Ravyn slept beside the dying fire, and the forest around him was quiet... just wind and distant creaks from the trees.
Ravyn's fire burned low, the last of its light flickering against his tired face. He'd finally given in to exhaustion, his body half-slumped, one arm sprawled toward the embers as if trying to hold onto warmth that was already leaving him.
For a moment, it was peaceful. The kind of silence that pretends to care.
Suddenly, a branch snapped.
Ravyn's eyes opened. His hand twitched toward the small knife at his side. And the fire was weak now, he could barely see beyond the first line of trees.
And rough laughter followed.
Ravyn pushed himself upright, heart stuttering in his chest. And shapes began to emerge, maybe six of them.
"Well, well..." one drawled. "What's this? A little stray demon all by himself?"
Another chuckled. "Poor bastard must be lost."
Ravyn gripped the knife. "I don't want trouble."
The first one laughed. "Then you picked the wrong forest to have a sleepover."
Ravyn's grip tightened on the chipped knife until his knuckles blanched. He lunged forward, slamming a heel into the man's knee. The bandit cursed and staggered.
He sidestepped a swing and slashed the another one's forearm.
Then they came at him in real numbers now. One grabbed him from behind, dragging an elbow into his stomach. Another crashed a shoulder into his ribs. And a club found his shoulder and stars burst at the edge of his vision. He tried to spin, tried to strike but a boot caught his jaw and the world flashed white.
Ravyn saw a window as he was slowly rising. He slid between the two strikes coming at him and burst into a run. Behind him came the laughter.
"Run, little rabbit!"
Branches whipped his face as he ran. Ravyn's foot snagged a root. He hit the ground hard, rolling through wet leaves. Before he could move, a weight crashed down on his back.
A fist slammed into the side of his head.
Stars exploded behind his eyes.
He barely felt the second hit. Or the third.
They beat him until the world blurred and the final blow came heavy, a sickening crack that lit up the back of his skull.
Hands grabbed him by the arms, dragging him through dirt and broken branches. Someone laughed above him.
"Thought you could run, huh?"
Ravyn groaned, eyes fluttering. His cheek scraped against mud and rock as they hauled him.
They stopped beside a makeshift camp cages made of iron and wood lined the clearing. A few dim faces peered through the bars
"Hey, boss!" one of the bandits shouted. "Look what we found in the forest!"
From the largest tent, a tall man stepped out, bare chest wrapped in leather straps, gold teeth flashing when he grinned.
He looked Ravyn over once.
"Put him with the rest." the boss said, voice rough as gravel. "Arsh-Market'll pay a good price for a young one like that."
Ravyn tried to move but his head lolled and everything went dark again.