[kittiewhirl1677]

Lanbriel ran on, not looking back - afraid to see who, or what was behind her, looking ahead, to the free lands that could be hers to wander someday. If only...if only she made it now.

The slaves were coming upon a hill. She saw the front ones jumping right over it. She followed their example, and soon enough felt herself rolling crazily down the other side. Although this was causing her much pain, ripping open old whip-scars, her muscles didn't have the power to stop her. She just let herself reach the bottom, and lie there for a few seconds.

Then she suddenly realized what she was doing. Only two or three seconds had passed since she reached the bottom, and she was already half asleep.

"No!" She said quietly, getting up.

She looked around herself. Beside her, a few of the slaves were cautiously getting up. At the top of the hill were Fionel and Santiara, looking over, apparently to check on the hopefully negative process of the hunters.

Forcing every muscle in her body to obey, she carefully got on all fours, and clambered up the hill. The hill was small, so she got to the top quickly. She popped her head up beside the two slaves, and looked over at the partly grassy terrain ahead.

At first, there was not much to see as part of the field was covered with lush, thick foliage. But in the distance, she could vaguely make out the hazy forms of people. Hunters, she thought.

But what was delaying them? For surely, they would have caught up with the slave-group by now...
Suddenly, she heard a loud cry. The hunters had found Ranchard! At that moment of realization, Haven shouted "Get up!"

Fionel instantly did so, and following her were the rest of the slaves. As quick as speeding arrows, they darted off into the vast, grassy land ahead of them.

[ May 25, 2003: Message edited by: kittiewhirl1677 ]