Less than twenty-four hours after her escape, the horse lay on its side, flanks quivering. Reason warned her not to give precious water to a dying animal. She tilted the leather bottle and dripped some on the lolling tongue. Crow-like birds appeared from nowhere and gathered a few metres away. If only she had a weapon to deliver a merciful end to the horse. And who would deliver a merciful end to her while the crows flapped and gathered? Elaaron should’ve let me burn! From the white-hot sky came a powerful cry.
She crouched over the horse’s head and held out the blanket for shade. Startled by the sudden change in her shape, the birds flew into the air and resettled. A shadow, larger than a crow, swooped over the sand, sending the others flapping and screaming to a greater distance. An eag
