Chapter II
Saren struggled up the mountain side, beset by howling winds, snow, rain and the roaring of the thunder. She wondered what has become of her family, and here small village she loved so much. Tired and hungry, she searched for foot holds on the steep mountain-side, wishing she was anywhere but here. Still she ploughed on trying to shake off the looming thoughts of the night to come. For the past few nights she had spent up in the mountains, she had been ambushed by one or two curious Huraks, a small, swift cat-like animal built for the rugged mountainsides, thin ,strong body, stocky legs, and powerful jaws. Saren only managed to survive on what she had been taught by travelers passing through the plains, stopping at her village.
Mordred was in a edgy mood, exactly two days ago, he had lost trace of Saren, and hadn’t been able to find her since. Climbing swiftly up a steep cliff face, Mordred pulled himself on to the ledge above him. Stopping, he sniffed the air, and caught a scent of a Hurak. ignoring it, Mordred followed a disused, thin windy pass up the mountain side, always searching, never stopping.
A Saren reached the summit of one of the smaller mountains, she glanced back in the direction of here village, but could see nothing past the thick mist forming lower down. looking back towards the north, she finally spotted a light from a Handral-city watch tower, and almost shouted with relief, only just remembering to stop her-self. Saren soon found a narrow, winding but other wise safe path going slowly but surely down the mountain side. Feeling exhausted, Saren decided to press on till she neared the middle of the mountain. Settling in, she set up a half- done camouflage screen across the small entrance to her cave. Exhausted, she dropped onto the floor, making things comfortable for herself.
When she awoke, she gathered her few possessions, and checked for any danger before going out. As Saren neared the mountain's foothills, she suddenly sensed that something was following her, and hoping to throw it off, began to run into the scrub and long grass off to the left of her, ducking, climbing and scrambling over things to get away. Saren quickly realised that whatever chasing her was not being thrown off, and as she entered a clearing, found a thick branch and turned to face the unknown follower. Readying herself, she heard the pounding of the things steps closing in on her, and she lifted the make-shift club higher, preparing for the worst.
The thing leapt through the bush at Saren, Roaring deafeningly. Saren Swung the club with what strength she had left, and heard a resounding crack from the skull of the beast. peering over her arms at the beast she saw that it was a thin, half-starved Tarent, a wolf-like creature, but smaller, but with larger claws, and a steel-like jaw. Seeing blood matting up the fur on the side of it's face she dropped the club and with a sob of despair, ran blindly north, desperately trying to put as much room between her and the scene.
A sentry was leaning against the tower, in the early morning, and heard a sound coming from within the mist, picking up his spear from the ground next to him, he called out "Who goes there?" As soon as he said that, he saw a small girl limping from the mists, hardly able to walk. As the guard realised what was happening, the girl fell, breathing shallowly, but not getting up. The guard, acting swiftly, darted forward, leaving his spear behind and rushing to help her. As he picked her up, she half mumbled words, but the guard not knowing what they meant, carried her inside, hurrying to the closest healer, hoping that the small girl would not die.
Mordred, having reached the foothills of the same mountain, noticed tracks leading into the thick bush and grass to his left.Following that for a while, he came upon the Tarent. Searching around quickly, he went over to the beast, and saw the blood drying up on the Tarent's head sticking clumps of its fur together. Noticing the branch splattered with blood, decided that it couldn’t have been the small girl he was chasing, she wouldn't have enough energy from the last few nights. Searching on, Mordred missed the faint foot prints leading back north. And walked swiftly back to the path not wanting to waste any more time.
