“The flower will not survive hours in the crystal.”Karim sounded calm, but his expression had hardened, and the concern on Tisvali’s face was plain to see even with the sunglasses.“We fight.”
“Karim, Deidre’s message says they’re many!”
The Prince did not reply.He knelt before me with his dagger in hand.“Do not move.”
As if I would when a blade was pressed against my thigh.
One quick slash, and my dress acquired a slit from mid-thigh to knee.Giving me the freedom of movement to–
“Run straight, Jasmine.Do not stop until you reach the cave.Do not look back!”
Karim didn’t need to tell me twice.Not when I saw his usual confident look waver and Tisvali add a second arrow to his bowstring.
I ran.
– 7 –
Goner
Atorrent of questions filled my head as I sprinted through the forest.What creatures made elves consider hiding all day in the trees?How many was I running from if the elves had to use two arrows at once?I prayed I didn’t get to find out.
Hugging my precious cargo to my chest, I ran as fast as my bare feet and the uneven ground allowed.The only sound over my frantic heartbeat was the snapping of twigs underfoot.The birds had gone silent, and even the insects were no longer around.What nightmarish predator had Deidre’s arrow warned us about?
I couldn’t resist.I slowed down just a fraction and looked over my shoulder.
Nothing.It appeared I was all alone among the trees.There was no sign of the elves, either.
I kept running, but my thoughts were racing in a new direction now.Maybe the monsters after us could blend in with their surroundings without making a single sound, just like my companions.But what if the elves were engaged in a fight with our attackers back at the flower’s location, too busy to keep an eye on me?Hadn’t I run far enough that I couldn’t hear the sounds of battle anymore?Then why return willingly to my prison?
If I veered left or right instead of heading straight for the cave, I’d reach the forest’s edge eventually.I was without provisions and unarmed, but a better opportunity for an escape would not present itself.It was now or never–
The edelweiss!It would perish if I took it with me.I had to leave the container somewhere easy to spot–the elves would find it and have it planted by one of their gardeners.
Yes, that way I wouldn’t be responsible for the flower’s death.Just my own–if my daring escape got me killed.
I slowed down as I searched for a good place to leave the container.
That was when I saw movement from the corner of my eye.
I looked back out of instinct, and all thoughts of escape and flowersperished.
There, running almost parallel to me now, was a wolf the size of a bear.Its head was turned toward me, its glowing yellow eyes full of murderous intent.
A werewolf.
I’d only heard of these monsters on the radio transmissions.I’d never seen one, but there was no mistaking what was chasing me.And it was coming after me so fast that I stood no chance of outrunning it.
As though it had smelled my desperation, the creature howled in what sounded like triumph.That howl was immediately followed by another, this time to my left.
I had two werewolves hunting me down, boxing me in fromeither side.
When I heard more howling from behind, I knew I was a goner.Heart in my throat, I pressed the container tightly to my chest and kept running.I’d be damned if I just gave up.No, I would make these monsters work for their food.
It was the werewolf to my right who moved in for the kill first.I was too terrified to even scream when I saw that thing leap at me, huge jaws open wide, monstrous teeth aiming for my unprotected body as if in slow motion.
The werewolf tumbled to the ground before it could reach me.Three arrows protruded from its head.
I blinked, and suddenly I had Tisvali running next to me.He must have dropped down from a tree, but I had no time to ponder, because the werewolf to my left attacked with a vicious snarl.
