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acks of their prey
CHAPTER 11
IT WAS THE CAT that saved him。 He yowled and leapt over Richard's head in a fright； causing him to duck； not enough for the gar to miss him； but enough to deflect the full impact。 Still； the claws raked his back painfully and knocked him sprawling facedown into the dirt； driving the wind from his lungs in a whoosh。 Before he could take a breath the gar pounced on his back； its weight preventing him from breathing or reaching his sword。 Before he went down he had seen Zedd sent tumbling into the trees by a second gar； and now it went crashing through the brush after him。
Richard braced himself for the claws he knew would e。 Before the gar could rip him open； Kahlan heaved rocks at it from the side of the path。 They bounced harmlessly off the blast's head； but it was distracted momentarily。 The gar roared； mouth agape； seeming to split the night air with the sound； and held him pinned like a mouse beneath a cat's paw。 Richard struggled mightily to lift himself； his lungs burning for air。 Blood flies bit his neck。 He reached behind； pulling out handfuls of fur； trying to get the great arm off his back。 By its size he knew it had to be a short…tailed gar； it was much bigger than the long…tailed gar he had seen before。 The sword was under him； digging painfully into his abdomen。 He couldn't get to it。 It felt as if the veins in his neck would burst。
Richard was beginning to black out。 The sounds of yelling and roars from the gar were growing fainter as he struggled。 Kahlan got too close in her flurry of rock throwing。 The gar reached out with frightening quickness and snatched her by the hair。 Doing so caused the beast to shift its weight enough to let Richard gasp desperately for air； but not enough to allow him to move。 Kahlan screamed。
Out of nowhere； the cat； all teeth and claws； sprang to the gar's face。 The cat howled； clawing furiously at the gar's eyes。 With one arm holding Kahlan； it lifted the other to swipe at the cat。
When it did； Richard rolled to the side and sprang to his feet； drawing his sword。 Kahlan screamed again。 Richard swung in fury； severing the arm that held her。 She tumbled back； free。 Howling； the gar backhanding him before he could bring the sword up。 The force of the blow sent him flying through the air； landing on his back。
Richard sat up； the world spinning and tilting。 The sword was gone； thrown into the brush somewhere。 The gar was in the center of the trail； wailing in pain and rage as blood gushed from the stump。 Glowing green eyes searched frantically for the object of its hate。 They locked on Richard。 Ht didn't see Kahlan anywhere。
Off to his right； in the trees； there was a sudden blinding flash； illuminating everything with intense； white light。 The violent sound of an explosion hammered painfully into his ears as the concussion from the blast tumbled him against a tree and knocked the gar from its feet。 Rolling flames whirled through gaps in the trees。 Giant splinters and other debris hurtled past； streaming trailers of smoke。
Richard began a frantic search for the sword as the gar came to its feet with a howl。 Richard felt around on the ground； desperate； and partially blinded from the flash of the explosion。 He had enough vision； though； to see the gar ing。 His anger flared。 He could feel it flare in the sword； too。 The sword's magic reached out to him； beckoned by its master。 He called it forth； summoned it； hungered for it。 It was there； across the trail。 He knew it as surely as if he could see it。 He knew exactly where it lay； as if he were touching it。 He scrambled across the trail。
Halfway there the gar kicked him so hard he saw things moving past but couldn't understand what they were。 All he knew for sure was that every breath caused intense pain in his left side。 He didn't know where the trail was or where he was in relation to it。 Blood flies were bumping into his face。 He couldn't get his bearings。 But he did know where the Sword of Truth was。
He dove for it。
For an instant his fingers touched it。 For an instant he thought he saw Zedd。 Then the gar had him。 It picked him up by his right arm and wrapped its repulsive； warm wings about him； hugging him close； his feet dangling in midair。 He cried out from the sharp pain in his left ribs。 Glowing green eyes burned into his； and the giant mouth snapped； showing him his fate。 The immense maw split open for him； its fetid breath on his face； its black throat waiting。 Wet fangs glistened in the moonlight。
With all his strength； Richard kicked his boot into the…stump of the gar's arm。 It threw its head back； howled in pain； and dropped him。
Zedd emerged at the edge of the trees a dozen yards behind the gar。 Richard； on his knees； grabbed the sword。 Zedd threw his hands out； fingers extended。 Fire； wizard's fire； shot from his fingers and came shrieking through the air。 The fire grew and tumbled； illuminating everything it passed； being a blue and yellow ball of liquid flame that wailed and expanded as it came； a thing alive。 It hit the gar's back with a thud； silhouetting the giant beast against the light。 Within the space of a breath the blue…and…yellow flames washed over the gar； enveloping it； surging through it。 Blood flies sparked into nothingness。 Fire sizzled and snapped everywhere on the creature； consuming it。 The gar disappeared into the blue heat and was gone。 The fire swirled a moment and then it； too； was gone。 The smell of burnt fur； and a hazy smoke； hung in the air。 The night was suddenly quiet。
Richard collapsed； exhausted and in pain。 The gashes on his back had dirt and gravel ground into them； and the pain in his left side seared into him with every breath。 He wanted only to lie there； nothing more。 The sword was still in his hand。 He let the power of it wash through him； sustain him。 He allowed the anger of it to let him ignore the pain。
The cat licked Richard's face with his rough tongue and nuzzled the top of his head against Richard's cheek。 〃Thank you； Cat；〃 he managed。 Zedd and Kahlan appeared over him。 Both bent down to take his arms and help lift him up。
〃No！ You'll hurt me if you do that。 Let me get up by myself。〃
〃What's wrong？〃 Zedd asked。
〃The gar kicked me in the left side。 It hurts。〃
〃Let me look。〃 The old man bent over and ；gently felt Richard's ribs。 Richard winced in pain。 〃Well； I don't see any bones sticking out。 Can't be that bad。〃
Richard tried not to laugh； as he knew it would hurt。 He was right。 〃Zedd； that was no trick。 This time it was magic。〃
〃This time it was magic；〃 the wizard confirmed。 〃But Darken Rahl may have seen it too； if he was looking。 We have to get out of here。 Lie still； let me see if I can help。〃
Kahlan knelt on his other side and cupped her hand on his； on the hand that held the sword； held the magic。 When her hand touched his； he felt a surge of power from the sword that startled him and nearly took his breath away。 Somehow； he felt the magic was warning him； and trying to protect him。
Kahlan smiled down at him。 She hadn't felt it。
Zedd put one hand on Richard's ribs and a finger unde