The rain finally stopped. Not that Lamir noticed; her long black hair and green traveling cloak were both soaked through. Sunlight broke through the clouds and she risked so much for warmth to lean into the light. Hanging from a long branch, her tattered cloak resembled the moss foliage surrounding the swamp. Insects buzzed around her brow, biting but Lamir didn't make a sound. Within the mist, she could hear them.
Jumping into a nearby river had concealed her scent, but knew it wouldn't last too long. Hounds trekked through the mud, sniffing for anything resembled a cleaner scent than she hopefully had now. Heavier boots crunched right behind, weighed down by rifles. Opening her eye partially, the looming mass of black came into view, its towering frame made Lamir's fingers grip the tree tighter. The figure paused. Lamir no longer dared to breathe.
Drops of water dripped off the cloak, black locks possibly stuck out but moving could definitely be seen.
The figure stepped away. Lamir clenched her jaw to keep from screaming. Steps increased, trailing behind the other hunters…until they stopped. Lamir smelled ozone igniting.
She rolled off the branch as lightning struck.
Tumbling, crashing against branches, trying to grab anything proved impossible. Lamir settled on spreading her impact point so nothing took more damage. Soft ground cushioned the fall, cold wet dirt splashed everything. Spitting out some mud, she scrambled up nearby roots, feeling half the swamp's water dragged out with her.
A sudden hiss of heat made Lamir duck. Lightning struck the trunk, charred wooden chips bombarded her cloak.
No point believing I can dodge another, she decided. Standing up, turning slightly back, Lamir saw her Shooter. The Figure wore a long black cape, their tall form fully armored, long silver rifle pointed at Lamir's back.
"That's pretty strong for 'stun'." She inclined her head towards to the tree's charred trunk.
The next shot will stun
A mechanized voice came out of the rebreather, a black visor obscured their eyes but she knew they were sharp.
The first shot shows I can aim
"Is that why you ruined my nap?" It was hard to be coy as the rifle recharged.
I won't miss
"Indeed," Lamir agreed. "You always had good eyes."
She spun about, tossing concealed mud that struck the Shooter's visor. They growled, struggling to keep their footing on uneven ground. Lamir bolted through the woods with experienced ease. Years spent traveling the woods, despite limitations, helped her remember the capital city, Raculd, wasn't far. Distant snarls gaining on her also promised it wasn't close enough.
A low hum reached her ears, she hoped the Goddess trusted this mission after all.
Lamir's boots squished with every step. She almost imagined something slithering between her toes and started to stumble. The rapid approach of Seekers clawing through the ground was closing fast. As things quieted, old lessons reminded her how these beasts became quieter when reaching prey…
Lamir ran faster than any other point in her life; fear could be wonderful motivation.
Through a maze of trees, she saw salvation. An automated wagon floating by at incredible speed. The exterior was too smooth to prevent theft or hitching a ride normally, but she noticed the road dipped around a corner. It would be her only chance.
Something wet glided along the ground. Lamir yelped, kicking up a leg before something green could trap it. More tendrils slithered, almost surrounding her. A hiss of heat made the small dance of dodging clearly a diversion. The slope was inches away. With a scream, she darted right, hopping over several green quivering limbs, and made one bold jump. Lightning buzzed across one shoulder and everything went limp. But she crashed onto the wagon.
Furs from various worlds filled her vision, she barely managed to turn her head to not suffocate in fuzzy oblivion. Branches from trees resembled shadowy claws reaching down from nightmares. It was difficult to even blink away such horrible ideas, the vague notion of safety only managed to make Lamir think the worst was delayed for now.
She still traveled towards her death.
The plan required escape from the furs and those in town who would recognize her until the time was right. She needed to seek out someone who would be worthy of the dangers head. A mercenary, or someone desperate for coin, but childhood stories of knights were easily put aside… there were such warriors. The scream of the Shooter in black chilled her heart, she feared how badly things would get from here. More than anything, this hired help would need to be worthy of one key detail.
They needed to be someone she could love.
