Flight of the Warrior- 8

Running again

She was terrified when she left her hut. Flying for over an hour the fear began to be dulled by fatigue. She was not good over long distances.

Then after losing her concentration one time too many she decided she needed to stop and find a place to eat and rest. It was of the utmost importance she not be seen. There must be no trace whatsoever of the direction she was taking. So she decided on stopping in the mountains of the Southern Japanese Alps, find a cave, or some sort of shelter. She might stay for a day or two and then fly the remainder of the way to Tokyo.

As she turned in the direction of the alps she heard it. I summon you. She could not mistake his voice. Each word rang like a low pitched gong in her head. It resonated. She continued to hear the echo long after the message came. She also felt he was close. Then the shocking realisation she had stupidly flown over the east, where the wind had told her he was riding.

Mistake after mistake.

There was only one choice she would need to fly north, perhaps to another mountain range, try to outrun him. She would go to the Jyoshin-etsu area. This would mean another hour flying. She was not altogether happy with her choice, the area was known for Asiatic black bears, but she felt she was backed into a corner. She needed distance. She would try to find a spot along the Matsukawa ravine.

Minutes in the air felt like hours. She was exhausted by the effort of flying, and the constant danger. Several times during the journey she wished she was not alone, she even wished for the company of the tracker. Someone whose mere presence would help her to stay alert. They were hopeless thoughts she was on her own, and always had been. Her plan to see the old lady in the fishing village was abandoned. Her plan to practice with two jian would need to wait.

There was no time for plans, it was all too late now.