Wapun Meadow grind to a halt

Breath was held for what seemed an eternity while she waited for him to do something, anything. In the end he came into motion, at long last, and Laurel let go of her breath. As he started to flee away from Merrick -- away from her -- finally it was as if her own paws came to life again.

With a start, Laurel turned around and ran away. She didn't look back as she heard Merrick's snarling snaps and thought of Riley's blood on the floor. Her heart pounded as she ran back to Easthollow, her mind wild with thoughts of what'd happened. Did Riley survive? Would Merrick murder him? Of course he would; his murder of Indra had shown that he would go to great lengths to get what he wanted. And what he wanted was nothing but sick satisfaction.

Laurel kept running until she reached her pack, and then she landed on the ground in her safe place near the frays of the territory and she cried, thinking of what was going on with Riley even now; and if he was alive at all.

my last :o