They both woke early, the first red rays of sunrise filtering into the cave. He watched silently as she packed what supplies she thought they would need for the trip and looked sadly around her cave for one last time, before tying the drapes in place and weighing the ends down with rocks It was unlikely that they would ever come back here, but she didn't want any animals disturbing the neat tidiness of the possessions that she couldn't take with her.
He watched, impressed as she leapt onto the stallions back with a long practiced movement. He used the stone he had sat on that first morning he had ventured outside and swung his leg stiffly over the animals back settling his weight behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist for balance. It was an unconscious gesture, but their full body contact was tantalizing and with every step they took down the path into the forest her firm behind moved against him in the most provocative way.
They moved quickly at first, the thinner trees on the steep slopes making their progress easier, but soon they were entering the deeper parts of the forest and the trees closed in around them. The early morning sun struggled to make its way through the thick canopy over head and here and there, eerie rays lanced down lighting the forest floor.
They traveled through the day, not stopping and hoping to make good time, but late in the afternoon she pulled Relam to a stop and turned to look at him.
"We will soon be entering the hunting grounds of the men from the south. It would be better to sleep some now and continue after night has fallen. It is less likely that we will be seen in the darkness"
For the first time he felt the danger they were in. She was frightened, her face white and her eyes darting into the tree at every sound. He nodded his acceptance and watched as she slid quietly to the ground before turning and helping him.
They ate cold meat, the prospect of a fire to dangerous to contemplate and then slept in shifts until night fell. Once the moon had risen they mounted again and continued silently through the forest.
They made good time through the night, Relam's hooves were fast and sure and Lalia trusted him completely to guide them through the darkness. It wasn't until a little before dawn that they heard shouts in the darkness and saw the first shadows of people. She urged their mount into a gallop and Jack prayed that the animal could see well enough in the dark not to run them over a cliff. This thought was only half formed when he felt Relam's head dip followed by the sensation of flying through the air.
He landed heavily, pain shooting through his chest and the air whistling from his lungs. As he struggled for breath he looked around, Relam was struggling to his feet and Jack could make out a thin rope strung low between the two trees through which they had passed. It looked like the hunters had been expecting them or some other animal to pass this way and had set a trap. Relam had tripped and thrown both him and Lalia some distance. He searched for her and found her laying a little way off to his right, she still hadn't moved. He crawled to her, checking her pulse, she was still alive, but a stream of blood trickled from her temple. She moaned as he touched her and her eyes open slightly. She looked relieved when she saw him, and her eyes slipped past him to Relam who had limped closer to them, and he felt her relax slightly.
The shouts were coming closer and he could now make out the light from burning torches as the men approached.
"Come on Lalia. Time to go"
He struggled to his knees, gasping as pain shot through his broken leg. He helped her to sit; they needed to get out of here and quickly. But Lalia was still dazed, her body unresponsive and Jack felt his strength draining as he struggled to get to his feet.
Men were appearing through the trees, each bearing a cruel looking spear and a torch. They were shouting and their excitement was obvious. Suddenly Relam was between them and the approaching hunting party, rearing, his forelegs striking out at the first man that drew near enough. There was a dull thud and the man fell to the ground like a stone, blood pouring from a deep half moon shaped cut on his forehead. His hair was quickly matted with blood and his head looked a funny shape, crushed. The approaching men stopped, unsure how to proceed, the enormous white stallion had killed to protect his mistress.
More men were approaching from behind and Jack heard a strange whooshing sound and felt something whizz pass his head. Lalia started to scream and he looked up to see the shaft of a spear, still quivering, embedded deeply in the stallion's snow white neck. Blood poured from the wound, painting his coat red. Lalia screamed louder as the animal staggered and fell.
"No!" he felt his own cry leave his lips and watched in horror as Lalia crawled to her fallen companion, holding his head in her lap as his breath faltered.
She continued to scream and the sound rung in his ears even as he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head and the world descended into blackness.
