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In front of them the ground fell away into a cavernous ravine, sloping sharply down to a rushing stream. James, the fastest and farthest ahead of the group, skidded to a halt, his feet slipping dangerously close to the edge. Ketzal jerked around and looked backwards. Will looked close to dropping Sally, and the soldiers thundering behind them. Soon, the officers would see them. They had to do something, now. Ketzal’s mind raced, searching for some way to get out of sight of the soldiers. But they were trapped, pinned against a sheer cliff…
In front of them the ground fell away into a cavernous ravine, sloping sharply down to a rushing stream. James, the fastest and farthest ahead of the group, skidded to a halt, his feet slipping dangerously close to the edge. Ketzal jerked around and looked backwards. Will looked close to dropping Sally, and the soldiers thundering behind them. Soon, the officers would see them. They had to do something, now. Ketzal’s mind raced, searching for some way to get out of sight of the soldiers. But they were trapped, pinned against a sheer cliff…5
“We have to get out of sight!” Ketzal hissed back. James glanced incredulously back to Will, who nodded in agreement.
“We have to get out of sight!” Ketzal hissed back. James glanced incredulously back to Will, who nodded in agreement.6
Ketzal went first, her feet slipping down the bare rock. Sharp outcroppings scratched at her pristine nightgown, lacing it with streaks of red blood from scrapes. She hugged the cliff face tightly anyways. Debris scattered her from above as Will, James and Sally descended after her. Ketzal looked down and saw a rocky ledge protruding from the main face. She stared at it and judged the distance, determining how far they had to go. She was just lowering her foot to the next hold when the moss covering it slipped under her weight.
Ketzal went first, her feet slipping down the bare rock. Sharp outcroppings scratched at her pristine nightgown, lacing it with streaks of red blood from scrapes. She hugged the cliff face tightly anyways. Debris scattered her from above as Will, James and Sally descended after her. Ketzal looked down and saw a rocky ledge protruding from the main face. She stared at it and judged the distance, determining how far they had to go. She was just lowering her foot to the next hold when the moss covering it slipped under her weight.7
The roots were not very strong, and the plant crumbled away. Ketzal swung wildly, trying not to look down. She clambered to catch a grip as the gray rock skidded past, but all she got was a bruised hand and nicked forefinger. Sweat coursed on her still remaining hand, coating it with a sticky sheen. Her stomach clenched as her last few fingers lost their grip. She felt a weightless sensation coming over her. She was falling…falling…falling…
Will grabbed her wrist and yanked it up. She dangled from his single hand, but he wasn’t letting go. She clawed at the overhang until her still-sweaty fingers found purchase around a young sapling.
The roots were not very strong, and the plant crumbled away. Ketzal swung wildly, trying not to look down. She clambered to catch a grip as the gray rock skidded past, but all she got was a bruised hand and nicked forefinger. Sweat coursed on her still remaining hand, coating it with a sticky sheen. Her stomach clenched as her last few fingers lost their grip. She felt a weightless sensation coming over her. She was falling…falling…falling…Will grabbed her wrist and yanked it up. She dangled from his single hand, but he wasn’t letting go. She clawed at the overhang until her still-sweaty fingers found purchase around a young sapling.
8
Slowly, more carefully this time, she picked her way down to the ledge she had first seen. Dropping down to it on all fours, she rubbed her fingers, numb and tense with stress. Ketzal glanced up and saw that the ledge she had landed on wasn’t just a ledge. A gaping cave loomed widely in front of her. Ketzal stared at if for a few seconds before Will fell beside her. He reached up to help Sally and James down.
Slowly, more carefully this time, she picked her way down to the ledge she had first seen. Dropping down to it on all fours, she rubbed her fingers, numb and tense with stress. Ketzal glanced up and saw that the ledge she had landed on wasn’t just a ledge. A gaping cave loomed widely in front of her. Ketzal stared at if for a few seconds before Will fell beside her. He reached up to help Sally and James down.9
But before Sally’s feet had even touched the ground, shouts started to issue from above. Snapping her eyes back into focus, Ketzal and the others dived for the cave and drew back as far as they could. Above them, someone yelled, “They must have gone this way!” They held their breath and waited for the unmistakable clunks and scrapes of the soldiers descending the bluff to reach their ears.
But before Sally’s feet had even touched the ground, shouts started to issue from above. Snapping her eyes back into focus, Ketzal and the others dived for the cave and drew back as far as they could. Above them, someone yelled, “They must have gone this way!” They held their breath and waited for the unmistakable clunks and scrapes of the soldiers descending the bluff to reach their ears.11
Eventually, the footsteps receded, fading off into the distance. Ketzal let out her breath and then coughed again as the sudden movement in the air stirred up a cloud of dust. The cave smelled of dirt, musty droppings and rancid meat, all laced with decaying foliage. Ketzal covered her nose with the neckline of her nightgown and tried not to breath much. They weren’t the only users of the cave, it seemed.
Eventually, the footsteps receded, fading off into the distance. Ketzal let out her breath and then coughed again as the sudden movement in the air stirred up a cloud of dust. The cave smelled of dirt, musty droppings and rancid meat, all laced with decaying foliage. Ketzal covered her nose with the neckline of her nightgown and tried not to breath much. They weren’t the only users of the cave, it seemed.12
Cautiously, they snuck back out to the mouth of the cave, where daylight made things more visible. They all slumped down on the floor of the cavern to catch their breath, their hearts still pounding. Ketzal gazed at Will in awe. He had saved her. He had saved them all. Ketzal kept watching as he ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. His brow furrowed a little, then he stood up and said, “Okay, I know what we’re going to do.”
Cautiously, they snuck back out to the mouth of the cave, where daylight made things more visible. They all slumped down on the floor of the cavern to catch their breath, their hearts still pounding. Ketzal gazed at Will in awe. He had saved her. He had saved them all. Ketzal kept watching as he ran his hands through his hair, trying to think. His brow furrowed a little, then he stood up and said, “Okay, I know what we’re going to do.”13
“First of all,” he explained, “We don’t even know if the town is even still standing. The soldiers could have done anything to it. And if they did destroy it, we’ll have to have somewhere to come back to. I suggest this cave. It’s high above most predators, there’s cold water at the bottom, it has a roof and it’s dry, so we can build a fire, and it’s close to the village.”
“First of all,” he explained, “We don’t even know if the town is even still standing. The soldiers could have done anything to it. And if they did destroy it, we’ll have to have somewhere to come back to. I suggest this cave. It’s high above most predators, there’s cold water at the bottom, it has a roof and it’s dry, so we can build a fire, and it’s close to the village.”14
“Yes”, smirked James, “But it smells so bad. Imagine trying to sleep in there!” Sally wrinkled up her nose in agreement.”
“Yes”, smirked James, “But it smells so bad. Imagine trying to sleep in there!” Sally wrinkled up her nose in agreement.”15
“We’ll have to make due with it, I guess.” replied Will. “Unless, of course, you have some brilliant place that you’re just dying to show us.” James mumbled a low, “No,” and scratched in the dirt with his shoe.
“We’ll have to make due with it, I guess.” replied Will. “Unless, of course, you have some brilliant place that you’re just dying to show us.” James mumbled a low, “No,” and scratched in the dirt with his shoe.16
“That’s what I thought.” Will said. “We better start setting up and gathering stuff,” he continued, “If we want this place to be at all livable by tonight.”
“That’s what I thought.” Will said. “We better start setting up and gathering stuff,” he continued, “If we want this place to be at all livable by tonight.”Tags: Chapter