SWNOVELS Chapter River Wrath
The next morning I woke to the sound of thunder. I heard the rustling of feathers and knew that Kyrie had woken up
“Good morning, did you sleep well?”
“I did indeed, did you?” she replied and I chuckled.
“Yes, but I don’t think we should hit the road quite yet.”
She stretched her wings a bit before she flew off to find her breakfast. I rummaged through my bag until I pulled out the rest of the rations. I fed Belladonna the rest of the meat and finished off the last of the bread and cheese. I checked to see if my clothes had dried and put them on. I was watching Belladonna run around a bit when Kyrie flew back.
“We lost half a day because of the storm today, so we’ll have to move quickly today if we want to reach the next city by nightfall, and even then it will be a stretch, especially with our new recruit.” Kyrie explained, eyeing the wolf pup with a wary look. I sighed and got up.
“I’ll just have to walk just as fast then.”
“The inn should have more food and water prepared for you to take on the road,” Kyrie said as she tried to herd Belladonna back to the bag. I scooped her up and placed her inside, still wrapped in my jacket, and fixed it so her head could stick out and look around. Once I checked out of the inn and stepped outside I nodded to Kyrie.
“Lead the way.”
She took off into the sky, guiding me forward, and I hastened after her.
We reached the river Kyrie mentioned a little over three hours later as the sun set. I had expected a medium sized river with a gentle current. I knew before I even caught sight of it that I knew I was dreadfully wrong. The sound of white water rapids filled my ears as I pushed my way through the trees. What lay before me was a massive torrent roaring through the forest. I groaned and sat on a nearby rock.
“Kyrie, how am I supposed to cross that river. Even if I could swim through that current I won’t be able to carry Belladonna,” I lamented, unable to think of a way to overcome this obstacle.
“You could climb the tree and jump between the branches and climb down on the other side.” Kyrie suggested, gesturing up into the trees with her wing. I looked up and saw what she referring to. Oak trees lined both sides of the river, with their branched forming a canopy that completely covered the river. I examined the branches. Some would be thick enough to support my weight, but others looked like they were about to break, so I would have to proceed with caution.
I thought back to a few years ago when I visited my grandparents where they lived on a small farm. I was climbing one of the massive oak trees that bordered the property while my parents sat on a picnic blanket below. My mom was fussing about how I might fall and break my neck while my father just laughed.
“You shouldn’t worry too much, Layla, our daughter just wants to see the world from a different view every once in awhile. Let her have her fun.”
I chuckled ruefully as I recalled the scene. My mother would surely have a heart attack had she known what I was about to do.
I walked to a tree with the lowest branch, and adjusted my bag so that both it and Belladonna rested behind my back. After Kyrie confirmed that the wolf pup was secure I took a deep breath and leaped toward the tree. I placed my foot against the trunk and pushed off of it to give me a higher reach. I grabbed the lowest branch and hauled myself up to stand. My hand steadying me as a scanned for my next target. I found it and stepped onto it, using a higher branch to help pull me up. I repeated this process until I was in the canopy and the branches thinned out. Now that I was high enough, I looked for the closest tree across the river. Once I found it I checked once more to see if my bag was secure as well as its contents. Then I concentrated, forming a dagger with a length of chain coming from its handle.
With a thought I sent it flying into my target tree with enough force for the blade to sink hilt deep into the wood. Taking hold of the other end of the chain I sent it around the trunk and melded the last link shut as close to the trunk as I could to make a loop on my end. I repeated the process so I had another connection between the two trees another few feet up. As I worked I had felt an increase of pressure on my mind, causing a mild headache by the time I was done. Now I had two chains crossing the river, one to walk on and another to grab ahold of to keep my balance. I took a tentative step forward and the chain went taught, sinking a bit under my weight.
I made my way across as quickly as I could while still being cautious. The river ran white below me, tearing at the ground below it as it cut its path through the earth, savage and wild and defiant to any who dared attempt to tame its waters. It was then I realized that crossing the river was easier said than done. I was halfway across when I felt the chain beneath my feet give way a little, turning my blood to shattered ice and my heart to cracking stone. I looked around frantically. The closest branch was about five feet away to my right. It was too far for me to jump and the dagger I sent into the tree began to slip out under my weight before sliding out completely.
I dangled over open air Belladonna giving a bark of alarm from her place on my back. In a desperate attempt to keep out of the lethal water I thrust my hand out where I had come from and severed the link that held me to my starting point.
My hand clutched the remaining chain and for a moment I was falling through open air. I slammed into the trunk across the river and gravity yanked on my arms as I swung to the other side. I screeched with agony. My arms burned, but I held on. With what energy I had left I added links to the chain that lowered me to safety. I heard a whine come from my bag but I ignored it, shaking and completely exhausted. I was still for a few more minutes, pulling myself together, until finally I found my voice again.
“Kyrie? Are you there?” I croaked, my throat dry.
She flew to my shoulder and brushed her feathers against my cheek, a calming gesture.
“Yes I’m here.” She cooed, and continued to stroke my face.
“How much farther is it to the city? I’m not sure how much further I can go.” I whispered, almost afraid of the answer.
“I’ll go see.” She replied, and flew off into forest once more. When she left I remembered Belladonna. She looked frightened but otherwise unhurt. I pet her head and held her close. She curled into my stomach and fell asleep. We remained in that position until Kyrie returned ten minutes later.
“The gate into Spade is just an hour’s walk from here. So we should be able to make it before nightfall.” Kyrie reported, and I reluctantly started to move. I put Belladonna behind my back once more. Then I gradually made my way back to the ground, especially wary of which branches I put my weight on. Once I dropped to the ground I pulled out the compass and set off to what I hoped was the final stretch of my journey. I was walking for thirty minutes when I came across a clearing. I walked toward it, and I didn’t notice a baby cub lying there until it was right in front of me, the mother not far behind. I heard the cub cry out in fear, and the mother locked its black eyes on me, filled with pure rage.