Not That Far

Chapter 9-Confusion

 

  I just stared at him for a second, not really understanding what he meant. That is, until I heard It coming up right freak'n behind us. That's when we both threw caution to the wind and ran for our lives.

  We scrambled across the uneven terrain that had been smoothed over by the snow and ended up crashing into a forest of gnarled fur trees. We dodged through the them, slipping and skidding occasionally on a combination of fallen tree needles and a generous amount of half melted and then re-frozen snow. The trees themselves seemed to stretch on for clicks and clicks with no ending in sight.

  But for some bazaar reason, I felt at strangely at peace tearing through those trees. Perhaps it was because I'd become more and more homesick for Talour with it's towering forests that I'd grown up in. Being around trees, even these strange ones, calmed me. Or maybe my life was just flashing before my eyes, I dunno. I heard that's what happens when you were about to die.

  I don't know how long we ran, a few minutes...a few hours? I don't even care. All I know is that I had to fight for every breath. I was nearing the end of my reserves, and most likely the end of my life, as our pursuer was gaining on us slowly but surely. Seemingly slipping like a phantom between the twisted trees.

  I was becoming more and more than terrified, but not for myself. I was more worried about Shay at the moment. Because I had been right about him limping earlier. And now he was falling behind.

  I could feel It literally breathing down my neck as I frantically watch Shay struggle to keep going. In a few moments It would overtake him and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened. So suddenly, I stopped short. Our pursuer jumped over me in surprise and skidded around to face me. Shay, who was still ahead of the Thing, also skittered to a stop, his eyes wild and terrified.

   He opened his mouth to yell, but I quieted him with a shake of my head. I'll never know for sure, but I swear I saw a single tear slide down his cheek. Then he looked past me and his eyes widened.

  I cast a hopeless glance behind me, expecting to see a pack of my uncle's hunters or even another Thing; but I saw neither. It was Dray, standing still as stone. Looking beat up, bloody and barely able to stand, but there he was despite all that, in the flesh.

  "...Hey, long time no see." He says faintly, like he was out of breath.

  My brows knit together in confusion. Why the heck would he be greeting me (almost cordially) when we were probably both about to die? Then a cool, damp nose hesitantly bumps my left wing, which I realize I'd never fully retracted.

  I don't even bother answering Drayan, I turn around, falling to one knee because I was so exhausted and relieved, grip Zurii's head in between my hands roughly and give it a good shake, just to make sure that it's real. She'd been so covered in dirt, grime, and I don't want to know what else, that we'd mistaken her discolored fur for the Thing. But seeing her rejected look, I can't help but let a ghost of a smile play at the corner of my mouth before I fondle her head in my arms and scold her gently,

  "You stupid furball. What have you gotten into this time." I mutter, resting my chin on top of the matted fur on her head. She rumbled contentedly.

  Shay had already hobbled over and was leaning against her side, completely out of breath and unsuccessfully trying to hide the pain in his eyes. She extended a dirt-covered wing around him, sheltering him from the worst of the wind. I finally remember Drayan and have to rip myself away from the happy, if a little painful, reunion.

  "...You gonna bring me in?" I ask hesitantly after an awkward silence.

  "No."

  "Why?" I demanded. "Why would you not? Isn't that what you wanted? To drag me in for a beating?" I wanted to know, now. Because up until a week ago, he'd been my best friend.