hin the

n. Soaked in sweat and smeared with blood, she ran deeper into the forest

ting around as her chest heaved. Behind her, the thunderous pounding of horses shattered the stil

at cursed child!" the hea

ing. Her knees buckled beneath her, the pain searing through her legs, but

asn't fas

ttered shut as realization gripped her chest like a vice. This was the end. The warri

u once!" the head

dy said

he?!" he sc

a bitter, blood-streaked smile. "I t

orest!" he roared. "

at defiantly, locking eyes with

nd fast, making her

quences of your husband'

ady?" she cried out. "You've des

ould've thought of that

mounted his horse and galloped away as the

over the forest, t

search the woods. The trees trembled, the air tense,

had oth

mbled upon a child wrapped in the finest an

one of them mutter

asked the second

Fragile," said the thir

xploded. "Who the hell leaves a baby

r or something?" the third

ds blinke

vies. There's always a lett

man," the first hunter

the second one

r chuckled and

e first hunter barke

e carefully lifted the baby

voice hushed. "What are we supposed to do with

unter said quietly, already smil

hanged a look that

t hunter said

econd said,

d the baby in the air. She giggled, her little pink

nding in a silent connection. Her eyes flut

the second hunter

s wanted a child. Maybe... maybe this

hat child,she might be something more... so

ve she's a gi

an atheist?" the se

Billy said. "Not

e," the second

lieve in God's existence. Does

f and Sarah into danger, man.

irst hunter suggested. Then he sudde

whispered the

" Billy rep

about something that li

mistake," the first hunter mut

bout th

just lying here, and yo

out after we get out of he

away from me!" the first

do this," the secon

alked in the opposite direction, the

k City

r and gently laid the sleeping baby on

own for a minute?" But

sly, then walked into the kitchen and back out, sc

pstairs,and nearl

inst the wall, her he

here. I've been calling..."

to one side. She looked young, beautiful,maybe in

d, forcing a weak smil

y said gently. He covered her eye

about?" Sarah

ly whispered and

er eyes... Billy! Wher

he said, placing a

stress's children?" Sarah's voice cracked

sharpened. "I won't let you insult m

all makes sense,why you never cared

softening. "I didn't mean to ye

ng the truth?"

illy nodded, hi

who is

g,the woods, the baby, the hunters,

ched out, brushing the baby's cheek. "Can we k

ulled them both in

*

That N

d at the very spot in the forest where they had

iercing blue eyes glowing. Blood trickled

alled Iridessa,

you?" Bil

nswer. She simply

start, a cold sweat

sing from the bed and walking

r Iridessa," h

h repeated, and

her gently

he said once

racked across the sky. L

had bee

had bee