time for travel had ended.
Jim scanned the canopy, looking for branches high and thick enough to offer a suitable place to sleep. Emma gathered sticks and splintered an old fallen pine for firewood.
“I’m going to hunt us some dinner. I owe you a lesson on how to cook properly,” she said, smiling, “for the next time you decide to throw me to the ground.” Emma blushed, not realizing the innuendo until she had finished speaking.
“I look forward to the lesson.” The Hero offered a smile and a smooth wink, adding color to Emma’s face that seemed to make her glow.
Jim continued to search for sturdy branches while Emma hunted, settling on a branch high in the air that was wide enough for him to comfortably fit while lying on his side. He started a fire beneath the large oak with the collected tinder, making it large enough to last through most of the night and hot enough to cook thoroughly through meat and fat. And then he waited for Emma to return.
He counted the minutes. At first, it was due to a meditated boredom. But, as the minutes grew, and the sun began to hide, his boredom became concern. Emma should have been back, even if she hadn’t caught anything, she should have returned to the safety of the fire. Something felt wrong.
Jim got up and ran in the direction he had seen her travel. She wouldn’t have gone far to hunt, maybe a mile if she had lost track of her distance. She can’t fully use one of her arms. Jim began to sprint, twigs snapping as he noisily searched for his companion.
First, he heard the snarl. Low and rumbling, the threatening sound pushed through Jim’s teeth. Then, he felt panic, not the usual panic that came so rarely to the Hero. This panic came abruptly; it forced Jim to stop and take a breath and search for his calm. The panic began to waver. The emotion receded into Jim’s mind, far enough away for his sanity to take control. If he reached for the feeling, it would consume him again, forcing him to stop and push it back into his near-unconscious.
“Whoa. Easy. Easy. No need to get bitey.” Emma’s voice cut through Jim’s thoughts. Her words sounded calm and soothing, but they were tainted with a cold fear.
Jim slowed his pace, carefully avoiding the dried leaves and rocks that would loudly crunch if disturbed by his footsteps. Emma’s figure appeared from behind a large evergreen. Frozen in place, she whispered her soothing words to the large wolf that was baring its teeth at her.
The panic behind Jim’s mind dropped to an icy dread. He pushed the emotion back again and crept towards the terrifying beast. He unsheathed his longest dagger. It wouldn’t do any good against the towering canine, but it made him feel a bit more secure.
The fear had made the Hero clumsy. A bush rustled as Jim stepped past it. The noise was enough for both Emma and the wolf to notice his added presence. He stopped in place, for moving too quick would spook the wolf into attacking. So, Jim inched forward, wanting, needing, to get in front of Emma. If the wolf attacked her, she would be dead before Jim could react. She was his responsibility.
Emma sniffled and the wolf focused on the new noise. The claws on its padded paws extended into the soft soil. The beast was ready to pounce, the hair on the back of its neck stuck high in the air.
“Hey bud, over here.” Jim kept his voice low as he got the wolf’s attention away from Emma. “Wouldn’t you rather attack a Hero? I’m much older than this tiny human. Aged to perfection is what my father used to say.” Jim continued to inch forward. He was close enough to Emma that he could hear her shaky breathing. “My death will be one you can brag about to all your wolfy friends.” Jim could grab Emma’s cloak if he dared reach out his arm. “Just be a good boy and let the nice…”
A loud snap came from behind the wolf. The beast leapt towards Jim and Emma, drool spilling from its mangled mouth. Jim grabbed Emma’s cloak and threw her to the ground, extending his dagger towards the beast in the same motion. Emma hit the ground and the wolf collided with the sharp metal.
The dagger slid easily into the wolf’s underbelly. Hot blood dripped down Jim’s hand, steaming in the cold night. But the blade didn’t stop the beast as it jumped again into the air. The dagger was torn from Jim’s hand as the wolf pounced and landed behind him and…ran. The wolf ran into the dense trees, fading into darkness.
That was odd . Wolves in these woods were vicious and difficult to scare. In all his encounters, this was the first time a wolf had actually run away after Jim stuck it with a dagger. He stared in the direction the wolf fled. Must be my lucky night. He allowed himself a coy look at Emma.
Another snap came from in front of Jim. His head swiveled, and he squinted to try and see farther into the darkness. Emma climbed to her feet, brushing dirt from her hair and testing the movement in her shoulder.
“That was clo…” Jim’s eyes never left the source of the snap as he slapped a hand over Emma’s mouth.
He began to back away, pulling Emma with him as silently as he could. Another snap, closer this time. Jim moved faster, his grip unintentionally tightening on the girl’s face. Emma pulled his hand away, but he forced a finger over her lips. No speaking, only listening.
Emma followed Jim’s stare into the thick darkness. Another snap and then… Jim’s eyes went wide. Three husks were stumbling through the foliage. The creatures walked with a careless pace. They stopped for a moment, but Jim knew if he could see them, it was only a matter of time before they spotted him. He took another step backwards.
All at once the husks turned in the direction of the terrified duo. Everything was still for a heartbeat, two, and then they howled.
Jim grabbed Emma’s shoulder and shoved her in front of him. “Run!” He yelled.
The Hero grasped at his fallen dagger as he ran, Emma only a footstep ahead. They flew as they sprinted into the dead of night. Hot breath and the sound of rapid footfalls forcing them to quicken their pace. Death was wildly approaching from behind.
6: Three miles
Twigs snapped against the soft flesh of Emma’s face, leaving stinging red marks as she flew through the prying fingers of the forest. She could hear Jim behind her, though she didn’t dare look for him. He could get past her, Emma knew that. He could run beyond what she was capable and leave her as bait for the drooling husks that trampled through the forest behind them. But he never made the move, never even attempted to deny her the small protection of an extra body between her and the husks.
They had been running for nearly an hour through the shadowy brush. Emma’s legs and lungs burned in protest of the repeated motion, but fear and adrenaline allowed her to continue forward. How many miles had they run? How many miles were left until she collapsed and allowed the husks to tear her apart?
“I have a plan.” Jim’s voice cut through her labored breathing.
Emma couldn’t reply. Couldn’t use her precious energy to form words and acknowledge the Hero.
“There should be a Hero patrol about three miles North. If we can get to them, we might have a chance.” Jim was breathing hard. Even with the beyond human stamina that every Hero possessed, he was beginning to show signs of wear.
Three miles , Emma repeated in her head. Only three miles . Her vision faded for a moment, and she tumbled through the air. Before she hit the ground two strong hands were around her waist, keeping her on her feet and pushing her forward. Three miles.
“Dammit,”
