ARIA
My lungs felt like they were on fire. Each breath tore through my chest, sharp and dry. Stopping was not an option. Looking back was worse. Whatever waited behind me would catch me the second I slowed down.
There was no sense of time anymore. Minutes could have been hours. It did not matter. Strength was draining fast. Soon there would be nothing left. And when that happened, Rook would find me.
He was strong enough to lead his own pack. Strong enough to crush me if he got his hands on me.
A stream came into view through the trees. Relief hit, thin and fragile. The water reached my knees when I stepped in. Cold. Fast. It pushed against my legs and made me stumble. That was fine. The current would break my scent.
Turning upstream, I forced myself forward. Each step hurt. Rocks cu
