Chapter 6

We flew until the sun peeked over the tips of the mountains. The miraculous show started with violet, then streaking into gold and pink. Finally the painter rose itself, as if to take credit for the masterpiece it had created.

Finding a cave, we almost crashed into it, we were so exhausted. The combination of flying most of the night and getting very little sleep, was almost too much to handle. For the first time since we took off, I looked back. The valley we had left, was hidden by the mountains. Letting my wings sweep the dirt floor, I almost crawled to the back of the cave. Laying down, my burning wings pressed up against the cool cave wall. Immediately, the world drifted black and I slept soundly, for what felt like an eternity.

I woke to the change of the light as dusk gathered. I knelt beside Wolfe, shaking her lightly. “Wolfe,” I whispered, “I thought that we should eat before we go.” She perked up at the mention of food. I dug through my pack, laying out some jerky and dried fruit. She snatched it up, devouring it almost instantly. “Slow down” I cautioned, “You’ll choke.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled through a mouthful of jerky, “I must have used up all my energy yesterday,” she ducked her head, as if in embarrassment, as she spoke.

“Yeah, I’ve learned the hard way that flying does take a lot of energy, and to not fly empty. Mostly that was from yesterday though,” we both laughed, knowing that we both went through the same thing the day before. I ate quickly, hoping to get in the air before the light completely left. “Today, we get a different take-off,” I said, changing the subject from our aching bellies. “The cliff is a sheer drop, so just jump and snap your wings open. After the jump, just start flapping.” And we both chuckled again at the obvious. I stood up, putting on my pack and bow, the few things I remembered to take off before I crashed that morning. Standing at the edge, Wolfe looked like she just might melt out of fear. “Don’t worry,” I said, “You can do this,”

“Well, here goes,” Wolfe said, and leaped off the edge. She immediately started flapping, trying desperately to avoid any possible drop.

“Relax,” I said trying to get her to calm down, “Take a deep breath, then control yourself.”

“Are you coming?” she asked, a little timid. I walked away from the edge of the cliff, towards the back of the cave.

“Still a little sleepy, a little evening adrenaline should do the trick.” I responded, turning around. Before Wolfe could ask what I meant, I sprinted for the edge, wings tucked away. Diving off the ledge, I spun, getting away from the edge. “YAAAAHHHHH HHHOOOOOOO!” I screamed as I dove, the words ripping away from my lips. My ears popping at the drop in altitude. Distantly, I could hear Wolfe, screaming out of fear for me, but too scared to follow. I neared the river at the bottom of the gorge, knowing the fun was ending. I allowed my wings to be opened by the force of the wind. I winced as they filled with air, stopping my abrupt fall. The momentum then carried me back up, only needing to pump when I slowed down, nearing Wolfe. The girl looked like she was going to faint and I was not able to suppress a laugh from escaping.

“You okay?” I asked her when I trusted myself to talk without bursting out in another fit of laughter.

“Yeah, fine let’s go,” she replied, shaking off the shock of seeing her friend fall 100 feet. I giggled at her reaction and followed, swooping after the girl. We flew all through the night, weaving through peaks and soaring above valleys. Seeing a particularly low one, I called up to her.

“Hold up Wolfe!” I called. Startled at the sound after hours of silence, she immediately stopped and hovered. I circled around and hovered next to her.

“What is it?” she asked, a little surprised at the stop.

“This valley is lower than the others, so I thought that it would be a good place to practice diving,” I suggested.

“No, no, no. I was petrified when you did it, there is no way you are getting me to dive,” she rejected the idea almost before I finished saying it.

“Come on,” I coaxed, “It is easy. Just fold your wings and drop. You might need the skill if you are ever attacked. Evasive maneuvers are important. They are also lots of fun. If you get scared, open your wings. The momentum will, more or less, depending on how far you drop, bring you back up to this spot. Here, I’ll demonstrate.” I wrapped my wings around me and plummeted. As I dropped, I turned upside-down so I dove head-first, whooping and hollering the whole way.

“Elsa!” Wolfe screamed, and I stopped, snapping open my wings, soaring back up to the panicking Wolfe. “W…we have to get out of here. The hunters saw and heard you!” As if on cue, spears were hurled out of the forest below.

“Then we’re gone. Where to?” I asked, obeying her order, while at the same time I was dodging the missiles.

“This way,” she said, and started for the other side of the valley, farthest from us. Thankfully it was through the thinnest of the reverse rain of spears.  I could see that she was struggling against the wind.

“Let me lead,” I commanded, “I know how… make it that my body knows how to use the wind to my advantage.” Wolfe obliged and slipped behind me. I gained altitude, my wings working on their own. Wolfe followed my example, and we got above the mountains. I finally looked down, the mountains were crinkles on the surface of the earth. Looking for Wolfe, I saw her falling head-first. What I saw was not good. Her arms, legs and wings trailed behind.