•Lukas Rin•

Lukas felt the exact moment Tom's grasp slipped out of his own and all he could feel was fear. Fear and that static ramming into his mind at full force as he planted his feet and spun around, eyes sweeping the way he came for any sign of Tom. He spots a crowd of people huddled around something-- someone, and knows it has to be Tom. Fuck only he could draw that much random attention to himself. He tried not to make it to obvious as he elbowed a guy out of the way to get through the tight circle to Tom. That spike of fear in his heart grew as he saw the blond hunter with an arm wrapped around Tom and the brunet hunter lingering close to Tom's other side, both watching the prince like prey. And that's what Tom was right now, despite his attempt at looking brave, he was prey.

Fuck no.

Lukas had to heavily restrain himself to not lunge at the hunters and just kill them, because that would be counterproductive on their end. He just needed to get Tom safe, he didn't need to kill anyone who hasn't explicitly showed to be a threat. He stops in front of Tom and grabs his arm, yanking him close and manuvering the prince behind him, keeping a tight grip. He was not going to lose him again. The blond hunters smile slipped slightly as he met Lukas' eyes, hazel brown searching through icy blue.

"I will kill you if you touch him again."

Lukas says under his breath, likely only loud enough for anyone standing three of four feet from him to hear. Good, he didn't need anyone else but the two hunters in front of him to hear him. All they had to know was he wasn't lying or kidding around. He would kill anyone who touched Thomas again. The hunters looked shocked for a few moments, likely not used to being stood up to, before their expressions schooled and morphed into 'we're pissed' looks.

Lukas turned, not daring to give the hunters the satisfaction of an arguement or the attempt at recruiting others to surround them for a piece of whatever money they get. He'd done that run-around too many times by now. He kept his grip on Tom tight, hopefully not tight enough to really hurt him, he just couldn't let the boy go. Not again. It was basically a death sentence if he did.

Pushing through the tavern door, warm sunlight and a cool breeze hit them. Birds chirped idly from the treetops above, chatter wafting through the air from the open tavern windows. It would be almost peaceful if Lukas' heart wasn't threatening to beat out of his chest.

"I'll explain later. We need to get away from them and you need to do exactly what I ask of you. Okay?"

Lukas answered finally, now that they weren't listened to from all sides. It didn't make him feel better though, not even as they got further and further away from the tavern. He didn't wait for a reply from Tom, he hoped the prince could at least tell something was right and just listen to him. He tensed when he heard the tavern door 'shf' open then closed far behind them. He knew they were going to be followed now, hopefully though, not too close behind. He ducked into the underbrush of the forest, shoving himself through the brances and leaves until they reached the clearing where the horses had been tied. He only now let Tom go, releasing the prince from his grip.

The horses were still there, Nox nosing at Iris' butt and trying to get her attention while Iris' ears flicked around, listening to every sound around them. The black mares attention settled on him and her ears pinned back, paw coming up to strike at the ground, this time, not because of Nox. She had always been good at sensing things were off, though, it must not have been hard to tell since Nox's ears also perked up.

Lukas decides to make a probably terrible decision standing there, staring at the horses. Nox is too noticable. He's loud and prancy and frankly, just flashy. He stands out too much. Meanwhile, Iris didn't. There were many horses just like her and her age in Thala Dorei right now, since she was so young during the war, of course she and all the surviving horses grew up. It wasn't off seeing a horse that looked like her around her, especially not in the woods near Nys Anore... He really was going to make a terrible decision.

"Tom, do not argue with me. Get on Iris and ride that way."

Lukas states, his voice (hopefully) stern. He raises an arm and points northeast, the way they both need to be going now- but also the way only one of them will be going for at least a day. He makes his way over to Iris, undoing her tie to the tree and throwing her reins over her head.

"She knows where to go. Just stay on and semi-lead. Alright, Pretty Princess?"

He tells Tom, trying to lighten the mood even slightly. Not a ton of time for that though, especially not when he can hear the bounty hunters voices getting closer through the underbrush. It was a miracle they hadn't found this clearing. Yet.

Tom eyed the crowd nervously, shifting his weight from foot to foot, hoping Luk would get back to him before Tom had to stab someone. The blond fellow might have been saying something, but Tom couldn't hear him over the pounding of his own heart. If he stabbed one of them, how much of an opening would he have to get away from the other one before they retaliated?

He almost didn't have time to react when Lukas grabbed him, and was immediately hit with the relief of just being away from those slimeballs.

He stuck close by Lu's side this time, and just nodded numbly as Lu spoke. The relief was short-lived, as he had to most horrible feeling of being followed closely. He hurried through the dense underbrush behind him, and almost like a switch, his worry flipped from Lukas and himself to Nox and Iris. Nox would surely get pissed if anyone tried to touch him, and Iris probably would too, but they were still just horses. Much as Nox thought himself to be a master of martial arts, he was really just a half-tonne toddler with a horrid attitude.

By some miracle, Nox was not only still there, but unharmed. He hadn't managed to untie himself and wander off, get kicked in the face by Iris, or be stolen. An incredible feat for him, probably only accomplished because he had a mare to bother.

"Wha- are we sure that's the best idea?" Tom asked nervously. He didnt mind Iris, but he did worry for Lukas' safety with Nox.

Unfortunately, Tom didn't have a choice. At the sound of what he thought to be at least 2 people or possibly horses, he froze, looking and feeling for all the world like a prize deer being hunted. He forced himself to keep moving and got on Iris as instructed. She spun and was ready to get moving before Tom even hit the saddle, though he held her back long enough to say, "Fine, but i expect you to catch up."

With hardly any encouragement, Iris was loping steadily away from Lukas and Nox, and much as Tom hated to be leaving them, he knew Lu would be able to hold his own, and Nox could maybe be of some use if he got his head out of his ass long enough to go in a straight line.

Lukas was right; Iris did know exactly where to go. She kept a steady pace for several hours, down through creeks, over fallen trees, weaving through dense thickets where the trees grew close enough to block out most of the daylight.

Eventually, by the light of the moon, Tom noticed the landscape start to change. More evergreens and conifers mixed with the deciduous trees that dominate further south, and the temperature dropped low enough for there to still be frost on the ground around the bases of most trees. Iris slowed to a walk, snorting softly at the ground, her breath visible in the dim light. Tom pulled his cloak tighter around himself and pulled his map from his pocket. About two or so hours from Nys Anore, if he didnt push Iris too hard. (I think? lwk forgot where they were, but i think that's where they were going lol) Iris didnt seem to want to stop, but Tom figured they should still take a break for water. There were plenty of streams for her to choose from, and fairly soon he was sitting on the bank of one while she stood next to him, drinking her fill, ears flicking at every little sound. Tom hoped they'd gotten far enough away in just one afternoon, but he knew hope was folly and it'd be best to keep moving as long as possible. After a quick snack, he and Iris were moving again, guided by the glow of the moon. He still hadn't figured out what they'd do for the night. Whether he could navigate through the bustling settlement on his own safely. Maybe Lukas and Nox were close by now, maybe they'd caught up.

@[Oakwood Barn] :3

•Lukas Rin•

Lukas watched Iris canter away, swivelling through trees and finally disappearing in the density of the forest. He felt a sense of dread at watching his horse vanish. She had been with him for a long time, through war and hard times and everything. So, being away from her, even if she was with someone he trusted, he worried for her. But he didn't have time to think about that, not now. He had other issues, namely, Nox and the two hunters not far behind.

He grabbed onto Nox's saddlehorn and hoisted himself up onto the stallions back, rolling his eye as Nox huffed and shook his head. How did Tom handle this thing?? Probably because they were one in the same- He tugged the reins into his hand and clicked Nox forward, pressing his heels into the chestnuts sides and urging him on, into the forest the way Tom went. Nox seemed inclined to follow the path that Iris and Tom took, but Lukas didn't let him. He tugged the stallion right, leading him from the path Iris took.

Lukas knew he and Tom wouldn't be seeing each other for a while.

He glanced behind him at the sound of hoofbeats following him, not too far, but too close for comfort. Stalking him, him and Nox, who was prancing and snorting in annoyance and attitude. Which, partially was his own fault. Apparently Nox used a lot less leg commands to steer and such then Iris did. Which could serve some major issues, but, for now, he just had to keep chugging forward and leading the hunters away from Tom. They didn't know which way Tom went, so they likely believed they were quiet enough and Lukas would lead them right to the prince. How wrong they were. He'd rather walk himself off a cliff into rocks then lead hunters willingly to Tom.

Nox finally seemed to have enough with walking (because he wouldn't keep a steady trot, they had to slow to a walk, much to Lukas' annoyance) and stops still at a river, leaning down to take long drinks from the water. The hoofbeats behind him don't slow, they get closer, stepping into the small clearing with the river. The steps stop, he can hear two more horses drinking, yet he doesn't look up from where he is watching Nox look at the two horses, interested. Really, no survival instincts on this horse.

When he heard a whistle to his left, he slowly lifted his head, glancing toward his right first. The brunet man sat on a bay horse, his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched tight, likely in agitation. He turned to his left and his eyes met those of the blondy, sitting atop a chestnut, grinning wolfishly at Lukas, twirling a knife around his fingers.

"Ey, mate," the blond called out, not breaking eye contact with Lukas. "Where is he? We just wanna talk." Anyone could see that was clearly a lie, even the blond himself didn't seem to believe his own lie.

"He's gone. Far gone by now. It will take you at least a day to catch up to him."

He states, his voice calm and kept low, Nox squirmed underneath him, seemingly not liking the tension. The blonds smile fizzled out, his eyes flicking behind him to the brunet, like he was checking in with him. Then the smile came back, wider this time and Lukas felt a familar tingle along his skin.

"Well, then we'll just kill you and track him down. Now that you aren't with him, we just have to get rid of you and he'll be easy!"

The blondy drawled, shifting to dismount from his horse, feet hitting the muddy ground with a squelch. He heard the brunet behind him dismount as well. He wasn't sure why, they could have easily killed him on the horse, well, not easily. But easier then on the ground. He is also slightly glad they didn't try that, he has little faith in Nox not to run away or buck him off it that were to happen. He dismounted slowly, walking over to a tree and tying Nox's reins to it. If Nox ran away, it would take forever to find him and he didn't need that.

"No need to do that. Once we kill you, we'll take the horse too."

The brunet sighs, shaking his head, as if the statement was obvious and more a fact then a hope. Lukas turned around to face them, slowly pullling his sword from his sheath and dropping it down to hip-level, widening his stance to stare down the two men in complete silence. Only the horses nervous energy, the creak, and the squelch of mud interupted them.

Then- the Blond lunged. (Insert super cool action scene I say I'll come back to but probably won't, sorry y'all)

Lukas' foot pushed into the Blonds chest, blood splattering from the hunters mouth as he wheezed for breath. The brunet was dead already, Lukas' sword driven through his throat and stuck into the mud. The blond hadn't been as lucky to have had such a quick death. Artery slashed in his leg, rendering his leg immobile, then slamming him into the ground and jabbing his foot into the mans chest. The fight hadn't lasted long, even with the cuts and bruises Lukas himself was now nursing.

"Who sent you?"

Lukas asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the slowly dying hunter. The man spluttered again, mouthing something that looked like a slur of sorts. Maybe 'monster', maybe something more creative. He didn't have time for this, not today. His foot slammed into the mans throat, a sickening crunch meeting his ears as the blond stopped moving beneath him. He stood there for a moment longer, making sure the man didn't get up again before stepping off the body. He glanced around at the scene. The horses had all run off, except Nox who was standing very close to the tree, trying to pull away from the tie. Yeah, it was kind of sucky to tie him so close, but at least he didn't run away. He walked over to the brunet, pulling his sword from the mans throat with a sickening squish and sheathing the blade at his hip. Blood trickled into the stream where it was slowly lost to transparency. He should clean this up, but, really, the animals would take care of them.

Lukas bent down and washed the blood from his hands in the cold stream, then cupped his hands and took a few sips of the chilly water, then stood and wiped his hands on his pants. He made his way toward Nox, untied his reins and mounted Nox, trying to get the squirmish stallion under somewhat control before turning east and clicking him into a walk. As Nox walked, Lukas tentatively looked through the things he had snagged off the hunters. Not that he really got to look, since he had to keep Nox moving forward and not stopping or turning randomly, but he ended up with a few things. Two water packs, more rations, some coins, a bottle of poison, and two Guild Coins. He had to stop and stare at the coins for much too long before continuing again. Guild Coins. He hadn't seen these in a while. He still... had his whole collection. A collection he had long buried and cut ties too, but, seeing such coins again brought back some much unwanted memories. Memories he had buried and hidden between shelves and scrolls, burned from tablets and stoned, shaken from the memories of those who knew.

He shoved the coins deep into his bag and buried them beneath a blanket. Tom was not going to know, he was not going to find out, and Lukas would certainly not tell him. Not about his past, not about killing the hunters. He pressed his lips into a thin line. As long as Tom was safe, he didn't need to know about anything that might put him in danger.

Lukas urged Nox into a trot and he frowned. Now to actually find Tom. Hopefully Iris and the Pretty Pretty Princess went to Nys Anore and not-- somewhere else. He hopes.

(Worldbuilding be like >:D)