Wapun Meadow grind to a halt

Familiarity in that voice that told him to run; not of love or even kindness, but of cold contempt and cruel command. Riley was spurned to life, not by the fang but by the words.

Riley jumped, jolted into action. Merrick's single eye burned with furious contempt. Riley did not flinch a second time. His gaze tore to Laurel, who was staring at him as if rooted to the spot.

RUN, YOU IDIOT. A staccato ringing in his heart, climbing to his temples, pounding and pulsing through the opened wound on his muzzle. He tore his gaze from Laurel and back to Merrick, realization slowly dawning across his features.

He knew Merrick was not going to let him go. He knew, too, that once he started running Merrick would be on him like carrion-bird on a corpse.

And that's what he would be in a few minutes, wouldn't it?

Just another corpse in the meadow... Like Iliksis.

Like Indra.

Riley fumbled into a run, stumbling as if drunk. Only, he did not run for Laurel -- no -- if he was going to die, he would do so by leading Merrick away from Laurel. He began to clumsily gain speed, strides reaching in desperate earnest to put distance between himself and the hellion that seemed hellbent on destroying their lives.