The Trader nodded grimly. "I think we're catching up. There's metal nearby. I can sense it."
Sandry sighed with relief. "Good. It's really dark in here. I can't wait until we get back to the house." In her pale hand was the lump of crystal threaded with veins of minerals and dirt that she usually kept in a leather pouch around her neck. Because Sandry was afraid of the dark, Tris, Briar and Daja had put light it so it shone brightly and steadily.
Daja slowed for a moment, sniffing the air. "We're really close. C'mon!" She sped up, Rose and Sandry in tow. She broke clear of the forest and would have fallen off the edge of the sharp cliff there if Rose and Sandry hadn't grabbed her arms.
"You gave me a fright there, Daja!" exclaimed Sandry as they pulled her back. "Slow down, and look where you're going!"
Daja ignored her and looked down the cliff. Far below was a dirty river, splashing innocently past rocks, dragging tree branches along with the current. She glanced across at the opposite bank. The feel of metal came from amongst the trees over there. The bank was about six or seven metres across, and they had no way over.
"We may have a problem on our hands."
oOo
Steph sighed as she stumbled over yet another loose tree root. "We've been walking for ages. How do we even know we're going the right way?"
Tris stopped. "We don't. Did you know I can hear things on the wind?" Steph shook her head, making her ponytail swing wildly. "Well, I can. I've sent out some of my breezes but they haven't brought back anything useful."
A silent call from Sandry interrupted her.
Tris, we need you over here.
Tris felt for her connection with her two foster-sisters. It was reasonably short, and leading off northwest.
We'll be there in a minute.
The redhead turned to Briar. "Did you hear that?"
Briar nodded. "Let's go."
They crashed through the forest for the next fifteen minutes before finally finding Sandry, Daja and Rose sitting by the edge of a cliff.
"What's the problem?" asked Tris.
Daja inclined her braided head towards the cliff. Tris stumbled over and looked down, taking in the river and the distance between it and where they were.
"We figure that since it's a river you might be able to help us somehow. We need to get across – we think they're on the other side."
Tris thought for a moment, chewing on one of her thin lightning braids. Steph shuddered, having seen on more than one occasion what those braids contained. "Doesn't that hurt you?"
Tris ignored her. "It really depends how deep the river is, and how strong the current is. And I have no way of getting us down there, unless we were to climb."
Rose's eye's widened in horror as she gulped, "Climb? Down the cliff?"
Tris nodded gravely. "It's the only way to get to your sister."
Briar, who was inspecting the far side of the river, said, "Sandry, there's a bridge over there."
Indeed, a bridge was hanging of the cliff on the opposite side. The ropes at the end were tied to two trees, but the side of the bride that was supposed to be connected to the bank on which the teenagers were standing had been cut. A closer look showed the severed ends of rope tied tightly around two trees near where Sandry was sitting.
Sandry nodded. "Yes, I noticed. But what had that got to do with me – oh!" She slapped her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I'm so stupid!"
She stood, brushing pine needles off her blue skirts, and walked to the very edge of the cliff. She held out her arms, as if beckoning something to her.
"What's she doing?" whispered Rose. "I can see magic, but I don't know what she's trying to do…"
Briar, who overheard, stepped towards Rose. "She's calling to the rope on the bridge, so she can reconnect it. She's a stitch witch."
Rose peered closer and saw the ropes wriggle against the cliff face. They seemed to be struggling against something.
"The wood is making it too heavy," Sandry informed the others. "Briar, that's with your magic, isn't it?"
Shaking his head he replied, "That wood is dead."
"I'll help," offered Tris. She conjured winds around her, and then directed them to the bridge to push it towards them. With the combined efforts of Sandry's magic and Tris's winds, the bridge swung up to meet them, the frayed ends of the rope landing in Sandry's hands.
"Hold this," she ordered, thrusting one rope at Tris. She walked to one of the trees tied with rope and grabbed the end of the thick cord. She held the two ends of rope together with one hand, passing the other hand on top. She let go, and the rope was whole.
Businesslike, she reclaimed the other rope from Tris and repeated the process until the bridge stretched across the river evenly. She stepped onto the first plank of wood and turned around. "Well, are you coming?"
Rose shivered. "Are you sure it's safe?"
Briar followed Sandry then turned back and grinned wickedly at the young mage. "Of course not!"
Aah…they're nearly there… sorry, but I have other fanfics to update now… cyaz! Review and you get a cookie!