"And Elton," Tristan agreed.
They trudged on in Gray's wake, stopping occasionally to reorient themselves as the sun moved across the sky. Ginger's feet were sore and on their way to having blisters, and her stomach felt as if it were chewing on itself. She licked her lips trying to moisten them with what little saliva was in her mouth. The world had narrowed to the small patch of ground in front of her. If she could take just one more step, she would be one step closer.
Gray stopped abruptly, and Ginger raised her head. For the first time in their journey, the landscape ahead of them had changed. Trees rose from the ground, and the endless rocks gave way to dirt.
"I think the water is on the other side of these trees." Gray pointed needlessly toward the trees in front of them.
Ginger looked at Emery's wan face as she lay in Tristan's arms. She tugged on his arm and began to run. "Let's go."
"Wait, Ginger!" But Ginger ignored his call, intent on getting to the water that would revive her sister. She ran through the stand of trees, pushing branches out of her face with her hands and ignoring the brambles that snagged her shoes and pants. She broke through the other side of the trees at full speed. She tried to find purchase on the loose stones on the ground, windmilling her arms and backpedaling frantically. The ground beneath her feet disappeared.
"Ginger!" she heard Gray's cry as she toppled over the edge of the cliff.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
"You can't," John said for what Maeve thought must be the hundredth time.
"We've been over this. I have to." Maeve shoved a sweatshirt into the backpack on her bed.
"Why?"
Maeve stopped packing and looked at him in disbelief. "Are you really asking me that?" She waved her arm at the window. "My friends are out there. They need help, and no one is helping them."
"I know that, Maeve. But what help do you think you're going to be if you go out there all alone? And what about Emma?"
Maeve moved closer to John. "John, I love Emma. But she would want me to go. You know that."
John hung his head. "I know. I just don't want to lose both her and you."
"You won't." Maeve pulled John into a fierce hug. "We're going to find that plagoran venom, and I'm going to find my friends." She pulled back, still holding onto his arms. "I'll come home. I promise."
John gave her a long look, then nodded. "I'm going to see Emma. Say goodbye before you leave."
Maeve finished packing, threw her pack over one shoulder, then looked around her room. It was much nicer than the loft she had grown up in. Maeve hadn't wanted to take over this house when Cleo offered it to them because it was better than most of her friends' houses, but Gray had convinced her that it was time for Emma to enjoy some of the comforts of life after living in the caves for so long. Now Maeve wondered if Emma would even be here the next time she came home. Shaking off the morbid thought, she closed the door to her room and walked down the short hallway to Emma's room. She poked her head into the darkened room. At first, she thought Emma was sleeping and debated whether to wake her, but Emma weakly waved her into the room.
"You're leaving." It was a statement, not a question. Emma knew her too well.
Maeve nodded as she set her pack on the floor and sat in the chair next to Emma's bed. "Yes. I'm going to help find the plagoran."
Emma let out a chuckle that quickly turned into a coughing fit. Maeve waited for the coughing to ease before helping her take a sip of water from the glass on the bedside table. "You're going to find Gray and the others, aren't you?"
Maeve nodded again. In the weak sunlight coming through a crack in the curtains, for the first time in Maeve's memory, Emma looked old. The wrinkles in her well-lined face were more pronounced, and black circles rimmed her eyes. Maeve bit her lip to hold back the tears. She picked up Emma's hand. Her skin reminded Maeve of brittle paper as she ran her thumb over the veins on the back of her hand. Emma gave Maeve's hand a weak squeeze.
"You go on. Don't worry about me."
"How can I not worry about you? You've been the grandmother I never had." Maeve gave Emma a watery smile. "I wouldn't have made it through the past few months without you."
"That's nonsense." Emma strengthened her grip on Maeve's hand. "You listen to me. You are stronger than you think. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and you know what's right. You would have done just fine without me."
"But I don't want to do just fine without you." Maeve shifted closer to the bed. "Who else is going to call me honey and tell me when I'm being stupid? Who else is going to love me anyway?"
"Oh, honey. There are plenty of people who love you regardless of what you do." Maeve looked at her skeptically.
"Your parents, for one." Maeve shook her head. "They do, Maeve. Did you know your mom comes over here sometimes when you're still at work?"
Maeve sat back in her chair, stunned by this news. "Why?"
Emma cleared her throat, and Maeve helped her to drink more water. "Because she loves you. She wants you to forgive them. Don't you think it's about time?"
Maeve shifted uncomfortably. She had vowed to work on her relationship with her parents, but their actions still stung. "They betrayed me."
Emma coughed once and shifted restlessly in the bed. "Yes, they did. But they thought they were looking out for you. Walk a mile in their shoes, Maeve. They were trying to protect you."
Maeve started to protest, but Emma raised a hand to cut her off. "They went about it the wrong way, but they really were trying to protect you. Give them a chance, Maeve. We all need people who love us no matter what. You're going to need them when I'm gone."
Maeve stood up. "You're not going anywhere," she said fiercely. She picked up her pack and slung it over her shoulder with more force than necessary. "I'm going to find that plagoran, and we'll have the antidote. Then I'll find Gray and the others, and we'll be able to defeat Arabella."
Emma gazed at her with calm, sad eyes. "If determination is enough, you'll definitely succeed. But if it's not, Maeve, then know this: You are loved more than you know. It has been the great pleasure of my life to be your friend. Don't let guilt and hatred rob you of the life you were meant to live." Emma motioned weakly with her hand. "Come here."
Maeve returned to Emma's bedside and leaned over to hear her words. "Do great things, Maeve. But always remember to forgive yourself and others. No one is perfect. Not you. Not them. When we forgive each other, love always wins in the end. Never forget that."
"I love you, Emma." Maeve leaned down and kissed her cheek. "You hang on until I get back, OK?"
Emma nodded and wiped a tear from Maeve's face. Maeve turned to go and found John leaning against the wall next to the door. He nodded to her and said, "Good luck, Maeve," then pulled the chair Maeve had vacated closer to the bed, sat down, picked up Emma's hand and began talking to her in a low murmur. Maeve watched for a moment before she turned and walked out the door.
###
Tristan and Emery rushed out into the open as Gray struggled to comprehend what had just happened.
"Where's Ginger?" Tristan asked at the look of horror on Gray's face.
Unable to form words, Gray pointed at the edge of the cliff.
"No!" Emery shouted and rushed to the edge. Tristan grabbed her and pulled her back before she could follow Ginger over the edge. She pounded her fists on Tristan's chest. "We have to help her." Emery sobbed hysterically.
Tristan gripped her by the arms. "We will. But you stay here. The edge isn't safe." Tristan waited for Emery's sobbing to die down. "Do you understand?" Emery nodded.
Gray was already laying on his stomach, peering over the edge. Pieces of dirt and rock crumbled away from where he lay.
"Tristan! Get over here."
Tristan gave Emery one last warning look, then crawled over to where Gray lay. "What do you see?"
"Look." Gray pointed slightly to his left. "She fell to a ledge down there."
"Ginger," Tristan yelled, his voice e
choing through the canyon. "Can you hear me?"
When the echoes of Tristan's voice had died down, they heard nothing but silence.
"Can you see if she's conscious?" Tristan asked Gray, straining to see around him to the ledge where Ginger was.
"It doesn't look like it." Gray shifted to give Tristan a better view of Ginger, who lay sprawled on her stomach with one leg cocked at an awkward angle.
"Is she even alive?" Tristan asked in an anguished whisper to keep Emery from overhearing.
Gray shook his head. "I don't know. We need to get down there to find out."
Tristan looked frantically around for something they could use to rappel down the side of the cliff.
"There!" Emery pointed toward the trees to their left, next to the shimmering pond full of precious water. Tristan squinted. Something black was hanging from one of the trees. He sprinted to the trees and stared at the gift they'd been given. A black rope dangled just out of reach from a branch above his head.
Gray blew out a breath as he joined Tristan at the tree. "Guess one of us needs to go up."
Tristan walked to the base of the trunk and reached above his head to grab the nearest branch.
"Are you sure that will hold you?" Gray eyed the thin branch then looked back to Tristan's tall, fit frame.
"It's going to have to." Tristan grabbed the branch with both hands and began to pull himself up. He flung one leg over the branch. The branch bent ominously under his weight. Emery joined Gray at the base of the tree, and they exchanged worried glances before gluing their eyes back to Tristan.
"Can you see where the rope is tied?" Gray peered through the web of branches, straining to see where the rope ended.
Tristan tilted his head for a better view. "I think it's about 10 feet up."
"Do the branches get bigger as you go up?" Gray asked as the branch Tristan stood on dipped even lower.
Tristan shook his head. "No. Unfortunately, they get smaller."
"They're never going to hold you."
Tristan looked up toward the top of the tree again. "We have to get the rope." He reached for the next branch, but before he could grab it, an ominous crack rang through the air.
"Tristan!" Emery yelled.
The branch cracked again and fell away beneath Tristan's feet. He reached for the next branch but missed and crashed to the ground.
Emery and Gray rushed to his side. "Tristan?" Emery said as she and Gray moved away the pieces of the branch so they could reach Tristan.
Tristan rolled to his back and groaned as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head. "That didn't feel so good."
Gray quickly checked Tristan over to make sure nothing was broken. "Do you know your name?"
Tristan stared at him. "Of course I know my name. It's Tristan." He wobbled as he rose to his feet but steadied himself quickly. "The better question is how are we going to get that rope if the branches won't hold our weight."
Emery walked over to the base of the tree. "It might not hold your weight, but I'm sure it will hold mine."
"That is not happening," Gray said. "Your sister will kill me if anything happens to you. And 10 minutes ago you could barely hold yourself up. What are we going to do if you pass out while climbing that tree?"
Emery examined the tree then turned to Gray. "My sister isn't going to be around to be mad at you if we don't get that rope.” She pointed at the pond. “Grab me some water, and I’ll be fine. Adrenaline is an amazing thing.”
Gray rushed to the pond, looking on the ground for something to use as a cup. A large piece of bark curved like a cup lay next to the pond. He hurried to fill it with the clear pond water and handed it to Emery. She drank deeply, then said, “Give me a boost. I'm going up."
Gray still refused to give her a boost. Tristan limped over to where Gray and Emery were arguing. "She's right, you know. Those branches won't hold our weight. They should hold hers. Unfortunately, she's our only hope of getting down to that ledge and helping Ginger."
Gray still made no move to help Emery reach the next branch. "Ginger and Maeve are going to kill me."
Emery shifted impatiently from one foot to the other. "We're wasting time. You know there's no other option. Give me a boost."
Gray sighed then stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Don't you dare fall."
Emery grinned at him and placed her foot in his hands. He boosted her upward, and she successfully grabbed the next branch and pulled herself up.
"Be careful," Tristan admonished.
Emery gave him a thumbs up, reached for the next branch and disappeared into the thick leaves. Gray and Tristan stared into the dense thicket of branches above them, unable to see much of Emery. Occasionally, leaves and small twigs would fall to the ground.
"How are you doing?" Gray yelled.
"I'm fine. Almost to the rope."
Gray found it hard to stay still at the base of the tree and began pacing back and forth. Tristan leaned against the tree trunk.
"What's up with the leg?" Gray asked.
"Nothing. It's fine."
"Who are you kidding? I saw you limp over here." Gray stopped pacing and pinned Tristan with his icy blue stare. "Be honest. You know the first rule of tactics. Know your weaknesses."
Tristan dropped his gaze to the ground. "It's my knee. It took the brunt of the impact."
Gray nodded and resumed his pacing.
"Um, guys?" Emery's voice floated down from the top of the tree.
"What is it, Emery?" Tristan asked.
"The knot is stuck. I can't get it undone."
"Is there a small branch you can break off and stick it into the knot to give you leverage to loosen it?" Gray asked.
"I'll try."
Tristan pushed himself away from the tree. "I'm going to check on Ginger."
Gray nodded, and Tristan limped back toward the edge.
"How's it going, Emery?" Gray yelled toward the sea of leaves and branches above his head. He thought he could see Emery's shoe far above his head. The rope next to him swayed as Emery worked on loosening the knot.
"I think I've got it." The thick, black rope swayed again then began to drop and coil around itself as it hit the ground.
"Great job, Emery! Now, get your feet back on the ground."
He could hear Emery scrambling her way back down the tree and kept his gaze glued to where he thought he had seen her foot. He let out a relieved sigh when her skinny leg appeared through the branches and leaves. Her foot felt for the next branch, and she gently lowered herself down, using the trunk to keep her balance. She repeated the process until she was on the branch Gray had boosted her to.
"Am I glad to see you," Gray said, not taking his gaze from her.
"Me too." Emery grinned as she moved to sit on the branch to let herself down. Her foot slipped. Gray watched in horror as Emery threw out her arms, frantically looking for a handhold. Her hand brushed the trunk but failed to gain purchase. Off balance, she hit her shoulder on the trunk. Her other foot slid out from under her, and she tipped off the branch. At the last moment, her right hand grabbed onto the branch, and she dangled just over Gray's head, holding on with one hand.
Gray broke out of his paralysis and rushed over to where she swayed precariously. "Hold on, Em! I've got you." He grabbed her legs just as the strength in her hand gave out, and they both tumbled to the ground.
"Are you OK?" Gray sat up and ran his hands over Emery's arms and legs to assure himself nothing was broken.
She pushed him away. "I'm fine. Grab that rope. We need to help Ginger."
CHAPTER FORTY
"Absolutely not." Cleo faced Maeve with her hands on her hips. While her words were stern, her eyes were soft and conveyed compassion. "You just got out of bed. No way are you going on an expedition to find a deadly creature that we're not even sure we can find. You need rest, not a trek across the countryside."
"I need to help Emma." Maeve's eyes remained locked on Cleo's. "I'm the only person who has even seen
a plagoran in the past 30 years. You know I'm your best hope of finding it."
Cleo dropped her gaze. "How can I let you go? You already almost died because you decided to go off on your own. How do I know you won't take off on your own again?"
Maeve took a deep breath. Had Cleo read her mind? "Where am I going to go and how could you think I would ever abandon Emma? She needs that antidote."
Cleo turned to look out over Palumbra. She let out a sigh and her shoulders slumped. "I know you would do everything you can for Emma." She stared out past the edge of the city. "I would go myself, but I have to prepare Palumbra for Arabella's attack." She shook her head. "I know I'm going to regret this, but fine, you can go."
Maeve smiled and released the breath she had been holding. She was going on this expedition to find the plagoran whether Cleo approved it or not, but it was much easier with Cleo's approval. Maeve started to speak, but Cleo held up her hand.
"You stay with the expedition, and you are not to go near the plagoran. Do you understand me?"
Maeve nodded.
"Get out of here. The team came back, but a new one is gathering in the conference room on the first floor."
Maeve turned to go but stopped when she placed her hand on the door handle and turned back to Cleo. "Thanks, Cleo," she said softly. "I appreciate it."
Without turning from the window, Cleo nodded.
Maeve returned to the first floor. She paused outside the conference room door as a wave of loneliness swept over her, weighing her down with fatigue. Was Cleo right? Did she have the stamina for this? Images of Gray flitted through her mind: fishing together, meeting for breakfast, walking to work, talking late into the evening. If she closed her eyes, she could almost feel his arms around her and his kiss on her lips. Despite her tiredness, she squared her shoulders and opened the door. Emma, Gray and the others were depending on her.
Conversation stopped, and all heads turned toward Maeve as she entered. She lifted her hand and gave a little wave and a small smile before slipping into an open seat. Rufus once again settled at her feet. She was surprised to see Corporal Shamus leading the meeting. The screen at the front of the room contained an image of a map of the area surrounding Palumbra. The place where Maeve had helped the injured plagoran was marked in red.
The Lost City: The Palumbra Chronicles: Book Two Page 22