The Epic of a Diamond Dog

by Ravencrofte


Ch.9 The Chase part 2

                 The howl curled into the sky, stretching far and wide. It was alone for now, but soon others would join it. I strained my eyes and picked up a dark form on a light-colored hill. The form in question shifted, and something metallic gleamed just above it. The message repeated once more. Although I did not know the howl code of these dogs, I did discern the one word that was common amongst all the clans: “Enemy.”
                I turned to Kitty Hawk, pondering how best to break the bad news. She was listening too, scarcely breathing as her ears twitched, then she looked up at me with downcast eyes. She spoke first.
                “Does this mean there won’t be any fire tonight?”
                Of all the things to worry about: not the mob of dogs that would soon overrun this spot, nor our food supplies that would be spoiled by the end of the day. The sun was rising, already promising to cook the ground and all those who dwelt there. The night was a long ways off, and we might not live to see it.
                I bit my lip to stop from laughing hysterically.
                “Sorry, but no,” I finally said.
                Kitty Hawk looked down, scraping at the ground with her hoof. She gave a startled yelp as I scooped her up and deposited her on my back. “Hold on,” I cried as I shot off to the north, my paws kicking up clods of dirt behind me.
                Kitty Hawk grabbed a hold of the sling still around my neck. It bit into my throat, uncomfortable, but not enough to choke. I looked back and found her holding on as best she could: legs gripping my sides with the sling firmly held in her mouth.
                It felt good to run. My joints still groaned after a night spent in the cold and rain, but they slowly loosened with every step. My head bobbing in time with my legs.
                I kicked off the ground, nothing between me and the earth but the rushing air, then my paws came back and struck the ground as one. Half the time I spent suspended in the air, the other half spent to make me airborne once again.
The trees along the river drifted past, zipping along in the opposite direction. My ears were overwhelmed with the sound of my own breathing. I fixed my eyes on the path ahead.
The sun rose higher, making the air hot, sticky, and oppressive, like being smothered with a wet blanket.
                I chanced a glance behind me.
         There were thirty or so pursuers, strung out in a ragged line. The distance made them appear to be the size of pebbles. They carried swords and spears; some wore armor, most did not.
They did not concern me.
I was one of the fastest runners in the Firebrand Clan. They were working hard to catch up, but all I had to do was maintain the distance. At this place many of the dogs would collapse before midday. I was not running very hard, my natural stride eating up the distance.
What did concern me were the three dogs now a stone throw’s length behind, and getting closer.
        They were slim, almost slender, with wiry frames, grey coats and beady little rat eyes. These dogs carried neither swords or spears, but instead a half-dozen bolos, lengths of cord with a rock tied to either end, clattered around their necks.  They ran on delicate paws, their small heads and whippy tails bobbing as they did so. I probably outweighed two of them combined,  but they were fast.
        They spread out: one on either side and the third behind me.
        “ ‘Mber, l’k oot!” cried Kitty Hawk through the sling in her mouth.
        “Hold on!” I shouted.
        The dog on my left sped ahead, then ground to a halt and whipped a bolo at me in one fluid motion. I leapt skywards, and the bolo flew harmlessly under my paws before coming to a halt in a cloud of dust.
        I pushed on.
        This time it was the dog on the right who sprinted forwards and then unleashed his bolo at me. I slammed to a stop, nearly dislodging Kitty Hawk, and the bolo whizzed by. I resumed running but charged the dog on the left. He simply skirted away. I growled and barked at the three.
        “Cowards, cravens!” I called them. They ignored my taunts, only continuing to pace beside me.
        The dog on my left tried again, and I successfully dodged it, but a bolo flew up from behind and tangled around my rear legs. I crashed to the ground. Kitty Hawk was thrown free and tumbled into the dirt.
        The dog from the right turned sharply and dove in, mouth agape with teeth bare, reaching for Kitty Hawk. I roared, drew my sword and leapt, the bolo still tangled around my legs. The dog leaned away, as far as his body could stretch, and I only shaved off some of his neck hair. I rolled onto my back, slipped my sword between my legs and sliced upwards. The cord parted easily.  
I leapt to my feet. The three circled. I glowered at them, cursing both them and their ancestors. A bolo flew at me from behind, and I blocked it with my sword. The cord wrapped around the steel, but I dislodged it with a flick of my blade. Another bolo flew in from my left, and I chopped downwards, splitting the cord and sending the stones flying to either side.
I watch them circling me, like jackals waiting for a wounded beast to bleed out. They made no move to close the distance, simply biding their time. I could see the ever approaching dust cloud. The pack was getting closer with each beat of my heart.
Kitty Hawk was dazed, staggering as she struggled to rise. I sheathed my sword, gathered her up in my jaws, and ran. A bolo whirled at me but missed.
The chase resumed in earnest. 
Twin towers of painted white stones rose up before me. The Firebrand Clan used similar markers along the edge of its territory. But would this clan chase me beyond their borders?
I put on a burst of speed.
With my jaws occupied the three dogs took to nipping at my heels. A good bite on my hamstring would effectively cripple me. I watched them from the corner of my eye.
One of the dogs got too close. Dropping Kitty Hawk into the dust, I reversed my direction in midair and smashed into the dog in question. We went down in a mad scramble of paws, teeth, and claws. He threw up his limbs to keep my jaws away from his vulnerable throat. I caught one of his paws in my teeth and chomped down. Hard. Bones groaned and snapped. I tasted warm blood in my mouth.
I released my hold and kicked free of the dog.
The confrontation took mere moments. The other two dogs were still turning around. I scooped Kitty Hawk into my jaws and continued the run.
Two of the dogs were pounding after me as fast as their legs could take them, but the third was falling behind. He was limping. Blood dripped from his wounded paw. He would run again, but for now he was out of the fight.
I would have grinned if my mouth wasn’t full of feathers and fur.
The remaining pair were on either side of me. They curled back their lips and showed their teeth. There was a fierce fire in their eyes. They wanted revenge. They wanted blood.
The white towers loomed ever nearer.
The dog on the left slammed into me, the dog on the right wrapped himself around my paws, and the three of us crashed into the ground. Kitty Hawk went flying free.
One of the dogs wiggled his way free and leapt after her. He grabbed Kitty Hawk in his jaws and shook her violently to and fro. She cried out in a terrified shrieking scream.
That scream shook something deep inside my soul. I let loose a torrent of rage and hate that billowed from my throat in a primitive, guttural roar. In one violent motion I threw my opponent, drew my sword and leapt at the tormentor. My world had condensed to Kitty Hawk and the beast that held her.
All I saw was red, as his neck separated from his shoulders and flopped around on the ground. The body didn’t know it was dead. It remained defiantly upright, stiff and rigid.
I turned my blade onto my last opponent. He wisely remained out of range.
The remainder of the clan was much too close. There was no time to dawdle. I scooped up Kitty Hawk as gingerly as possible. She was still screaming, her face a mask of tears.
We passed beyond the white towers with only a single bolo to hinder our progress.
The clan did not follow.