15 Summer 311
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Damn, damn, damn! Why did she get separated from the group? God damn it! The sweat on her face was cold against the wind as she flew as fast as she could above the tops of trees. Shausha could hear the cries of the Akalak men not far behind. If she rose in the air right now, they would see her for sure. All she could do was count on her wings to take her faster than the men could run. Beating her wings as fast but silently as possible was exhausting. A branch struck the back of her head when she turned to look behind, trying to locate the hunting party in the now silent forest. Dazed, she grabbed her head and faltered, losing a considerable amount of speed. Her heart stopped in her chest when she heard the men almost under her.
Frantically, Shausha looked around for something, anything. A smooth cliff face that she had been flying parallel to for some time had become jagged and spotted with many shallow caves. It was nearly 150m away, but instinct whispered that it was her only chance. With her wing muscles screaming and her throat tight with labored breathing, the last of her stamina took her up to the cliff. Again, her bestial impulses roared in her ear, pointing her up towards, not the largest, but darkest hole in the cliff face. It was nearly 25m above the tops of the trees, but she pumped her wings as hard as she could and dove into the opening. A spear flew with her into the cave, grazing the top of her wing and indicating that she had been seen.
She crashed on the cave floor and slid a couple feet. The floor was filled with a few inches of stale water. Stories passed down to her by hunter Zith told of blue men that could see the heat of the body. She wouldn't be safe for long. Panting, she rose to her feet, grabbed the spear, and stumbled into a labored run. The cave entrance was a little taller than she was and a few yards wide. She sent a few sonic screams out to find out the inner dimensions of the cave, pausing her step only once to receive the echo and ascertain if the men had followed her. Her heart stopped again when she heard their gear scraping along the cliff's surface. Shausha's fur was damp and cold with sweat. They were climbing up after her. Her bones shook with fear. Shausha would have frozen in cowardice like a human, but here she was in Akajia's dark embrace and the blood of the wild flowed through her, innately guiding and protecting.
Echoes divulged the cave's measurements. It was a "live" cave full of features rather than a dry, hollow rock. She could also hear the flowing of water from somewhere within. Trying to slow her breathing, she ran down a narrow corridor that narrowed to a width that even she barely fit through. The rushing water was near now and suddenly, she splashed through a thick water curtain. Past this curtain, the path widened into a large room. A dead end. She darted forward and tumbled into a deep pool of water. Quickly backing out and beating her wings dry, she cried out in panic, listening desperately for the supersonic echo to disclose where her salvation was hidden. Zithanese high-pitched squeaking could sense all sorts of crevices and holes in the surface, but it could not sense the depth or presence of water. From behind, she heard the voice of one man echoing through the cave to her, then another. One by one, the Akalak men were helping each other into the cave.
She moved her hands over the surface of the walls searching for the source of the water begging in Zithanese for Akajia's aid. Shausha's fur stood on end. Her eyes were wide, her breathing was shallow, her wings were fully extended and vibrating. Terrified, she backed towards the water curtain. She would have to dart back out. It would work if she could get all of them into this room at once... She broke the spear over her knee and pushed off the ground. Searching for the source of the water curtain, she found a ledge above the passage opening. She could have cursed Makutsi! The smooth surface of the water had hidden this protrusion from her ears!
Putting her back into the thick curtain of water, Shausha clutched the rock wall with one shaking hand, and the spear halves in the other. Hopefully the cold water would mask her temperature long enough for her to make an escape... The men were right on her tail when she found the ledge. The first blue man entered right as she submerged herself. She listened as best she could. Due to the water rushing around her body, her superior hearing was reduced significantly. Six, no, seven men splashed into the room, crossing the water curtain directly below her and wading into the deep pool. Shausha got a quick view of heavily muscled arms brandishing sharp, curved knives. The force of the water was heavy on her wings and shoulders, but she dared not move. The light of their torches made her stomach flip. If they turned around, she was dead. They would take her body as a trophy and parade it through Riverfall.
Akajia save me.
Time seemed to slow down as she passed one half of the spear to her free hand. In one motion, she put all of her strength in throwing the pointed end at the furthest Akalak. Using the forward momentum, she flipped over and through the water curtain. Her motions still felt slow-motion as she glanced back to see one fierce Akalak's roaring face break through the water after her. Only when she passed back through the narrowest part of the cave and jammed the second half of the spear between the walls did time decide to over-compensate and send her into fast forward. The cave was still completely dark and the Akalak following her had no torch. The cude trap should work. It must work. As if he was answering her thoughts, she heard him yell and his weapon splash to the ground. Her wings scraped against the cave walls as she opened them for flight. The dusk embraced her like a warm friend as she burst out of the cave and took off. Shausha only looked back only when she knew she was out of their weapon range.
Soaking wet, shivering, and beyond exhausted, she shouted in relief and victory. Her wings rippled in the warm, eventide air. Shausha took a deep breath. A few stars twinkled in the darkening sky. This would be the first time she would sleep during the night.
Continued (here)
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