Flashback The Beginning of the End: Part 2

[Massacre]

The Beginning of the End Escape from the Jungle Wilds Timestamp: Summer 78, 498 AV Continuation from The Beginning of the End: Into the Jungle Wilds They flew as fast as they could, but Massacre knew they were not out of the danger yet. He could hear the Myrians and their tigers below them, and in the are breaks in the canopy he could sometimes glimpse the orange beasts dart by. They were keeping pace with the zith who were all beginning to get tired. Looking back, Massacre could see some of his tribemates beginning to sink in the air, flying slower and slower, drawing ever closer to the tree canopy, and the inevitable death that would come with it if they fell below. Massacre turned around, ushering the rest of his tribe to continue on. They were going north, though Massacre did not really realize it. All he knew was the coast was to their left, but to fly over it would expose them fully to the arrows below. So they flew north. Massacre flew back to the stragglers, trying to encourage them. Both were new to the tribe, and Massacre could not remember their names. "Come on, you two! Don't give up. We can make it out of this alive, you just have to keep flying!" His encouragement seemed to help one of the Zith, who nodded in affirmation and began to beat his wings harder, regaining his altitude. The other Zith just shook his head as he began to sink lower. Massacre watched the ground below him wide-eyed, seeing the Myrians gathering beneath, preparing their bows. "You can't give up. You can do it, you just have to fly harder. I won't let you-" Massacre's words were cut off as a hail of arrows shot up out of the canopy. Most of them fell short, but one grazed Massacre's leg, causing him to cry out in pain and temporarily look away from the other Zith. When he looked back, the Zith was gone. Looking down, Massacre could see him just as he fell into the trees, an arrow in his shoulder. Grim faced, Massacre turned and flew away before another volley could claim him as well. He did not want to leave behind the other Zith, but there was nothing he could do for him now. As soon as the Myrians found him, he would be dead.

[Massacre]

They continued to fly until even Massacre began to grow weary. It was dark now, the time when Zith functioned best, and Massacre could not see any Myrian's in the trees below. Finally, after nearly another bell of flying, Massacre signaled to his tribe that they should land. Not one Zith hesitated, and soon enough they all found themselves on the ground, surrounded by tall jungle trees. Even at night, the forest was crawling with life. It made the Zith nervous. Massacre spun at the sound of something moving nearby, but it turned out to be only a strange four legged prey creature darting away. The Zith considered chasing after it, or trying to shoot it with his bow, but he was just too tired. Plus there was no way to get a clear shot in the dense foliage, not at his level of skill anyway. Massacre stalked around the trees, pausing every so often to listen. There was a lot of movement out in the jungle, but none of it sounded human. He had no idea what the large orange creatures would sound like, but Zith was fairly certain they were safe for the moment. Still, it was better to be cautious and live, than foolish and die.. something he should have learned before crossing the water to the jungle. "We should sleep in the trees," Massacre called out to what was left of his tribe. "It will be safer up there. If the humans come, they will not see us. We will rest here for a bit, and then head out before morning, while the humans are still sleeping."