[Amanaduial the archer]

Ekatran finished his speech with a flourish. Fionel had known what was coming beforehand, and had gone down into the read position to be able to get off quickly. But now she wasnt so sure. The other slaves were looking around in confusion, wondering whether they should go, beginning to group together like hens, to the amusement of the people of Nurn.

"Run!"

"Nah, if they dont run, it will be easier for the hunters to catch them!"

"Exactly- they want their sport! And so do we- run, slaves! This is gonna be the fastest Hunt in history!"

"Go on, idiots, even you should be able to get it into your brains that you have to go now!"

"The flag will be raised in a second, then they can really go."

The second to last voice made Fionel turn, although she wasnt sure why. Looking for the owner of the voice, she met the cocky, arrogant gaze of Shivana, the easterling woman who had challenged her with her eyes before. She met the gaze, holding it, but Shivana's grin only grew wider. A shiver ran down Fionel's spine: in those eyes, beside the eagerness, the readyness to chase, the arrogance...was something deeper. Animal even. And once again Fionel felt afraid.

"Fionel!" Desolyn's voice made Fionel look around, just as the countdown started. She got herself once more into a ready position. After three, the flag rose, and Desolyn was first off, running over the dry grass. Fionel sprung up after her, grabbing the girl beside her as she went: she had been looking around, as if searching for something, and for a moment Fionel saw a deep longing in her eyes. Haven, that was her name. Oh, the irony...

Haven pulled her arm away, but Fionel clung on, trying to make her run. Fionel thought she could see tears in the girls eyes as she replied, desperately. "I cant see them! Jamilah and Jovanna..."

"Come on, Hay, this isn't the time for you to be playing Nursemaid any more."

The girl glared back at her, angry, but was also surprised. "Hay?" She whispered.

Fionel felt sorry for her once more, over the resentment against this pet slave of Ekatran's palace, but there wasnt time. This girl was about her age, she looked younger even, maybe because of her easy life in the palace, but Fionel felt somehow responsible for her, and she was determined to get her away. "I will not have casualties this soon! Come on, Haven!"

The girl seemed to snap out of it, and she began to run as well; they would run until they were out of sight at least, then they would be able to rest. Fionel looked back, making sure all the slaves had gone, and indeed the last, an elf, ran by her other side...but as she was looking back, she once more met the eyes of Shivana. The Hunter was watching her, and as Fionel looked at her, she licked her lips, a hungry, feral expression on her face.

The animal in Fionel took over then. Haven was off already. Turning fast, Fionel ran as hard as she could, her mind just filled with one word: Run, run, RUN...