32

Orion had not exactly been sleeping, but his body refused to move. As much as his mind wanted him to
get away from the terrifying water, his body said, "Uh uh, no way, forget it." And it refused to move.

That was all right, he guessed. He was away form the water a few feet, and the fear that it would wash
over him was just phobia, irrationality. After a very long time, he did raise his head, and manage to sit up.

Orion contemplated the river he had just braved. Now that he was not facing crossing it, he could see
that it was not flowing as fast as he had at first thought, although it was fast enough to be a danger to
someone who did not know how to swim. but still, he had done it! He actually had swum across a whole river.

Well, maybe not swum, but Orion wasn't going to worry about technicalities. he only felt pride that he had
done it. he didn't think that whenever could do a thing like that, he was too clumsy. And yet...there he was, exhausted, but alive.

He sat still a few moments to finish catching hi breath and his bearings. He shakily stood, the pack still
on his back, and took a few tottering steps away form the water. he ahd to stop several times, but he did mange
to get into the trees a little bit.

"Well...that was not fun," he said to himself, but he had a big smile on his face. "I don't ever want to
do that again." But even as he said this, and through his lingering fear and immediate exhaustion, there was
almost a bounce in his step as he looked for a place he could safely camp out.

Across the wide river, and several miles upstream, Blackmoor had let out a stream of severe curses and
punched out one of his taskmasters. now he had a bruised hand and and angry snarl. Those with him backed
wisely away. "Where could the little shit have gone?' Blackmoor growled, clenching his fists.

"May-maybe he went across the river?" a skinny jackal timidly suggested.

Blackmoor turned on him, grabbing the jackal's tunic. "You idiot! The brat doesn't know how to
swim; he terrified of water. And you think he swam across the river?"

"I-I-I..." the jackal sniveled.

Disgusted, Blackmoor dropped the cowering jackal to the ground. Why he had taken him along was
beyond him; he wasn't even a taskmaster; he took care of Blackmoor's finances. But still, he had been an
extra hand. "Search the woods, again," he ordered. Jackraz and Simintin, grab a few of your underlings and
start setting up camp." He clenched his fists and gazed into the trees. "I want Orion found."

There were hasty expressions of agreement, as the Mutants fanned out, searching for their young quarry.
Blackmoor went home empty handed, and in a foul temper. The slaves at the complex bore the brunt of
this anger, as he took it out on them as he stomped through the workyards. And then he locked himself in he
manor and thought long and hard. it was foolish to keep on this way about one small slave. he had set out the
bounty, and if he was caught, fine...was one small worthless feline worth all of this?

Yes, Blackmoor decided. It was. Maybe not for any other slave, but Orion was a special case. All
because of a small incident when the two had first met, Blackmoor had unofficially declared the spirited child
his personal enemy. his arch-enemy so to speak. Even he had to laugh at the amusement thought of the skinny squirt being anyone's arch enemy. but it was close enough to be accurate.

Thinking of ways to further his chances of success, Blackmoor went to sleep.

Meanwhile, Orion had traveled a great deal of distance form the river. The water there had been salt, and
not fit to drink, and now he sought out a stream to refill his supply with...living in the woods was not quite as
hard as he would have thought, but it still wasn't too easy, either, especially since he didn't know how to hunt.
but he supposed he would learn. When one was desperate, one made ways. he knew this well.

And besides, even if he did die, dying free would be worth it.

But Orion did not die that day, in fact, it was one of the best days of his life since being taken in the raid
so long ago on Thundera. he was free, he was fed, and he was very far away from water! His expression, not
outwardly anything but passive and expressionless, masked his good humor. Having learned early on to hide
what he was feeling lest he be struck for it, Orion didn't outwardly show many emotions except fear. but even
without this indicator, it was apparent that he was feeling well. There was a lilt in his step, and he seemed to be
enjoying the warm air.

Finally he did stop for the night, within a grove of trees. hopefully he would not be easily seen there, and
any dogs or sensors that might track him...well hs hoped that he would hear their bearers long before they found
him. And so he felt reasonably safe as he bedded down for the night.

When Orion awoke, he was startled to see someone right in his face! With a startled outcry, he sat bolt
upright and scrambled away from whoever it was! He heard a squeak that sounded like one of surprise, and
then his whole body relaxed, and he laughed. It was only a dehata, a small, fleet-footed animal of the forests,
and a young one at that. The poor little guy was running for his life, so startled had he been by Orion's abrupt
awakening.

Well it was time to get up anyway. At Blackmoor's he would already have been up at least three
hours, and he had to smile at the thought. No longer would he have to get up when someone else wanted him to.
He would sleep and awaken any damned time he wanted to! As Orion ate some of the food that Hintracrii had
given him, he suddenly thought about Hyder. The last he had heard, the young hyena had not been caught by
Blackmoor, but he also had the idea that the jackal was more interested in Orion than Hyder. his mood sobered
a little as he worried...he wished that he could find his older friend...then he truly could set his mind at ease.
And he missed the young hyena very badly.

But Orion had to dash these thoughts from his mind as he went along his way; they wouldn't get him
anywhere. And maybe, maybe he would find him again. Then maybe they could both go back to Thundera.


Chapter 33

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