Chapter XIX: Journey's End
The rock wall was twice as high as the tallest skyreacher in our herd, so many had been the rocks that had showered down in one place.
"Any ideas to remove the wall?" asked Grandpa Longneck.
"Humph," said an old longsnout. "Easy. This thing's only twice as high as a skyreacher. If we kick it hard enough, it'll come down."
Some longnecks did this, but they got nothing but bruises for their pains.
A runner clambered up to the top and looked over. The wall was pyramidal in shape and, surprisingly for a chance rockslide, not one to be easily knocked over.
We talked and talked for hours, until finally, a runner who had lost all his family on the journey walked over to the wall. "This is for you, Leaellyn!" he cried to his dead mate, then pulled with all his might at a large rock at the bottom. It came out.
The wall collapsed and we were free to continue our journey. Unfortunately, the brave runner was crushed under the rocks. We paid our last respects, then walked on.
A day later we arrived at the verdant paradise which was the Great Valley. The spiketails, with a cry of "TREESTARS!", were the first to enter. We spread out, eating and cheering and laughing.
Then we remembered the children left on the other side of the gorge.
We could only hope that they would make it as well.