THE INTIMACY OF DEFEAT II

**************************************FLASHBACK*********************************************

As he traveled through the forest, he kept his head low, as though he were a goat chomping on the leaves of the plants. He unbelievably directed his breathing, just taking one more breath to calm the strain in his lungs when he felt like he was going to drop without a moment to spare.

"did you hear that?   Something moved around there," a voice said, guiding its focus toward the brush where Nelanian had taken asylum. He delayed the slightest bit, winding as though it would assist him with trying not to be seen.

Another voice, with a more profound tone than the primary, commented, "Go look at it." A surge of adrenaline fixed Nelanian's muscles, making him shiver. He remained unmoving, trying not to utter a sound that could validate the men's premonitions. The footfall arrived in a musical rhythm, as though steel drums were getting ready to play a champi