Krista watched the minnows congregating around the piece of bread she had thrown into the brook. She hadn't done much of anything today, but laze around in the coolness of the forest. Being out here alone in the forest almost made her think she was as free as the songbirds fluttering around in the branches overhead. Until she remembered that in everybody's eyes, except maybe Sansa's, she was nothing but a slave. She was something to be used, sold and discarded at an owner's whim.
Oh well life was what you made of it and at least hers for right now was the best it had ever been. She was living in the moment as tomorrow was no guarantee in her world. She ambled back towards the cottage regretting her laziness. Sansa had probably needed her for something hours ago.
Her route back brought her within site of the village and she gave it but a passing glance. Her eyes flew back to it in surprise at what she had seen. There were columns of smoke billowing into the sky from many of the town's buildings which were wreathed in flames. She could see people running around in the town, but mostly they were fleeing from it! Instead of fighting the fires their only purpose seemed to be escaping the town. Other figures in the scene seemed more purposeful.
Attorgron Slavers!
The thought occurred to her and she was immediately sure of it. Rarely did the slavers venture so far into the west for fear of angering the Zoarinian controlled interests to much, but apparently they had thought it worth the risk for the prize of the loot the town offered them.
"Oh no! Sansa!"
Krista tore off through the forest towards the cottage. She leaped over fallen logs and dodged tree trunks. Her feet were steady and sure in the dense littered undergrowth of the forest even in her haste. She could see smoke ahead of her in the clearing where the cottage was, which made her pace quicken even more. She burst into the clearing and she saw Sansa weakly protesting as several men carried the medicinal wares of their healing trade from the cottage. One of the men, a big swarthy skinned brute back handed Sansa so hard that she was thrown backward several feet and fell across the doorway of the cottage.
Krista screamed in heartfelt pain at the sight and ran to Sansa's side. Sansa was still conscious, but barely. She recognized Krista and smiled softly and reached up to brush some of the fiery curls from off of her forehead.
Weakly she said, "Remember what I told you dear, the Creator is going to keep you! Remember?"