Totoka River The Pig God

astara fought, but still her breath did not come. it was as if her throat were afire, her stomach and lungs suddenly a vacuum — each gasp became more and more hoarse as her limbs gradually stilled. 

curled up with her limbs tented like a spider freshly deceased, astara grappled with the agony of having the wind struck from her while merrick harried the thief; she still did not rise, for her breath was elusive and slow to return.