THE END OF BEGINNINGS

THIRTEEN (Part 2)

    First, past a sharp, left-hand bend ahead of him, a wide, stout tree with a crowded canopy of long, tangled branches was leaning over the stream bed. The ground under its heavy roots had partially collapsed on one side. Soon, it would fall over completely. Something was hanging low out of the nest of knotted limbs. Was it a vine of some kind? Was it the tail of another animal? Moros had no idea. But, every second the current carried him closer, Moros felt confident it was in an arm's reach. He was certain that it would get him out of the dark stream and away from the snake swimming right for him.
    Beyond the listing tree, the afternoon sky shone even brighter than a moment before. The forest thinned just ahead and would give way to stout, rolling hills covered in tall grasses that whispered in the wind. But first, Moros knew there would be a steep drop. The depth of the zig-zagging vein cutting through the muddy soil was beginning to shallow. The stream formed a small spring where it emerged from the forest. Usually, it was nothing more than a trickling of water against smooth, pale rocks angled steeply toward the base of the hills. During the rains, it became a thin waterfall. And then, during the monsoon season, it was a roaring spout that fed a small lake that formed from the floodwaters on the hilly plain. The lake, Moros had come to know, would be filled with more of the venomous serpent chasing him through the rapids.
    Moros breathed deep, taking in a mouth full of the murky spray kicked up by the churning water. He pushed off from the bulging stones and uneven ridges of mud beneath his feet. With an outstretched arm, his fingers found the fuzzy vine hanging limply above the water. His grip wasn't good. He nearly lost the weak hold he'd managed. As his feet slipped out from under him and he was nearly knocked onto his back, and with the hungry serpent ready to strike, Moros jumped. His left arm rocketed out of the water with every ounce of strength and speed he could muster.
    The vine was in his grip, its fist-like thickness strangled between the fingers and palm of his left hand. Just as he started to pull himself up and regain a hold with his right hand, the vine moved with violent speed. A blood-curdling shriek filled the humid, forest air. Moros tried to look up at whatever animal he had grabbed onto. But, he also tried to spot the long, black snake that wasn't ready to let him escape.
    The body of the oily serpent rocketed out of the choppy waters of the stream. Its snout grazed against the heel of one of Moro's feet before the side of its face bore the brunt force of the boy's other foot. The powerful kick had been more of an accident than a deliberate defense. The shrieking animal, whose tail Moros was strangling, thrashed from side to side in the quaking branches of the listing tree. The angry, pain-filled flailing sent Moros crashing against the tree's weathered trunk. He grunted from the hard impact that reverberated through his shoulder before yelping loudly as he was flung upward and away from the stream.
    The youth was in the air for only a second. Then, his soaking body slapped the damp soil. Stars filled his dizzy eyes while the air in his lungs and torso raced out of his mouth. His fingers slackened, letting the tree dweller's tail slip free. The long-eared, broad-chested animal snarled and roared as it picked itself up off the forest floor. It had slipped out of the listing tree, landing near its base. Its sharp, front teeth were all Moros could see when he lifted his head off the muddy ground. Until, that is, the deafening hiss of the hungry serpent filled the air. Moros and the long-tailed ape looked toward the body of the deadly snake slithering over the canal's edge. Its tongue darted out of its mouth, tasting the air. Its frightening, yellow eyes were fixed solely on the young man still laying on his back.
    And then, it was dead. All at once and from seemingly out of nowhere, the humongous beast that Moros had been letting chase him bounded out of the shadows. Its meaty front paw landed on the serpent's skull, crushing it instantaneously. The sickening noise was muted by the powerful, forest-shaking roar of the huge hunter.
Moros felt his chest heaving painfully with quick, panicked breaths. The large, looming body of the long-haired hunter was nearly right on top of him. But, it wasn't paying him any attention-yet. Its echoing roar was answered by the shrill scream of the tree dweller. The teenager watched in awe as the long-tailed animal reared back against the leaning tree, then charged.
    The broad-chested beast that Moros had accidentally pulled out of the tree was known as a scree-ani. At least, that was what he had heard them be called. They populated the forest, living mostly hight up in the towering trees. They came down during the high rains and winds to escape the storms and gather food that had fallen from the high canopy and bushes below. They were quick and agile, but, not always very smart This scree-ani was proving its limited intelligence as it bolted across the short distance separating it and the much larger hunter.
    The long, hulking feline-like creature was ready. It met the attacking scree-ani head-on...literally! With its thick, bony brow, the hulking animal halted the scree's advance, sending it backwards over the wet ground with unstoppable strength. The muscular monkey's back cracked against the thick trunk of the listing tree. The wounded animal shrieked from the pain of the powerful impact.
    Suddenly, there was a loud and echoing SNAP! Another quick and chilling CRACK filled air. They were from the tree. The collision had been so strong, it was the final straw that broke its failing hold on the forest floor. Moros watched, his jaw slack with amazed awe, as the tree began to sink backwards toward the racing stream. At the same moment, there was a subtle flash in the brightening sky. It was immediately followed by a second. They were arrow heads flaring beyond the tree tops. It was the hunting party. They were signaling Moros. There was still a job to finish.
    Moros jumped to his feet as fast as he could manage. As soon as he was upright, he pushed off from the hard clay and wet, scattered leaves under his toes. The weary tree dweller was struggling to roll off of its broken back and the collapsing tree. The huge, long-haired beast was watching intently, pleased with itself. Then, there was movement beside it. It spotted Moros and the tail of scarlet feathers racing past. Rage surge through the huge hunter once more.
    Moros' skin shivered at the sound of a loud, low growl from deep in the massive creature's throat. He could feel the air suddenly shift around him. The beast was moving swiftly. It was getting ready to pounce again. The youth didn't stop to look back. There wasn't time. He reached the uprooted base of the tree. Moros didn't stop. Without hesitating, the seventeen-year-old bounded over the short, muddy roots. He was still moving at full speed as his feet touched the smooth bark of the tree's long trunk. He could feel cracks forming through the collapsing column as it fell toward the rushing water.
    The half-limp tree dweller wailed weakly as Moros hurried past the spot it was laying. He felt its damp, leathery fingers brush one of his ankles. But, the youth was moving too fast for it to find a solid grip. In the heartbeat that followed, the forest air echoed with the loud, tearing snap of the tree breaking apart. Moros was on the far side of the break. But his improvised bridge shifted violently, his weight tilting the treetop upward while the severed trunk suddenly rolled to the right. Moros gasped. He was about to end up back in the stream.
    He kept his balance, but only barely. He leapt with a held breath, shoving his body through the nest of branches at the tree's top. Splintered twigs bit and slashed at his shoulders and arms. Then, he was through. He felt the forest floor under his body as he tumbled away from the tree limbs. The teenager barely had time to exhale. Right on his tail was the humongous beast. It jumped effortlessly across the flooded channel, the razor-sharp claws of its thick, front paws aimed right at Moros.
    The boy moved fast, rolling onto his stomach and launching himself upright in one single motion. The beast landed behind him, missing his heels by only an arm's length. His heart raced at the sound of the creature's powerful jaws snapping near his back. It had tried to bite at the scarlet feathers stretching away from Moros' body. They were taunting the enraged animal, keeping it in pursuit.
    There were more flashes in the sky. Moros sprinted over the slick terrain between the trees. The creature was still right behind him. There was no way he was going to outrun it. He was almost out of energy. His legs burned, the muscles in each feeling like they were about to tear apart. His lungs ached, each racing breath straining and stinging through his chest. His eyes stung from the bitter sweat that streamed down his face. He had to keep going. They were nearly at the edge of the forest. They were nearly at the end of the chase.
    Moros felt hot breath on his back. The creature was nearly on top of him. No, he thought desperately. We're not there yet. You can't win this.
    He tried to run harder, to push himself ahead just a little more. Dappled, pale sunlight painted the forest floor ahead of him. There was a ridge there, the sudden drop in the ground marked by a sparse line of tall, old trees. Moros was staring at the light on the mud. That's where he wanted to be. That's where he had to get to. He just had to not get eaten first.
    The creature matched Moros' speed. It was nearly on top of him once more. The brightening daylight made its amber-green lenses gleam. It glinted off the wet, stained surfaces of its teeth. Its long fangs were ready to sink down into its prey. All the beast had to do was crane its neck out just a little bit more.
    Suddenly, Moros felt two opposing forces on his body at once. He yelped helplessly, feeling-first-a pair of arms and legs ensnare his torso. At the same time, the furious beast clamped down on the dense garland of feathers. It sank its weight downward, tugging backwards on the taunting tail while it tried bring its own racing gait to a halt.
    Moros cringed in pain, the leather cord biting into his flesh before it finally snapped free. He exhaled sharply, watching the ground move away below him as he was carried upward by the person who had swung down out of the treetops. The raging creature couldn't stop its own momentum, skidding across the wet leaves and mud. He watched it reach the sunlit ridge and then keep going. Then, Moros lifted his gaze toward an approaching tree limb. At his ear, the sweet sound of his best friend laughing began to calm his rattled nerves.
    The two boys reached out together for the dense branch in front of them. The damp bark was cool against the sweat on Moros' chest. He exhaled with relief, managing a thankful smile over his shoulder toward his rescuer. Below them, the hulking creature couldn't find its footing. It slid and tumbled down the steep slope, growling and roaring the whole way. The two friends watched it suddenly disappear near the bottom. The ground there had been dug away and covered by a camouflaged net. When the creature dropped into the awaiting pit, the dusty, moss-covered tarp sank with it, wrapping around its flailing body.
    Moros blinked with a start at the sight that followed. Flame-tipped arrows soared out of the shadows around the pit. They arched quickly through the misty daylight before landing in clay vats that had been placed around the wide cavity. A thin, dark oil in each vessel bubbled and hissed as the smoldering arrows sank into it. Choking columns of gray-pink smoke rose over the rims of the heavy containers. The sinewy vapor didn't rise into the air but sank, instead, toward the ground and the shallow pit. Within a minute, the greasy fog had flooded the trap that had been made to capture the huge beast. Another minute later and the creature's echoing roars began to quickly fade away.
    Moros sighed when the forest finally went quiet. He was exhausted.  His best friend patted him on the head, congratulating him. Moros had proved himself worthy and capable of the task. He smiled, tiredly. It was a gesture meant partially for his friend, but it was mostly for himself.