<strong>Eshalu - in the Wilds of Dra Sirdu</strong><br/><br/>With one unnatural ape fallen, its deformed, muscular and furred mass prone and still menacing though the life already seeped from its eyes, and the other fleeing, Eshalu forced herself to master her instinct to chase down the surviving creature. That sudden movement, the frenzy of battle, the blood and thrill of the hunt pulsing through her veins - it was almost overwhelming, nearing the frantic fury of maenad. But it came from an ancient and sanguinary part of her mind. Though she readied her spear, the tip pointed in the fleeing beast's direction, crouching, her thighs tense with the half-realised desire to dash and run after her quarry, she knew pursuit would be unwise if there was no-one to follow her.<br/><br/><em>Only mad beasts hunt for the chase alone,</em>the voice of the Mistress of the Track echoed in her memory. It spoke directly to her, together with the sensory memory of being struck on the back of her knees with the haft of the Mistress's spear for abandoning a hunting band of fellow novices in pursuing the chase.<br/><br/>Eshalu exhaled and lowered the tip of her spear. The surging of beating of her heart and the savage encouragement in the primal aspect of her mind subsided.<br/><br/>She had heard Aaeryn's cry at being struck by the dying polluted ape. She turned, scanning the scene before her for a swift instant, and then dashed to Aeryn's side.<br/><br/>"Can you breathe? Is anything broken?"