Bloody Ransom

Nila had been so thrilled when Kaino had brought the boy home with her. Granted she hadn’t known right away. In fact it took her stumbling upon the boy to even know. But he was the sweetest little thing ever. She found that when Kaino was away that having him to look after had taken the ache away from Kaino's absence. The boy was keeping her on her toes in the best of ways. She didn’t want him to leave. If she could keep him forever she would have.
But Kaino had explained that he was a bargaining chip for her family. The thought alone had churned in her stomach. She didn’t want any harm to come to him. She’d shield him with her own body if she could. Because his childish innocence and joy was beautiful. And she didn’t want to think of it being ripped away from him the way her own had been.
So the day that she was stuck following behind the saxe horde at his side she could help the thick guilt building in her chest. Faking a smile the whole trip she stayed attentive to him. Listening to his babbling with as much enthusiasm as she could until the group came to a stop. That guilt hit her like a brick wall. Her throat felt constricted as she glanced down at the naive boy at her side. She watched as the boy left the safety of her side to join Kaino and sephrian as he called for the boy’s family. And she couldn’t help the tears that began to well in her eyes.