Chapter Six

Devils Descent and Down

There were just two; Seo was sure of it. He’d picked up their trail about halfway down the descent. At first he’d stayed put, waiting, watching, but once he was sure there was no herd following behind, he’d sent up a blue spot flare and headed after them. He found the trail again about half a mile short of a dense thicket of high, wild ferns growing tall as trees, the kind that Merrily used to grow tiny shoots of in the poison garden. Just two, out on their own. No doubt about it. He moved more cautiously now, keeping low to the ground. When the wind changed he caught a faceful of their dead meat and cabbage smell, but he didn’t wince; he breathed it in and stored it away as a point of reference, a marker. 

When it seemed more likely than not that they would try to head through the high bracken, Seo left the trail and ran for the clearing he knew to be close and the rocky ground beyond where the giant ferns thinned out a little. With luck, he’d be able to get ahead of them and maybe creep up close enough alongside to get off a worthwhile shot with the flatbow. Once he was certain he was far enough ahead, he found a sheltered spot where he could wait. For a moment, he thought about sending up another flare but realised straight away that he would only give away his position if the devils were headed the way he hoped. He’d have to trust that the spot team had seen the first flare and that a hunt team was already on its way. Long minutes passed. Something, an ant, bit him on the ankle and a cloud of midges began circling his head then exploring his ears and nose. Seo remained motionless. More annoying than the midges, the idea that he had perhaps misjudged their path had begun to take hold when he heard them. Not animal, the sound was all wrong, but not quite human either. And then, even though there was almost no wind, he caught a trace of their scent. Finally, they came into view.

He moved with them. The first seemed more alert, seemed to be leading, and so Seo matched his step to that one, moving as close to silently as the terrain allowed. Whenever there was an opportunity, he edged closer, looking for but never finding a shot. Sweat began to drip down his face, stinging his eyes, but he let it. His concentration had to remain absolute, each step in sync with his prey. He couldn’t risk losing them or, worse still, risk becoming the prey himself. Then quite suddenly they stopped as one, and Seo knew he’d been seen. In an instant he weighed his options and, fearing they might come for him if he ran, charged forward, abandoning stealth and bringing up his flatbow as he went.