The Hunted

[Emora Deen]

Rai coughed, still managing to find some bits of water in her lungs to sputter up. She clutched the bank as she was trying to walk out of the water, dragging Soran's long heavy coat with her. It was soaked, and clung to her every curve. It was so aggrivating. Still barely used to the idea of being an adult, felt strang being so far from the ground. Once standing on the bank she knelt down, glancing around to make sure no one was there.

* * *

Serith paused, suddenly sensing magic in the air. He could tell what direction it was coming from. It was coming from somewhere behind him. He had obviously gone to far outside the zone they were surely to just not be escaping from. He paused his persuit. He paused, wondering partially what to do. He decided that those fools he was with wouldn't be able to pick up on her trail as well as he. He didn't want to lead them to them either. They would more thank likely follow him in the hopes of getting to her first.

"Yah!" he yelled, kicking his horse with his heals. The stead reared at first and suddenly broke out in a full on gallop in a wide arch around the direction the energy pulse was coming from. He made sure to keep his distance, knowing if they began to head in a certain direction, the arch would soon bring him in contact with them.

[Mizuki]

Blade was flying overhead, trying to pinpoint his sister and Sid. Assuming they were still together. His thoughts were in a barely controlled panic. His mother and father were stuck somewhere, safe but still stuck, and they were all scattered because of their pursuers.

"Rai!" Blade shouted down to the ground below. He dove lower and looked around. He was hovering just a foot above ground, scanning the area. Something alerted him to his far right and he turned to find a very soggy, and grown up, Rai. "Rai!" he cried in relief.

He dashed towards her swiftly.

[Emora Deen]

Rai glanced up. "Blade?" She stumbled up to her feet as he came closer, her mind a buzz. She suddenly realized that if people were watching him from above, he was leading whoever was watching right to them. Or in their idle direction. "We should get going now, Blade!" Her attention directed to Sid, she needed his leadership. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what direction to go in. She felt completely and utterly lost.

[Mizuki]

Blade agreed readily, looking over to the ex-Arken soldier. He still didn't feel comfortable about Sid, but maybe it was because he was still feeling very protective. Ready to go after anything.

"We need to find safety." He said, getting an itchy feeling behind him. Like a kind of pull. "Where ever we end up going, just look out for any sign of trouble."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sid had scrambled up onto the bank a few feet from Rai, giving her some space while he caught his breath. They weren't safe yet, not even by a long shot, and he knew it.

The thick beat of wings made him glance upward, thinking their presence had flushed a large bird. Instead he spotted Rhen- No, he shook his head, looking harder. Blade was flying down to them, calling to Rai.

He spaced out for a moment then, wondering what had happened to the true Rhen.

"...should get going, Blade!" Rai's voice was saying, but she was looking directly at him. He blinked and remembered not to get too sentimental. There were immediate things to deal with before he faced the more abstract concerns that were gnawing at him. He knew this terrain, and he'd promised to help these people.

"The river leads straight to the border. If we had a canoe and a lot of whitewater experience, we could practically float to Ighten. But the banks are like this, open sand and rock. If someone's looking for us, we'll stick out like sore thumbs walking along it. So I suggest we try something a little fancier." He met the two youngsters' eyes and gave them a firm smirk. "I suggest we run."

[Mizuki]

"Fancier?" Blade questioned, missing the humor in it. He was tempted to just grab Rai and fly, but that would leave Sid on the ground. Their best bet was to stay together. "Alright, I'll hover above watching out."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sid looked skeptical. "If you can see them, they can see you. I'll admit this isn't the most discreet plan, but I'm not sure "looking out" will end up serving us an advantage. Could be more like sending up a flare. Is it possible to glide near ground level while carrying Rai? We could make better time that way."

[Mizuki]

Blade rolled his eyes up, looking as if he was thinking about it. In the end, Sid was right and he could find no way to disprove his logic. Much to his annoyance, but he had to accept help. Soran said so, and he valued Soran's criticism.

"Meh. Alright." He flexed his wings and prepared to grab Rai up in his arms. "You alright with running?" He was assessing Sid's composure, wondering if the man was even up to it.

[Emora Deen]

Rai blinked, putting up her hand. "No offense Blade... but, I'm a lot bigger now... And I'm fine with my fight on the ground. I need to get used to this body..." Her body, which didn't entirely feel like her own. She was also worried about her weight, and tiring Blade out. "If I get tired... or it becomes a problem if I'm on my feet, then will you carry me?"

She suddenly realized that being off the ground bothered her. She had very bad experiences with things that flew. Like Blade's father for instance... The crows Shea sent after her. The ground was her friend right now.

"If its going to be a problem, you can carry me."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Rai, if you try to rush on your...unfamiliar legs, you could injure yourself. Also, the people who are after you are still nearby. I think you would be safest if you fle-....." Sid broke off, blinking as if he'd just gotten a brilliant idea. Well of course, he thought to himself, this was him he was talking about. Naturally it was brilliant. "Blade....what if we....glided to Ighten?" He eyed the boy, his grin growing wider.

[Mizuki]

Blade cocked an eyebrow at Sid, not understanding. "What? Glide?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Sid looked quite convinced now of whatever it was he was scheming. "You know how parafish can glide up over the water? If you were pulling us, we could do the same thing. And we'd have half the weight."

[Emora Deen]

Not more water... Water or Air... "Really, the ground is fine... Running is nice. I can learn to run," Rai was not wanting to fly. Not at all.

[Mizuki]

Blade gave Sid a dumb look. He couldn't believe what the man was suggesting. Fly over the water and let them trail behind? Soran would say it was ridiculous...

Yet absolutely brilliant. Blade grinned.

"Alright," he said rubbing his hands together. He looked at his sister's disturbed face. "It'll be fine, I wont let you fall into the water. I promise." He tried to soothe her.

Two silver beads came off his bracelet and began to flatten and contort. They formed themselves into two, small, raft-like objects that had a thick string of sliver lead into Blade's hand from each raft. The rafts laid themselves on the waters surface, expectantly waiting for their riders.

Blade chuckled, warming to the idea of it. "Alright, in and I can start moving us to safety."

[Emora Deen]

It was quiet around them as Blade pulled the boat down the river. She sat just in front of Sid, watching ou across the shore to make sure they weren't being followed. She saw no sign of anyone running along next to them. Soran's coat was starting to smell funny now that the leather was drying. It also felt much tighter than it had been earlier.

She couldn't tell if anyone was following them, but she still had the feeling like something was terribly wrong. "Blade... can we go any faster?"