420 Crash Landing

LERRIN

They gave precious moments up as Nhox and the bird argued. The bird was terrified, but adamant: He wasn't strong enough to fly both of them, especially not alone.

Lerrin wanted to send Nhox with him—then he could allow the trackers to find him and he could surrender! But he knew the moment he proposed such a thing, both the males would suspect him. It made no sense. In all cases, the Alpha was to be protected, at all costs.

So, reluctantly, he agreed that the bird should take him, while Nhox continued northeast, towards the wide-route that the fighters had planned to use so they didn't pass close to the Tree City before they rallied their numbers.

With the bird's help, Lerrin would make it in an hour. Nhox would be lucky to make it by nightfall—and only then if he wasn't forced to halt or go further out of his way to avoid more patrols.