AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They ran.Weaving between the trees, slower than Kallie would have liked, but still, they ran. Their feet pounded against the dirt, bushes scratched their ankles, thin branches scraped their arms, but they did not slow their pace. Eventually, someone would check on the tents the women had occupied and realize that their two captives were missing.
Myra, however, wasn’t accustomed to sprinting long distances. So, even though Kallie's training had helped build up her stamina, it did not help Kallie push Myra faster. And Myra's overall lack of athleticism aside, nature was doing everything it could to slow them down. The treetops prevented large amounts of moonlight from seeping through. Thus, they dodged fallen branches by the scattered patches of light.
The one thing they had going for them was Myra's loud, inelegant footsteps. If any creatures lurked in the forest, hopefully, the noise would scare them away.
They needed to get to a clearing so Kallie could see the sky, and then the gods who slept among the stars would help guide them home.
Only a little further. She knew it in her bones that a clearing was near.
Myra's hand slipped from Kallie's grasp and Kallie looked back. Myra was crouched, her hands resting on her knees as she breathed heavily. “I’m sorry . . . I just,” she spoke in between her breaths, “need a . . . moment to . . . catch my breath.”
Kallie sighed. Stopping reminded her how much her joints ached, and she didn't need the reminder right now. They needed to keep going, lest Kallie lose the adrenaline pumping through her veins. Even if Fynn and his group hadn't noticed they were gone yet, they would be sitting prey for the animals that were not scared off by Myra's clumsy feet.
But Kallie relented. "All right, just a moment though."
Myra nodded.
Kallie took the time to stretch out her hamstrings. Then she bounced on her toes as she watched Myra regain her breath.
Straightening, Myra said, "All right. I'm—"
But Myra never finished. Her unspoken words hung in the air as she stood frozen. Under the faint light of the moon, her face went pale, her eyes widened.
"Myra? Are you well?” Kallie took a step back. “Are you going to be sick?”
"Kallie . . . " Her lips barely moved, her voice almost inaudible. "Don't. Move."
"What? Why?" Kallie's voice was laden with concern.
Then the sound of heavy breathing behind her sent a cold shiver swimming down the length of her spine. Curiosity and fear pulled at her to turn. To see what lurked behind her despite the feeling that tugged on her stomach urging her to stay still.
Her curiosity won.
A pair of large golden eyes stared back at her. Kallie went rigid as she came face to face with a mountain lion perched on top of a dead tree that had broken in half. The mountain lion's back muscles rippled as it crouched, readying to pounce.
Kallie tried to recall anything she knew about mountain lions from her lessons as a child. There was something about their eyes, that if someone were to encounter a mountain lion the person should either look into them or avoid them completely. However, Kallie couldn't remember which one she was supposed to do. She searched her memory, but her mind was empty.
Stare or avert?
If she stared at it, the wild animal might think it was threatened and attack. But if she averted her eyes, it might think it was victorious and her, prey.
By the gods, where's my dagger when I need it?
The mountain lion sank lower.
She had to choose.Now.
A giant paw slinked forward, dragging its claws against the peeling bark on the tree, and Kallie took a slow breath. Then she made her choice, praying to the gods that it was the right one.
Swoosh.
A rush of wind skimmed the right side of her face and an arrow struck the mountain lion and pinned Kallie in place. A painful whine left its mouth as it slumped to the ground. Mouth agape, Kallie watched the life drain from the beast.
"Game of cat and mouse, huh?"
Kallie spun around to see gray eyes the color of the moon staring at her. In the faint blotchy light of the moon streaming in through the leaves, she watched as the man grabbed a second arrow from the holster on his back. He nocked the arrow on the string of his bow. A streak of moonlight hit his hands and golden rings glistened on his fingers drawing Kallie's attention. She recognized those rings, the way they clinked together at the slightest movement.Another one of Fynn's crew. The sulky man from the garden stood before her. His bow aimed at her.
He took a step forward as he pulled the string taught and raised the arrow to his cheek. Kallie's heart rate increased. Then the light hit his face and Kallie took a sharp inhale.
