Randomness from my now-filled school notebook... -- The Middle of Nowhere

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 17:39:15 01/10/04 Sat
Author: Jheyans
Subject: Randomness from my now-filled school notebook...

Obix ran.

He was tired of running, really; his lower legs burned, and his six-toed paws were half-numb from constantly beating against the rocky, grassless ground. Even his lean arms ached, held so tightly against his narrow chest, and his tail was slung only high enough to avoid dragging the ground. The chill, wintry air dried his throat and burned his lungs, so he tried to breathe only through flared nostrils, chest heaving with lessening efficiency. He was beginning to slow, adolescent muscles gradually refusing to respond to the dregs of adrenaline cycling through his system.

But he couldn't stop. Well, he could, but then he'd be brutally killed and devoured by the slow but doggedly determined kazha loping a few hundred yards behind him. Death by kazha was not an option for the Asaque -- his scaly hunter had already broken the youth's prized possession: his mediating staff.

Obix was far from his clan and aimed away from it, so the blue-and-silver male had little chance of being saved by an older, spear-toting hunter. And there was no hope of reversing direction and heading back; though a rather slow beast in general, the kazha could lunge quickly over short distances. In fact, it could halve the space between itself and its prey within seconds. Obix was slowing and he knew that, once the kazha came close enough, that burst of speed would end in his death.

Where's a Korat when you need one? the adolescent thought desperately, lean frame beginning to tremble. He couldn't regain his former speed, and a glance behind him proved his fears correct: the kazha had almost reached that critical limit, and Obix was faced with the promise of death that he'd outrun for hours. He let out one last call for help, and though he tried to scent the wind for a sign of hope, his nostrils were as dry as his throat and could smell nothing.

A final glance backwards showed the young Asaque the exact stride that carried the kazha over that invisible boundary. Obix let out one last cry and didn't face forward again...

...so he also saw the thick, wooden spear sink into the beast's chest. The kazha's bulky frame tumbled, a gurgling bellow wrenched from its throat. Obix stumbled to a halt and tried to spot his unseen benefactor, but the sudden change in gait after so long a run was too much; he collapsed on numb, tingling legs and tried desperately to catch his breath. His lungs felt like they were going to implode.

Quiet but ungraceful footsteps drew his attention from his pain to his rescuer, and tired golden eyes rose to see, much to his surprise, a human female. She knelt near his head, resting a capable hand on his upper chest to check his heart; the adolescent mutely nodded, and a brief smile flickered across the woman's face.

"I'm Atano Sarah," she introduced, then waited patiently until Obix could sit up and breathe well enough to reply. "My... name is... Obix." He had to pause and work moisture into his mouth before he could add, "I thank you."

"Mhmm," she murmured, unclasping a small canteen from her belt and handing it to the bluish 'taur. He drank in little sips, the cool liquid almost painful, and felt feeling gradually return to his lower body. Atano rose and offered both hands, and Obix painfully levered himself to four paws and braced his legs to stay upright.

"You're near the town of Ceann Dryss, Obix. Where are you from? You look like you've been running forever." Atano clipped the canteen back onto her belt.

Obix slowly massaged his raptorine muzzle, trying to convince his young body to function. "The Forest Water clan, near the town of Gizitts. I've never heard of Ceann Dryss."

"Gizitts is a hundred or more miles north-north-east of here." Atano looked impressed. Obix, on the other claw, flinched, "I've been running for hours, but I didn't expect to be this far from home."

Atano shrugged, then gestured southeast. "Ceann Dryss isn't far. We'll go slowly, but staying out here is a bad idea. Many predators roam thi region, and young Shrarrs do not know us from food." She smiled briefly and began walking; the adolescent Asaque followed awkwardly, limping with each step as strained muscles screamed in painful protest.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]