Photo by Andre Sebastian on Unsplash
Constantly looking over her shoulder was not enough to see the one tracking her, Rani could feel it in her hollow bones. Closing her eyes and inhaling deeply, she chased her trail back.
There. Slippery.
Disguise. Masking. Camouflage.
She clawed back the concealment.
Hunting. Purposeful hunting. Specific hunting.
The creature, the being, had her scent, her spoor.
Intelligent.
Persistent.
Rani’s eyes popped open in fear.
Human.
Limited lifespan but unlimited patience. Each night it … he? She? Came closer.
Did it want her harpy feathers? A clipping from her hooves? A strand of hair?
Her life?
… Her soul?
(words 99, first published 9/14/2022 – from a picture prompt for a Facebook writing group. Aim is about 50 words)