Mothers drove their children ahead of them — wolf-cub and tiger-cub and human. Mares with their foals went by. Broad pinions of the Winged Ones beat northward through the fiery gloom. Moving out, moving out, even as the Clans had fled from the forest! And fear went with them on the bitter air and the eyries were empty save for the drifting smoke.
Watching this, Eric Nelson came to a desperate decision. He told Nsharra, "Sloan and Van Voss are the backbone of the whole Humanite campaign. If I could get those two and their weapons out of the way the Brotherhood would have a fighting chance later on!"
She looked at him, white-faced. "I know what you are thinking — that you must stop them because you helped bring them here!"
Nelson did not deny it.
"But it's impossible!" she cried. "You can't get near them. They won't come on until the fire has swept us out of Vruun and out of the forest!"
Nelson said swiftly, "But when the fire has cleared the way for him Sloan will make for the Cavern of Creation! I know him — it's the platinum there he's after, first and last."
He caught her arm. "You must show me how to get into the Cavern, Nsharra! I'll wait there for them — I've a few bullets left and those two won't get out again if I can help it!"
Nsharra looked at him with wide dark eyes. Then she said, "Come, I'll show you the way."
The streets, the forest-ways, were almost empty now. The last stragglers were disappearing northward through the trees. It was none too soon. Ash was falling like snow and the wind was hot. The Clan-leaders came racing back, their eyes burning with the anger and the shame of flight. Hatha had brought a mount for Nelson.
"Is the city cleared?" Nsharra cried.