"Anymore bright ideas?" Aaralyn screamed as she ducked a swipe.
"Yeah," Ethan shot back, "RUN!!!"
Aaralyn made a break for the trees, but the leader of the outlaws quickly stepped in her path. He was well over six feet tall, and built like a wrestler. Snarling viciously, he swung his massive club at her head. Gasping, Aaralyn ducked. The man charged at her. Scrambling back, she stumbled over a tree root and would have fallen if Ethan hadn't been there to steady her.
"Run!" he yelled at her.
"What about you?" she gasped.
"Don't worry bout me," he gave her a push away. "I can handle it. Karate lessons, remember? Just go, I'll catch up to you!"
But then another outlaw rushed at them from the side and they were forced to split up. Breathing heavily, Aaralyn ran through the trees. The scar- faced man broke off from the group to give chase. Throwing a quick glance back over her shoulder, she saw Ethan prepare to take on the remaining four outlaws. Please be ok, she prayed as she continued to run with the scar- faced outlaw in hot pursuit. The ground was sloping downwards now, towards a wide stream. Without hesitation, Aaralyn plunged down the slope, half sliding, half stumbling over the rocks, dirt and fallen leaves. She shot another look over her shoulder. The outlaw was catching up. Her heart thudded frantically in fear. She reached the bottom of the slope and stared at the freely running stream. The current was strong, and there were a lot of jagged rocks, but she was a strong a swimmer. Taking a deep breath, she dove into the icy water and began swimming across with long strokes. The water was freezing, but she didn't stop until she was halfway across. In the middle, she paused to tread water and look back. The outlaw was standing at the water's edge, an expression of frustration marring his ugly face. As she watched, he let out a furious roar, spat on the ground and turned to climb back up the slope.
Aaralyn let out a relieved breath, realizing that the brute couldn't swim. With measured strokes she turned and continued to swim to the other side.
"Yeah," Ethan shot back, "RUN!!!"
Aaralyn made a break for the trees, but the leader of the outlaws quickly stepped in her path. He was well over six feet tall, and built like a wrestler. Snarling viciously, he swung his massive club at her head. Gasping, Aaralyn ducked. The man charged at her. Scrambling back, she stumbled over a tree root and would have fallen if Ethan hadn't been there to steady her.
"Run!" he yelled at her.
"What about you?" she gasped.
"Don't worry bout me," he gave her a push away. "I can handle it. Karate lessons, remember? Just go, I'll catch up to you!"
But then another outlaw rushed at them from the side and they were forced to split up. Breathing heavily, Aaralyn ran through the trees. The scar- faced man broke off from the group to give chase. Throwing a quick glance back over her shoulder, she saw Ethan prepare to take on the remaining four outlaws. Please be ok, she prayed as she continued to run with the scar- faced outlaw in hot pursuit. The ground was sloping downwards now, towards a wide stream. Without hesitation, Aaralyn plunged down the slope, half sliding, half stumbling over the rocks, dirt and fallen leaves. She shot another look over her shoulder. The outlaw was catching up. Her heart thudded frantically in fear. She reached the bottom of the slope and stared at the freely running stream. The current was strong, and there were a lot of jagged rocks, but she was a strong a swimmer. Taking a deep breath, she dove into the icy water and began swimming across with long strokes. The water was freezing, but she didn't stop until she was halfway across. In the middle, she paused to tread water and look back. The outlaw was standing at the water's edge, an expression of frustration marring his ugly face. As she watched, he let out a furious roar, spat on the ground and turned to climb back up the slope.
Aaralyn let out a relieved breath, realizing that the brute couldn't swim. With measured strokes she turned and continued to swim to the other side.