Chapter 3: The chase
Upon arriving at the Great Library, Tak'Oba had come looking for answers. The guardian was about to give him some, through an ancient book. Though after leading him to the shelf, the two Eclerays found that the book was missing. While the guardian was trying to figure out what had happened, Tak'Oba had gone after a figure carrying the book under his arm.
Run. Run. Run faster.
Tak'Oba was not thinking. His legs were running one in front of the other mechanically. He couldn't feel the ground beneath his feet.
He didn't even realize that he was jostling the students in his path. He thought he heard himself shouting, "Move aside!". In front of him, the young scholars were astounded.
Before their eyes, a young Ecleray was running at full pace after a pile of clothes.
Tak'Oba then had a flash of insight. "Selos!"
The catmeleon who had stayed at the entrance got up and headed for Tak'Oba. The Ecleray jumped on his mount and resumed his pursuit.
But the silhouette had the same idea. Mounted on a Fabwook, they headed into the forest. Tak'Oba and his partner rode into the green thicket.
The two animals leaped to incredible distances. Even then, they could still, in an instant, change direction to avoid a trunk, jump over a stream, or skid to get under a thick branch. If Tak'Oba had trouble keeping up, the thief remained stoic.
A vine on the right. A bush on the left. The scene was gradually transformed into a forest slalom.
Tak'Oba regained his lucidity and summoned the figure to stop. In vain. The individual did not even seem to pay attention to what was being shouted at him. Since the beginning of the pursuit, he had not turned around once.
"How are we going to stop him..." Tak'Oba told himself.
It was then that Selos decided to act. If her rider is incapable of violence, she grew up in a hostile jungle. She has known hunger, cold, and fighting for her survival. With a sudden movement, she changed direction and climbed the trunk of an uprooted tree. Tak'Oba almost let go. Even if a deep respect exists between the two partners, Selos is an unpredictable creature.
After a few steps, they found themselves at the end of the trunk. They were overlooking the runaway. Then Selos jumped. The trunk gave way under the animal's support. For Tak'Oba, time slowed down. What a sight it must have been for the local fauna and for the shadow that was still following the chase.
The catmeleon seemed to be suspended in mid-air, paws forward, mouth open, eyes determined and focused on its target.
Her scales rippled in the air. Her shadow began to be cast on the fugitive.
Then time resumed.
Selos came crashing down on the runner and his mount. The unbalanced fabwook tried to stick its claws into the clay soil. But the violence of the impact made it lose control, and he hit a tree. His rider was thrown to the ground and rolled until a bush stopped his fall. Tak'Oba and Selos did not fare any better. The young Ecleray, stunned by the impact, struggled to his feet.
When he looked up, the fugitive was already standing in front of him. His hood was so long that it prevented him from seeing his face.
Tak’Oba stepped back.
What to do now?
“Who are you ?"Tak’Oba asked.
The figure made no move. No sound.
Tak'Oba noticed that the individual was still holding the book in his hands.
”This books belongs to the Great Library. I must ask you to return it to me."
Nothing.
With a determined step, he walked towards the figure.
“If asking is not enough, I’ll take it.
He put his hand on the book and tried to pull it to him. The book did not move. Tak'Oba tried with both hands. Same result.
The thief then began to move. His free hand pushed Tak’Oba back and made him fall. It then went behind his back. It slowly came back in front of him, clutching a wooden sword with a red ribbon on the bottom. He put the book on the ground and clasped both hands on the weapon.
Tak'Oba did not understand what was happening and could not dodge the thief's first blow. He hit him in the shoulder.
His bark cracked under the violence of the blow.
The Ecleray was thrown to the ground. He had never known this kind of pain.
"Aaaaaaaaaah! What are you doing?!"
The thief moved towards him to strike a second blow. Tak'Oba was quicker and narrowly dodged the blow, which came crashing down against a rock, drawing a crack.
The young Ecleray did not try to understand anymore.
The blows were dry and brutal.
A jump to the right.
A roll.
Quickly bend down.
Watch your leg!
Fighting was a new concept for him, and his first lesson was to dodge to survive.
He had to keep going, for himself, for his people, for the truth!
A familiar growl made him turn around. Selos was coming to her senses.
Tak'Oba was reassured to see his partner get up. He felt less alone. Now there would be two of them to face the thi…
The golden tip of the stick smashed against Tak'Oba's left temple. He fell to the ground. Black. No more sound. No more sensations.
The thief started moving toward Tak’Oba, laying on the ground, at the mercy of his enemy…
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