by Nova Rose
* * *
Tesnayr woke to a rustling sound near him. Slowly, he sat up blinking in the sunlight. He glanced at it. It hung low in the sky. Good, he thought. Soon night would come and he could continue. He hoped that he was near the place of constant spring, the second and final sign that he was near the falls. A soft growl drew his attention.
Slowly, Tesnayr turned toward it. Standing before him was a grizzly bear. They stared at each other for several seconds. Tesnayr knew he couldn’t outrun it, nor did he have any hope of killing it. He sat still, watching the beast and hoping it would ignore him.
Suddenly, the bear charged. Tesnayr jumped to his feet and ripped his sword from its scabbard. He swung the blade at the bear as it plowed into him. The air was knocked from his lungs as he crashed into the soft earth. His sword flew from his grasp and landed several feet away.
Tesnayr scrambled to his feet only to have the grizzly’s massive paw ram into his chest flinging him through the air. Dazed, Tesnayr lay on the ground. Before he could move, the bear was upon him. Its massive claws tore into his flesh.
Tesnayr cried out in agony as he felt his flesh rip from his bones. Desperately, he tried to get away. The bear’s jaw clamped on his ankle and dragged him back. A loud crunch told him it broke the bone. Stabbing knives shot though his leg as the bear swiped its razor claws down it.
The atmosphere filled with Tesnayr’s screams of terror and pain. Make it stop! Another swing of the bear’s claw hit him.
Out of nowhere, a black blur raced across the ground and leapt at the bear landing on the beast’s face. The screeching of a cat and the roars of the bear filled the air.
Reprieved, Tesnayr reached from his sword with his one good arm. His hand curled around the hilt. Power shot through his arm filling him the strength necessary to lift it.
The bear flung the cat from its face. Blood poured from its eyes. It wandered blind, sniffing the ground. Instantly, Tesnayr raised his weapon and sank it deep into the bear’s throat. He held it there as sticky blood spurted over his hand and pooled on the ground. The bear fell, unmoving. Tesnayr pulled his sword free. He wobbled for a moment. As the adrenaline of the fight wore off, his torn body felt every ounce of pain. The impulses flooded his brain and Tesnayr collapsed.
A wet, rough tongue licked Tesnayr’s face bringing him back to reality, and the pain. He moaned. The licking became more insistent. Weakly, Tesnayr brushed it away.
“Tesnayr, get up,” said Turyn. “The sun has set and we must get going.”
“Turyn,” mumbled Tesnayr. “Is it you? I thought you died.”
“Not yet, but you will if we don’t find that waterfall. We have to be close. We already passed the place where the horn blows. Now, get up.”
Tesnayr rolled onto his side. Agony shot through him forcing him back onto his back.
“Come on,” urged Turyn.
Again Tesnayr rolled onto his side. This time, he was able to overcome the pain. He set his sword blade down in the ground and used it to haul himself to his feet. Balancing on his one good leg, Tesnayr checked his injuries. Blood soaked his useless arm, chest, and back. His left foot dangled precariously. Dizziness overtook him and Tesnayr swayed. Sharp pin pricks from Turyn brought him back to consciousness.
Putting his weight on his sword, Tesnayr hobbled to the blue glow that once again revealed the secret path to the healing waterfall. Turyn followed. His broken paw felt worse than before. He didn’t know how he managed to leap on the bear, but his paw wished he hadn’t.
Tesnayr rested when he reached the road. His breath came in ragged gasps. He was dying; he knew that. Soaked in blood, the cold air froze his clothes to his skin making it more difficult to move. Inch by inch he hobbled.
Wolves howled in the distance. Of course, thought Tesnayr, they smell easy prey. He hopped again, teeth clenched tight in an effort to endure the pain. Warm air sailed past him. Tesnayr wavered a moment before the unusual warmth caught his attention. Trying desperately to focus, he peered ahead.
“Turyn,” he said, “Do you see anything.”
“Nothing unusual,” replied the cat. “The air smells different. It tastes fresh and renewed, like spring.”
Tesnayr’s sword grated across the ground as he hobbled as fast as he could. They had to be close. He didn’t care if he died on the road that night. He wanted to find the falls. Turyn hurried after him. They paused in awe at what greeted them as they rounded a curve in the road.
The blue path ended in a bed a vivid green grass overgrown with wildflowers. Bees buzzed from flower to flower ignoring the new arrivals. Chirping birds sang their melody of joyfulness unaware of the dangers outside. The distant sound of falling water reached their ears. They had found it: the place of everlasting spring.
Tesnayr’s strength gave out as he collapsed on the soft grass. Turyn limped over to him. “Tesnayr, get up, please,” he pleaded. “We’re almost there. The water is just ahead.”
Tesnayr didn’t move.
Turyn raised his paw and smacked Tesnayr in the face. He didn’t want to do it, but he had to wake the man up.
Tesnayr’s eyes fluttered open. His swollen tongue hung out of his mouth. “Water,” he whispered.
“Yes, water,” said Turyn, “Follow me.”
Tesnayr tried to stand but sank back to the ground.
“Just crawl,” said Turyn, “It’s not far.”
Tesnayr reached his only good hand out and gripped the grass. With immense effort he pulled himself across it. He repeated the process. Sounds of falling water prickled his ears, but never registered in his brain.
“That’s it,” coaxed Turyn. “Almost there.”
Tesnayr blinked. His vision blurred as he went in and out of consciousness. He just knew he had to follow the voice that kept speaking to him. He pulled himself forward a few more inches. The ground sloped slightly. Another great heave sent pulses of pain through him.
“Two more feet,” said Turyn as he staggered beside Tesnayr. “You can do it. Just a little bit more.”
Tesnayr’s brain no longer worked. His body acted automatically and hauled him closer to the water. His muscles went limp as he rolled the rest of the way spilling over the bank and into the crisp water, taking Turyn with him.