Clint needed to be faster. He needed to get space between him and his pursuers. In his ragged breathless mad dash he thought he could see himself a little further ahead. It was like he could just be there if he wanted to… Oh… and it happened.

Clint, still frantically running, and a little disoriented… looked back again and he thought…. he could see a figure get swarmed, but would disappear in the dimmed light as if not really there? Every now and again Clint was being slowed down by the difficult brush and the uneven terrain he would hear the flaps of disgusting wings almost be on him.

Though Clint wouldn't be there, he would be just a little bit ahead… then further… and then further away until Clint couldn't hear anymore flapping. Heaving still gripping his sword in hand slowed down a bit to a jog. Clint kept looking behind him and over his shoulder and around him.

After a while and some distance, It was starting to get really dark out with the sun almost fully setting, but he couldn't hear or see much of anything except the blood pounding in his ears and his labored panting for much needed air. He could really feel the sweat coming off his body soaking through his soaked hot clothes, the rattling chainmail, and his mucky boots. He had to take his helmet off.

Clint took a few more deep breaths and sheathed his sword, slowing to a walk. He put his helm in the crook of his armpit and grabbed at a water skin uncorking it into his face and over his head cooling off and then took a few gulps pausing for air and drinking some more.

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Vanyel quietly swoops down in front of Clint not saying anything at first letting Clint get his barrings.

"Everything from up top looks clear for now. How you doing?"

"I'll be alright, lets take five catch our breath."

"Yeah… hey, um…" Vaynel gives Clint the side eye.

"What you look like you seen a ghost or something?" Clint continues sipping on water.

"Well I thought the Stirges got you a few times at first, but then I think my eyes were playing tricks on me and I thought I was seeing double of you past the trees. In fact there were a few times near the end you were in front of me, I didn't know humans could move so fast… one moment I thought you were going to be eaten by the Stirges then you would be several yards ahead."

Clint takes a pause from drinking water and thought about it for a second now his life wasn't in immediate danger. "I think it has something to do with the portal and what happened in there."

"What about you? You see anything?" Clint changes the subject.