I came awake to the feeling of being completely drained of the ability to do absolutely anything. I managed to turn my head slightly to the right and I caught sight of a slight movement in that direction. My eyes focused and met the beady sinister eyes of a swamp viper about to strike me.
So help me I couldn't so much as muster a whimper to call out for help let alone move away from the snake. The snake was poised to strike, when a large hoof came out of nowhere, and repeatedly came down upon the snake crushing it into the ground.
I looked up to see Flin towering over me blowing through his nostrils loudly. Managing a rough whisper I said, "Thanks buddy I appreciate that! I've more than had my share of poison lately."
Just then the girl came from somewhere with a cup of water in her hand. Her eyes widened when she saw the trampled snake, but she didn't hesitate at its presence in bringing the cup to my parched lips.
She helped me raise my head and I drank the water slowly. After it was empty I let my head fall back down to the ground.
"Do you have a name?" I asked.
The little girl who sat down beside me on her knees replied, "Zarsha."
"That's a very pretty name for such a pretty little girl." I said.
Zarsha beamed at the praise I had given her and I reached out my hand and covered her little one, "Thank you for saving my life Zarsha. When I'm better I'll take good care of you like you've already done for me. I promise."
The next day I pulled myself into the saddle. I paused a moment while the stars faded from my eyes and then I reached my hand down for Zarsha to take a hold of. I pulled her up in front of me and we were off.
I needed more rest, but I wanted to get away from this place before its accursed residents found us and I wanted to just get free of this forest in general. I had to find the book and destroy it at all costs.
I thought it was a safe guess that John wouldn't head back towards the Valley Lands, which is why I headed that way suspecting that would be John's way of trying to elude me.
This wasn't the first time I had hunted someone and my gut instinct said that this was the most likely strategy for success.
We stopped as the shadows grew darker in the forest and I let Zarsha to the ground first and then I half fell my way down to the ground beside her. I sat down on a rock for a long moment as my head was pounding like somebody was trying to get out of it with a very large hammer.