"You got a better plan?" Seeing her expression, Phillip smirked. "I didn't think so."
He set out again, moving toward the copse of firs.
Eva lingered. "You know Caden told me the person who gave him that wound was an idiot who failed to listen to instructions."
Phillip's head whipped toward Eva. "He did not."
This time it was Eva's turn to give him a smug smile as she moved past him into the trees.
"It was his fault," Phillip insisted.
"That's not what he says," Eva sang.
Phillip scowled as he took the lead again, jogging through the trees at a pace just shy of a sprint.
They only made it a few feet when a roar shook the branches, coming from the direction of the cave.
Phillip's expression was grim as they both looked back. "Guess we don't have to wonder when they'll realize you're missing."
No, because they already knew.
"I was hoping we'd be a little further away before this happened," Phillip told her.
Eva too, if she was being honest.
"This way," Phillip said as he raced through the trees, Eva following as best she could.
He didn't look back as he headed for higher ground. Probably hoping to find terrain that wouldn't allow the others to ride them down with their horses.
Unfortunately, the enemy had the same thought as they worked to cut them off from the ridgeline and force them deeper into the valley.
Phillip cursed and changed course.
Eva's lungs burned as she sprinted after Phillip, the crash of underbrush behind them spurring her faster.
Their pursuers weren't far.
Phillip and Eva burst through the tree line, coming to a stop.
A large lake with water so crystal clear that they could see the bottom lay before them.
Eva fought to catch her breath as Phillip turned in a circle.
"We'll have to cut across. They'll catch us if we try to go around," he said, coming back to her. "Can you swim?"
Eva chanced a look at the lake. "Yes."
Even if she couldn't, she would have answered the same. Better to chance the water than risk certain capture.
Phillip grabbed her hand, leading Eva into the water. "Hold on to me."
Eva braced herself against the cold as the water closed around her ankles. The day was already chilly from the storm and the lack of sun made it worse.
Add in the mountain lake, fed primarily from snowmelt and Eva could already feel her lips turning blue.
They waded in; Phillip's hand tight around hers as they moved into the shallows. The lake climbed up her legs until she was hip deep.
Eva fixed her eyes on the treeline on the opposite shore. She just needed to make it there.
