‘How long ago did this happen?’ Layne asked Gwalchmai.
‘This morning, while we sat on the beach. I think the beast was following us, but when we cut away down to the waterside it picked up Agwaine’s trail.’
‘Do you think Agwaine survived?’
‘He certainly survived the first attack, for the beast returned to the bodies. But then it set out after him once more. What kind of creature is it, anyway? I mean, it’s fed. Why hunt Agwaine?’
‘I don’t know, but we must help our cousin.’
‘We will not help him by dying, brother,’ observed Lennox. ‘Gwal says the beast has gone west. If we follow the wind will be behind us, carrying our scent forward. And we will be walking straight towards it.’
‘I know that’s true,’ said Layne. ‘Yet we cannot leave Agwaine.’
‘Would you mind a suggestion from a lowlander?’ Gaelen asked.
Layne turned to him. ‘You’re not a lowlander, cousin. Speak on.’
‘Thank you. But I am not as wise in these things as the rest of you, so my plan may be flawed. But I think we should find a hiding-place where we can watch the… food store. Once the beast has returned, unless the wind changes we should then be able to travel west without it picking up the scent. What do you think?’
‘I think you are more clan than you realise,’ said Layne.
They left the stream at a brisk run and headed for the line of hills less than half a mile distant- Layne leading, Gaelen and Gwalchmai just behind, and Lennox at the rear.
Once on the hillside they settled down on their bellies to watch the trail. From their vantage point they could see clearly all the way to the lake above the falls and beyond, while to the north-west a range of rocky hills cut the skyline. Above them the sky was red as blood as the sun sank to the level of the western mountain peaks.
‘I hope it comes back before nightfall,’ said Layne.
Luck was with them for, in the last rays of the dying sun, Gwalchmai spotted the beast ambling on all fours along the trail. It moved carefully, hugging the shadows before disappearing into the bushes where the corpses lay.
The companions wormed their way back down the slope, cutting a wide circle round the beast’s lair before picking up its trail and beginning the long process of back-tracking it to the west. They ran through the timberline and on towards the rocky hills. The moon had risen before they arrived, but the night sky was clear and Gwalchmai pointed up to the boulder-covered hillside.
‘I think Agwaine sought refuge in the caves,’ he said, and they climbed the slope, seeking sign.
‘We must bear in mind,’ said Layne, ‘that the beast will come back tonight after it has fed.’
It was Gaelen who found the boy, wedged deep in a narrow cleft in the rocks halfway up the slope. ‘Agwaine, are you all right?’ he called.
‘Sweet Gods, I thought it was the beast come back,’ said Agwaine. Tears rolled down his cheeks and he gritted his teeth to strangle the sobs he knew were close to the surface. Gaelen reached down as Agwaine climbed closer and he pulled him clear as the others gathered round. Agwaine was unhurt, but his face showed the strain he had endured. His eyes seemed sunken and blue rings stained the sockets.
‘It came at us from nowhere,’ he said. ‘It beheaded Gael. Betas was next; as he turned to run, the beast opened his back with one sweep of its talons. There was nothing to do but run. I was at the back and I turned and sprinted away. Draig was right behind me. I heard his screaming, but it was cut short and I knew I was the only one left. I could hear it chasing me and I ran as never before. It found me here, but it couldn’t reach me.’
‘We must get away, cousin,’ put in Layne.
‘Yes. No! First I must get something. I threw it away as we ran.”
‘We can’t go back in those woods,’ hissed Gwalchmai.