Shimmering Sands [m] Hosts of the Air

His voice carried only so far, and he still plunged after the scattered steps he heard; but from another place among the pines came a shout, a call, and the stomping of feet as now a man charged after the path. Raiyuk did not know what to make of it, except to be put on-edge by the sight of a man chasing a girl. He should have recognized Dutch—in the heat of the moment though, Raiyuk made the choice to supplant the man's approach, to circumvent it by placing himself there as a wall instead.

He was still fighting against the sand, then the scramble of the forest underheel, as he tried to gain ground. Thankfully the girl had stopped! She looked stricken. It was as if all the color had been pulled from her; and she sank, and in that moment Raiyuk did not know what to do or how to help, but he moved to be there in case of danger.

What had happened? She reeked of death. Nervous to even look away from her in case the girl should dissolve in to the earth, Raiyuk dared a glance, and saw the charging panther he knew from his father's lodge. There was no time to be apologetic—he didn't feel sorry for his choice regardless—and above all, he still did not know what had happened.