“There’s a storm! A bad one. If you heard Milaye shouting for you, you would know. We need to get back to the village now!” My voice strains under the din of the water. I swim back to the shore without waiting for them to argue. Grabbing one of the hide towels they brought with them, I wipe myself down once. When I turn, Delina’s behind me tugging on her clothes, Leith doing the same. My eyes don’t stray because it’s apparent he and Delina didn’t finish.
“It was so nice a little while ago,” Delina whines but grabs her basket.
Leith picks up his spear. “It’ll be nice again. Let’s go. The tribe will need us,” he says. And with that, we head back.
When we get to the bridge, my mouth drops in horror. It’s thrashing from side to side, and on the other end, anything not bolted down is blowing in the wind.
Leaves from the trees fly everywhere, the rain has turned into a full-on downpour, and the lift is crowded with people as they head down with supplies and animals. Below us on the beach, there are others rushing inward to the sea cliffs bordering the jungle, and to the caves a short distance inland that becomes our shelter in emergencies.
“We need to get across!” I scream, looking back up. Milaye is on the other side of the bridge, facing us, with her sisters Ola and Panyia.
Thunder resonates.
“We’ll hold this end. Leave the basket behind!” she shouts across, wind chasing her words.
“Delina, you go first,” I say, taking the spear from her. “Leith, you follow close behind. I’ll go last.”
My sister gulps and nods, and I see her shake through the rain gathering in my lashes. She grips the rope handles with white knuckles and takes a step forward.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Leith tells her. Delina nods and slowly makes it across.
“Go,” I tell Leith when Delina reaches the end.
“You should go first.”
I shake my head. “No. You are far more important. You are needed—our salvation. I’ll hold the ties on this end. You have to go first.”
“Aida…”
Forcing a smile. “If you die, I’ll die anyway,” I say lightly. “The tribe would never forgive me.”
He nods stiffly but his brow is furrowed, worry in his eyes. He turns to the bridge and grips the handles, white-knuckled like my sister. “You’ll be right behind,” he calls to me.
“Yes.” I hold the ties.
Leith nods again and makes his way across, stopping whenever a gust shakes the bridge. When he makes it to the other side, I sigh in relief.
My turn.
Grabbing the rope for myself now, I hear snapping as a single fierce gust swings the bridge. Taking a step onto it, I’m immediately thrown to the side.
I hear a scream but don’t look up, trying to remain calm. Holding strong, I ride out the shift, focusing. When it levels, I move forward, one step at a time.
Another crack slices the air, joined by thunder. I halt, waiting.
Glancing outward, my mouth dries up. I’m midway. Only midway. The bridge sways side to side. My feet shift and part.
Lightning fills the sky in vibrant flashes. A spark of heat whips through the wind when a terrible erupting boom fills my ears. I see one of the trees in the village sizzling, split in two. Milaye covers both Delina and Leith with her body, forcing them to the ground.
Screams ring in the air.
They look at me with wide, horror-filled eyes.
“Go!” I shout, “Get to the lift. I’ll be right behind! I promise.”
Milaye nods resolutely and I’m thankful. Delina starts fighting but Ola grabs her and forces her away. Leith lingers another moment, catching my gaze, and I take another step forward. He turns away and runs after Delina.
Only Milaye remains to hold the bridge for me. Now, swinging back and forth, I’m practically hanging on, using my feet as leverage as my arms do all the work.
I see some of the tribe staring up at me from below on the beach.
“Aida! Don’t stop,” someone yells, and I drive forward, pain ripping my shoulders, jerking my arms this way and that to get to the end.
I miss my final step, but Milaye grabs me, pulling me into her arms, and we tumble to the ground together in relief. But we have no time to celebrate.
In the next instant, we’re running to the lift. Delina and the others are below. We begin cranking it back up as Ola and Panyia run with Leith and Delina down the beach, under the gape where the bridge swings, and toward the caves.
As we wrench the lever, I realize Milaye and I are the last ones left in the village. The rest have already fled to safety. The underlying scent of burnt wood floods my nose.
And then I hear it, a different sort of roar. Not like the screeching one from before…
It’s so loud, so much closer than any other, so terrible it nearly stops my thrumming heart. My hands stop cranking, and Milaye takes over as I peer out to the east, down the coast, over the turbulent waves where the sound resonates from.
In the direction of Shell Rock and Issa’s home.
But it’s so much closer than that, my thoughts tangle, fearful. It’s right there.
Right there.
Coming through the veil of rain.
It goes on and on, over the thunder, joining with flashes of lightning, pounding my eardrums, taking me over, solidifying me to the spot. I can’t tear my eyes from the horizon, knowing it’s growing ever closer. My heart lodges in my throat. My fingers twitch.
“Aida! We must go!”
Milaye says something and grabs my arm, pulling me onto the lift. My eyes tear away from the horizon. The roar continues.
“Aida, what is happening to you?” she snaps. “Help me with the lever. It’s sticking.”
It’s enough to shake me out of my reverie. Just as the dragon’s roar ends.
Together, we release the sticking lever and loosen the ropes for our descent. The lift starts lowering, but Milaye rushes
