Chapter 15: Running

Soft little steps thumped into the ground, thump, thump, thump. The birds high up in the trees saw black hair flow in the wind—prints left with every step in the ground. The little creatures who fought for survival every day lifted their heads out of their burrows, and a subtle smell of lotus clung close to the runner. Little insects buzzed with intensity to taste one drop of lactic acid and ammonia flowing down the face and back. The tree roots branched wherever the forest floor existed, feeling the touch of the tiny feet and bouncing them back up. 

Boom, boom, boom, boom. The birds in the tree flapped their wings and bolted to the sky. Deep prints were left in the ground, crunching tree roots and caving in the little critters that had previously poked their heads out. The little buzzing insects drew away, for the noxious odour told them of a poisonous taste. 

We are never going to get away with you running like a land dragon!

Relax, I am being as quiet as I can be.

Is this quiet?

The little girl shook her head and kept a swift pace. 

I looked behind me to see trees shaking far behind us. Some trees were uprooted and fell. Clouds of birds flew as high as they could go. 

"They are a tenacious group. I wonder what the martial alliance plans on doing with them." 

Where are you running to?

I watched the little girl. She held herself well. But the sweat was building up, and the tense muscles built up under the clothes. 

I shook my head and stared at the sky. Too bright to search for stars. After a couple more minutes of running, more exhaustion builds up. 

We reached an open space in the forest, rough and brittle soil. Tree stumps scattered for as long as the eye could see. 

The little girl turned towards me quickly. We won't be able to hide in the cover of the forest. what should we do? Her hands shook, but her eyes watched my calmness. The hand slowed down a bit but failed to come to a complete stop. 

My eyes narrowed a bit. I looked between the dead tree stumps, rusted swords, and weapons hidden in the soil. They failed to reflect the sunlight, "how many years had they been there?" The little girl turned her head back at the closing stampede behind us, then turned to me. 

"Follow me!" I moved, and the girl clung close to me. My eyes lingered on the ground, "where is it?" 

The stampede grew closer, the creatures in the distance coming into view. Men with the bodies of scorpions, rams with six heads, humanoid monsters with the heads of piranhas, and tall creatures with pronounced rib cages that opened and closed outside their bodies. 

My foot slapped the ground, and the dust and dirt scattered. But a thump was heard. I got down onto my hands and scratched away. My nails were chipped. One broke off completely. Caught on rock and gravel, my fingers knicked dull swords and sabres. 

My hand grabbed a handle. I got up to my feet, my hamstrings flexed, and my shoulders creaked. I pulled and pulled. The hatch jolted from its shut position. 

"Get in!" The little girl glanced at the darkness below and jumped. I turned behind me. The beasts and human-like creatures were far enough to miss us entering. I jumped and felt the hatch tap the top of my head as I fell. I reached the stone floor quickly. Then a small hand grabbed mine. 

I couldn't see, and neither could she.