I wondered why he did not simply duck into the forest to elude his pursuers. There were eight of them that I could see, a small pack, maneuvering to cut him off. Suddenly he dove flat as another Leaper bounded over his prostrate body from the shadows of the forest. That’s why he was working the tree line! The Leapers were entering the forest now!
He rose to one knee and hurled his spring-javelin at the Leaper that had just threatened him, pinning it to the ground.
Suddenly he was down, another Leaper landing on him from behind as he threw.
I tensed, sending a sudden stab of pain through my straining eyes. Then the Insect was flipped backward, and Ahk was on his feet again. For a moment I was at a loss; then I realized what he had done. He had triggered another spring-javelin while under the creature, using the force of the ends telescoping out to push the Leaper up and off him.
He was running again, stumbling now, as two more Leapers crawled into view from the forest’s depths. How many were there?
Where was Ssah?
I started to look for her, but had my attention wrenched back to the action. A Leaper caught Ahk as he turned to change directions, closing its mighty jaws around his waist and lifting him into the air. He dropped the javelin and his hand went to the small of his back, and the Insect fell away, rolling in agony. The acid belt!
He was moving again, but now was in visible pain. There were terrible wounds in his sides from the Leaper’s attack, and they slowed his movement. The other Leapers also saw it, and redoubled their efforts to catch him.