Chapter 2 - The Stranger Part 1.

It's been a long time since you've seen a bear, let alone two grizzly bears? The bear scene would be amazing, if they weren't attacking someone on a horse, and she wasn't thinking about how to get away from the scene.

Run? This is definitely not the smartest choice to make. The horse may even be fast, but bears wanting to devour your dinner are much faster. And sneaking out is not an option. How could she live normally after being a coward and abandoning the stranger in danger?

The bears are quick to discover Sam's location, which makes the young woman's already icy blood almost freeze.

– Okay, think fast! - Sam said in a loud thought, the result of nervousness.

Of course, this may be the young woman's only, and last, chance to defend herself. If it works, I thank Chad for his amazing invention. If it doesn't work out, I'll serve dinner for two bears.

Quickly Sam shoved his hands into the pockets of his clothes, and began frantically searching for a small wooden box. Finally finding her. He opened the box, looked at the bears that were already heading towards him. It's now or never, he thought, taking a metal ball out of the box and throwing it with all the aim she could muster at that moment, next to the bears. Already covering the nose and closing the eyes afterwards.

As it landed, the ball opened up and out came what Chad calls “tear gas,” which is nothing more than pepper, many types of peppers, so many she doesn't even know what they are.

The act certainly worked, as Sam heard the bears running towards the rest of the forest as they hit some trees.

And of course, the smell of pepper, which even covering the nostrils, it was still possible to feel, and the stranger screaming “my eyes” and coughing violently, are also clear indications that the instrument will actually work.

Taking the courage to open your eyes without the fear of being blinded by it, not that there's really a risk of such a thing, but being without sight for at least half an hour, it's sure to happen.

Opening his eyes, Sam no longer saw the two enraged animals, but the stranger and the horse were still there. The horse had long since lost control, and the stranger was lying on the ground, covering his eyes with his hands.

Sam couldn't help but feel relieved. In her seventeen years of life, she had never felt so much that she would die. Even in critical situations. But as there was still a risk of bears returning or wild animals appearing, she decided it would be wise to go to the stranger, see if he was alive or had gone mad with fear.

Talking to strangers is not one of Sam's habits. But she could hardly deny a cry for help. For greater safety, Sam has decided that it is wiser not to get off the horse and ride to the stranger, if the stranger attacks, she can only run.

But the stranger did nothing, showed no reaction. He just sat there with his knees up to his head and his hands over his eyes. The horse, even in shock from the bears and the pepper bomb, stood in front of the stranger, proving strong.

Sam was captivated by the animal's action.

Indeed, some animals are better than many humans. But it was undeniable that the horse saw her as a possible danger.

- Who's there? – Asked the stranger, still sitting on the floor and squinting.

– Your savior. – Sam replied, trying to see more of the stranger lying on the floor.

Apparently, he appears to be a young man. Sam can't give him an age, but he shouldn't be much older than her.

The stranger, still on guard. Which is very normal, considering that Sam herself is ready to run at any moment.

Sam thought it was too dark for anything, it must have been past 8pm, many villagers must already be asleep. Talking to a stranger is no longer prudent on her part. But talking to a stranger in the dark is even less prudent.

So she decided that she would use what little battery was left in her pocket flashlight, it wasn't too big, but it's enough to lighten two meters around her, and the battery can last another two hours.

The flashlight really did its job well, illuminating the place well. Sam saw that there were no wild animals around, and that the horse standing in front of her was nothing less than a thoroughbred Arabian. Such a horse?

No one in this region has such a horse, she is sure of that.

The stranger, who remains in the same position, now has more defined features, even though it is still not possible to see his face well. A young man dressed in an outfit that appeared to be made of leather and a type of fabric she'd never seen before, and black leather boots.

This young man really wasn't from around, which made Sam's head work even harder. However, she soon realized that the pepper smell was already leaving, which means she has to leave the place soon.

Sam decided to get off the horse and check on the young man. As dangerous as approaching a stranger was, it is more dangerous to stay in the woods.

– Can you get up? – Sam asked the young man who was sitting on the floor like a statue.

The answer took a while. Sam almost

checked that the young man was still breathing, but just before her hand touched the young man's shoulders, a voice was heard.

- I guess so.

And the young man who replied with a tone of confidence did not take long to get up. Which unfortunately didn't last that long, as the young man almost fell flat on his face, not before a grunt of pain.

Sam felt bad for the young man, and before he fell like a bad apple, he grabbed the young man and tried to support the young man's body with his own body, which he found to be difficult work. With the emotion of the moment Sam didn't think, it turns out that the young man is about 30 centimeters taller than her, and the weight is also greater than hers.

– Okay, you can't. So I'll help you, okay?

- Right. - Answered the young man seconds later.

Sam felt that she really was helpless. She just went to get something to sell. But she discovered a stranger asking for help, and was nearly eaten by two bears.

Looking at the man's horse, it didn't seem very safe to try to get the man on top of the horse. So she decided that her horse was the best option at the moment.

Sam called Oliver with his free hand and the horse came towards her, giving Oliver two light pats on the spine, he lay down on the ground. The perfect position to place the injured man on the horse's back.

- You ride my horse because I'm afraid of yours! - Said Sam, while trying to fix his own body. Which earned a brief laugh that came from above her head. But Sam couldn't pay attention to whether it was actually a laugh or a grunt, or a failed attempt at speech. She has other concerns at the moment.

Her feet feel like they want to sink into the floor. Sure enough, her boots must be completely dirty, and there must be two deep boot marks. The stranger was very heavy, even though she had a strength considered greater compared to other young women of her age, she still felt that if she didn't hold it well, the man could fall, or both could fall.

With a lot of work, Sam managed to get out of the holes her feet had made. She didn't even knock the man down and she's still standing, which is already better than before.

Without taking long, she put the man on the horse, the young man still able to move a little, even making a few low grunts of pain. The grunts really disturbed Sam, she couldn't help but worry about the young man. The feeling of worry greatly increased when she felt something wet in her hand, and the smell was the same as she'd smelled before the pepper bomb.

The scent that intrigued her... comes from the blood, the blood of this young man. Sam is not a famous doctor and she is not used to dealing with blood on a daily basis. But one thing she's sure of, that's not what blood must smell like. And the worst, she can't say for sure what that smell is.

Sam let this matter slide, at least for now. It was late enough that she didn't know the time, the pepper scent was dissipating, and most importantly, there was an injured stranger on his horse.

Sam decided it would be unwise to go with the stranger on the horse, as she only has two hands, and would not be able to hold the flashlight.

– Put your arms around the horse's neck. Can you hold on?

- I can. - Answered the young man hugging Oliver's neck.

Sam didn't answer, just patted Oliver twice, and he stood up. Suddenly Sam thought of something, what about the boy's horse? Sam glanced at the horse that was still standing, already behind her.

– Will the horse follow us? – Sam asked in a slightly uncertain voice. If the horse doesn't go of its own accord, there's nothing she can do.

– Hm. – replied the young man.

Sam decided that “hm” means “yes”. So Sam just took the reins of his horse and walked away at a little quick pace, but not too fast, for she was afraid the man would fall off the horse. A drop of nearly two meters is no small feat. The man was right, the horse really was following them closely. This somehow soothed Sam's heart.

As they were almost in the middle of the forest, Sam decided the best choice was to go back to where she came from. And she's really scared of that damn battery running out. What will she do if that happens? She doesn't see in the dark.

– Where are you taking me? – Asked the man half lying on the horse.

Only now did he seem to realize that he was seeing someone strange. As much as this person really saved him, it's a person he'd never met.

“I'm taking you to a lake nearby. I will wash my hands and boots. And I will see your situation. - Said Sam, while walking in the forest as if it were his house. - Do not worry. If I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't have saved you. – He said when he saw the great lake a little ahead.

- I didn't mean that... - Answered the young man, after all, she was right. And he didn't want to upset someone he depended on.

Sam was already almost exhausted, but she was overjoyed when she saw the lake. Finally, she was able to calm down a bit, and arrived at a considerably safe place.

Sam took Oliver and the stranger to the edge of the lake and asked Oliver to lie down, which he did. Before checking the stranger's condition, he washed his hands in the lake, and washed his boots without taking them off his feet. She definitely couldn't make it home with her boots in this condition, there seems to be a boot of mud around the leather boot.

Sam isn't the reckless type, she's not getting along today. It is very necessary to help those who need help, but she has to consider things. Normally she would just take the young man to Edvin, but not this time, in addition to feeling that she must help, she still trusts this stranger. She could have just gone crazy.

The young man has not yet presented any risk and remains obediently clinging to the horse. So, so far, he's still not untrustworthy of her. Even though deep down she knows she shouldn't do what she's doing. But afraid of giving up, she soon advances towards the young man and helps him to get off the horse.

- What is your name? – Sam asks, realizing that she doesn't even know the young man's name.

- Call me Alex. And you?

- Call me Sam.

The young man nods in agreement. He suddenly stops and looks around.

– Sam?

- Hi?

– It's nighttime, right? – Asks the young man, still looking around.

- Yes, why? – Sam asks, already starting to get worried. Which is? It's been dark for a while, and why else would it be dark now?

– Are you seeing something? – Alex asked, without answering the previous question.

- I am. I have a flashlight with me... - Sam replied while showing the flashlight to Alex, and seeing his hands clench into fists. - Wait... you... - Sam said already distressed.

Alex didn't say anything, just made an expression of confusion and despair. God, why couldn't he see an inch in front of him?

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