by Megan Linski
“We don’t have forever.”
My head snapped in Liam’s direction. He’d woken up. He pushed himself to a sitting position, disturbing Esis. When Esis realized I was all the way across the cave, he quickly rushed to my side.
“We’ll eventually run out of air,” Liam said.
“Stop it, Liam,” I groaned. I glanced into the tunnel to make sure Imogen hadn’t heard him. She was in her own little world, focusing on the earth.
He shrugged. “I’m only stating fact.”
“You’re being a pessimist,” I told him. “We won’t get anywhere with that kind of attitude. Just let Imogen do her thing.”
Liam held up his hands in surrender. “You know, for a girl who didn’t want to be team Captain, you’re doing an awful lot of lecturing.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, well, someone has to keep you in line.”
Amusement touched the corner of his lips. “Of course that’d be your job, pawee.”
“And I take that job seriously,” I said. “Sit back and relax while Imogen works her magic.”
It took another fifteen minutes until I saw the ends of the first roots snake through the dirt.
“Don’t get too excited just yet,” Imogen warned. “Plants can be kind of touchy. It might take a while.”
Slowly, the roots began to carve out the dirt until the sunlight peeked through and touched our little cave. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Almost there!” Imogen yelled back.
The path she’d created widened more and more, until the sunlight flooded through the long dirt tunnel and onto the rocks Imogen lay on. Thick layers of root outlined the dirt, pushing back against the hard earth and providing structure to the new length of tunnel.
“Imogen, you did it!” I cried.
She shot me back a shy smile, then raised her voice to yell, “Time to go!”
Sassy and Imogen crawled forward, while I turned back to Jonah. He was struggling to get to his feet and stumbled when he tried to put weight on his bad ankle.
“Do you need help?” I asked.
“Nah,” he said with a wave of his hand. “I’ve got this.”
He tried another step, but his ankle twisted under him. Squeaks was there in under a second to steady him. Liam rushed to his other side and grabbed Jonah’s arm to drape it over his shoulder.
“Can you crawl?” Liam asked him.
Jonah nodded. “I think so.”
“Good,” Liam replied before turning to me. “Go ahead, Sophia. I’ve got him.”
I hesitated. Liam’s knees shook under Jonah’s weight. He didn’t look like he was doing well. I wanted to go last to make sure they both made it out all right.
“He may need help at the end,” Liam said. “Imogen can’t pull him out on her own.”
He had a point.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’m right in front of you if you need anything, Jonah.”
I turned and crawled through the tunnel behind Esis. The sunlight was blinding when I emerged, but it felt good on my skin. I barely recognized the landscape around me. Where there was greenery yesterday was only mounds of dirt and rock today. Trees had been plowed over, and I couldn’t even see the boulder we’d run around the day before.
Imogen took in the devastation, her eyes traveling far down the mountain through the path of the landslide. “It’s a shame the Elders had to kill so many trees. I hope they restore this area when the tournament is finished.”
“Hopefully they will,” I agreed.
Jonah moved slowly through the tunnel, but eventually, he reached the end. His hands searched the opening for something to grab onto and pull himself out. Imogen and I each offered a hand to help. It was like trying to drag out a full-sized tree. It took all my strength. The guy was huge. Squeaks pushed from the other side of him, and we managed to yank Jonah out. He lay in the dirt to catch his breath.
As soon as Squeaks squeezed out of the tunnel, I turned back to it to offer my hand to Liam. His palm was clammy and slipped in mine, but he took it anyway.
“Good job, Imogen,” Liam said through heavy breaths. He sat beside Jonah and wiped at the sweat on his brow. Dark circles had formed under his eyes.
“Are you going to be okay, Liam?” I asked.
He nodded.. “I’m more worried about Jonah. Should we take a look at that ankle?”
Jonah sighed. “I guess we’re going to have to.”
Liam reached for Jonah’s shoe and began untying the laces. Gently, he pulled Jonah’s shoe off and then peeled back his sock. Everyone leaned in to take a look. Honestly, it didn’t look that bad. There was only a slight bruise and swelling on the back of his foot.
Liam scoffed. “Seriously, Jonah? This is it?”
“You think I’m lying?” Jonah shot back. “It’s in a very sensitive area. Besides, broken bones don’t always look bad from the surface.”
Liam’s eyebrows shot up. “You think you broke something?”
“Well, um…” Jonah hesitated. “I don’t know. I might’ve…”
Liam sighed, then glanced up to the peak of the mountain. We had a long trek ahead of us. As my gaze followed Liam’s, I noticed a creature circling above us. It was smaller than a dragon but bigger than a bird, and looked as if someone was flying on its back. I squinted at it and realized it was a winged lion. Another member of the camera crew, I was sure. Everyone in Kinpago was probably laughing at us. We had to be at least half a day behind the other teams.
Liam’s jaw tensed. “Can you at least try walking?”
“I don’t know,” Jonah snapped. “Can you try showing a little compassion?”
“We can try wrapping it,” I suggested quickly, before they bit each other’s heads off. “Like in our Medical Care of Familiars class.”
“We don’t have a first-aid kit,” Liam pointed out.
“I’m sure we can find something,” I said. “Like some sort of vine.”
“Forget about it,” Jonah insisted. “Squeaks can carry me.”
“You up for it, girl?” Imogen asked as she stroked Squeaks’ feathers.
Squeaks nodded and straightened her back, eagerly waiting for Jonah to climb on. Imogen and I each took one of Jonah’s arms and helped him up.
As soon as he was on Squeaks’ back and she started forward, her front foot caught on a rock, and she stumbled. Jonah’s hands flew out to catch himself, but he landed on his bad ankle. He let out of a cry of pain as his leg crumbled beneath him. He rolled down the mountainside a good fifteen feet until coming to a stop.
“Oh my God!” I screamed the same time Imogen and Liam cursed the ancestors.
The three of us raced over to him. From up the mountain, Squeaks hung her head in shame. Jonah slammed his fist against the dirt to keep from screaming. My gut twisted. I couldn’t watch this.
“Esis, come here.” I gestured to him.
Imogen’s eyes met mine, and then she glanced to Liam, though he didn’t notice. “I have an idea,” she blurted.
Esis hopped into my lap. I pulled him close but paused to listen to her.
“I can… I can carry Jonah,” Imogen said.
Liam scoffed. “We all know how that worked out last time.”
“That’s because I wasn’t thinking about it like an Elementai,” Imogen pointed out. “I’ll use the trees to carry him. Just watch.”
I held my breath. Nothing happened for several seconds, but then the ends of tree roots rose up from the ground.
Jonah drew in a surprised breath when the roots lifted him. His body hovered just inches above the ground and glided along from one group of roots to the next, as if riding a conveyor belt. Imogen was careful with his foot, making sure to keep it elevated without letting the roots touch the tender spot.
Jonah glanced around to see he was off the ground. “Well, this is… kinda cool. It’s like a little massage.”
Liam stood and crossed his arms. “Do you think you can keep that up, Imogen?”
She nodded. “Once we
reach those trees, I’ll use the branches to hold him up.”
Liam looked skeptical, but Jonah just raised his arms into the air and made a rock-and-roll sign with his hands.
“Crowd surfing, baby!” Jonah teased.
Liam just shook his head and frowned. “Fine. Whatever works. Let’s get going.”
Hours passed as we climbed the mountain. Though we’d stopped for lunch to cook up the two chipmunks and a squirrel Squeaks had caught for us, we were all starting to slow down. It wasn’t a very substantial meal, and the incline was killing my legs. I was certain everyone else felt the same. The higher we climbed, the thinner the trees became. The clouds darkened, blocking the sun, and the air cooled. I could see it in Imogen’s tired eyes that she was straining to stretch her magic by moving Jonah from tree branch to tree branch.
Jonah had passed out, snoring as the trees grew around his form, cradling him and passing him from one tree to the next like a bucket brigade.
Liam looked the worst of all. His hands shook, and his hair was in disarray around his face. His lips were dry and cracked, and his face paler than normal. His eyes glazed over, but he kept them locked on the mountain peak— like that was the only thing pushing him forward. He shivered, but when I’d offered to share some of my warmth, he declined.
“I think we need to take a break,” I suggested.
“We’re almost to the top,” Liam said without slowing his step.
“The trees are thinning, and we need to figure out something else for Jonah,” I pointed out. “Maybe he can try riding Squeaks again.”
Liam whirled around, almost stumbling over the rocks at his feet. “Or maybe he can try walking like the rest of us.”
“Liam, he’s hurt—” I started, but he promptly cut me off.
“Please,” he scoffed, gesturing to Jonah hanging in the trees. “He’s living in luxury there. The dude’s taking a fucking nap while the rest of us are climbing Mount Fucking Everest.”
I stopped in my tracks, completely taken off guard by Liam’s tone. Imogen came to a halt behind me. Jonah’s snoring and the sound of heavy winds were all I heard.
I blinked several times, trying to find the words. But what was I supposed to say to that? Liam obviously wasn’t looking for comfort.
Imogen stepped in for me, though her tone was anything but comforting. She was beyond irritated. “I’m sorry, Liam,” she snapped. “Were you looking for a free ride to the top? I mean, did you want to break an ankle? At least you can walk!”
“Yeah,” Liam bit back sarcastically. “I have so much to be thankful for. Thanks for the reminder. Never mind the fact that—”
He cut off abruptly.
“What?” Imogen demanded.
Liam turned away from her and fixed his eyes on the mountain peak again. “Nothing,” he mumbled.
“No.” Imogen stomped up to him and stood on her toes so he couldn’t avoid her gaze. “I want to know. What were you going to say?”
A muscle popped in Liam’s jaw. “It doesn’t matter.”
Imogen crossed her arms. “It does. If you have something to say, say it.”
He spoke through clenched teeth. “Sophia’s right. We need a break. Besides, I know a plant in this area that might help relieve some of the lumberjack’s pain.”
Liam shoved Jonah’s shoe he still held into Imogen’s hands. Then he whirled around and started down the mountain.
“Liam!” I called, but he ignored me. I turned to Imogen. “He’s being ridiculous.”
“I know,” she agreed. “But it’s Liam. He needs to cool off.”
I nodded. “Thank you, by the way. For carrying Jonah to keep our secret.”
Imogen shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “We don’t need to piss Liam off more than he already is.”
“Agreed,” I said. “I plan on telling him… but after the tournament. We don’t need him abandoning us in the middle of it. He’s coming back, right?”
Imogen glanced to his retreating form. “Yeah. He’s coming back.”
Imogen lowered Jonah to the ground beside us. He stirred, and his whole body shivered.
“I don’t know how we’re going to get him over the peak of the mountain,” Imogen said.
I bit my lower lip, staring down at him. “I think we need to heal him.”
“Liam will know something’s up,” Imogen protested.
“He already thinks Jonah’s faking it,” I argued. “Right now, Jonah is worse off than Liam. We need to help him.”
Imogen hesitated. “Fine. But Jonah can’t tell Liam. Not until we make it out of here. Liam will freak.”
“I know. Esis, come on buddy.”
Esis hopped down from Squeaks’ back and scurried over to where Jonah lay.
I knelt down beside them. “Do you think you can help him? The same way you helped Aisha?”
Esis nodded eagerly, then placed his tiny little hands on Jonah’s skin just above his sock. I didn’t get to witness his miraculous recovery since the injury was internal, but watching Jonah’s energy return was magical enough on its own. Slowly, color returned to his face, and his eyes fluttered open as the bruise faded.
“How are you feeling?” Imogen asked.
Confusion settled over his face, and he wiggled his foot. “Surprisingly well. How long was I—?”
Jonah cut off when he saw Esis at his feet, his tiny hands on him and his eyes closed. Realization crossed Jonah’s face.
“Holy shit!” Jonah cursed as he shot upright to a sitting position. “Esis can heal?!”
“Yes,” I confirmed in a nervous tone. “But it’s a secret.”
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Jonah demanded. “He could heal Liam!”
“Shh,” I cried, slapping a hand over his mouth. He promptly stuck his tongue out to lick me. “Ew! Jonah, really?”
“Don’t put your hand on my mouth,” Jonah snapped back. “But… seriously, Sophia? How could you not tell Liam? He could finally get better!”
“I know. And I want him to. But can you imagine his reaction?” I pleaded.
Jonah contemplated it for a moment. “He still has a right to know. If Esis healed him, we could make it back faster.”
“I know, I know,” I insisted. “But what if it tears our group apart? If Liam feels betrayed… if he feels like he can’t trust us…”
“We can’t deal with that right now,” Imogen finished for me.
Jonah still looked skeptical. “How long have you known?”
“A few weeks,” I said, dropping my gaze. “We kept it secret to protect Esis. I don’t want anyone taking him from me.”
“You could’ve trusted us,” he said.
“What would you do if Squeaks had unique magical abilities?” I asked. “You’d do whatever you had to in order to protect her, wouldn’t you?”
Jonah glanced to Squeaks, who was nipping playfully at Sassy on her back. “Yeah. I guess I would.”
“Please don’t tell Liam,” I begged. “I need to protect Esis. We need to protect our team.”
“Liam’s my best friend,” Jonah said harshly. “You want me to keep it a secret that the cure for whatever he’s suffering from is right there in front of him?”
“Yes. Because we have no choice,” I said firmly.
Jonah hesitated. “Fine. But you better tell him after we make it out of here. Not telling him… it’s cruel.”
I flinched. “I will,” I promised.
“I’ll let him ride Squeaks to the top,” Jonah said. “He’s lighter than me, so she should be able to take it.”
“If she doesn’t trip over her own feet,” Imogen mumbled.
Squeaks shot her a death glare.
“Sorry, Squeaks.” Imogen shrugged. “You’re kind of a klutz.”
Liam’s loud footsteps and mumbling reached my ears. He was already on his way back. I could see him trudging through the thin trees.
“This forest is fucking useless!” he shouted.
“Anc
estors,” Imogen muttered. “He’s like an emotional hurricane. I thought Toaqua were supposed to be gentle.”
Jonah just rolled his eyes. “Can I have my shoe?”
Liam stomped out of the trees and toward us. “Excellent. You’re up. Looks like you don’t need that painkiller after all.”
Jonah forced a painfully fake yawn. “Nah, dude. That nap really helped. My ankle’s feeling better. I think I can walk from here.”
Liam huffed and started back up the mountain. He muttered under his breath loud enough for us to hear. “Unbelievable. Yet no one listened when I said you were being a baby.”
“Hey,” Jonah called as Liam distanced himself from us. “You wanna ride Squeaks?”
“And fall down the mountain when she trips?” Liam yelled back. “No thanks. My own two feet are pretty reliable.”
Which I could tell was a total lie, because he was struggling to walk. Why was he so stubborn?
“Are you coming or not?” Liam asked.
We all hurried behind him. Nobody spoke as we continued our trek, finally cresting the mountain and starting down the other side. Hours passed until the sky began to darken into evening.
“We need to stop,” Jonah finally broke the silence.
“We still have some daylight left,” Liam replied. “It won’t take long to make a shelter now that we know what we’re doing.”
“I don’t mean stopping for the night,” Jonah said. “The pressure in the air just shifted. I think a storm is going to reach us soon.”
Liam glanced to the darkening sky above us. The clouds rushed by, swirling into indistinct shapes that warned of danger. The wind around us picked up almost instantly, and thunder rumbled in the distance.
“How soon?” Liam asked.
“Um, now!” Imogen shouted, pointing above us.
I followed her gaze, only for my stomach to instantly bottom out. A funnel cloud was forming in the clouds above.
And it was going to land right on top of us.
As if we didn’t have enough to deal with. We’d just gotten over being buried alive, and we hadn’t even gotten a good night’s rest before a fucking twister decided to fuck up the party.
This monster was no joke. It hadn’t reached the ground yet, but I could see that the funnel cloud was a quarter of a mile across and had huge power. The roar of it was so loud that it was hurting my ears. Once it reached earth, it would send us flying all the way across the country.