Born to Be Free (rewrite)

Chapter 30

They burst out the door, all the Lykers running towards the ocean. Spirit was about to jump into the water, when she heard a noise. She stopped, looking back at the aquarium, still holding Branch with her teeth.

     Branch looked up at her, confused of why she stopped.

     "What's wrong, Spirit?"

     Her ears twitched, as she listened. Then she heard it again. Her eyes widened, as she looked at the building. Bruno... Bruno was still in there!

     She let go of Branch, and he fell to the ground, landing on his butt.

     "Ow," he said, sitting on the ground, as he looked up at Spirit. "Spirit? What are you doing? You're almost free!"

     "There they are!" Branch suddenly heard in a shout. He turned, seeing several Snatures running towards them, Creek sitting on one of their shoulders. He looked back at Spirit, jumping to his feet, as he pushed on her leg.

     "Go! Go, Spirit! Run away!" But Spirit didn't run towards the water. Instead she ran back into the aquarium. "Spirit!" Branch shouted.

     "Forget the Lyker!" Creek shouted. "I want that troll dead!"
"Branch!" Poppy yelled. She was sitting on Kayla's back out in the water. Tekay was on Kota, and Iris was on Storm.

     "Run, Branch! Get over here!"

     Branch looked at them for a moment, and then at Creek, as he and the Snatures got closer to him. He sighed, looking down. "I'm sorry, Poppy," he whispered to himself. Then he looked back up at the aquarium. "I can't leave Spirit."

     He ran into the aquarium, Poppy watching him, her eyes widening in terror. "Branch!"

     "Spirit!?" Branch yelled, running through the halls of the aquarium. "Spirit!? Where are you!? Spirit!"

     He ran as fast as his little legs could take him, but the Snatures with Creek were catching up.

     "Get me that troll!" he shouted.

     One of the Snatures reached for Branch, but right as he was about to grab him, Spirit lunged out from a side hallway, grabbing onto Branch's vest with her teeth once again.

     "Spirit!" Branch yelled, smiling up at her, as she ran.

     She turned the corner fast, quickly ducking into a room. The Snatures ran right past them, unaware that they were right beside them.

     Branch panted in fear, watching the Snatures run away. He smiled, once they were out of sight, and looked up at Spirit.

     "Thank you, girl," he said, reaching up to pet her snout. "You saved my life. Now quick. We have to get out of here, before they find us." She shook her head, Branch looking at her confused.

     "No? What do you mean no? They're going to kill us, Spirit. We need to go now!"

     Suddenly, Spirit flung Branch up into the air. "AHHH!" he screamed, flying through the air. He started to fall back down, landing right on Spirit's back. She made sure he was safely on her back, and then took off running.

     "Whoa! Spirit! Stop, Spirit! Stop!" Branch screamed, clinging onto Spirit's fur, trying desperately not to fall off her back.

     She ran into another room, stopping suddenly. Branch's eyes widened at what he saw. A Lyker was chained to the wall, struggling to break free, as he cried out in fear.

     Quickly, Branch jumped off of Spirit's back, running towards the Lyker.

     It growled at him, scared, but once he saw Spirit, he knew this troll must be safe.