The Endless
Short flash fiction, inspired by some light reading
** The Endless**
We caught the scent on the air, and knew our doom had arrived.
The land was ripe and the waters deep, the air sweet and my eye had been upon a lovely member of the clan who had just come into her spring, when the scent caught me. The scent of the others, the Endless. They were close, and I saw movement on the edge of my vision, and caught the loping figure that approached towards us, at his hell the damnable four-legged Swarmer. Close, the scent was bitter and the sonorous growl of their tongue made my spine still and my bladder release. I knew no fear more than at that moment, watching the Endless coming. My doom was upon me, but at least I could warn the rest of the tribe.
I ran and cried out a warning, and took fleet across the plain, leading the Endless on while my family, my own, ran beside. I ran mightily, my heart thundered, and I carried the run away from the hated foe, and covered land with speed and determination, I ran as though my life depended on it, and I knew it did. I ran, and heard the braying of the Swarmer and the growl of the Endless - there were more, and they were behind us. I ran, and my own kept pace - and we covered, until we needed to rest, to catch our breath, to try and reserve our strength.
And they were there - following behind us - a great distance, but there. The Swarmers were with it, keeping pace and tracking our path, and I felt my knees buckle, for I was tired from the sprint, but it did not slow its stride or step. I cried out warning again, and we held our rest a few moments more, before continuing once again along the grass - running from the Endless, and the Swarmers. It was there that the eldest of us fell and did not rise, and I heard it give a scream as it died - but it did not stop the others, who came.
I ran. The moon was high when I stopped again, my lungs burning and heart threatening to burst - my knees buckled, and I smelled fear coming from the rest. We rested, though we were scattered now - some had run north, and I maintained east, towards the mountains. There would be ancient foes in the east, but here, there were worse things than the mauling beasts, or the sprinting death. My heart ached. We were dissolved, but some would survive. I was glad for it.
And yet they came. Closer. My knees wobbled as I rose up to stand again, and buckled, falling flat face to the ground. I struggled, but soon lay still, dizzy with exertion. Others ran, and left me. I closed my eyes in fear, and felt the nip of a swarmer against my flank. I kicked, scoring a blow, only to feel pain explode up my body, as I was attacked. I kicked again - but the Endless stared at me with its fiendish eyes, and its flat face contorted into a sinister smile. The teeth were flat, its forelimbs heavy, and a mighty talon resting within one paw. The claw switched hands, as it rose the great thing up and cast it at me - foolish, as it was not within range of my kicks.
And I bellowed pain, as the claw slammed into my side, and pierced a lung. My breathing bubbled and I labored, as it came near and withdrew the giant claw, and raised it up again, shouting to the sky its victory over me. Others joined it, their flat faces filled with mirth, and the swarmers drew near, tails shifting, great fangs gleaming red with blood. The monster rose its great claw again, and struck.
I knew no more.