 They crashed through the underbrush of the gully. Mason’s hand was a vise around Riece’s wrist, keeping him steady when he tripped. Riece’s lungs were burning and his thighs aching when they came to a spot that wasn’t as steep. Mason stopped. He was breathing hard, but not as hard as Riece was. Riece envied Mason’s athleticism and the easy and confident way he moved, though he’d never admit it out loud. While athletic ability was something Riece had dreamed of having, he knew it for a fantasy. But it was Mason’s grace that appealed to him the most. Riece often thought how nice it must be to have the ability to navigate any terrain and not constantly trip. “You can get up here,” Mason said between deep breaths. “I think—” “Riece. I wasn’t asking. We’ve got to get out of this damn gully. We’re sitting ducks.” “But we got away,” Riece said. He leaned on his knees, inhaling and exhaling rapidly. “Get real,” Mason said. “They let us go. There is no reason one of them couldn’t have shot us. They have all those guns and crossbows. I have to believe one of them can use those weapons and has decent aim. Those people want a hunt. You don’t get a hunt if your prey is right under your nose.” Riece shook his head. “I don’t… what’s going on?” “They’re hunters, and I think we’re the game.” Riece opened his mouth and shut it again. He shook his head once and stared at Mason. Mason took hold of Riece’s shoulders. “Listen to me. Those men didn’t know who I was until the other two showed up. That means they weren’t specifically targeting us but probably have a few traps scattered around this area. It’s reasonable to think they don’t know we have supplies a few miles from here. We have to get there. Our cell phones are there. We have food and water. Here’s the plan: we get somewhere to get a signal, call for help, set off your locator, and hole up where we can stay safe and hidden until that help arrives.” “They took my locator beacon before pulling you out of the hole,” Riece said. His voice shook, then cracked. “We’ll deal, don’t worry. We still have phones, and I know this territory very well.” Mason grabbed Riece’s wrist again and spun him so he faced the side of the gully. “Up. Now, Riece,” he ordered and shoved Riece into motion. Riece lost his footing after only a few feet and slipped downward. Trying to grab at the trees succeeded in doing nothing but scraping up his palms. He came to an abrupt stop against Mason. Gripping one of the trees Riece had tried to hang on to with one hand, Mason steadied them both. He put his other hand between Riece’s shoulder blades and pushed hard. “Go.”    
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