Chapter 2-The Miasma River
Raya mourned the loss of her brother for the next part of the journey. Cade could see that Bane was equally upset although he tried hard not to show it. The combat standard fell drastically with the two strongest of the caravan weakened and disheartened.
Leaf and Fraiser took over the battles. Fraiser was a born fighter. He could take out a Goblin Chieftain with just one hit. He was fast, strong; his only downfall was magic, where he would always managed to fail miserably.
Leaf however was a fantastic Mage. She was speedy too and she could easily be described as "silent but deadly." The pair battled well side-by-side and the others barely needed to lift a finger towards an enemy. But after two days of solid travel, the caravan reached yet another Miasma River.
"Oh no!" said Kestrel worriedly. The bridge across the deadly Miasma was thin and crumbled at the edges.
"We'll need to cross one at a time," said Bane bravely. "We don't know how strong the bridge is. Maybe if we can get one or two people over then the rest can follow safely."
Cade looked around at his fellow Caravaners. No one wanted to be the first to cross. "I'll go." Fraiser announced.
"No." Cade protested. "Stay with your sister, I'll cross." The other members of the Caravan looked on with admiration as Cade walked steadily along the bridge. A strong wind was blowing as he crossed and he came close to slipping off the side at least twice.
Cade was half way across and everyone was sure that he would make it to the other side. He was on the homeward stretch when a powerful gust of wind made him lose his footing and knocked him off the edge.
"Cade!" Raya screamed. She sprinted across the bridge, ignoring the others' warnings. She stopped at where he had fallen. "Cade!" she cried again. The winds softened, but there was no answer. The other Caravaners cautiously picked their way over the bridge to comfort her.
Tears made their familiar tracks down Raya's cheeks as she called into the wind.
"Why?" she screamed. "Why do you torment me?" she crumbled to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. "Why?"
"Raya!" she lifted her head. "Raya!" that voice…it couldn't be! Slowly, Raya bent over the side of the bridge. Leaf and Kestrel steadied her to keep her from falling.
"Cade!" Raya spotted him hanging desperately onto a ledge, his legs dangling just above the Miasma. "Cade you're alive!" she squirmed so much the other girls almost dropped her.
"Give me a hand!" Cade said urgently. Raya leant over the edge even more but she was still about a foot away from Cade's outstretched hand. "I can't reach!" she explained.
"Let me try." Said Kestrel. Being one of the tallest she reached him easily. "Grab my hand." She said. Cade thrust his free hand into hers. "Now the other one," Kestrel urged. "It's alright, I've got you."
Everyone was silent, as if one tiny sound would make Kestrel drop him and lose Cade forever.
Cade made one powerful leap and grabbed onto Kestrel with both hands. He dangled dangerously above the Miasma. "Help me!" Kestrel said "I can't hold him forever!"
With that, the rest of the Caravan leant over and heaved Cade up to safety. "Thank you." Cade said to Kestrel. Raya ran to him, almost toppling off the edge herself and embraced him. "Thank goodness you're alright." Raya said, beginning to cry again.
"Come on." Bane said and the travellers traverse the last few feet of the bridge.
The air around them smelt strange and acidic. The Miasma had tainted the atmosphere. A small silver Chalice lay at the side of the bridge opening. They would have to use it for the rest of their journey.