The thought of floating over a dark chasm where a fall would end in certain death wasn’t my idea of a good plan. As Tarialla spread out four bundles of the web like netting she’d retrieved from the forest, I paced the edge of the cliff, looking for a better way across. Unfortunately, there were no bridges or descending paths in sight.
When I came back to the group, Steve was still snoring away, unaware of Tarialla’s sketchy plan of floating across the cavern with some kind of enchanted elf parachute.
Hailey laid back with her eyes closed. I couldn’t tell if she was sleeping or just wishing we had a better plan. Tarialla was still busy with her netting.
As I approached, Tarialla looked up at me with stern eyes.
“Why are you wandering off?” She said. “It’s almost time to go.”
“Yeah,” I said. “About that. I was thinking we should brainstorm other options. You know, paths down the cliff side or some kind of bridge. Maybe if we walk further down we could find–”
“No.” Tarialla narrowed her eyes. “The trees speak of urgency. We must move.”
“Um, okay. I don’t hear trees so I don’t know about that but maybe we can still move quickly but try something not as dangerous.”
Hailey sat up. “It couldn’t hurt to survey the ridge a little before committing to something. I can travel the east side and Carter can head west. We can meet back here and see if we found any other way forward.”
Tarialla shook her head. “I’ve seen a good distance both ways already. My elven sight reveals far more than your human eyes. There is no alternate path and the wolves have already caught our scent. Our path is set.”
“Wolves?” I glanced back at the forest behind us. “Where?”
“Elven hearing reveals much,” she said. “Night wolves will be upon us shortly. But fear not, I have our escape prepared. Besides, we are in a most fortuitous spot here. The object of our quest is right in front of us.”
I looked to the other side of the cavern. A dense forest of trees was the only thing I could see.
“It is?” Hailey stood, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the forest. “Where?”
“I’ll show you.” Tarialla waved us toward the edge of the ridge. “Steve. Awake. You need to see this.”
Steve rolled over, blinking rapidly. “What? I barely fell asleep.”
“Follow me.” Tarialla strode toward the edge of the chasm.
We met her at the edge, her boots inches away from a dark drop. I stayed a few steps back in case the earth gave way.
Tarialla pointed to the forest on the other side of the chasm. “There is an enchantment on the trees. Look closely. The vision is false.”
I strained to see what she was talking about but it looked like a normal forest to me.
“Hm,” Hailey said. “You’re right. I don’t know what it is exactly but something’s off.”
Steve tromped over to us, rubbing his eyes. “What are we looking at?”
“Illusory magic,” Tarialla said. “A large structure is camouflaged in enchantment. I think we have stumbled upon the hideout of the heroes guild.”
“Looks like a forest to me,” Steve said.
“It is meant to fool the eyes of the unaware,” Tarialla said. “But I see through the deception.”
A chorus of howls rose up from the forest behind us.
“Uh oh,” Hailey said.
“We must move.” Tarialla rushed back to retrieve the webbing and returned shortly. She handed each of us a thick bundle. It was soft to the touch and barely had any weight.
“I’ve enchanted these with elven magic,” Tarialla unfurled her webbing. “We shall soar on the air currents to the other side.”
Steve frowned. “With this? Are you kidding me?”
Tarialla narrowed her eyes. “Do not insult elven magic. It has the power of the ancients.”
“No offense but this…” Steve let the netting droop from his hand until it hit the ground. “…This just doesn’t feel safe.”
“I will overthrow your fear with an act of courage.” Tarialla held the netting tight over her head as if she was trying to tear it. “Observe and follow.”
She ran off the edge sending a shiver through my spine. Instead of falling, the elven warrior floated across the dark chasm like she was on a zip line.
“Whoa,” Steve said. “Okay, that’s awesome.”
Deep growls brought my attention around. Black wolves with glowing white eyes emerged from the forest behind us. They were larger than any wolves I’d seen and there were far too many of them for comfort. Dozens of the dark beasts emerged from the shadows, stalking toward us.
Hailey took a deep breath and drew her netting tight over her head. “Well, I guess we have to take the plunge.”
“Do we though?” I said. “Maybe we should wait until she makes it all the way across.”
“It’s better than facing these wolves. Come on. We’re out of time.” Hailey ran off the edge of the chasm and floated forward just like Tarialla.
Steve looked at me with wide eyes. “I don’t know about this.”
“Me neither.”
The wolves charged forward, their growls turning into deep, snarling barks.
“Oh boy. I guess we don’t have a choice.” I pulled the netting tight above me. “Ready?”
Steve took a deep breath and held the netting above him. “Ready.”
We ran forward in unison and leapt off the edge of the chasm. My heart dropped as I saw the dark ravine far below.
Nothing like a pack of wolves to help one make a quick decision!