Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 357

Chapter 357: Running away
Ford knew something was wrong even before the animals began reacting. The atmosphere felt charged. The sun hadn’t been high enough for him to really check the weather when he woke, but he also didn’t have the habit of doing so.

Grandpa should have, but as the lightning struck, Ford realized it was moving in from the East, from the top of the cliffs. There was no way for them to have seen the storm rolling in, let alone prepared for it in any realistic sense.

There was nothing he could do now anyway except get the people out of the water. Away from the monster. To relative safety.

At least, what he hoped was safety. He didn’t know much, but he knew lightning and water didn’t mix well.

Apparently the monster knew that as well, for the sudden motion of water alerted Ford that the thing was on the move.

But in which direction?

Should he hold still until he located it, or move as swiftly as he was able, hoping not to encounter the thing?

His eyes cut over to where he last knew the thing had been, keeping his pace steady until he knew to do otherwise.

Anaisa’s hand in his was shaking, and he squeezed it lightly.

“Ford, look out!” Mia’s voice cut through the strategizing in his mind, and he spotted the wake of the monster’s tail. It was headed for the ramp!

The terror of being cut off from the way out was matched only by the realization that Mia, Seth, and the horses were directly in its chosen path!

The two humans were already on the move, grabbing the halters and moving the horses further up the shelf.

Ford hoped the monster was slower on land than it was in the water… but when it reached the ramp, his hopes were dashed.

Its run was clumsy-looking and almost snakelike, but much quicker than it had any right to be. Ford abandoned the people behind him, squeezing Anaisa’s hand again before releasing it.

She didn’t try to stop him.

Ford rushed ahead, abandoning the people he was tasked with leading across the pool. They could find their own way across, so long as the monster wasn’t in the water.

And it wasn’t, anymore.

He kept them invisible, just in case, but stretched himself as he raced forward, as quickly as he could with the friction of the waist-deep liquid holding him back.

Seth and Mia had just pulled the horses to one side when the white-scaled reptile pulled itself up high enough to see them over the top of the ledge surrounding the water.

They vanished before the monster’s eyes could land on them, or so Ford hoped. He wouldn’t have cut it so close, but he wasn’t sure of the range of his power.

He regretted not experimenting more during the journey, but the possible value of the knowledge weighed heavily against the prospect that his magic might be needed at a moment’s notice and should be reserved.

At least he was within range right now. The monster continued its straight path, heedless of the humans and animals it passed, and made its way up to the next level.

Ford didn’t know what it was seeking, but he was glad that it didn’t pause long enough to use up his power.

He let it drop as soon as the monster was out of sight, slogging up the ramp and towards where Mia and Seth were attempting to calm the horses.

“Is there shelter?” He asked her breathlessly, and Mia’s eyes widened. “From the storm.”

Her gaze drifted after the monster, and Ford’s heart sank. Of course the monster would know the terrain, know where to hide from a storm! Any shelter large enough for the humans and horses would fit that massive creature easily…

“Everyone make it ok?” Grandpa was panting and dripping from rushing out of the water with Anaisa and Daniel.

“Yes, but now we have to contend with that,” Seth flinched as another crack split the sky, loud enough and close enough to make the earth shake.

Or was it the earth?

Mia closed her eyes for a moment and gasped. “They’re moving. I think they’re all coming.”

“All?” Grandpa repeated dully. Up over the edge, the steep edge of the cliff, a white-scaled reptile about the size of Daniel half-slithered half-scurried, making a bee-line for the path where the larger monster had just disappeared.

It hesitated and turned when it noticed the humans and horses, a low hiss escaping from between its large, sharp teeth.

The creature was dangerous enough to kill or severely wound the humans, but Grandpa grabbed his jacket and spread it behind his back like wings stretched tight between his arms.

“HAH! GIT! GO ON!” He yelled, stomping towards the beast. The creature hissed again, but with another bolt of lightning, turned and continued on its way with all haste.

There was no time to rest on the laurels of the small success, as the significance of Mia’s words hit Ford full in the chest.

“All of them.”

The sound of the storm blended with something else, and Ford grimaced at the reserve of magic he had left.

“Everyone get as close together as you can,” He said hurriedly.

Just because Grandpa had deterred one monster from having a snack didn’t mean the group would be so lucky again.

Understanding hit the others in waves, but Seth and Grandpa herded everyone else close, and held the reins of the horses in either hand as they huddled around Ford in the center.

“Tell me when,” He closed his eyes to concentrate while the others looked towards the edges of the chalky shelf they stood upon.

The tension mounted, but it only lasted the space of a breath.

“There–now!” Grandpa’s voice lurched, and Ford threw all his energy into his magic.

Cloaking six people and six horses. Less than he’d done when facing the Chimera, and at less of a range than he’d managed then.

Maybe this time, he could hold out longer… or at least, long enough.