Outmatched

Johanna stayed bound in defiant, contemplative silence for at least an hour. She was uncomfortable and itchy, bound against the tree, and her bare skin was moist with sweat. She was beginning to actually consider going along with Bone’s instructions, but a familiar whooshing sound informed the captain that she needn’t bother: Elara had found her.

Johanna looked up towards the sound of the noise, but aside from a few quivering branches, she couldn’t see any sign of her friend. “Elara?” She called out, worrying briefly that Elara, in her great speed, might have missed her. There was no reply, at least, not until a loud crash was heard somewhere behind her.

“Shit!” Bone’s voice briefly rung out, before being cut off by the telltale sound of combat. A series of dull thuds was followed by another crash, this one shaking the tree Johanna was tied to.

“Guys?”Johanna asked, wiggling against her bonds, “Um, please don’t kill each other. We can talk about this!”

“**** would be too simple for him,” Elara answered, walking around the front of the tree and dumping an **** Bone to the ground in front of Johanna. A quick swipe of the naked woman’s arm, and the ropes binding Johanna were severed, setting her free. “For such a self-confident brute,” Elara mused, “He lacked any courage or strength.”

“Thanks for the rescue,” Johanna said, rubbing her wrists and rolling her shoulders, “And sorry about letting Bone capture me. I guess we should have stuck together, after all.”

Elara leaned down to Bone’s **** body and snapped an iron collar around his neck, then hauled him up to one of her shoulders. “I’m just glad you’re safe, Johanna. Do you think you can keep out of trouble for five more minutes while I take care of this?”

Johanna nodded, “I know he’s an ass, but try not to hurt him too much, please?”

Elara smiled back before turning away, “Don’t worry. I won’t break our new toy just yet.”

And with that, she was off, and Johanna was alone once more. This was, she figured, about the best outcome she could realistically hope for. Nobody was dead, and if one of the two had to come out on top, Johanna trusted Elara more than Bone. Once again, though, she had nothing to do but wait...