Sah's hip check might have worked if the water horse hadn't appeared around a curve of the bridge. Hidden by the flowering vines at first, the men came upon it quite suddenly and Tal slowed, steps faltering for a moment. "Wh--?" The hunter's mischief missed the mark when the courier wasn't where he'd been a moment before, but seeing Sah race past him reminded Tal of what they were doing. He gave the water horse a regretfully curious look as he leaped over it, but he hit the planks running on the other side.
Head down and arms pumping, Tal had every intention of keeping up with Sah - by fair means or foul. The bridge's twisting passage through the vines meant they couldn't sprint full out; they had to have time to react to unexpected turns or missing planks, and it was enough to Tal to keep close to the hunter. Reaching out at the back just ahead of him, the courier tried to grab the other man's shirt and yank him back so that he'd stumble and Tal could get back in the lead.
Head down and arms pumping, Tal had every intention of keeping up with Sah - by fair means or foul. The bridge's twisting passage through the vines meant they couldn't sprint full out; they had to have time to react to unexpected turns or missing planks, and it was enough to Tal to keep close to the hunter. Reaching out at the back just ahead of him, the courier tried to grab the other man's shirt and yank him back so that he'd stumble and Tal could get back in the lead.
