Blue's feet pounded awkwardly against the damp pavement, their build not suited for running. One hand clutched her ribs, a hot mess of blood matting the feathers there as she flew through the dark alleys.
It hurt. It hurt so much, but she couldn't afford to stop running. They were close, little flashes of black in her peripheral vision. Her only chance was to keep moving, and pray they lost her.
With a final burst of speed, Blue pulled ahead and disappeared into the shadows of an alleyway, crouching low behind a dumpster. Dark shapes flickered past her hiding place, and she wheezed, relaxing against the ground in momentary relief. Her small frame shook with exertion, dark blood leaking between the digits pressed against her wound.
Her vision was starting to get blurry, but the sting of her raw, scraped toes anchored her, kept her awake, eyes flicking between shadows, watching for movement.
She didn't want to die, not yet.