An unforeseen rescue

As the lights got closer, their shine got clearer and the troop realized these were no cars approaching them. Those were no electric lights, instead it looked like candles slightly raising and lowering while being carried.

Approaching the stranded city quartette was a group of hooded figures marching slowly towards them. Six figures in black and brown leather with little specks of red and yellow indeed carried two lanterns. Overall they looked like they fell straight out of the last century. Or the one before that.

“Is that a group of Indians? Emma are there Indians living in town?”, Grace asked amused.

“Native Americans, Grace. No one says Indians anymore”, Thomas threw in… without a reaction.

“Not in town, but there is a reserve close by in the mountain range”, Emma answered Grace and drew her jacket closer at the mention of the mountain formation next to her hometown.

“Huh. That guy up front looks like hunk, I wouldn’t mind a little trip into the woods”, Grace stubbed Emmas shoulder.

As the group of native americans got ever closer, they could be made out clearly. And the apparent leader of the group could indeed be called “hunky”. Clearly bigger than both Thomas and Chris, the man could boast shoulders as broad as an ox’s. His face held a solemn stare as he closed the final gap between the two groups.

“Are you lost in the woods my friends? We heard the commotion and it seems like you could use some help”, the stranger gestured vaguely yet accurately at the groups current situation. “I’m Ahanu, by the way.”

“Well, hello there. My names Grace and I definitely wouldn’t say no to getting rescued by y-“

“Oh cut it down Grace”, Chris cut her off in a tired voice. “Yes, we’re having a little trouble. Would be nice if you could take us out of the cold. Is it far back to yours or…? ”

Ahanu was either not listening to him or didn’t think him worthy of an answer, because when he turned his face towards Chris, his reply provided no answers.

“And you are?”

“I’m Emma. This is my boyfriend Thomas and that’s Chris over there”, Emma pointed to the annoyed man in question.

“Well, I welcome you to our home. I’m sorry it’s so unhospitable this time of the year, you should have come in the summertime. The woods are stunning in autumn, but the true beaty lies in summer. The summer heats up the waterfall near our village and laying in there relaxes every muscle in ones body”, the man spoke, very obviously, solely to Grace.

“Damn man, the guy is laying it on thick isn’t he?”, Thomas punched Chris arm and chuckled.

Weird enough that did not better Chris mood in any way. He crammed his fingers into fists and back again, his otherwise idle arms hanging on his sides. The stranger was not making himself any friends here.

“Really glad to meet you”, Thomas extended his hand and begrudgingly Ahanu turned from Grace and shook it.

“Now, it’s getting really cold. It’s not very far to your village, is it? You’d do us a big favour if we could warm up a little there. In this weather I couldn’t find my way to Camelot if my life depended on it, haha”, Thomas joked.

Ahanu released his hand and with a loud voice told them, ”If that’s the case, I won’t keep you freezing. Would be a shame wouldn’t it?”, his eyes meet Graces, ”So come with us, we were on our way back anyway.”