Golden wings

Chapter 31 - Scarify

A figure slumped, with a labored intake of air.

Alexis laid himself tiredly against a rock, and allowed himself a moment to breathe. He tried to steady his breathing, having flied for...

He had no fucking clue of how much time.

The angel let out his breath in exasperated huffs, his whole body felt sore. It had not been easy to land; even sitting had been difficult. He really did not want to push his luck. He really did not want to stop running. He had no idea if they would follow the trail he had made, if they had fallen for it. But his wings were so tired...

He hoped they had gone north or east. He hoped he could take a break.

Maybe... Just a little... rest.

His body relaxed somewhat, subtly. His mind slowly let go of the fact he kept remembering, every second: the fact that she was a relentless hunter. He had felt her eyes on him all this time. He had felt watched, every second, no matter if he had gained distance. He had not seen them again, but he still feared.

Alexis closed his eyes and tried to stop thinking. He tried to stop fearing. He only focused on breathing, on resting after such an exhausting flight.

Now that he did not focus on what could roam behind him... Now that he was not panicking on what could fall onto him...

Was he hearing... waves?

His mind slowly blackened, not even as an angel able to take such strain. His head leaned a little onto a side, and the frown he had all this time finally faded. Still, his expression looked sorrowful.

He was able to fall into a slight slumber; his wings dropped at his sides... And he was unable to see or notice that he should run. Lykaios and Ayako were not far. And little did he know... That he had not much distance left to flee to and save himself.

Lykaios was jumping from rock to rock. The uneven terrain would make it hard to chase, but not for him. His claws where slamming sure onto the ledges of the rocks, without letting her fall from his back.

Ayako frowned when he stopped on top of a rock, when his fur shivered suddenly.

"What is it?"

"He is here, somewhere between these fissures."

Their voices were barely a whisper. They exchanged a look, because they knew what Alexis didn't. He had flown west, directly for the coast.

Ayako snarled and took out her crossbow; she glared at every space between the coasty rocks.

"If he flies away over the sea..." He would not reach the end of it. The angel would eventually tire, and fall. He would drown. "I could really give use to those wings, Lykaios."

Alexis didn't seem to know that a vast ocean was ahead. He was doomed to die, even if he was a coward. She couldn't let those feathers go to waste.

Lykaios nodded slowly and moved one of his tails carefully. He helped her get down his back, silently. She was not tired, because he had carried her all the way. She could run now, run and chase him herself. The hunt would soon end.

They had to prevent Alexis from flying along the coast. Both hunters spoke with signs. Ayako pointed her hand to her right, while a tail waved ahead and then left. They needed to corner him.

She jumped off the rocks and hid between them, she went ahead alone. Lykaios raised his head and ears, because he could hear a faint breathing.

The demon's fangs began to sharpen even more; his claws had to be more careful to not scratch the ground. He moved and sneaked carefully, he lowered his tails to not be seen from afar. His figure shivered while he neared and walked around rocks. The angel was hidden between some, somewhere.