The Stolen Princess And The Blind Prince

"There's nothing here boss," Boulder said, disappointed.

They had gone through all of the luggage. It was just a bunch of commoner clothes. Wulin was confused, why would someone who was clearly being delivered, run away? He couldn't hear the rattling of chains or anything, so why run?

"Let's ask the coachman," he said, Boulder nodded, re-tying the luggage.

"B-Boss! Wait, ah, t-the dog, he's acting up a-again…" A small voice came from behind.

Wulin turned around, Porridge, a thin teen, had spoken. He had given Porridge the dog to take care of, while they looked for anything valuable.

Wulin could hear the dog eagerly panting. Porridge's grip was iron, so he knew the boy wouldn't let go but… just in case.

He reached into the dried meat pouch he always carried with him, (for snacks) and took out five more pieces. He held out his arm, waiting.

After a few moments, he heard a small "Oh," from Porridge, and the five pieces were taken away.

"Are your brains actually porridge or something??" Rice Pudding said.

Rice Pudding was 'the kid' who stopped the carriage by running in front of it. He had also questioned the coachman.

Wulin felt he was more useful than his older brother Porridge, but playing favorites wasn't his thing. He knew how that felt.

"S-sorry, it's just that Wulin, I m-mean Boss, is so amazing… its hard to believe that he's really b-blind."

Before Rice Pudding could respond with his sharp tongue, Wulin asked, "What did you learn from the coachman?"

"Oh! Uh…" Rice Pudding always pretended to forget. He called it being 'dramatic,' Boulder disagreed. "The girls important or something."

"Did you give him something for his cough?" Boulder asked, annoyed by the boy's vague answer.

"Uhuh," Rice Pudding confirmed, "He had the 'Weeping Cough.' Probably caught it during the war…"

"And this carriage's destination?" Wulin asked, losing patience.

"The Emperor's Palace. That's what he says anyways."

Wulin clicked his tongue. His father wasn't the type to just summon a concubine without a royal escort. He wanted this girl to fly under the radar? Why? Was this girl being used to prevent another war?

No, none of that matters right now. His father, the Emperor was war mongering sc.u.m, and if this girl didn't make it, he would use it as an excuse to do something terrible.

"Boulder, drive the carriage to the palace gates," This was the best decision.

"Understood."

"Rice Pudding, you ride shotgun."

"Yay!"

"Porridge, you get in the back with the dog and the coachman."

"Y-yessir."

"I'll meet you guys halfway, with the girl."

Boulder cracked his whip, Red galloping off at full speed.

---

Wulin took a deep breath, centering himself. He used his energy to expand his senses, giving him a mental image of where the girl had entered the forest.

With no time to waste, he followed the trail of broken branches.

It turns out, that this girl had run quite the distance! After about ten minutes, he could hear her ragged breathing.

"Hah, ah. Ugh, nnng. Hahn, ah…"

Her breaths were too short, near gagging. He could hear her hand slipping down the bark of the tree.

The coast 'looked' clear, but his gut told him otherwise. He took out his wire, and wrapped small rocks around both ends.

The forest was too quiet. He expanded his senses again, filling the area with his energy. He felt it, just at the edge.

A tiger. She was near silent, sneaking above both of their heads.

The girl had noticed too, her breathing changed. Wulin heard her try to push off the tree; she was too slow.

The tigress was mid-leap.

Wulin threw his makeshift bola at the beast.

There was a hard CRUNCH, as the trunk of the tree, and not the girl, took the full weight of the leap.

The tigress was dazed, Wulin taking this chance to safely collect the girl.

Wulin could tell that she had fainted. Great, he thought, less questions this way.

He dashed out of the forest, meeting his gang, just as he had promised. Half way.

He traded her for Porridge, whom he carried back into the forest to collect their horses.