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Kaitanu could practically smell Estrellir’s fear, and it drove him nearly to panic. It was fortunate at that moment that he wasn’t in horse form or he might have gone blind with fear. As it was, he hardly needed her cry to spur him into a sprint away from the upturned alligator. Gone were worries about the Konrath woman, or Goneszh betraying their whereabouts. His feet were already flying before he was even aware, instinct driving him, adrenaline kicking in once more that day to get his body to safety. Kaitanu could not have stopped himself at that point to help Estrellir if she fell. With the tapestry under one arm he pelted through foliage and under branches, not feeling or caring if nature clawed at him on his way. He could still hear the primal hiss of the scaly creature behind them, and see its pale mouth yawning to snatch him from life.
Several moments later, he realized that white shape before him was not the alligator’s maw, but Estrellir’s fleeing form, her pale hair lit through the bare branches of winter trees by the moon. Instinctively, Kaitanu followed her path, pushing his body harder and harder as she slipped further ahead of him. Try as he might, however, the kelvic’s wounds and the stress of the day were at last beginning to truly wear on him. He had long been struggling forward on empty, and even his endurance was not endless. The fire of lungs and muscles spread far too quickly this time, and his steps faltered short of the break in the trees. As his vision began to tunnel, Kaitanu lost sight of Estrellir. Everything became one black mass of tangled branches and wavering shadows. Kaitanu was forced to stop before he passed out.
Gasping for air, he half collapsed against the bole of a nearby tree, the tapestry bundle hanging loosely from his arm. In the frosty air he trembled, insensible of his reopened wounds. Estrellir’s binding kept them from bleeding freely, but by now they were fairly soaked with sweat and blood. Kaitanu’s tongue was beginning to swell from dehydration, and he was in desperate need of fuel. The most logical solution to that was to transform back to a horse and find some winter grass. Even tree bark would work in a pinch. He could at least find some water that wasn’t too brackish. Plus, he could grab a wink or two standing up. He was terribly late already, and the beating he’d receive wouldn’t be worse for adding another half hour.
In the midst of these thoughts, and his gasping for breath, a freezing wind rattled the branches overhead. Enough fear of the alligator remained that he started and began to rush forward again without thinking. Kaitanu had sense enough this time to strap the tapestry across his back as he trotted forward, so now he had both arms free to push away obstacles in his path. Though he was no longer running, his steps were quicker than he had strength, and his head began to spin once more.
It was only through sheer luck, or perhaps the blessing of some unknown god, that he managed to head in the correct direction. Almost as his legs were ready to give way, Kaitanu’s blurred vision spotted a bright patch ahead. After the near-blackness of the forest, the night lights of the distant city were nearly blinding. Kaitanu managed to push himself through the thinning brush and out of the trees, into the open air near the shore. Unable to continue for the moment, the kelvic sank to his knees, panting greedily, his body protesting even this much movement. Where Estrellir was now he did not know, and for the moment he didn’t care. The alligator and the terror of the forest seemed to have been left behind.
Several moments later, he realized that white shape before him was not the alligator’s maw, but Estrellir’s fleeing form, her pale hair lit through the bare branches of winter trees by the moon. Instinctively, Kaitanu followed her path, pushing his body harder and harder as she slipped further ahead of him. Try as he might, however, the kelvic’s wounds and the stress of the day were at last beginning to truly wear on him. He had long been struggling forward on empty, and even his endurance was not endless. The fire of lungs and muscles spread far too quickly this time, and his steps faltered short of the break in the trees. As his vision began to tunnel, Kaitanu lost sight of Estrellir. Everything became one black mass of tangled branches and wavering shadows. Kaitanu was forced to stop before he passed out.
Gasping for air, he half collapsed against the bole of a nearby tree, the tapestry bundle hanging loosely from his arm. In the frosty air he trembled, insensible of his reopened wounds. Estrellir’s binding kept them from bleeding freely, but by now they were fairly soaked with sweat and blood. Kaitanu’s tongue was beginning to swell from dehydration, and he was in desperate need of fuel. The most logical solution to that was to transform back to a horse and find some winter grass. Even tree bark would work in a pinch. He could at least find some water that wasn’t too brackish. Plus, he could grab a wink or two standing up. He was terribly late already, and the beating he’d receive wouldn’t be worse for adding another half hour.
In the midst of these thoughts, and his gasping for breath, a freezing wind rattled the branches overhead. Enough fear of the alligator remained that he started and began to rush forward again without thinking. Kaitanu had sense enough this time to strap the tapestry across his back as he trotted forward, so now he had both arms free to push away obstacles in his path. Though he was no longer running, his steps were quicker than he had strength, and his head began to spin once more.
It was only through sheer luck, or perhaps the blessing of some unknown god, that he managed to head in the correct direction. Almost as his legs were ready to give way, Kaitanu’s blurred vision spotted a bright patch ahead. After the near-blackness of the forest, the night lights of the distant city were nearly blinding. Kaitanu managed to push himself through the thinning brush and out of the trees, into the open air near the shore. Unable to continue for the moment, the kelvic sank to his knees, panting greedily, his body protesting even this much movement. Where Estrellir was now he did not know, and for the moment he didn’t care. The alligator and the terror of the forest seemed to have been left behind.
