Pursuit

Kallid ran. Their once-organized group was now running for their lives. Mr. Bross ran with Grace, Miss Coyle held Kalindra. Their kobold burdens certainly slowed them down, but it was Miss Tribi and Kallid that made that moot. They simply couldn't keep up with the long-legged humans. Night was flying above them, watching their pursuers and pointing out where they were. The humans chasing them couldn't see him in the dark of course, but neither could Mr. Bross and Miss Coyle. Kallid was able to see Night above them though, and he was able to advise them where the people were that were chasing them were.

"Miss Coyle, this isn't going to work. We can't outrun them. I can hear them now and we're not hard to track. Once someone brings their hunting dogs we won't even be able to hide."

"What do you propose Mr. Bross?"

He looked down at Kallid. "Kallid, we're going to have to face them. Me and Miss Coyle. I think we can delay them long enough for you to get away but... I don't think we can travel with you anymore. I'm sorry Kallid!"

Kallid was breathing so hard he couldn't really respond but nodded.

"Miss Coyle, head towards that big rock on the right. Kallid, you keep going. I know you wont be able to run fast, but we'll be making enough noise they'll be following us. Go as fast as you can but go quietly."

Kallid looked at both of them. "Thank you so much for all you've done. We'll manage. Please be careful!"

The humans set down the kids and Night came to see what was going on. He landed on a limb like a huge bird and Kallid couldn't help but smile at his son. Kallid explained the plan quickly and then they split up, the humans heading towards the rock while the kobolds kept going down the trail. Miss Coyle and Mr. Bross making quite a racket in the night to distract the pursuers.

Miss Tribi took Grace's hand and Kallid took Kalindra's. Fortunately, when in danger even the children reverted to a natural tendency to silence, so his daughters followed obediantly and quickly, though their eyes showed their extreme fear.

"Probably just what mine look like," Kallid thought.

A few minutes later Night came down close. "It's working. They're all chasing Miss Coyle and Mr. Bross!"

Kallid sighed relief, though now he was worried about the humans. But it didn't matter. The only action available was to keep running. The children's safety had to be top priority.

"Aunt Tribi, do you think you can carry Grace?"

Miss Tribi nodded and scooped up the little kobold in her arms while Kallid did the same for Kalindra. They did make better speed for a while, but far too soon Kallid's legs began to burn.

"Doing okay Aunt Tribi?"

She nodded, though Kallid noticed her mouth was open, taking in breaths as hard as he was.

"Keep running." Kalled said through rapid breaths.

The fact that all of them could see in the dark was their saving grace. Unlike the humans, the kobolds didn't get snatched by undergrowth or low limbs. Night flew back down and began running beside them for a while. "Dad, Miss Coyle and Mr. Bross are standing on the rock. There're surrounded by a bunch of people with torches and swords and stuff!"

"I'm sorry Night, but there's nothing we can do for them. The best we can do is keep running. Why are you down here? You can fly so much faster!"

"My wings were getting tired. But they're better now. I'll go back up."

Night took off again, flying through the branches and into the sky as gracefully as a bird. The trees were thicker here though, and Kallid lost sight of him.

"Kallid," said Miss Tribi through panting breaths. "We can't... keep this up... all night!"

Before he could respond he heard Night scream! "Dad!" he cried, flying back to where the troupe was stopping, catching their breaths.

"SHHH! Night! Be quiet!" Kallid hissed.

Then he noticed the tears in Night's eyes. "What is it Night? What's happened."

"They shot Miss Coyle and Mr. Bross with arrows! They're both laying down! Dad... I think they're dead!"

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The dark scales under the boy's eyes glistened. Tears were not something kobolds usually shed, but his children were brought up by humans. They'd learned that trait.

Kallid looked at Miss Tribi. The fear in her eyes wouldn't help his children. "Get back up there Night. We've got to get as far away from here as we possibly can. Miss Tribi... lets see if maybe we can run all night!"

She gave him a weak smile and nodded. Then she scooped up Grace again and Kallid took up Kalindra.

He looked down at his daughter in his arms. She was looking at him, her eyes wide with fear but something else was in them too. "Dad, I can drop my doll."

Kallid couldn't spare time to look at her for more than an instant. "Kalindra... you... don't... have... to." he said between ragged breaths.

But his daugher interrupted him. "Dad... I don't need it anymore."

Kallid saw Kalindra kiss her doll and drop it to the forest floor behind his running feet. He felt his own tears flowing freely at the sides of his eyes, but he wouldn't slow down. He hugged her tightly as he ran.

Suddenly they topped a low rise. What they saw before them caused Kallid to halt, and Miss Tribi beside him. They made sure they were far enough over the ridge to be out of sight of anyone behind them first, then Kallid had them all sit down.

"I... need to think... for a minute..." he said, trying to assure himself that the huge lake in front of them wasn't a problem.

However, he had no idea what to do. He couldn't even see the far side of it. There were no signs of any settlements or boats on it either. But worse, the surrounding land was all low, flat grass. Easy to see kobolds running in the rising moonlight.

And then they heard the baying of hounds behind them. "I'm sorry Miss Tribi," he said. "I should have left you at home with the kids."

He took the little bow off his back with it's few arrows in a quiver and looked at it.

"Mr. Kallid!" Miss Tribi hissed. He looked to her and her face showed raw fury. "Mr. Kallid. Your children are scared. Stop this!"

The baying of the hounds was getting louder and in the distance he saw torches.

"You're right Miss Tribi. Kids, let's go. No need to fly right now Night. We can see where they are clear enough. Head to the lake."

They began running, now only at the speed of the children. It wasn't going to be enough.

"Keep going girls. I need to talk to Night for a minute. Just head down to the shore of the lake and meet me there."

Then he turned to Night and gripped the boy's shoulders hard. "Night?" The boy was looking at the girls and Miss Tribi running. Kallid slapped him hard. "Night!" he shouted.

"Listen to me son! Have I got your attention?"

Night nodded, confusion on his face.

"Night... you need to find your mother. Take this map. Fly as fast as you can in that direction. Go very high and look for a village. If you don't see one, fly farther till you do. Go there and show them this map. Find your way Night. Find your mother."

"But what about you?" Night looked at his father.

"Your mother will know what to do Night. You remember how smart she is. She will know what to do. Go. Fly high. Higher than you've ever flown before. Even so far you can't see us. Find the lights of a village, any village, in that direction. Night... I'm counting on you to do this. Go high enough you can't see us anymore and don't look back. Your mother will find us. Night... you're too young for this but this moment is on you now regardless. Tonight you are an adult. Please do as I've told you. I know it might take a long, long time. But you can do this if you don't give up. FIND YOUR MOTHER!"

The hounds were getting closer now. Kallid looked away for a moment, then he released Night's shoulders. "Go. Now."

Night hugged his father and nodded. "I'll find her dad. I will."

Kallid smiled at his son. "I know you will Night. That's why I'm trusting you."

With that, his son vanished into the sky, receeding faster than Kallid believe possible. The boy could damn well fly. It would save him. If he didn't come back.

Then Kallid began running to the lake's edge with his girls and Miss Tribi.

When he got there, Miss Tribi was confused. Grace asked, "Where's Night?"

"He's going to find your mother, Grace. As for us..." he turned around to face the torches that were coming over the ridge. "We're staying right here."

Miss Tribi looked at Kallid, then took his hand and nodded understanding. They turned back to their pursuers defiantly.

"Dad, I'm scared," Grace said.

"What did mom tell you to do when you were scared, Grace?" Kallid asked, knowing the answer.

"She told us to pray to Pelor and everything would be alright," Kallindra said. She looked smaller somehow without her doll.

"That's right. And the Bishop told me that the position doesn't matter, but maybe tonight we should pray like the humans do? Let's kneel and close our eyes and pray. Keep them closed, even when the torches are here and the dogs are barking right by your ear. Try to pray very hard girls. You too Aunt Tribi. I'll be doing the same."

All of them got on their knees and closed their eyes tightly, their hands folded together like the humans did. Kallid heard the baying of the hounds closing fast, the shouts of human men loud behind them.

"There they are!" someone shouted, and Kallid started weeping again silently, but continued praying. "I'm sorry Kreet. I really thought I could do this."

"Pelor... I know you exist. If there is any way to save us, please... we need you now."

The moment he said this to himself, he heard a sound behind him. From no more than a few feet away, he heard the men's shouting stop suddenly. The dogs began to whimper. But he dared not stop praying.

"What the hell?" Someone shouted.

"It looks like a woman... with long hair, floating over the lake where the moon used to be!"

Then he heard screaming and he heard the dogs running away, and the men with them!

"Keep praying!" Kallid shouted, hope rising in his chest.

"Yes..." came a familiar voice, graceful and confident, sounding in their heads more than from the lake behind them. "Keep your eyes closed my friends. You don't want to see this avatar of mine. It's... not for your eyes."

"Dad?" Grace said. "That doesn't sound like Pelor."

Kallid laughed a strange relieved laugh. "Keep your eyes closed, Grace. That's not Pelor. That's Eilistraee. But she knows Pelor. And your mother."