Gods and Prophets Part 1.3

They were only supposed to do two routines, mix it up over time. Different routines at different events. They had played all, the crowd unable to get enough.

They were soaked; tired but there wasn't' an inch of stopping between them. Heather could feel herself running on nothing but ran anyway. It was exhilarating.

Like war.

Heather stood and waved along with the others, they circled, shaking hands. Heather, to her own immense surprise found herself kissing a human baby which had been lifted to her. Heather turned from the group and whistling.

The group stopped and picked up their goods, leaving at a run. They found the rest they'd hid and disappeared into the forest where they came to a stop.

Heather rested on a tree and caught her breath, it proved impossible. Every breath was a one too light, so she fought, breathing hard, it only burned her chest, every rib determined to call to attention how sore it was. Her lungs enjoyed their own bonfire, frying her heart, her ribs acting as the grill.

"I can barely move!" Nomonda cried out.

"I know what you mean. I have not moved like that since the skirmish with the Umbaleki two years ago." Qondile cried out laying on the floor.

Heather burst out laughing.

"I remember that! We thought that battle was supposed to be an easy one too!"

Qondile laughed into the sand, Nomonda was laughing too.

"What happened?" Lindi asked.

The others looked confused, slow to join. Heather pulled herself up and shut her bag.

"This isn't a safe zone. Collected wisdom says it's two kilometres up." Heather said.

Within the minute they were hiking through the forest, hours passed with no pause.

Sleep hung on Heather's mind, hurting her eyes, they were too big for their sockets, it hurt to blink.

Finally, the woods started to thin. The room between trees widening, replaced with great bushes filled with fruits and berries. The group stopped, bodies resting between the branches, hiding them.

Heather slapped both Sarah and Lindi awake.

"No sleeping, we're still not there yet. " Heather ordered.

"We've been hiking for at least fifteen kilometres. Collected wisdom is nothing more than hear say converted to print then memorised and burnt. It's not a perfect art." Sarah groaned.

"Look around, we're surrounded by ripe berries but how many rotten berries do you see?"

Most of the group examined the floor. Heather continued.

"This is clearly a frequented spot for gatherers, lets pick some and go. Watch for animal traps."

They took a dirt path they'd found, following it north. There were only bushes now. The Lumber House forest came to an end leaving nothing but grassy hills stretching as far as the eye could see.

Heather raised her fist, bringing them to a halt. She pointed to the furthest hill. Its high point stood a wooden tower.

The design, primitive.

Basically, a wooden box with an iron roof on wooden beams.

She whistled twice and started running, the others followed. Her wings spread, and she broke into an all-out sprint, taking to the air. She rose, surveying an ocean of green, the city behind her, a dot.

The others were there, her highest, with Lindi/Evening and Shoki/Twilight lagging.

Heather didn't care, she just enjoyed the solitude of the skies.

She hovered, circling the tower before tucking her wings in and going for the dive, blasting through the gap between the roof and rail. The entire tower shook. It was unnerving.