That threatening step gave his feet wings, but more, it gave him certainty that the fanged man would chase him, cruel mockery of the hunt he'd promised not to undertake. Running meant nothing compared to the speed with which he'd been grabbed before, the ease with which he'd been grappled. Fear clouded Kel's mind and judgment, adrenaline spiking hard and giving him a false clarity as he closed the distance to the trees, slinging his bow onto his back in a fluid, practiced move as he reached the jungle fringe. The trees here were strange, but he'd been among them long enough for callused hands to find the catch in their bark, to swing up the trunk in a scramble, expecting any moment for his heel to be caught and jerked back down to the ground.
No hand came and he made it to the first branch, a dozen feet off the ground and broad enough to crouch on as he unlimbered the bow again, eyes seeking first at the trees base, then back along his path.
Kel was surprised to see the Ascended still standing where he'd been left, watching, waiting...
For what? A longer headstart to make his unwelcome game more of a challenge? Kel was panting still as he drew an arrow and set it to the string, but he forced his lungs to still even as his heart tried to race faster. He was no beast, to be run down in the dark for some monster's amusement, and that resolution steadied his arm as he drew and let fly in one fluid motion, an arrow aimed not at the other man's heart but at his foot, hoping to pin him in place and lame him while Kel made good his escape.
No hand came and he made it to the first branch, a dozen feet off the ground and broad enough to crouch on as he unlimbered the bow again, eyes seeking first at the trees base, then back along his path.
Kel was surprised to see the Ascended still standing where he'd been left, watching, waiting...
For what? A longer headstart to make his unwelcome game more of a challenge? Kel was panting still as he drew an arrow and set it to the string, but he forced his lungs to still even as his heart tried to race faster. He was no beast, to be run down in the dark for some monster's amusement, and that resolution steadied his arm as he drew and let fly in one fluid motion, an arrow aimed not at the other man's heart but at his foot, hoping to pin him in place and lame him while Kel made good his escape.
