Breaking Through Time

Chapter 12 Never miss a good party

The fountain had a bit more water than before so we managed to get further ahead in time. Michael said he was trying to direct us towards Europe, so we would leave Egypt and the desert behind and hopefully, we will be able to find a bigger source of water next time to get back home. Unfortunately, when we land we are still more than a thousand years away from home. We arrive in Poland, the year is one thousand AD; the current king is Catholic with a wife and grown children that already have spouses... thank God for that, no chance of marrying anyone this time around and I shouldn't be mistaken for any goddesses...

We get the AI to make us look as if we belong in this time, we walk through what I can only describe as a jungle. Huge trees, bugs and lots of mud... Not much improvement in terms of that. The AI guides us through the overgrowth leading us towards the nearest City, I don't think we would be able to get through otherwise...

I once again step into a big puddle of mud and this one was deep, swallowing my leg almost up to my knee! I manage to catch my balance and start to shake my foot worried to lose my sandal in it. I really didn't fancy going through this jungle barefoot. As I was concentrating on my task I hear Michael whisper, "Don't move... Don't look... Don't panic..."

"What do you mean?" I whisper back unconsciously as I lift my head. I see Michael standing still by a tree, he is slowly reaching into his pocket. In front of him, there is a huge cat, it looks like a panther. It is so big, five times the size of Michael, it is looking at him while squinting its nose. Its white and grey fur is fluffy and looks really soft, but its teeth are really big and sharp, especially the two sticking out on the side of its mouth.

Now he has spotted me as well. I stare into his big black eyes entranced and scared. The creature seems to forget about Michael for a second, locking into my gaze. This gives Michael enough time to reach to his pocket and pull out some of the white powder. With slow movements, he cups it in his hand and blows it into animals face. The cat shakes its head... squints its nose and sneezes. It shakes its head again and starts to growl, Michael turns towards me and starts running.

"The powder takes a moment to work! Run!" He shouts waving his arms, gesticulating towards the trees.

I wrench my foot out of the mud turn around to start running as fast as I can, my heart is pounding in my chest I crash through the underbrush, hearing the cat sneeze again and take up the chase. I look over my shoulder expecting to see Michael behind me, but he is nowhere to be seen! 

 I dare not stop. I jump over branches and run in between bushes that scrape my legs. I can't hear the cat, but the primitive itch between my shoulders tells me I'm being hunted. My feet slide on muddy stones and get sucked into the mud, but I keep on going; and then... I slip and I fall. I roll over looking up as I see the giant animal pouncing down towards me, a sound of triumph coming from it open jaws... I cover my face with my arm in fear. 

 Suddenly the sound cuts short, and something splashes across my face... I freeze in shock waiting for my life to end... but nothing... I finally slowly lower my hand away from my face and I see that I am surrounded by many very big and tall men, wearing animal skins, swords and an assortment of other weapons. 

Three of them are covered in the animal's blood, they quickly pull out long knives and set to skinning and gutting the animal, pulling out its organs, it really stinks. One of the other men approaches, his hair is long and he has deep blue eyes, he grabs my arm and hoists me up roughly.

"Let me help you wench," he says with an amused expression.

"Wench? I am not a wench!" I say heatedly, I am surprised with myself that this seems to be such an issue for me so shortly after my brush with death.