The trafficking of humanoids is illegal. Not because they were half human but because they were considered too dangerous to keep alive but Lane had heard of a group involved in such business. They mainly sold to the wealthy and high class who were fascinated by humanoids and thought of them as possessions or toys. This group would usually try to get rid of them as soon as possible but I don't think that they will do the same thing with Moth. There is a particular noble who has been known to obsess over butterflies, moths and all kinds of winged bugs. There is no doubt in my mind that they plan to sell him off to him. His chest tightened at the thought which spurred him to keep walking along the well walked path. He spotted a commotion up ahead that made him sigh in annoyance. A cart of travelers were being attacked by a walker that was running around on all fours around them trying to bite at their feet as they were screaming and crying trying not to be bit even though the creature could not climb onto the cart. Category 8. He told himself as he moved forward, intending to just go around the group, his thoughts transfixed on Moth. Before he got the chance, the Walker locked its gaze on him, dashing at him with its jaw open. He quickly brought his axe down on it, lopping it's head off in a single movement before he flicked the blood off his blade and kept walking as if nothing had happened. The people in the cart stared at him, absolutely shocked their heads turning slowly to follow him as he slowly made his way by.
"Hang on!" A man with a thick, dark mustache called to him. "Where are you headed young man?" Lane looked back at him with a pissed off expression. "Luvera City." He stated plainly. The man's eyes lit up and he smiled brightly. "My family is headed to the same city." He gestured to his wife and three daughters who were sitting in the cart. He stared at the man confused by what he was trying to say. "...Good for you?" He says before turning away from him and going to leave. The man got a little frantic when he saw that Lane was leaving. "Hey! wait a minute. Why don't you travel with us? If you travel with us by cart it will only take three days or so compared to the week you will spend walking. And you can help us in case another walker attacks."
That isn't a bad idea, the faster I get there the better. "Alright, but we will travel through the night, I need to get there fast." The man nodded enthusiastically. "That's fine by me, the quicker the better." Lane sat with the man at the front of the cart, staring out at the long road that was only lit by the moonlight, while the man drove the horses next to him in silence. He glanced at the young man next to him, his face was intense with anger and worry. "You seem to have a lot on your mind kid. Want to talk about it?" He glanced at the man with a wary expression while he rested his head on the handle of his blood stained axe. "It doesn't matter." He mumbles, going back to staring out at the road. The man sighed and went back to looking at the road. Guess the kid doesn't like to talk. "Do you love your wife?" Lane asks. The man sputters for a moment before answering. "... I do, very much." Does he have a love issue? "How did you know you loved your wife?" The man seemed surprised by the question and smiled at him. "Well, when I look at her I feel my face get hot and my heart would beat out of my chest, that was when I knew I liked her. But when I couldn't imagine my life without her and my chest would throb as I missed her. That's when I knew I loved her." Lane seemed interested in his answer as he turned his head away to think about it. "Why do you ask, kid?"
Lane glanced out the side of the cart. "Because I've never loved someone before but I seem to be falling for someone." The man beamed at him, patting him on the back. "Well, I'm sure that person would be very lucky to have you." Lane glanced at him, looking slightly hopeful. "You think so?" The man nodded fiercely. "Sure, you seem like a strong, smart kid. I'm sure you'll find love." Lane sighed, "That's if I find it." He mumbled dejectedly. "Is that why you are headed to Luvera city?" He nods. "The person I think I like was taken there." The man patted him on the back, "I'm sure you'll find her." Lane tilted his head "Her?"
The man was about to ask what he meant but a branch snapped nearby that made Lane spring into action as a walker leaped out of the bushes next to the trail Category 5, he jumped off the cart and swung his axe at it, cleanly severing it in half. The man stared at him as he climbed back onto the cart, wiping his face of blood. "Well, I'm sure your love will be taken care of if they choose to be with you." A faint smile crossed Lane's lips as he cleaned his axe of blood. "Thank you." Although he does seem slightly bloodthirsty. He still seems like a good kid.
They continued trekking through the night in peaceful silence until Lane suddenly jumps off the cart and runs off into the forest before coming out dragging a kid in a long dark cloak. He tears of the hare humanoid's cloak lifting it to his face. "This is Moth's." He muttered before grabbing the kid and pulling him towards him. "Where did you get this?" The kid trembled slightly looking at Lane's intense eyes. "It's mine." Lane glares at him, completely unconvinced. "Don't lie to me kid, he made the exact same one for me and it even smells like him. Where is he?" The kid feigned ignorance, glancing away. "Who?" Lane sighed, "The humanoid with the wings." The kid stayed silent, clenching his jaw shut. Seeing this, Lane lifted his axe and held it to the boy's neck. "That group of kidnappers took him towards the city, they are only three or so hours ahead of you."
"Did they already have a buyer?" He asked, squeezing the kid's shoulder. He winced slightly and tried to pry Lane's hand away. "Yeah, that rich guy who lives at the observatory." Lane clicks his tongue in annoyance, moving to climb back on the cart, the man looked at him in confusion as Lane took his place next to him. "He is going to be sold."
"What?! Sold?" The man yelled. Lane nodded. "We need to hurry." After a day of travel they arrived at the front gates where Lane left them, going on ahead while the family waited for their cart to be inspected. "Good luck!" The man called. "I hope you find him in time!"
***
Moth groaned slightly as he weaved thread around the cart which was a struggle from where he was tied. At least if I set up a trap I won't be completely defenseless. He winced as the cart rolled over a rock, shaking him around slightly causing the rough chains to dig into his flesh. Instead of the soft dirt that the cart had been rolling over for the past few days, this time the cart rocked and rumbled as it moved over a rocky road and he could hear people from outside as they laughed and went about their days. Am I in a settlement or a city? That isn't good, I won't be able to escape as easily.' The cart finally stopped which caused Moth to become alert and he narrowed his eyes at the door as he tightened his grip around the thread in his hand as the door unlatched and fell open. The kidnappers peered at him from the door, making sure that he wasn't going to attack them before moving towards him. As soon as they stepped into the cart Moth pulled the string in his hand taunt which caused thin wires to wrap around the kidnappers legs and pull them forward. They yelled as they were strung in the air, swaying back and forth a little. "Agree to let me go or none of us will get out of here."
"Impressive." A voice called from outside with a light chuckle. "I don't think you are a butterfly are you? I don't remember any butterflies being able to make silk like that. Are you a moth? That is fine, I like moths better." A man with long blonde hair peered up at the kidnappers with an amused expression before his eyes moved over to the person chained to the barrel. "They damaged your face and wings, how upsetting." He walked over to him kneeling down in front of him. He grabbed Moth's face gently, turning it from side to side to admire him before signaling someone over. "Let's get it out of here, make sure to keep its wings and hands restrained, can't have it flying away." The black-haired female servant nodded before glancing at the kidnappers that were swaying in the air like strung up fish. "What about them?" The blonde-haired man waved her off dismissively. "Get them down and pay them half, I specifically told them not to damage it."
Moth narrowed his eyes as the servant came towards him but he didn't stop her as she unlocked the chain from around him and bound his hands with a rope. He stumbled slightly from exhaustion as she led him out of the cart into the harsh sunlight, causing him to squint his eyes as he tried to adjust, he seemed to be in a closed off garden of sorts leading to a large spherical shaped building with large geometric glass panels as walls. "So little moth, how delicate are your wings?" The man moved over to him, standing far too close behind him as he glided a hand down one of his wings. Moth moved out of his touch, shuddering slightly and glaring at him to tell him to back off. The man smiled, his white hair moving in the wind, "They seem rather thin, it would be better to let them dry by themselves than to risk tearing them. Right?" Moth hesitated but nodded in agreement. Who is this guy? "You don't look like you've been fed or looked after properly either, that should leave a lot of chances for training." Moth's skin tingled and he shuddered at the words. "What is your name?" The man asked but Moth just glared at him in response. "Well my name is Dorian."
"Moth!" Moth's head turned at the familiar voice and his eyes widened as he saw a familiar figure. "Lane?" He asked, puzzled. Lane jumped over the fence, landing with a loud thud, holding his axe as his face came into Moth's view. "Lane!" He yelled while grinning, tears forming in his eyes. He came for me.