Aching, sore and stitch-sided I knelt
And grabbed a second’s rest from the pursuing menace.
I was naked, bloody-footed
And alone in the clearing.

Holding tight my breath I listened for footsteps.
Nothing.
Eyes spied from the black between the trees.
Like the stars shining in the deeper black,
They remained indifferent.

Is this it? I thought; and
Will it be like this for everyone?

A twig snapped.
I stood
Buckled
Fell
Sprawled
Crawled
Cried
Slumped
Against a rotten oak so wide around it could have been a wall.
My terror-sob became a weak and teary giggle
And then a sob again while the darkness condensed
And congealed
And strode towards me across damp leaf litter.

Almost a man, my hunter was not how I’d imagined.
His eyes were nearly eyes,
And kind.
The face, whilst intended only as a vague approximation,
Was suited by the easy smile.
Everything about him comforted.
I hadn’t expected him that way!
My nightmares were all wrong!
I was laughing again
And the knots in my shoulder
Began to untie.

‘A good chase you made;’ he grinned,
‘…but no reprieve.’

That face.
How could I begrudge him this?
I'd known him my whole life...
Or he’d known me
Or whatever. And so naked in the freezing midnight forest
The hunter’s bow didn’t daunt me.
I thought my smiles might split my face
And I offered up the sweet spot on my chest.

‘I didn’t want to run forever.’ I said,
Thinking I might sleep while he looked on.
‘Good for you,’ he chuckled,
Pulling back the string with two calloused fingers,
‘…but no one runs forever.’