Twisted World

Harri, Jacs and Joey had started to become as immune to the horrors as the few other young people in the cage before them. As more and more were pressed in with them, the constant sights and smells rolled over them until they meant nothing more to them than the everyday life they had lost had.

One other young woman cowered in terror near Jacs. Her hair was as light as Jacs’ was dark. Only the two had escaped the men’s attentions. Glem was insistent that Hadad be given the choice.

There had been a single other who had been so fearful that she persuaded one of the young men in the cage to relieve his needs with her. On the discovery she had been removed from the cage and left to the entire camp’s needs that night. She was not seen again. The young man was relieved of his genitalia and the body hurriedly taken away when he bled out.

The cage had been well fed that night, but Harri had shaken his head at the meats offered, his eyes telling his sisters to do the same. The vegetation and bread would be enough he said. Jacs had given him a curious look as the platter of meats was passed on. Harri had briefly made a movement as if scratching himself and grimaced. Jacs nearly vomited as she realised his meaning. The young man had been returned to them.

The army of invaders rolled on and over everything until a land of huge trees appeared over the long rise they had toiled up. The trees stretched over the horizon.

Glem had positioned guards around the cage for the first time. The prisoners wondered what lay within the trees that even this army had reason to fear.

They soon found out.

Before they had chance to establish a camp perimeter the first silent arrows came from the deep shadows. A few guards fell, but shots back and strange screams arose; the arrows ceased.

The next attack came by daylight, or what natural light that managed to break through the thick high canopy in long dazzling shafts. Jacs had stared and gasped in disbelief as great horse creatures had charged from all directions - creatures with men’s heads and torso’s, firing arrows faster than she could see them fitting into the long bows. The caged were either stunned at the sight or cheering for all they were worth.

The cage was now surrounded by hooved guards and a bigger surprise was in progress. The roof of the cage was being quickly removed with metal tools, and long arms reached down to pick them out. They were lifted swiftly on long creepers upwards to the sheltering canopy. Joey clung to Jacs in panic, but was quiet. She was learning fast. Harri clung to the rising creeper ahead of them. The light haired young woman was just below them.

A beam of red tore through the creeper and Jacs joined Joey and the blonde screaming as they fell. Bodies on the ground of men and centaur cushioned their fall. They scrambled up and ran into the undergrowth away from the carnage. But they were still surrounded by the army, whose men were combing around for those who had fallen or scrambled out of the cage.

The creepers vanished; those that had been lifted were safe. At least half the cage were running or hiding. Jacs shoved Joey in a cave formed out of the roots of a large tree, and the two young women crawled in after her. They moved around to find what comfort they could; Joey was finally sat in front of the two.

Jacs introduced herself and Joey. The blonde introduced herself as Nesta. She brushed back tears as she told them the fearful woman had been her twin, Hesta. Nesta had thought that nothing they could face in the future could be worse than being flung to the animals who called themselves men. Hesta had always been the nervous one.

A small spiked creature nosed in the space and Joey could not stop herself from squealing as it bit a toe.

The foliage in front of the shelter was cut back and they were seen.

“Good work, Spike, my faithful finder!” Glem’s deep tones were heard. “Heads up gentlemen! Here’s the very ones we want! Never mind the cage, ladies; you ride up front with me and Desta from now on. The little one can go back in the cage for now. There’s more room for your comfort again!”

The force was depleted but not by much. They moved off and kept moving but were not attacked again. Jacs bounced unhappily behind Glem. A smile rose as she thought of Harri - Harri was free!

Harri was lost in gloomy thought. All he could think of was his sisters. He had seen them brought back to the van from his tree top sanctuary. Happy chatter arose around him and he finally saw his rescuers. Hairy unclad people with long arms and legs and round peaceful faces. Their homes were on platforms woven of the slenderest branches that were surprisingly strong. A ‘home’ was a space defined by a moveable screen.