Chapter 79: Marinah

I ignore the tangy smell of blood that trails down my face while continuing my mad dash through the dark, dense jungle. Teeth of a sharp, prickly branch slice my other cheek. I wince internally when my salty sweat hits the bloody scrapes that now cover most of my face. Sweat also trails between the rough, inch-long hairs covering my body, leaving a distinct scent trail to follow. Right now, there's nothing I can do about it. I've done a fairly good job at keeping my breathing even so my sensitive ears pick up the slightest noise and alert me to danger. While running, I'm planning. Upon seeing the perfect place to hunker down and wait, my course of action is suddenly clear.

Danger. Close. Ms. Beast whispers inside my head.

Too close, I snarl back, darn her.

Kill. Her whisper sends shivers through my entire body.

I change direction slightly to avoid a small open area, slow my pace, and head for a thicker crop of trees and brush. Sniffing the air with my elongated snout, I pick up not