Shaman, Healer, Heretic by M. Terry Green Page B

the kachina or the condor would do, she took off at a run in the opposite direction. There was no way to outrun the creature but if it became distracted by something slower than her, she might have a chance. Unfortunately, Livvy was the slowest of the three.
    The condor soared past her at eye level and to the right, flapping its outstretched wings at a furious pace. The kachina, taking long loping steps on the other side, left her half a step behind with every stride. The ground bucked beneath her feet, making her stumble. She only managed to remain upright with a huge effort, lunging forward but still behind the kachina and the condor.
    Finally, Livvy could see the fountain. As she glanced back, though, her heart sank. The creature was gaining. Another deafening shriek filled the sky and, to her surprise, the condor froze in mid-flap and crashed into the ground. It tumbled among the debris in the street.
    Livvy looked at the poor creature as it struggled to right itself. Fear had driven it from its hiding place. It hadn’t intended for the monster to see them. Without thinking, she leaned down as she ran toward it and reached out a hand, but, without warning, she was jerked upright and forward, vaulting over the bird. The kachina had caught her arm and was pulling her forward, leaving the condor behind.
    “We’ve got to help it,” she yelled, but the kachina wasn’t stopping.
    Between the kachina’s strange lope and the rumpling of the ground in small waves, Livvy tripped more than she ran, but she couldn’t help but look back at the condor. Its raised head looked up after them, and one wing flapped lamely, but it hadn’t gotten up.
    The great bird-lion monster paused its pursuit as it approached the condor. It cocked its head and swiveled a gleaming eye down at its prey, where a bright light seemed to appear. Suddenly, the condor erupted into flames and–although Livvy couldn’t be sure–the bird-lion seemed to inhale the smoke from the carcass. Livvy wanted to scream but instead found new energy to run.
    The fountain seemed like it might be within reach. There was a screech behind them again, and the ground began to shudder. As though enraged by the paltry smoke it had received, or excited to be hunting more, the creature moved faster. Rubble was raining down, and they kept to the middle of the street. Livvy held a forearm over her head as she ran and managed to fend off most of the large chunks.
    Her mind blazed with a single thought–don’t fall. If you fall, it’s over.
    They were almost at the plaza and clear of the rubble, but there was a warm and rank odor coming from behind them. The creature was close. The kachina managed a burst of speed, pulling her along, apparently having caught the stale stench as well.
    She could see the fountain just yards away. Another screech vibrated the air, rattled her vision, and Livvy tripped. Her arm ripped out of the kachina’s grip, and she went down in a tumbling heap, finally rolling like a log until her momentum was gone. Her view back along the road, from the low angle, made the creature appear even taller than it was. It cocked a blazing yellow eye at her as its pace slowed. As she struggled to get up, she felt a sudden warmth in her chest and fell back.
    There, in the center of her t-shirt, was a white circle, growing brighter. An image from the video of the burning shaman flashed through her mind. She clutched at the heat in her chest, trying to turn away from the creature as she fought to stand but fell backward, landing hard. The pain was searing, as though it were consuming her from the inside out. Pinned by the spotlight as the agony overwhelmed her, Livvy did the only thing she could–she screamed.
    Suddenly, the kachina stood in front of her and blocked the burning light. He bent down and scooped her up with a power she had never suspected and then tossed her the few remaining yards to the fountain. The crystal blue water that waited there rippled under