The climb was steep and arduous. The vines gave them a handhold, but the moss-covered rocks made their ascent slippery and dangerous. Several times Kai pulled Rayna up to the next level. The narrow ledges were barely wide enough to stand on. Drew and Shane seemed to enjoy the challenge, while Dresnor mumbled to himself the entire climb.
Both Kai and Rayna were soaked with sweat. Each time before hoisting her up, Kai thoroughly wiped his hands dry on his pants. When they reached the top, they walked back to the falls. Kai looked down. Beautiful, he thought. “Too bad we can’t spend the day here.” He nudged Rayna.
Feverish, Rayna wiped the sweat beads off her forehead. She begged for a break with her weary expression. Kai offered her his canteen, and she sipped eagerly. It may have been a challenging climb up, but Davi’s advice to stay near the falls saved them hours of walking.
Between the sun, the climb, and his fever, Kai felt like he was on fire. Sweating profusely, he wiped his brow. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take. They were all tired, but they needed to keep going. A survey of the riverbank was not good. The trees were dense, and the rocks were jagged. They offered no easy path for walking.
Challenging by design, Kai thought. We’re not meant to stay near the river. The Guardians want us to leave the water, travel into the forest. Kai crossed his arms, frustrated. If he’d been alone and had more time, he might have hopped from rock to rock. Alone, he could slowly work his way along the water’s edge. His friends would never understand the risks of such a path when the forest was easier.
Deeper into the forest, Kai sensed a presence. The hair on the back of his neck tingled. Magic filled the air. Reasonably sure the Katori Guardians were already watching them, he reached out with his mind. He gleaned the forest.
Nothing. Odd. How can there be nothing? No light, no magic emanated from his surroundings. He could not glean. Rayna tapped the corner of her eye and shook her head. She, too, was unable to glean the path ahead.
Fear crept around the edges of his mind as he remembered Haygan’s words: “You can’t be afraid. Out here, it is survival of the fittest. Choose to survive or choose to surrender. Your life will be determined by your strength of spirit, and you have a strong spirit—trust it.”
His uncle was right. Kai had to have faith in himself and in Rayna. They could do this. Although the trail angled into the woods, Kai continued to cut through the underbrush. Shane’s battle-ax came in quite handy, and both he and Shane took turns clearing the path. It was exhausting work, hacking away at the vines and bushes.
Drew took the lead and their weapon. His forceful strike against the clinging vines made a clear path. Dresnor guarded the rear and kept a sharp eye on their surroundings, his sword at the ready. “You sure we cannot follow the path? This seems like a lot of effort to shave off an hour or two of walking.” Dresnor scanned around, searching for hidden threats.
“Stay near the water, that’s all Davi said,” Kai responded. “I will not chance getting lost for an easier route.”
Ever vigilant, Kai kept them near water. At times the water was barely moving while other times it dashed around and over large rocks. They worked methodically—climbing over rocks and between dense tree saplings. Their hours of persistence finally paid off when they hacked through the last thicket and stepped into a clearing.
Smoke darted up the path behind them. Rayna ran her fingers through the wolf’s fur and smiled at his arrival. “We are all back together,” she beamed.
They had reached the base of the second waterfall. Twice as massive as the first, the water thundered over the towering falls and crashed onto the rocks below. An enormous plume of billowing mist lingered around the base of the falls. Kai could feel the change in the air. The snow-capped Katori Mountains fed the Conha River, making the water especially icy as it collected into pools.
But Kai did not feel cold—the heat from within was more than he could tolerate. Clothes and all, Kai waded into the large pool and sank below the surface. The water instantly chilled his inflamed skin. It was refreshing. He stood up in the waist-deep water to see Rayna removing her boots. “You could have removed your boots first,” she chided.
“I don’t care,” he laughed, falling back under the water again.
Dresnor and Drew conversed from the nearby rocks. Shane cleaned his ax, and Smoke drank from the water’s edge.
Relief from the heat relaxed Kai’s mind. As he tramped out of the water, steam rose from his shoulders. Rayna stood waist-deep and attempted to wring out her wet clothes and hair. They were a sight.
Kai ran his hands through his sandy-blond hair and glanced at his friends. “Time to go back. From here, you will need to return to Albey. I appreciate you escorting us this far, but Davi warned if you go any farther, our word would mean little to the mountain people. They do not like outsiders. They will not help us if you continue. Don’t make me beg. Please, go back.”
Kai prepared himself for an argument.
Dresnor crossed his arms. “I know I promised to turn back, but I do not understand why I cannot meet these people. See them for myself, know the truth of their worth. I will not trust your safety to the mysteries of the Zabranen Forest.”
“Philip Dresnor, are you not a man of your word? Don’t push me on this!” Kai thundered.
Wide-eyed, Shane chimed in. “It is not my place, but Kai is not questioning your loyalty, Dresnor. We all know you would die for him, as
