Nova was quiet as a mouse as she stalked up on the prey they had been hunting. Kjatan stood onehundred and something feet away behind a tree, arrow nocked and ready. They were traversing the mountain later than usual today and food was desperatly needed. This far down there's plenty of game to be found. When we get higher up there will be little to no animals. He thought to himself.
Three days of hell was what it took to take this way instead of the offical road. I've never been much for the road well traveled. Nova was the reason for all his courage. If he didn't have her then he would have given up and died long ago. An outcast. A clanless. This was to be his fate. His teacher had beaten the crap out of him the first time they met and he had given up right then and there. Right up until the moment Nova jumped infront and protected him. Now they were inseperable. These last few months the security on the border had tighten and now one had to be careful even if one went through the road least travelled. The snow was starting to get overwhelmingly high already. The time to move was upon them. He whistled high and moved after Nova up the mountain. Here in the cracks of the mountain was a path that let small creatures run free to hide or explore. A man of Kjatan's stature had bigger issues getting through the small passageway. Last time he was here he'd chipped away one crack to be big enough to fit him. Up until two trips ago there had been a well hidden natural opening that would fit him perfectly. However during that time two trips ago he'd been hunted by a massive animal and been forced to make the entrence fall apart. Now he had throw all of his gear out first and then squeze to get his massive body through. Whilst he could make the opening bigger it would work against him since it would be visable if any bigger than it already was. He let Nova pass first and she took off into the green forrest on the other side. The ground here wasn't covered with snow eventhough the last three days had been nothing but snow and ice. This marked the end of the northen wilderness and the begining of what was commonly known as The Empire. He squezed through the hatch, slipped on the dirt and was now face dirt in a foot's worth of mud. His ears picked up the sound of hooves.
~ It seems you managed to find some food Nova. He said as he wiped the dirt of his face. His eyes quickly adjusted to the sun again and before him stood a imperial patrol. Five guards on horseback pointed their weapons right at his face. They spoke common and looked well equipped.
~ You are under arrest for crossing the border without paying the tax. If you resist we will be forced to use violence. Two of the guards rode away and returned later that night with a wagon. On the wagon was a cage made from wood. He could certainly fit in such a cage but it would be unpleasent to say the least. The slightest stretch would probably break it. There he now was, stuck in a cage for two days. Nova stalking the group from the trees and high grass that covered the landscape. One more day and they would end up in the forward base the Empire had set up recently. There he would learn how much he would be forced to pay for tresspassing.