Chapter Ten
Alive
The last time Renken remembered ever being in this much pain, he had almost died. This was worse.
He couldn’t move, except to open his eyes. It was dark. Insects were making noise. The fire crackled nearby. Overhead, he could make out shadows flickering beneath the leaves as the flames danced.
He could barely draw breath. His chest felt like it had been caved in. Memory of something big and furry pounding down on top of him started to bring more detail back to him.
“Atty?” Trying to speak was agony.
His right arm was stretched outward. He flexed his fingers, but the familiar curve of the hilt of his sword was not within reach.
Something snuffled, as if rooting for food.
Slowly, Renken turned to look to his left. A small deer or perhaps antelope searched the peri
