conley1959

         The rider glowered.  He thrust an open hand to the battle.  He spat:  “How do you find one man in all of that?”          Jin Lei stood strong on his feet, rainwater flowing down him.  His fresh young face betrayed gloom his heart fought against.           “I do not know,” he admitted with bitterness lacing his words.           He pointed a finger at Liánsuǒ Shǎndiàn waiting on tenterhooks for Lei to join him.  “But I think he knows.  Otherwise, we – ”          “Foolish boy!  Go meet your deaths as we meet our fates!  Today the Wen Clan falls or lives on!”          The rider took his leather reins into his teeth while he loosed his bow from his back.  He notched an arrow.  He jammed his heels into the flanks of his horse.  The beast neighed and streaked off.  The rest of the archers followed suit, obedient to their leader who knew how to aim while jouncing in his saddle just as they did.              Tyler stood by with his heart breaking.  Yao Shi.  Yao Zheng.  Yao Hai.  Good

         Chain Lightning released a great huff.  Once more, he threw himself off Yao Shi’s steed while the clamor raged ahead of them.  Shi watched him walk around the rear of the horse.  The oaf beckoned to Jin Lei to dismount as well.  Lei appeared hesitant.  Chain Lightning waggled his hand furiously.  The archers watched and waited.  Already the dirt under them was becoming a mixture between soil and mud.  Mud worked against the galloping of horses.  The slim window of opportunity was closing.          Chain Lightning took Lei’s slender waist into his rough hands while the youth came down to his feet.  He shook a fist and looked to a side of the hollow.  One skirting around the Puppets.  A path into territory inhabited by tigers.  He pointed and wiggled two fingers under an uplifted hand.  He put fingers and thumbs around the perimeter of his eye sockets.  Lei thought he understood.          Chain Lightning snorted loudly.  Sinus drainage dripped down the back of his throat.  All