In coma

Lucas carefully approached the unconscious newcomer, his senses on high alert. He wasn't sure what to make of this situation, but his instincts told him that there was something different about this girl.

As he knelt down beside her, he noticed the soft flutter of her eyelashes, the gentle rise and fall of her chest. She was alive, but clearly in a state of deep sleep. It was as though she had collapsed from exhaustion.

Lucas carefully picked her up, cradling her limp body in his arms. He was surprised by how small and delicate she felt in his grasp.

He carried her through the dense forest, navigating the tangled underbrush with ease. Though she was unconscious, she seemed to nestle closer to him, seeking warmth and comfort.

Lucas tried to keep his thoughts in check. There was no point in overthinking the situation. For now, his priority was to focus on protecting this mysterious girl until she awoke.

He finally reached his small treehouse, tucked away in the branches of a massive oak tree. It was nothing fancy, but it served as a sanctuary from the dangers of the forest.

Lucas gently laid the girl down on a soft pile of furs and blankets, making sure she was comfortable. He then took a seat nearby, watching her sleep.

"We need to move, Lucas," Zel said, his voice urgent. "It's not safe to stay here for too long."

Lucas shook his head, his gaze fixed on the girl sleeping on the furs. "I'm not leaving her behind."

Zel rolled his eyes, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "Lucas, we don't know anything about her. What if she's a spy, or a decoy, or something worse?"

Lucas clenched his jaw, his determination unwavering. "She's not."

"How can you be so sure?" Zel shot back, his arms crossed over his chest.

Lucas didn't answer. He couldn't explain it, but he had a gut feeling about this girl. He knew deep down that she wasn't a threat.

Zel studied Lucas, noticing the stubborn set of his jaw. He knew Lucas well enough to know that when he had his mind set on something, he was impossible to budge.

"You're being reckless," Zel said, his tone softening. "You know the risks we could be taking by bringing her with us."

Lucas looked back at the girl, the steady rise and fall of her breath calming his nerves. "I know," he said quietly. "But I can't leave her here defenseless."

Zel's face twisted into a scowl. "You always were too soft-hearted for your own good."

"And you always think with your head before your heart," Lucas retorted, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Zel bristled at the comment, his hand resting instinctively on the pommel of his sword. "And what's wrong with that? We're living in dangerous times. We can't afford to let our emotions cloud our judgment."

"Emotions are what make us human," Lucas snapped back. "They're what keep us fighting, what keep us alive. If we forget that, we're no better than the monsters that roam these woods."

Zel opened his mouth to snap back a retort but quickly shut it, a guilty expression crossing his face. He knew Lucas had a point.

Lucas noticed the change in Zel's expression and softened his own tone. "Look, I know it's risky. But I can't shake the feeling that there's something special about this girl. I have to trust my instincts on this one."

Zel let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his messy hair. "You always were stubborn as a mule. Fine, we'll bring her with us. But if anything goes wrong, it's on your head."

Lucas smiled, grateful for his friend's unexpected support. "Thanks, Zel. You won't regret this."

Zel rolled his eyes again, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

The tension slowly drained from the air as the two men settled into a comfortable silence, watching over the girl as she slept.

Lucas couldn't help but steal a few glances at her, his mind racing with questions. Who was she? Where had she come from? And why did he feel so drawn to her?

He tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the immediate task at hand. They needed to get moving, but he wasn't sure how they were going to transport the girl while she was unconscious.

"We should tie her up," Zel suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Lucas looked at him in disbelief. "What? Tie her up? Are you serious?"

Zel shrugged. "It's the safest option. We don't know what she's capable of, and we can't risk her waking up and attacking us."

Lucas bristled but he knew Zel had a point. As much as he hated the idea of tying up a defenseless girl, he knew it was a necessary precaution.

"Fine," he grumbled, grabbing a length of rope from a nearby shelf. "But we'll be gentle."

Zel nodded and together they carefully bound the girl's wrists and ankles, being careful not to hurt her. Lucas felt a pang of guilt as he looked at her unconscious form, bound and helpless.

Once they were satisfied that she was secure, Zel stood up and stretched. "Alright, I'll start packing up. We need to move."

They left the treehouse behind, sneaking through the dense foliage with practiced stealth. Lucas struggled to keep up with Zel while carrying the unconscious girl, but he stubbornly refused any offers of help.

Lucas carefully lifted the girl into his arms, cradling her against his chest. "Let's go."

The journey was slow and tedious, made even more difficult by the girl's extra weight. But as they hiked deeper into the woods, Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of protectiveness towards her. He found himself shifting her weight in his arms to make sure she was comfortable, and he even caught himself whispering reassuring words to her as she slept.

As the hours ticked by, Lucas found himself sneaking glances at the girl's face, taking in her delicate features and the way her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks. There was something familiar about her, something he couldn't quite put a finger on.

Meanwhile, Zel watched him closely, his expression unreadable. He knew Lucas well enough to know that he was starting to form a connection with this girl, even though they knew nothing about her.

"You're getting attached, aren't you?" Zel finally said, breaking the silence.

Lucas looked up, surprised by the bluntness of the question. "What do you mean?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

"Don't play dumb with me," Zel said, rolling his eyes. "I can tell you're starting to care for her. You've been watching her like a hawk, carrying her like a precious treasure."

Lucas's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't realized he was being so obvious about his feelings. "I'm just being careful," he muttered, avoiding eye contact.

"Careful, huh?" Zel said skeptically. "Right. That's why you're holding her like a fragile doll instead of a dangerous stranger."

Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but he knew it was futile. Zel had a point. He was feeling strangely protective of this girl, even though he didn't even know her name.

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