Thirty-Seven - Alden

We ran as fast as we could across the stretch of sand that stood between us and the border of trees that would offer much better terrain for stealth. My foot steps were clumsy with the shifting sand, and the picture of my mother sitting at home began to burn into my conscious, a guilt I'm not sure I will ever get past. Tarka kept a good pace and gave off no sign of an emotion. I can't help but wonder how she could stab Damian. Not less than twenty-four hours ago she loved him. I suppose this is what Fastus would have called a woman scorned, which no man was to mess with.

Regardless of the emotions either of us may be experiencing, we both knew we had to get to Rhythmus. My people are too well aligned with the Viridi, and our only hope now is just to cut the head off of the snake and hope two more don't grow back in its place.

As we neared the forest line, a sound of foot steps soon began to thunder behind us. Three Viridian soldiers, dressed in tunics and turbans to shield their eyes from the sun and sand, were quickly gaining ground as they rode short haired beluas, with their tongues flopping to the side of their mouths.

"Run, Tarka! Faster!"

We ran even quicker, Tarka moving ahead of me, but before we could reach the trees a whistle seemed to cut through the air. I tried to see what it was, but in mere seconds a stabbing pain dug into my legs, and I fell to the ground. Reaching down I found a rope twisted around my ankles, secured by two sharp pieces of iron that were now lodged into my legs. I tried to pull it out, but the blood made it hard to know how serious the injury was, and time was quickly running out.

Tarka had kept running, but as I fell she stopped to look at me.

"Keep going!" I cried. "You have to get to Rhythmus at all costs! Please, go!"

Tarka stared me for a brief moment, but at the sight of another rope being swung in the air, she took off, disappearing into the safety of her trees. One of the Viridian soldiers followed after her, but the other two stopped to take care of me.

"This was all too easy." One hissed as he slithered off his beast.

"Sorry to be such a disappointment." I growled.

"Oh, don't worry." He went on, dragging a clawed hand across the left side of my face. "We will have plenty of fun with you."