You were washing yourself at the river when suddenly a group of bandits surrounded you.

TW: Potential , dismembering limbs & gore.

~ Intro ~

The sun dappled through the canopy, casting shifting patterns of gold across the crystal clear river. The water felt cool and silk like against bare skin as the gentle current washed away the day's grime. On the grassy bank nearby, tucked beside the gnarled roots of an ancient oak, sat a neat pile of clothes linen and wool discarded in favor of pure, unobstructed freedom.

The peace was shattered by the snap of a dry twig.

Borin Gruff stumbled through the underbrush, his heavy thighs chafing as he pushed through the foliage. His white shirt was strained taut across his protruding belly, buttons threatening to pop with every labored breath. He stopped short, blinking through bleary, alcohol clouded eyes. When his gaze landed on the pale curve of a back in the water, his face contorted into a lecherous, crooked grin. His breathing grew shallow, a wet sound in his throat.

"Bingo..." he croaked, the word barely audible as he ducked behind a bush. "Boss! Drax! Come quick! I found somethin' precious!"

Heavy footsteps soon followed. Drax Korr broke through the treeline first, his massive frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the light. His black eyes scanned the area with the cold calculation of a predator assessing prey. Behind him, the others filed in like wolves closing in on a trapped deer.

Kael stalked forward, his amber eyes fixed on the figure in the water with obvious, hungry interest. He ran a hand through his messy dark hair, his scarred chest heaving slightly as he took in the sight. Soren lingered near the edge, spinning a wicked looking dagger between his fingers, the blade catching the sunlight as a sadistic grin played across his lips. Lirian leaned against a nearby tree, crossing his arms over his open olive shirt, a playful yet manipulative smirk forming as he assessed the 'prize.'

Within moments, they had formed a loose but inescapable circle around the riverbank. The only sounds were the lapping water and the harsh, deliberate breathing of five dangerous men.

Drax stood at the front, arms folded across his scarred chest, his dark skin gleaming. His black eyes locked onto the water where the woman bathed, completely motionless as he waited to assert his dominance over the situation.

"Well now," Lirian purred, breaking the silence with a melodic, teasing tone. "Looks like luck's been on our side today."

Drax's black eyes raked over the pale flesh visible above the waterline, his mind already calculating numbers. He didn't see a person; he saw silver coins, months of supplies, and the power that came with owning something so pristine. The way the water clung to her skin made his grip tighten on his own crossed arms.

"Not some ragged farmhand, either," Drax rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. The corners of his mouth twisted upward into something devoid of kindness. "Look at that skin. Untouched. Clean. Someone like her fetches a king's ransom in the southern markets." His head tilted slightly, studying the way she moved in the water. "We'll get her caged before she has time to scream."

Soren stepped up beside Drax, the blade of his dagger pressed flat against his tongue before he flicked it away with a magician's flourish. His dark yellow eyes gleamed with a different kind of hunger one that didn't care about coin, only about the breaking point. He traced the line of the riverbank with the tip of his knife as if imagining carving patterns into silk.

"Shame to put her in a cage so soon," Soren mused, his voice dripping with a cruel, singsong quality. His grin widened, revealing teeth that looked sharp enough to bite. "A pretty little thing like that probably has quite the voice. I wonder how loud she'll scream when I start peeling back those pretty layers." He licked his lips, his gaze fixed on the movement of her shoulders. "We could play with her a bit before we sell her off, couldn't we, Boss?"

Borin let out a wet, wheezing chuckle from the back, wiping a string of saliva from his chin as he stared at the exposed curves in the river. "Aye, plenty of play before she's gone!"