Chapter 16 - Shift

Chapter 16

Ezekiel pumped all of his energy into his lungs and legs. Even so, he had barely made it a few yards before the sounds of pursuit were gaining on his heels. Ezekiel had knew that he could never have out run the lions on foot but he hadn't really planned to.

He just had to stay ahead of them until he made it to the central compound. Holding Brandon close to his chest Ezekiel ran until his arms ached and his legs were burning and the sounds of large padded feet faded slightly and still he carried on. Spongy pine needles blanketed his footsteps, while shafts of sunlight fought to pierce the canopy of pine needles above. The silent trees bounced back his furious breaths as he traveled at the speed of a leopard.

But Ezekiel had only made it three fourths to the central compound, almost 4 miles of nonstop running in mortal form before it happened. He hadn't heard the lion stalking closer until it was too late. A scuffle of pine was all he registered then something large and sharp