The collar on my throat was heavy, but at least it had warmed. The diamonds no longer felt alien but a part of me. The courage of my ancestors. The spirit-strength of women I’d never met, living in a piece of jewellery throbbing with their guidance and energy.
The hatred and repulsion I felt toward the collar disappeared. Yes, the Hawks had given it to me, sentencing me to death with an action I couldn’t think about, but they’d given me a piece of my family. A piece of history I could use to my advantage.
Another bark, followed by a loud whistle.
You can’t outrun him.
I scowled at my pessimism.
But you can hide.
I shook my head, fighting tears as a twig dug into the sole of my foot.
I wouldn’t be able to hide. He came with foxhounds. Their noses were legendary.
Up high. Get up high.
I skidded to a stop. My neck craned as I peered up the length of a knobbly-looking tree. The branches were symmetrically placed, the leaves not exactly thick but its trunk strong enough to take me from earth to sky.
I’d never climbed anything in my life. I could fall to my death. I could cripple myself when I suffered a vertigo wave. I’d never been stupid enough to try.
You’ve never had to run for survival, either.
Shoving useless fears away, I moved toward the tree with out-stretched hands. It didn’t matter I’d never climbed one. It didn’t matter I’d avoided all gym games and apparatuses, because I only ended up getting hurt.
I would climb the damn thing and conquer it.
I have no choice.
Either stay on the ground and sit quietly for him to arrive, run blindly through woodland, or climb.
I’ll climb.
My toes gripped the base of the tree as I reached for the first branch. I put my weight on it.
It snapped.
Shit!
Another bark—loud and clear, just over the ridge.
I moved.
Scrabbling at the tree, I hugged the rough bark and hurled myself up, reaching like a crazed, climb-retarded monkey for a branch just out of grabbing distance. I didn’t think I’d make it. I closed my eyes in preparation for a painful fall, but by some miracle, my fingers latched around the bough, clinging harder than ever before.
Go.Go!
I gave myself over to a skill I’d never used but hoped remained dormant in some part of my human evolution. I placed my foot against the bark, pulling upward with my hands. I reached for the next.
And the next.
And the next.
My breath came hard and ragged, my heart an overworking drum.
I used the tree as my own personal stepladder to freedom, climbing higher and higher until I daren’t look down in case I blacked out and tumbled from heaven to hell.
A large thundering came, overshadowing the yips and excitedbarks of dogs. The leaves around me shuddered as footfalls of a bigger beast came closer.
