The Kuthun by S.A. Carter Page A

hold it for long though.
    I focus my sight on the edge of the tree line. ‘Cantona zar,’ I whisper, making sure no one can hear me.
    My eyes zoom in so that I can see to within a few metres now. I stay searching for a moment, waiting for my vision to adjust. Uncle Jo and Magi are making their way towards me from the left. Magi has her nose down, trying to catch the scent of whoever was here. Uncle Jo is exploring the area all around him for any sign of disturbance. I see him crouch down and run his hand over a flattened patch of grass. He looks up, staring in my direction.
    I follow his gaze and look to the right, where I saw the shadow of another person only a moment ago. I search the surrounding trees, waiting for a glimpse of who it might be.
    And then I see him.
    A man—tall, well-built. He is about a hundred metres away, standing amongst the thick undergrowth of the dense forest floor. He is wearing long pants and a grey hoodie that is covering his face. I can’t make out his features through the dim light of the canopy.
    Damn it! I focus harder, zooming in closer to him, and as he reaches up to push past a tree I am able to catch a glimpse of a black scripture tattoo on the inside of his forearm. I catch the letters: sanguinem .He senses movement behind him and turns his head quickly in the direction of Uncle Jo’s location. He puts his hands in his pockets, and with head down quickens his pace.
    Magi growls and I watch her rush past my point of focus, with hackles raised and teeth bared. She is in full stride, ears back, ready to attack. Uncle Jo is running behind her, fast! I didn’t know he could move like that. He is powering through the long grass, jumping over obstacles, with arms pumping hard. He has a look of pure determination on his face.
    My adrenaline is pumping as I watch them run ahead, wanting to be with them, wanting to help them catch the man who is hunting me. That is…if this
is
the Venator? What would be the odds that all of these events happening at once were just a coincidence? No, this has to be him. This has to be the man that has been sent to kill me.
    The Venator takes off at a sprint, his powerful legs accelerating hard to create the distance he needs to escape. I try and zoom in further but it takes too much out of me. I am desperate to stay with them but my magic weakens and I see them fade into the forest before the spell abruptly ends. My eyes are back in the classroom once again.
    No! Not now. I frantically search the tree line for any sign of them. Nothing.
    I feel my blood charging, my hands tingling. I search the room for some sign of escape. The few seconds that I sit there feel like an eternity. I have to do something!
    My hand flies into the air. ‘Yes, Elena?’ Miss Matherson asks me.
    My mind is racing with a million thoughts. Focus! ‘Um, may I have a toilet break?’ I ask urgently.
    She is looking at me strangely.
Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!
    ‘Okay, but be quick about it,’ she says.
    I quickly get up and all but run out of the room. I head down the hall, not sure where I am going, but knowing that I cannot sit there when Uncle Jo and Magi are out there chasing down the Venator.
    Even thinking that name gives me the jitters.

Chapter 6
    I’m hurrying along the hall, passing lockers and classrooms, where the muffled voices of teachers and students echo out through the walls. I can’t keep my thoughts clear. Are they okay? Have they caught him?
    I hit the stairs two at a time. They lead me onto the first floor where I run towards the exit. Not knowing what I will find when I pass through them, I push open the double doors and am blinded by the glare of the sun. Shielding my eyes I look across the oval to where I last saw them. I ignore Uncle Jo’s warning to stay away from the oval and I take off at a sprint.
    I think about everything that is happening and feel responsible. My heart aches at the thought of anything bad happening to them, or to anyone I care