Chapter XIII opens amid the frantic rush through a canyon, where the protagonist and his group flee from the relentless Sagoths. Their path is narrow, the terrain hostile, and their destination—Sari’s protective cliffs—remains distant. Tension spikes when it becomes clear that Hooja, once counted on for assistance, has betrayed them. His deceit isn’t random—it’s deliberate and personal. Old resentment has driven him to abandon the party at their most vulnerable moment. Trust fractured, the escape is no longer just about evading the Sagoths—it’s now complicated by the wounds of betrayal. In this brutal world, even alliances must be questioned, as loyalties shift like sand underfoot.

Faced with the imminent danger, the protagonist makes a bold decision to turn himself into bait. To spare Perry and Ghak, he draws the pursuing Sagoths away, giving them a slim chance at safety. This act is not heroic for the sake of glory—it’s tactical and rooted in genuine care. With only a crude bow and a limited supply of arrows, he leads them into unfamiliar terrain. Though the Sagoths are strong and vicious, they are untrained in dealing with ranged weapons. This gives the protagonist a slight edge. He uses every advantage the wild gives him, not through brute force, but through agility and timing. The chase becomes a grueling test of endurance and cleverness.

The terrain turns against him when he reaches a rocky ledge, trapped with no clear escape. Here, the tension sharpens—nowhere to run, his strength fading, and enemies approaching. At this breaking point, a massive cave bear emerges, drawn by the scent of fear and the movement of prey. The sudden appearance changes everything. Instead of being the hunted, the protagonist becomes a spectator in a savage spectacle. The bear, a force of nature, crashes into the Sagoths, tearing through them with primal fury. Chaos ensues. The predator turns the battlefield into a blood-soaked advantage. The bear’s intervention isn’t born from kindness—it’s instinct. But its timing saves the protagonist’s life.

Watching the carnage, the protagonist finds himself torn between awe and terror. He knows the bear is not an ally, but its rage offers a temporary shield. His survival hangs on moments—when to run, when to hide, when to breathe. The danger doesn’t vanish when the Sagoths fall. It simply changes shape. But fortune favors him again. Before the bear can turn its attention toward him, Ghak and the Sarian warriors arrive. The timely appearance shifts the balance once more. With the Sagoths decimated and the bear driven away by numbers and noise, the protagonist is pulled from the brink. Exhausted, injured, but alive, he finds himself safe for now.

The aftermath reveals more than just the scars of battle. Ghak recounts the story of the bear’s attack with a mix of respect and unease, underscoring Pellucidar’s unpredictable dangers. In this land, survival often hinges not on strength alone, but on the favor of wild fate. Hooja’s betrayal casts a long shadow, reminding them that the enemy is not always in front of them. Sometimes, it walks beside them, waiting for the right moment to strike. Yet even in betrayal, the group grows tighter. Trust is tested, and those who remain gain deeper loyalty. Every escape, every ambush, every encounter with nature’s violence adds to the shaping of a hardened group ready to defy the Mahars’ dominance.

This chapter does more than push the story forward—it exposes the raw core of survival in Pellucidar. Conflict is constant, but it’s not just about swords and beasts. It’s about choices, sacrifice, and the instinct to protect. The protagonist, once an explorer, now steps fully into the role of leader. His journey is no longer about understanding this strange world—it’s about conquering it. Hooja’s deceit and the Sagoths’ pursuit are not just obstacles—they are shaping forces. Through them, bonds are strengthened and instincts sharpened. The wild does not forgive weakness, but it rewards those who learn fast and adapt. And now, with the cliffs of Sari closer than ever, the next chapter in their resistance begins.