***
The two wolves began to leapfrog, each circling back to try to gain the upper hand over the other. Aranck cursed beautifully to himself, adding the words to the call Jackdraw sent into the air. A single wolf he might have been able to handle, a pack he could not.
He looked to the sky, as if the constellations could give him guidance. Nothing seemed to give him answers so he turned back to the one thing he knew. Logic. Asteraia made him no promises, though it was the land closest. Solara trusted him about as much as he trusted her, which was none at all. He looked wildly around through the trees, more threats at nothing issuing from his lips. He needed a place to hide. Giving up his chase of Jackdraw, he bolted down the most direct path he could find. He held no loyalty, so only the wilds would hide him. Shadows and sound covered by water, he ran towards the river and grottos. Malleah’s information had been useful for a simple understanding of the territory and he had found small amounts of prey in the shadows of the rocks. He knew they could hide a body, he was just hoping they could come to hide his scent as well.
As he ran he did not know if he would be able to outstrip the tracker, nor if he would be able to take him in a fight after running. He gritted his teeth against the realizations forming in his mind. There was very little hope he would not get caught. He took the time in the run to think of a plan. He just needed the shadows and the sounds to cover him. He just needed to make it to the Grotto. ARANCK
....far far from the sky. |