Drookan flies with Kaela on his back. He can not see her face. Her eyes are red. The insult and command to her people to move on was personal to her. Her people had suffered so much and didn't have many safe places to go. She felt for them. She felt ashamed to be wearing the clothing of the enemy.

  Drookan felt something like a single drop of rain on his back, but as far as he could tell, there was not a rain cloud in the sky. To him, Kaela's humanitarianism was noble, but she would have to snap out of it for her own health.

  She asked him to land in the midst of some ruins. He did, but reminded her they could not stay there long. They landed inside a building that had lost its roof over the course of time. She was still distraught as she moved to a corner of the room to sob over the predicament of her people.

  Drookan asked her to remain hidden for a few moments. He flew away and quickly returned with a bunch of flowers from a location nearby that he spotted as they were landing.

  He told her, "To help cheer you up., I'm aware that Ponu women, and human women in general, enjoy flowers".

  She smiles at the gesture, and they are beautiful, but not nearly enough to help the pain she is feeling. She asks him to take her back to the cave city. She can serve her people in her role at least. They take off, headed home.

  As they depart, Drookan's worst fears are realized. He looked back and saw 4 enemy Dowath, Sky Reapers, following them. Kaela looked back, and in seeing them, the grief for her people was momentarily pushed aside, replaced by a fear for her life.

  She asks Drookan if they can outrun them. He answers, not safely, meaning not as long as he had a passenger.

  They both know the reality of the situation without it being said. The Sky Reapers may attack Drookan to drive him away or injure him. They probably would not kill him unless he fought back. If he ran, they would probably be satisfied with that. However, having what they believe to be a Ponu with him changed everything. They would chase him until they had her and kill him if he got in their way. She knew that Drookan's chance to survive the encounter exponentially grew if he abandoned her and made a run to save his own life. Still, something about Drookan made her sure he would never entertain such a thought.

  The sky reapers closed in. Drookan asked Kaela, "Have you heard of the Death Fisherman plant?" Of course, she had. Every scavenger knew about it. It was the only thing in this world they knew of that caught and ate Dowath. It was a grossly huge plant that had tentacles that would spring out incredibly high or far to grab its victim. If it caught a human, before consuming it, the plant would use the human as bait for what it truly desired, Dowath. Now they were flying directly towards one. Drookan said, "We can't outrun them; we need something to help even the odds. If we do this, we might die; if we do not do this, we will die."

  He told Kaela, "I am going to move suddenly and quickly. Hold on as if your life depends on it, because it does."

  Drookan slowed his flight, allowing the Sky Reapers to come closer. As they came within clearer visual range, Kaela saw something that sent even more chills through the already frightened woman. One of the Sky Reapers had a rope around his waist, tied to it were shredded, empty "Ponu Suits"; there must have been shreds from almost a dozen attached to the rope

  The Death Fisherman plant was in view. Drookan then accelerated as fast as he could, flying low and fast over the plant. The plant, awakened, was too late to send out a tentacle to catch Drookan, but it was just in time for one of its tentacles to catch one of the following Sky Reapers. The chase continued as the grotesque plant creature consumed the Sky Reaper. Now it was 3 to 1.

  Drookan's next plan was to fly low amidst the ruins. He saw that one of the remaining sky reapers was trying to circle around some buildings and cut him off. This could work to his own advantage, Drookan thought. Drookan headed for an opening in the ruin. No doubt that the other Sky Reaper would try to intercept him at that opening. Drookan's mind was making all the necessary calculations; he had to time this perfectly. One of the Sky Reapers on his tail was closing in. Drookan took note of the Sky Reapers, speed, and the time it would take him to close in. He adjusted his own speed accordingly, taking into account the speed of the Sky Reaper waiting to trap him at the opening. He sped towards the opening and just at the last second, he changed directions, shooting straight up. Caught off guard, the Sky Reaper following him ran straight into the Sky Reaper who had suddenly appeared in the opening to spring the trap. They both collided, sending one of them hurtling back into a building. The sky reaper's head collided with the building, knocking him out cold. The other Sky Reaper was left battered but able to give chase, barely. Now it was 2 to 1.

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  Another sky Reaper flew parallel to Drookan, preventing his escape until his battered friend had recovered. It was the Sky Reaper with the empty Ponu suits attached to him.

  He made eye contact with Kaela. She could see the hunger in its eyes. It would not stop until it had her.

  Drookan managed to get a small amount of distance temporarily between him and their pursuers. He mentioned to Kaela, "We have to separate for a short while. I fly close to the ground and slow for a few seconds, you will get off. Hide in one of the buildings. If they don't see you jump off, they may follow me. I can outrun them and come back for you.

  It was a desperate plan, still, the first part of it worked. While they were temporarily out of view, he slowed a few feet above ground, and Kaela hopped off. However, that was the only part that worked. One of the Sky Reapers spotted Kaela and went after her. Seeing this slowed Drookan down, who was then attacked by the other Sky Reaper before he could turn to help. Outside, a life and death struggle was happening with Drookan and the Sky Reaper. Inside the ruins of a building, a chase was happening with the Sky Reaper hunting Kaela.

  She ran for her life as the hungry monster followed, tossing aside debris with ease that Kaela had to climb over or run under.

  She made it to the door at the other end of the building. When she opened it, there was only a wide, clear space between her and the next building. There was nowhere to run. Drookan was nowhere to be seen. Had he abandoned her after all she thought? At that moment, the Sky Reaper burst through the door so suddenly that it sent Kaela tumbling.

  She landed flat on her stomach. It was enough to make her dazed for a second or two as she pushed herself off the ground and to her knees. She then saw a massive, clawed hand wrap around her waist.

  Maybe in some other reality, this Sky Reaper immediately took off with Kaela, flying her to her doom. However, here, that was not the case. With victory seemingly assured, he took a second to hold up and admire his Ponu meal. He looked her up and down, delighted as his mouth watered. For a second, he took amusement out of Kaela's vain effort, using all her strength to try to free herself from his grasp. It made him chuckle. But now, the time for amusement was over. The chase was long, but the cat had caught the mouse. Now it was time to fly back home with what he was sure would be a great Ponu meal.

  He waited a second too late. A claw slashed across his face, sending him squealing in pain. Kaela fell free. It was Drookan, ragged and battered, he had finally dispatched the other Sky Reaper. Now it was 1 to 1. The remaining Sky Reaper screamed in anger and pain.

  Drookan signaled for Kaela to get behind him, which she immediately did. The Sky Reaper made a few steps towards them, then a look of fright came over its face. It turned and flew.

  They looked around to see Six Dowath from the City cave flying in. Drookan sat down, needing a rest against the wall. Kaela stayed by his side.

  The leader of the rescue party, Dmoko, stepped forward. He was enraged.

  "This is exactly what I have been talking about," Dmoko says. "This Ponu convinced you to first jeopardize the mission to the scavenger camp, and now to get involved in an unnecessary skirmish that could have easily killed you. And they say you're supposed to be the smart one, ha".

  "Thank you, Dmoko," Drookan says, "Now if one of you can help me to my feet, we'll be out of here".

  Dmoko eyes Kaela. "This Ponu, it's the same one who started the fight earlier. They have introduced this element into our cave, OUR HOME. The sooner they leave, the better." He steps towards Kaela, but Drookan says, "Stand down, Dmoko; she has been through enough trauma recently to have to deal with you trying to bully her. I won't allow it." Kaela stepped forward, "Dmoko, this was all my fault, not that of the Ponu in the cave. If anyone is to be blamed or outcast, it's me. Do not hold the innocent responsible for my mistakes. I will gladly go, but don't blame those who have tried their best to live within and respect your rules.

  Dmoko only grins and looks back at Drookan. "You've got to watch this one, clever. But then again, I knew that when she somehow turned one of the brightest among us into her personal pet." He looked back at Kaela with restrained anger on his face before exclaiming, "Let's go!" Drookan looked on with an angry expression.

  Drookan stood up to prepare to fly. Both his and Kaela's annoyance at Dmoko was growing.

  Kaela stood in front of her Dowath, feeling it might be easier on him in his battered condition to hold her with his hands instead of her being on his back.

  Drookan, with a smile, appreciated the gesture and wrapped his hands around her waist. Moments later, they were in the air, joining the rescue party on their way home.

  Kaela soon felt a powerful surge of emotion. This was not caused by fear, but rather Drookan's touch. It was strong, powerful, but also gentle and caring in how he held her. She felt the sensation expanding from her waist up to the hairs on her head and down to the toes on her feet; her entire body seemed to come alive.

  The feeling was liberating. She spread her arms. For a moment, it felt as if she was actually flying herself.