen again!

Fear and panic clouded her young mind.  She was reduced to her primal
instincts.  In a silent scream, the tension that had been building all day
snapped.  Her last shred of reason gone.  She ran.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Excuse me Captain."

The Captain marked his place in the geography he was reading and looked up.
"Yes Sargent?"

"The girl is gone - Raylard saw her go running from the house about two
minutes ago.  I immediately sent one of the dogs to trail.  Kell'an is ready
to follow or recall the dog as you wish."

The Captain was out of his chair, heading for the library door.  "I'll
follow with Kell'an; Trina doesn't know her.  You alert Luthor or Serene if
either is still up."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

She was away.  No one stopped her.

Echos of her shoes slapping the pavement were the only sounds to break the
peace of Shadehaven's district.  The streets were clear.  No one was out this
late at night.

She didn't know where she was going.  She just knew that she had to get away.
She could not be a slave, she would not be sold, she had to be free.

The elvish quarter was soon behind her.

She kept running.