Keep Going!

(Those dang wolves) 

:O Drama bombs in this part. Read on to find out what they are... (BTW, in case it's not clear, Eria is Owlgirl, who asked me to give her an 'E' name.)

Part 6

~~

“E… R… I… A,” Eria finished, tracing out each letter in the sand. She stepped back to admire her work, feeling oddly proud of her own signature in the wet pebbles.

“Hey, Erie,” someone suddenly said, appearing behind her. Eria whipped around, more surprised than she’d care to admit, and saw Nebula standing there, the peacock charm around her neck sharply contrasting her dark skin.

“Oh, hi, Nebula,” Eria replied. Nebula grinned back, squatting down next to Eria. “Oh--” Eria said as she saw Nebula’s eyes glancing over her name. “T-that’s not really anything, ha. I guess I’m just feeling… um… well, bored, I guess.”

“Bored?” Nebula asked, surprised. “Wow, I don’t think I could ever be. We’re on a crazy garden-ocean with a god’s voice speaking to us and people getting magical animal powers.” Eria flushed, shaking her head as she tried to explain it.

“Well--no, I mean… it’s just that it seems like it was due,” she said. Nebula lifted an eyebrow.

“Explain?”

“At home, I was always reading fantasy books, ones with witches and wizards and all kind of incredible things,” she said, groping for her words. “I feel like… like somehow it’s just karma, and this was bound to happen. You know?” Nebula shook her head sadly, looking like she wished to understand.

“I kinda don’t. I’m still totally overwhelmed by the intensity and magnitude of what’s always happening. I could’ve never guessed this would be a thing. Don’t get me wrong--I read the same things you did, dreamed of the same worlds. I just never imagined it would happen to me.” Eria looked at her friend, feeling odd. She’d only known this person for less than a day, and yet she felt like she knew her so well. Maybe this was like the adventure she’d always dreamed and read about.

Nebula suddenly leaned forwards and grabbed the stick Eria had been writing with. Shifting her position so she could write more comfortably, she sketched out, ‘N-E-B-U-L-A’ in the sand above Eria’s name, and added a little drawing of a bird next to it. “Wow, you’re a great artist,” Eria said, staring the surprisingly realistic feathers and slender neck of the peacock. Nebula looked at it critically, shaking her head.

“Nah, it’s not my best work. I prefer drawing dragons, honestly. I probably would have just pressed the charm into the sand to make a picture, except--” She grabbed the necklace’s chain and pulled it around so that Eria could see the back. “There’s no lock. I can’t take it off, no matter how hard I try.” And indeed, there was nothing there, no clasp or opening, just smooth silver chain, like the crumbling sand below their feet.

“Huh,” Eria said, narrowing her eyes in confusion. “That’s weird… why would it be like that?”

Why would it be like that?

The person above paced in a circle, wearing grooves in the ground.

Why would it be like that? They thought, shaking with madness. Casting a glance back at the fire that was still roaring strong, they felt a flicker of fear as they saw the flames dim for a second, before they shot back. But even a second of less intensity was vastly worrying. Pressing their face into their hands, they hissed and seethed with frustration, determinedly not admitting anything to themselves.

It’s fine. Everything’s fine. It’ll be… FINE. They opened their eyes a slit, to see the image of the girl with starry wings wearing the person’s peacock chain, and the one with dark hair and a red scarf, standing there and peering at the former’s necklace, suspicion and curiosity lighting their eyes.

Something inside the person snapped, and they darted over to the smaller fire that was flickering off to the side, snatched a coal from the pile, and hurled it into the inferno, which only made it flare up stronger. A choked scream escaped their lips, and they whipped away, hands shaking. When they turned back, though, searching for something--reassurance? Comfort?--all they saw was their own reflection, burning bright in the flames.

And they had yellow eyes.

The person snarled at the reflection, which dissipated immediately, and they violently rubbed their eyes, trying to rid themselves of the color. But I can’t, but I can’t, but I CAN’T-- They knew it was still there. They knew it was. Irate, filled with sudden rage, they plunged their hand into the fire and knocked together two charms, two birds, an eagle and a swan’s. A grin curved over their face, though tears still dripped down their cheeks, evaporating in the flames, and they watched as sparks grew between the two charms, smashing together until they glowed red.

“...anymore!” the furious shout jerked Eria up from where she was sitting on the sand next to Nebula, talking about the newest Harry Potter book. She turned to see Scylla standing there, her face red with heated anger, facing Icy. The second bore the same expression, though it was worn on the inside, only visible through the color rising to her cheeks. “This is just--ridiculous! Stop stepping all over my heels!”

Slowly the other members of the group moved closer, though they still kept their distance from the two girls facing off. Tension crackled in the air like a coming storm, of something huge about to break. Something that may have been coming for a long time, but was suddenly exploding now. “You’re already tagging along and hissing jibes in my ear, it’s--infuriating!!”

Icy’s lip curled in a sneer, her eyes boring into Scylla’s. “I could say the same to you,” she said, sarcasm dripping on every word. “Who do you think you are, always tromping around in front, playing that game at being ‘leader’?”

“At least I’m good at it!” Scylla shot back, her foot digging into the sand and leaving deep, dark marks. Her cheeks were now a blaring red, a warning sign of what was about to come. “I made the decision to get us out of the forest and keep it going. All you seem to be able to do is nag!” Icy’s eyes widened, flaring with shock.
“It’s unbearable! If you could just leave me alone, it’d be GREAT!” Scylla ended spitting out the word, her eyes slammed shut.

“I--that’s--” Icy couldn’t seem to find the words she was going to say, sputtering. A shadow of guilt passed over Scylla’s face, perhaps regretting the biting words she’d said, but there were no taking back any words now. Eria watched in shocked silence as Scylla painfully turned away, marching across off the beach. Everyone scattered back as Icy stumbled by, her face half-rage and half-hurt.

“That was--” Nebula whispered in Eria’s ear, her voice cracking slightly. “Okay, I never expected that.” Eria nodded back, still not fully comprehending the situation.

“What’s going to happen now?” she wondered out loud. As if the universe had heard her worried question, a cold breeze brushed against her, chilling her skin. “Are we going to keep moving?”

“We have to,” Joan said, approaching Eria from her left. “I mean, there’s not much of a choice, is there? I’m started to get seriously hungry, and there’s nothing to be found on this beach.”

“I guess…” Eria said, though she was still hesitant. It was certain this new rift in he ground would have seen and unseen repercussions, and she sorely hoped, with all of her being, that it would turn out alright in the end…

“But... Icy and Scylla have been fine before, if a little neck-and-neck. Why would they be like that?” 

he he he... I DO like drawing dragons better.   ;)

This part's intense, and once again full of drama. Drama bombs twice in a row... this story is just non-stop.  

Part 7

~~

“That… is quite a cliff,” Kestrel murmured to herself, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of solid rock looming above her. How would it ever be possible for them to get up it? Especially since… Kestrel cast a quick glance back at Icy, who was sitting at the edge of the group, her eyes overcast and duller than she’d ever seen them. Although Scylla was no better either, Kestrel had to note. The other girl was at the opposite end of the group, leaning against the rock wall, not even bothering to talk to anyone. Her posture was slumped and apathetic, her long black hair hanging over her shoulders. Every single new line in her face was creased in--regret? Shame? It all blended together--and she looked haggard. Kestrel sighed, feeling exhausted. This was so much more than she had been prepared for--and it had struck just when her sister had--NO. Kestrel determinedly shoved the bleary thought to the back of her mind. I am NOT thinking about that.

“I don’t think we should even begin to try and climb that,” Joan hesitantly said, stepping forwards. Her unscarred eye flicked over to Scylla, who jerked up, seeming surprised anyone would still talk to her.

“W-what? Oh, yeah sure, do whatever…” she turned away, misery hanging over her like a black cloud. Kestrel’s heart twisted at the sight. How far away the fight seemed now… but still, so close.

“Well, if we’re not climbing, I guess we’re going the other way,” Joan said, turning to head away from the rock wall, but as soon as she stepped on the sand, the earth rumbled ominously and tore apart at her feet. Joan stumbled back, frantically flailing her arms as she skittered away from the abyss. Eria dashed over and heaved her backwards more, until both of them stood on solid ground. “...or, maybe not,” she finished, shivering. “Are we… do we have to go this way? How are we supposed to get up there?” No one spoke for a moment, before Booksy gasped as an idea struck her. Everyone turned to look at her, and she balked for a moment, but then stepped forward, her eyes bright.

Grabbing the charm around her neck, in a second Booksy owl was flying upwards, disappearing over the rock face. For a second there was no sound but the scuffling of feet and rustling of leaves, and Booksy grunting to the sound of ripping plants. Then a vine came hurtling over the edge of the rock face, landing limply at Joan’s feet. Booksy’s human face poked over the side, her grin wide.

“Come up!” she said. Joan beamed, instantly scaling of the wall without breaking a sweat. The rest followed hesitantly, though Nebula did just change into a peacock and flutter up the ledge, landing delicately on the edge of the rock face. Once everyone was up, Kestrel felt a chill run over her. An icy wind was blowing from the direction they were about to travel in, and Kestrel turned to Joan, who was standing at the front of the group.

“Are you sure we have to go this way?” she asked, wrapping her arms closer to her body. “It feels like winter that way, and I’m not wearing anything to deal with stuff like that.” Joan looked like she agreed with Kestrel and moved back to the cliff, but at that moment, they all heard a distinct and throaty growl that was painfully familiar at this point. They all rushed over, and saw at the bottom of the cliff several gray-furred wolves, circling around at the bottom of the cliff and occasionally jumping up to snap at the girls. Danie stood up and walked away, not giving it one more look.

“NOPE,” she said, pointedly refusing to even move in that direction. “NOPE.”

“I guess we have to go to the arctic,” Joan sighed, bracing herself against the wind that was already beginning to pick up speed as they got closer and closer to the ice. “How many people are wearing something warm?” Almost everyone raised their hand, except for Little Reader and and St Owl, who both had t-shirts on. Kestrel snuggled deeper into her jacket, feeling thankful that she’d been wearing when she woke up here. Oddly enough, though, she couldn’t remember anything before she woke in the forest except for Lily… and that was something she definitely wished she didn’t remember.

An hour into the trek, with the sun sinking below the horizon, Kestrel began to wish that she would just freeze and have it done with. She had heard before that when people were frozen, for a minute they felt cozy and warm. Kestrel was longing for a warm feeling right about now more than anything she could think of. Besides food, of course, she thought, grimacing. Everyone’s stomach was snarling loud enough to hear now. Squinting, she looked ahead and saw Joan steadfastly tromping through the snow, each step making her struggle clearer. Looking back behind her, she saw Little Reader walked besides Claaws, each of them shivering heavily, though Little Reader seemed to be feeling it much more than Claaws, as she only had a thin borrowed jacket to protect her from the cold. And the wet snow seeping into everyone’s shoes didn’t exactly help, either. Somehow Kestrel was thinking that the wolves would have been easier to deal with when she spotted something up ahead.

It looked like--oh, YES! It was! “Booksy!” Kestrel shouted, calling to owl circling up above them. Booksy swooped down, changing into a girl when she landed.

“What?” she asked, seeing Kestrel’s obvious excitement. All the girls had turned to look at Kestrel, each shuddering in cold.

“A--a cave!” Kestrel said, her numb lips not keeping her from spitting the words out. Booksy’s eyes lit up, and she instantly changed back into an owl, darting off ahead of them. A minute later, she returned, hitting the ground running.

“She’s right!” she gasped, chest heaving. “It’s a good-to-honest cave, one we can shelter everyone in! It’s huge, and empty, and--c’mon!” The news of this safe spot put a spring in the group’s step, and soon everyone was hurrying forwards against the cold, not longer feeling the chill with a haven so close in sight.

But they weren’t out of it yet.

“St, isn’t this--?” Kestrel turned only to see the snow beneath St Owl’s feet flake off, before exploding in a puff of frost. “WAIT--St, no!” Kestrel leaped for her friend, her shout only audible over the howling wind.

One of St’s boots had slipped off her feet and was lying at the top of the ice shaft. Fear overtaking her, Kestrel instantly knew what this was. Where two pieces of ice had broken apart--and left a shaft that could be tens, even hundreds of feet deep. There would be… no way to get St out. Kestrel called down into the cavern, clinging to the desperately wild hope St would be holding onto some ledge. But when St’s voice floated up from the very bottom of the pit, cracking with pain, Kestrel let the inevitability of the situation wash over her.

“St Owl… no, no…” she said, frozen tears dripping down her cheeks. “No, no… is there any way she could ever?” She hadn’t noticed the rest of the group come rushing back when St Owl had fallen, and jumped when she felt Ember’s hand on her shoulder. She looked up at the girl’s devastated face, Booksy close by her.

“Oh…” her tone started out sad, but grew excited and awed, and she suddenly leaned forwards, watching in amazement. Stung through her heart, Kestrel wondered how she could possibly be happy about her friend’s impending and slow doom, but she turned to see the one thing she had been hanging onto. You see, she had remembered just earlier yesterday when a certain Booksy had toppled over a cliff, she had soon come back up as a barn owl due to a charm from Vox. And sure enough, in front of them in the snow was a snowy owl with a twisted leg that quickly changed into St, who was clutching her injured leg in pain.

Kestrel dashed over to her, nearly slipping on the ice, and helped St up, taking acre to not hurt her leg. “I think it’s broken,” St hissed through gritted teeth. “It hurts like one of those stupid wolves biting my leg off.”

“Well, let’s get you to that cave,” Kestrel said, mostly just relieved they wouldn’t have to leave St to a horrible fate. “We can start a fire, and sleep in there.” Slowly, the group made their way across the snow-covered plain to their savior cave, and immediately collapsed down once inside.

“I don’t even care if it’s solid stone,” Claaws moaned. “I’m just happy to be out of the wind and cold.” Kestrel silently agreed as she helped St lie down. Right now, the stone felt like the softest pillow, the cave a roaring fireplace.

“Is everyone here?” someone spoke up. Scylla had stumbled to her feet, though she looked like she was about to collapse on her feet right then and there. Kestrel felt oddly relieved to see her up there. She had grown… she had grown used to the presence of Scylla at the head of the group, no matter what she may have said. “Okay… *yawn*... there’s Joan, and Claaws, Little Reader, Eria, St Owl--thank goodness--, Booksy, Ember, Kestrel,, Nebula, Danie, me, and-- ohhh no.” Scylla stopped, paling as she realized who was missing. “Noooo, no no. This is all my fault, oh no no no…”

“Icy’s missing?” Little Reader quietly said, her eyes round as twin moons. Scylla’s whole body shook as she shivered even harder, though they were all out of the wind. Quickly Joan jumped up and ran over to her, sitting down next to Scylla, though she didn’t utter a word, only offering her a comforting presence.

Nebula struggled over to the cave entrance, but came back the next second, snow frosting her starry wings. “It’s a literal blizzard out there. Anyone who goes out would freeze solid. We… we just can’t. Oh…”

Kestrel closed her eyes, wanting with all her might to just leave this place and all its problems. Settling down upon the hard stone, she pretended she was lying on a Caribbean beach, and within second she was fast asleep, all her worries washed away in the softness of dreams.

***

Persevere, my readers! This is not the end yet! This group will go on!