Chapter Five

The moon shines bright that night lighting up the snow capped mountains not far from where they're sleeping. Challanger sits by a stream keeping an eye out for danger, the rifle on his lap. He hears a noise in front of him he stands up and aims the rifle in that direction only to relax again when he sees it's only a rabbit.

Samun watches him, finding it hard to move around properly not yet used to the rabbit's form he'd taken on earlier that night. Still in the rabbit form he runs into the tent and looks around, the staff is beside Marguerite he eyes the power source greedily. He silently slips into his human form and reaches for the staff a burst of light slams into him, knocking him against the canvas, he screams in agony and clutches his burning chest. He quickly turns into the rabbit form again before Marguerite and Veronica wake up and the others rush into the tent.

ROXTON: What happened?

MALONE: We heard a scream, are you two all right?

VERONICA: We heard it too.

MARGUERITE: It wasn't us.

CHALLANGER: Look at the staff, one of the crystals it's black.

Marguerite touches it.

MARGUERITE: It's warm!

VERONICA: Who screamed?

MALONE: It must've been a trick or an animal howling.

ROXTON: That didn't sound like any animal I ever heard.

VERONICA: Whatever it was, has gone now.

ROXTON: Try and get back to sleep, we'll check the perimeter just in case.

He sees Marguerite's worried look.

ROXTON: But I'm sure it's nothing.

MARGUERITE: Like Malone said its probably just animal.

CHALLANGER: Must've been.

The men walk out of the tent leaving Marguerite and Veronica to get back to sleep.

* * * * * *

The next day they set out bright and early not leaving any trace of evidence that would show where they camped. Roxton stays close to Marguerite still feeling protective over her because of the past weeks events.

She pretends she doesn't like the attention she's getting but the others know she's loving it. They come to a stop by a long river with a seemingly strong current.

MALONE: Which way?

MARGUERITE: We follow the river until we're closer to the mountain, then we can cross where the waters frozen over.

VERONICA: And I thought I had a good sense of direction.

ROXTON: We should hurry if we want to reach the top before dark.

MALONE: At least we won't run into a Vantu or apemen this far up.

Marguerite starts walking.

MARGUERITE: No we'll run into the abominable snowman instead.

She turns around and laughs at everyone's shocked reaction to the comment.

MARGUERITE: Just kidding.

Roxton walks over to her.

ROXTON: Good to see you have you're sarcasm back.

MALONE: Well she wouldn't be Marguerite without it.

They continue on up the river until they reach the part that's iced over, Roxton taps the ice.

ROXTON: Seems safe enough, stay behind me.

They do as he say's, Challanger is the last to cross. As he nears the other side of the river the ice brakes and he plunges into the icy water.

ROXTON: (Shouts) Challanger!

He gingerly steps onto the ice and reaches out but isn't close enough to grab Challanger's hand. Marguerite passes Malone the staff.

MARGUERITE: Use this.

Malone and Roxton push the staff over to Challanger, he grabs hold of one end and pull him onto the ice as the water freezes over again.

He stumbles onto the grass and Marguerite and Veronica hand him some warm blankets to cover up in. Roxton examines the ice knowing that something isn't right. The others check on Challanger.

VERONICA: Are you okay?

CHALLANGER: I'm fine there's no need for all this fuss.

MALONE: The ice shouldn't have just broken like that, it was too thick.

MARGUERITE: We'll start a fire we'll rest here for a while...Malone and Roxton collect some wood, Veronica and I...

She looks back towards the ice.

MARGUERITE: Roxton? Where is he?

She's frantic now looking in every direction. The others too pale as they realise their friend is missing.

MARGUERITE: I should have seen this.

Veronica puts a reassuring hand on Marguerite's shoulder.

VERONICA: Maybe you weren't supposed to.

MALONE: Maybe the druids are testing you, who do you save now...Roxton or Bokrah.

To be continued...

Chapter Six Summary: Marguerite, Veronica, Malone and Challanger end in a stand off with Samun on one side and them on the other. While Roxton and Bokrah are stuck in their icy prison and Marguerite must decide who to save because it can't be both.