Shadows on Water
You leap from your horse and scream in agony as you hit the ground, your wound exploding in pain. With a new burst of energy you flee into the darkness of the forest. Shouts recede behind you, but you pay them no notice as you run downhill. Gradually your pace slows, you start to jog downhill. The close vegetation makes the going slow, and you have to snap the arrow in half to move through it at all. Fear of losing your companions grabs you, and for a time you cry out their names, but then you realise it's just as likely the archers will hear you, so you continue on in silence. The trees ahead lighten, and soon you are in a clearing on the mountainside, looking down into a large river valley.
The sky is darkening to indigo. The clearing is covered in large ferns that would make an excellent bed if you decided to sleep here for the night. Thoughts of bed lead you to consider making your way back home, surely the safest place to be , right now. On the other hand, there's probably a town on the river down there where you can get some attention for your wound.
You look at the jade pendant hanging from your neck, a gift from Fang and a symbol to you of your ties to the emperor. Tired as you are, you wonder if it would be best, if it is your duty, to continue through the night to get to a town on the river below.
The sky is darkening to indigo. The clearing is covered in large ferns that would make an excellent bed if you decided to sleep here for the night. Thoughts of bed lead you to consider making your way back home, surely the safest place to be , right now. On the other hand, there's probably a town on the river down there where you can get some attention for your wound.
You look at the jade pendant hanging from your neck, a gift from Fang and a symbol to you of your ties to the emperor. Tired as you are, you wonder if it would be best, if it is your duty, to continue through the night to get to a town on the river below.