The ground thundered beneath them.
Hooves pounded against the dirt road behind them, growing louder with every passing second. Dust rose into the air, turning the bright afternoon sky into a choking haze.
The chase had begun.
And it was not slowing down.
"Faster," the knight ordered.
His voice was sharp.
Urgent.
Unyielding.
Arin pushed his legs harder.
His lungs burned.
His chest tightened.
Each breath felt heavier than the last.
But he did not stop.
Behind them, the riders closed the distance.
Relentless.
Disciplined.
Hungry.
The knight carried the wounded man across his shoulder without hesitation.
Despite the extra weight.
Despite the bleeding wound on his own shoulder.
Despite the exhaustion creeping into his muscles.
Pain did not matter.
Survival did.
The road stretched ahead in a long, unforgiving line.
Dry.
Empty.
Merciless.
"Turn left," the knight suddenly commanded.
Arin obeyed instantly.
They veered off the main road and ran into the open fields.
Tall grass whipped against their legs.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
The riders followed.
Without hesitation.
Without slowing.
These men were trained.
Experienced.
Persistent.
Arin's heartbeat hammered inside his chest.
Fast.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
His legs trembled.
His muscles screamed.
His breath came in short, painful bursts.
But fear pushed him forward.
Stronger than fatigue.
Stronger than pain.
"Don't look back," the knight said.
Arin nodded.
But curiosity betrayed him.
He glanced over his shoulder.
The riders were closer now.
Much closer.
Their faces had become clear.
Hard.
Focused.
Merciless.
One of them raised a bow.
The knight saw it instantly.
"Down!" he shouted.
Arin dropped to the ground without thinking.
WHISTLE.
An arrow sliced through the air above his head.
Close enough to feel.
Close enough to kill.
It struck the dirt several feet ahead.
Arin's heart skipped.
Fear exploded inside him.
The knight did not slow.
Did not hesitate.
Did not falter.
"Keep moving," he said.
They ran again.
Harder.
Faster.
Desperately.
The terrain changed quickly.
The open field gave way to rough ground.
Uneven.
Rocky.
Dangerous.
Arin stumbled.
His foot caught on a loose stone.
His balance broke.
He fell forward.
Hard.
Pain shot through his knees.
Sharp.
Blinding.
The world spun for a moment.
The knight stopped instantly.
Turned.
Reached down.
"Up," he ordered.
His voice left no room for hesitation.
Arin forced himself to stand.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the fear.
Ignoring the exhaustion.
Because stopping meant death.
They ran again.
Behind them—
Another arrow flew.
WHISTLE.
This one struck the ground closer.
Too close.
The wounded man groaned weakly on the knight's shoulder.
His breathing shallow.
Unstable.
"You should leave me," he whispered.
The knight did not respond.
He tightened his grip.
Adjusted his stance.
Kept running.
Because abandoning someone was not an option.
The sound of hooves grew louder again.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
The riders were gaining.
The knight scanned the horizon quickly.
Searching.
Calculating.
Planning.
Then—
He saw it.
A narrow path leading into a dense forest ahead.
Dark.
Twisting.
Unpredictable.
A place where horses would struggle.
A place where speed would fail.
"Into the trees," he commanded.
They changed direction immediately.
Branches slapped against their faces.
Leaves tore at their clothes.
Roots twisted beneath their feet.
The forest swallowed them whole.
Behind them—
The riders reached the edge of the trees.
Their horses slowed.
Hesitated.
Struggled.
The leader raised his hand sharply.
"Dismount," he ordered.
Boots hit the ground.
Steel flashed.
Weapons drawn.
The hunters continued the pursuit on foot.
The advantage of speed was gone.
Now—
It was a hunt.
Deep inside the forest—
Arin's breathing grew ragged.
His vision blurred.
His strength faded.
He stumbled again.
Barely catching himself.
"I can't…" he gasped.
The knight stopped suddenly.
Turned.
Looked directly into his eyes.
His voice was calm.
But powerful.
"You can."
A brief pause.
"Run until your body breaks."
Another pause.
"Then run anyway."
The words struck deep.
Arin swallowed.
Fear and determination collided inside his chest.
He pushed forward again.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
Behind them—
Branches snapped.
Leaves rustled.
Footsteps echoed.
The hunters were close.
Very close.
Too close.
And suddenly—
The forest floor ahead disappeared.
Arin skidded to a stop.
His eyes widened.
A deep ravine stretched across their path.
Wide.
Steep.
Uncrossable.
The knight halted beside him.
Breathing hard.
Thinking fast.
Calculating.
Behind them—
The sound of approaching hunters grew louder.
Closer.
Inevitable.
They were trapped.