23. Chapter Twenty-Three #2
It's the faint sound of rushing water that seems to breathe new life into all of us.
We've been walking in silence, conserving our energy to concentrate on navigating the rough terrain.
Now, the change in scenery and easier conditions reinvigorate the conversation and jokes, especially when Hendrix excitedly points out fresh animal tracks apparently resembling deer heading toward the forest below.
"Does that mean we're stopping soon?" Felix asks in the general vicinity of Cayzenn and Jeska, who have been in the lead since we made it to the top of the summit.
Without a visible path, we spread out and walk side by side in two loose rows down the slope of the mountain, quickening our pace to get to the edge of the wide, sparkling river.
When I get closer, I note how fast the churning water is racing down the ravine, overflowing with icy runoff from the peaks we just crossed.
"How are we getting across this thing?" I wonder out loud, hoping they're not crazy enough to think we can swim it, even if there is a way to get down to the water far below.
There's no telling how deep it goes, and that current definitely looks more than capable of sweeping us away if we attempt to go through it.
The rest of the group join us near the edge, and Xaavi shouts, "There," pointing a few hundred feet further down, where there's a rickety old wooden bridge stretching across the rushing water, looking like nobody has touched it in decades.
"You have got to be kidding me," I say, my voice going high pitched at the thought of walking on that flimsy thing.
"So you're not volunteering to go first?" Hendrix asks, grinning excitedly at me.
"Hell no. Zero chance that's safe. It looks like it will disintegrate if you breathe on it wrong."
"There's another option," Nav's voice floats out of the ravine, muffled by the roaring rapids.
Carefully, we step to the cliff edge and find him on a wide stone shelf at the base of the biggest tree I've ever seen, on its side, roots bent and gnarled, trunk wedged into the rockface and stretching all the way across to the other side of the river. Hendrix and Cayzenn jump down join him, stepping out onto the thick trunk to test if it’s stable and can hold our weight.
The huge tree doesn't so much as wobble, even as they cautiously walk quarter of the way out over the water, arms outstretched for balance, though the surface is somewhat flat and four feet wide.
Coming back to our side of the river, Hendrix remains up on the tree while Cayzenn leaps off, landing next to Nav in a half crouch.
The second his boots hit the dark rock, blinding pain radiates from my solar plexus out through my entire body.
My blood is a fiery poison, bones turn to blades, and a vine of serrated thorns wraps around my organs, squeezing so tight, I double over, grabbing at my stomach and fighting back a wave of nausea so intense, I think I might pass out.
Even opening my eyes is agony, but my gaze is dragged to the fallen tree, only now, every trace of color has faded away, leaving it shrouded in swirling dark smoke.
I can’t make out the faces or features of anyone anymore, only dark shapes and the roar of the water, snarling an ominous warning not to cross like this.
A foreboding chill snakes down my spine, and I'm vaguely cognizant of the violent trembles rolling through me. Blinking rapidly, I try to make sense of the sudden change when a glittering, soft purple light dances at the corner of my eye, drawing my focus to the now-illuminated bridge.
The pain ebbs, everything goes quiet, warm, peaceful, an inviting tug pulling me toward the bridge.
Whatever is causing this, wants me to go that way.
With a crack, both the light and the misty shroud disappear, and I'm kneeling in the dirt, arms wrapped tight around myself as Djalira and Willa kneel in front of me, their faces wracked with concern.
"What happened?" I choke, looking around to see everyone is worried but fine.
"We don't know. You just went pale, stumbled to the ground, and started rocking," Willa replies frantically. "Are you ok?"
I swipe at the moisture gathering in the corners of my eyes and force myself to take a deep breath in through my nose. The only thing more humiliating than crying in front of people would be throwing up, and I refuse to do either. "None of you saw that?" I ask, throat bone dry.
"Saw what?" Willa's frown deepens.
I whisper. "The bridge. We need to use the bridge to cross to the tree."
A heavy thump comes from my left, and Cayzenn drops to his knees in front of me, grabbing my chin and tilting my face up to meet his gaze. "What happened? Are you hurt?" he demands, and I manage to shake my head a little.
"I'm fine. At least I think so.” I’m also embarrassed, nauseous, and more than a little confused.
He doesn't look convinced. "Seriously, what happened?"
"You didn't see or hear anything...strange?" I want to close my eyes or look away from his piercing stare while I wait for his answer, unsure if it will make me feel better or worse if he saw the same thing.