Feet pounded a frenzied beat against dirty snow
flailing limbs jostled women and children alike

Each step drove hearts closer to bursting
each terrified gasp for air brought the villagers closer to drowning in their own sweat

They ran without direction
scattering as they dodged trees and logs
but
no matter how fast
or how far they ran
there was no escaping the fear
that dogged their every step
a rabid creature worrying a bone already picked clean

Terror had found them
and Terror wasn’t letting go