When you don't get a second chance

Nox watched silently from her hiding place amidst the speckled leaves and red vines of the taurus bush, her long hair tangling in the thorns.1

She could see a tall thin man from the tribe of Iah straining mud through a small net in search of any mineral or rock of value, and if luck be had, a small crab to eat or use as fishing bait. She strained her eyes and looked around to see if any hunters or swordsman were nearby. She knew she should be wary of archers, but with their advance camoflauge, looking for them was pointless.2

She took a few moments to ready herself and plan her endeavor, locating both the man's supplies and defensive weapons. With this task completed, she launched herself from the bushes and leaped onto the man's back.3

He stumbled around, startled and confused as Nox tilted her wrist down, freeing the spring loaded knife and held it to his neck.4

"Stop Moving!" She shrieked as loud and threateningly as she could.5

The man froze a few moments, then began to flail about, certain that an entire army from the tribe Aton were attacking him.6

In the commotion Nox lost her grip and fell from his back, her arm bending in a abnormal direction, the knife slicing deep into her side.7

The man stopped and grabbed his sword turning to face her, then paused. "My word," he said, lowering his sword, "Such a young child, and a girl too"8

"My gender and age have nothing to do with my fighting capabilities!" She screamed in defiance, ignoring the pain in her side and the blood beginning to pool. 9

The man kneeled and inspected her wound, a look of worry across his face. He ripped a long strip of cloth from his coat and wrapped it around her body, covering her wound, the blood instantly soaking through it.10

Nox began to have trouble focusing her eyes and she slowly felt herself drift from consiousness as the man lifts her up.