Reid finds himself settling into a half run, half lope he finds easier to sustain, like a workhorse so accustomed to his job he doesn't have to think about it anymore. It's so easy in fact, he feels like he is on autopilot, the ache in his legs and feet so familiar by now he hardly notices at all. And, in fact, would be thrown off rhythm if the pain went away.
The night slides by a determined step at a time. At one point he starts awake and realizes he has been dozing while running, his body taking over the necessary adjustments needed to make it through the thin underbrush. Not good. Not even remotely good. Anything could happen while he's in that state and he'd miss it, probably run right into it without knowing what he was doing. It frightens him enough to make him stop and take a brea
