Chapter 4: The Challenge
Alex went up to the Bridge of Destiny. "Why?" She asked herself. "Why him?"
Alex looked around. "Oh WOW!" She said. "Midnight, wake up! I'll bee down at the caves in a minute! Me and you are going hunting." Alex sent to her wolf friend.
Alex met Midnight at the front of the cave. She silently went into the cave and got her bow and arrows that she had made earlier.
"They're ganna yell at us for not telling them about the hunt. But they need to rest, its been a long day. And Cutter has that stupid challenge thing tomorrow." Alex sent to Midnight as she came out of the caves very quietly.
She got on Midnights back and they went out beyond the Bridge, where Alex had seen many animals to hunt.
After Alex was gone for about 15 minutes, Cutter came out of the caves. He saw her in the distance coming back to the village.
"Wake up everyone! Dinner is here!" Cutter sent to everyone.
Everyone woke up instantly. Strongbow came out of one of the caves with his bow and an arrow ready to kill.
"Not tonight Strongbow --- Someone already did your job." Cutter said, and Strongbow slowly dropped his bow and arrow and was staring at Alex.
Alex came to the caves, with Midnight next to her. Midnight had a huge rabbit in his mouth that he had caught for his dinner. Alex had two deer over her shoulders. She paused in front of the caves and stood there like the deer where weightless. Then she lifted them over her head and dropped them to the ground in front of Cutter.
"Food anyone?" She whispered with a smile. Cutter smiled his thanks and picked up one of the deer. Strongbow picked up the other and hey took them up to the platform and ate while they had a meeting. Alex sat with her knees in her chest and her arms around her legs. She sat behind Cutter, who stood in the center of the platform. She didn't eat anything. Skywise sat beside her, but didn't say a word.
"Syre." Skywise sent.
Alex gave him a sharp look. "My name is Alex!" She sent to him.
She stood up and walked past Cutter. He paused in speaking and watched her jump down off the platform and got on Midnight's back. Cutter turned around and looked at Skywise. Skywise looked at him and sent, "What?"
Cutter motioned Skywise to go after her and then continued the council with a worried look on his face. Skywise left the council with Starjumper and followed Alex to the Bridge of Destiny. After Alex got to the Bridge she got off Midnight. She looked at the Bridge and thought a loud, "Cutter has to cross that?"
"Oh well." She said and began to cross it. She got to the middle when she realized someone was behind her. She flipped closer to the symbol (lucky she takes gymnastics at home).
"Why did you follow me?" Alex said sharply. She landed on the feet and crossed her arms, looking over to the other side of the bridge.
Surprised that she knew he was there he said, "Cause we need to talk."
"About?" Alex said sharply.
"Everything," Skywise said.
Alex stopped in the middle of the bridge and plopped down. One leg was over each side of the bridge. "Talk then," She said swinging her legs back and forth.
"You tell Cutter and Leetah to except recognition, but you don't except it yourself." Skywise said.
"So," Alex said. "Look, Skywise, I really do like you. I really do, but I don't want a lifemate."
Skywise stood there, frozen at what she just said. She got up and did one more handstand on the bridge and walked easily back across it.
"I hope Cutter can make it across this. I mean, him being afraid of heights and all." Alex said with a small smile. Skywise smiled slightly.
Alex went to Skywise and had to look up a little. "I'm sorry." She said hugging him and kissed his cheek.
Alex sat down in front of the bridge and looked up at the stars. Skywise blushed a little and sat down next to her. After a while they were friends again. Alex fell asleep. Skywise's chest was her pillow. He had his arm around her and his other hand fingered at a piece of straw in his mouth.
He moved his hand over Alex's hand, which lay on his chest. He held it lightly for a moment, but Alex squeezed it. After a while Skywise fell asleep too. The sun started to come over to bridge when Alex woke up. She remembered today was the day of the challenge. She slowly gets out of the still sleeping, Skywise's arms.
"I wanna go check out the forest." She thought, moving closer to Midnight.
She got on Midnight and they went down the mountainside. Alex looked around at the now peaceful, but soon to be very busy village.
"Skywise, wake up. Cutter's ganna need you soon." Alex sent to Skywise, which made him jump awake. "I'll be back later." Alex sent. Alex and Midnight ran off.
Skywise and Cutter were getting set for the day. "Where's Alex?" Cutter asked worried.
"No idea, her and Midnight ran off earlier this morning." Skywise said.
Even though Cutter was worried, he went on with the challenges. Meanwhile Alex and Midnight were at the Cavern of the Trolls. "God! It smells in here!" She said.
"Why aren't there any trolls? When we left here before there were thousands." Midnight sent.
Alex shrugged and sniffed the air. "Human's maybe?" She said.
They reached the Cavern of the Troll King. Nothing was there. Alex jumped off Midnight remembering the story. They walked to the Cavern door. Alex had a little trouble opening it but opened it enough so that they could get out. Alex looked around the dead forest. She saw Cutter's old holt. She went to the old tree. She scrambled though the trunk under the dead limbs, looking for something. She found it, minutes later. It was Bearclaw's necklace. It was burnt and a little deformed but still there. And she could make out, that it looked like a bear.
"Oh crap! The challenges!" She said quickly jumping onto Midnight's back.
They ran into the Troll Cavern and to the Tunnel of Golden Light. She knew Midnight wouldn't be able to make it in that sun, so she told him to rest. Midnight refused to rest.
"But what about------" Alex wasn't able to finish before Midnight ran out into the desert. Midnight snorted and ran faster. They made back to the village right when Cutter and Rayek were on the Bridge of Destiny. "Oh crap! He hates heights." Alex said.
Cutter lay on the bridge trembling. Rayek was going back to where he started. Skywise was about to point his knife at him. "Put it away, Skywise." A voice said, and a hand touched his arm. Surprised he turned around. Alex was standing there. Unwillingly, Skywise put away his knife.
"Cutter..." Alex sent.
Cutter looked shocked. Afraid to open his eyes or move.
"Alex, he hates heights! What are we ganna do?" Skywise asked.
"We won't do anything." Alex said. "Cutter..." Alex sent again.
"W-W-What?" Cutter sent with a shaky voice.
"Get up. You can do this. She's worth it, isn't she?" Alex sent standing on the edge of the bridge.
Cutter stopped trembling and slowly looked up. He saw Alex standing in front of him. She was no longer on the edge of the bridge but right in front of him.
"I can't help you so you best get up on your own." She said smiling and cart wheeled over him. She went to the other side of the bridge where the symbol was and jumped up onto it.
Cutter looked back at Alex and saw how easy it was for her. "You think it's that easy?" Cutter asked.
"Yea, if you don't think about it" Alex said smiling and jumped down. Cutter finally got up and was almost to the other side. "Come on Cutter." Alex said.
Cutter touched the symbol and looked at Alex. Alex smiled and said, "See I told you." Cutter smiled and slowly walked back to the other side of the bridge. When Cutter got to the other side everyone was happy that he made it across - ALIVE! Cutter turned around and saw Alex halfway across the bridge. She stopped and looked down. Cutter became frightened. Alex smiled and stood there for a moment.
"Alex!" Cutter yelled.
Alex had jumped off the bridge. Cutter and the others ran down to the bottom of the bridge. They ran under it and just as they did Alex landed, softly on her feet. Everyone stared. Alex looked up at them. Cutter was trembling again.
"What?" Alex asked surprised.
She didn't let anyone answer her question. She walked through the crowd of people and went to Leetah's hut.
"Leetah?" Alex whispered coming into the hut.
"Yes? Oh hi Alex." Leetah said.
"Umm the challenges are done. Cutter won." Alex said slowly.
Leetah looked away for a moment. Then she looked back at Alex.
"Thanks for telling me Alex. I need to think for a while." Leetah said.
Alex left the hut and went to the caves. She went to Cutter and sat down. "You look upset." Alex said.
"She refused me!" Cutter sent angrily. "I talked to her." Alex said.
With that the conversation was through and there was silence. "What was that?" Cutter asked breaking the silence. "What was what?" Alex asked.
"That stunt?" Cutter asked. Alex smiled and said, "I just felt like jumping, I guess."
Cutter got up and said, "Council!"
That night the wolfriders talked about the loved ones they lost in the battle with Madcoil. There was silence for a while. Alex broke the silence.
"Cutter, while you were doing the challenges with Rayek today, I went to your old holt in the forest beyond the Troll Caverns." Alex said.
Cutter looked surprised at her. "How does she know about the old holt she's never been there?" Cutter thought.
"The whole forest was gone, as well as the river and the animals. The holt was burnt to the ground. The trolls weren't there either." Alex said.
"Anyway, I found something. Under the ashes of the holt. Your father's necklace." Alex said holding the chain of the necklace and let the bear drop down out of her hand.
Cutter looked at the necklace. He couldn't take his eyes off it. "How did you---" Cutter asked. Alex just smiled, and gave him the necklace.
"The council is over." Cutter said holding back his tears.
Alex got up and looked at Cutter. He looked a little upset.
"Goodnight Alex." Cutter said and left.
Alex went up to the Bridge of Destiny. "Why?" She asked herself. "Why him?"
Alex looked around. "Oh WOW!" She said. "Midnight, wake up! I'll bee down at the caves in a minute! Me and you are going hunting." Alex sent to her wolf friend.
Alex met Midnight at the front of the cave. She silently went into the cave and got her bow and arrows that she had made earlier.
"They're ganna yell at us for not telling them about the hunt. But they need to rest, its been a long day. And Cutter has that stupid challenge thing tomorrow." Alex sent to Midnight as she came out of the caves very quietly.
She got on Midnights back and they went out beyond the Bridge, where Alex had seen many animals to hunt.
After Alex was gone for about 15 minutes, Cutter came out of the caves. He saw her in the distance coming back to the village.
"Wake up everyone! Dinner is here!" Cutter sent to everyone.
Everyone woke up instantly. Strongbow came out of one of the caves with his bow and an arrow ready to kill.
"Not tonight Strongbow --- Someone already did your job." Cutter said, and Strongbow slowly dropped his bow and arrow and was staring at Alex.
Alex came to the caves, with Midnight next to her. Midnight had a huge rabbit in his mouth that he had caught for his dinner. Alex had two deer over her shoulders. She paused in front of the caves and stood there like the deer where weightless. Then she lifted them over her head and dropped them to the ground in front of Cutter.
"Food anyone?" She whispered with a smile. Cutter smiled his thanks and picked up one of the deer. Strongbow picked up the other and hey took them up to the platform and ate while they had a meeting. Alex sat with her knees in her chest and her arms around her legs. She sat behind Cutter, who stood in the center of the platform. She didn't eat anything. Skywise sat beside her, but didn't say a word.
"Syre." Skywise sent.
Alex gave him a sharp look. "My name is Alex!" She sent to him.
She stood up and walked past Cutter. He paused in speaking and watched her jump down off the platform and got on Midnight's back. Cutter turned around and looked at Skywise. Skywise looked at him and sent, "What?"
Cutter motioned Skywise to go after her and then continued the council with a worried look on his face. Skywise left the council with Starjumper and followed Alex to the Bridge of Destiny. After Alex got to the Bridge she got off Midnight. She looked at the Bridge and thought a loud, "Cutter has to cross that?"
"Oh well." She said and began to cross it. She got to the middle when she realized someone was behind her. She flipped closer to the symbol (lucky she takes gymnastics at home).
"Why did you follow me?" Alex said sharply. She landed on the feet and crossed her arms, looking over to the other side of the bridge.
Surprised that she knew he was there he said, "Cause we need to talk."
"About?" Alex said sharply.
"Everything," Skywise said.
Alex stopped in the middle of the bridge and plopped down. One leg was over each side of the bridge. "Talk then," She said swinging her legs back and forth.
"You tell Cutter and Leetah to except recognition, but you don't except it yourself." Skywise said.
"So," Alex said. "Look, Skywise, I really do like you. I really do, but I don't want a lifemate."
Skywise stood there, frozen at what she just said. She got up and did one more handstand on the bridge and walked easily back across it.
"I hope Cutter can make it across this. I mean, him being afraid of heights and all." Alex said with a small smile. Skywise smiled slightly.
Alex went to Skywise and had to look up a little. "I'm sorry." She said hugging him and kissed his cheek.
Alex sat down in front of the bridge and looked up at the stars. Skywise blushed a little and sat down next to her. After a while they were friends again. Alex fell asleep. Skywise's chest was her pillow. He had his arm around her and his other hand fingered at a piece of straw in his mouth.
He moved his hand over Alex's hand, which lay on his chest. He held it lightly for a moment, but Alex squeezed it. After a while Skywise fell asleep too. The sun started to come over to bridge when Alex woke up. She remembered today was the day of the challenge. She slowly gets out of the still sleeping, Skywise's arms.
"I wanna go check out the forest." She thought, moving closer to Midnight.
She got on Midnight and they went down the mountainside. Alex looked around at the now peaceful, but soon to be very busy village.
"Skywise, wake up. Cutter's ganna need you soon." Alex sent to Skywise, which made him jump awake. "I'll be back later." Alex sent. Alex and Midnight ran off.
Skywise and Cutter were getting set for the day. "Where's Alex?" Cutter asked worried.
"No idea, her and Midnight ran off earlier this morning." Skywise said.
Even though Cutter was worried, he went on with the challenges. Meanwhile Alex and Midnight were at the Cavern of the Trolls. "God! It smells in here!" She said.
"Why aren't there any trolls? When we left here before there were thousands." Midnight sent.
Alex shrugged and sniffed the air. "Human's maybe?" She said.
They reached the Cavern of the Troll King. Nothing was there. Alex jumped off Midnight remembering the story. They walked to the Cavern door. Alex had a little trouble opening it but opened it enough so that they could get out. Alex looked around the dead forest. She saw Cutter's old holt. She went to the old tree. She scrambled though the trunk under the dead limbs, looking for something. She found it, minutes later. It was Bearclaw's necklace. It was burnt and a little deformed but still there. And she could make out, that it looked like a bear.
"Oh crap! The challenges!" She said quickly jumping onto Midnight's back.
They ran into the Troll Cavern and to the Tunnel of Golden Light. She knew Midnight wouldn't be able to make it in that sun, so she told him to rest. Midnight refused to rest.
"But what about------" Alex wasn't able to finish before Midnight ran out into the desert. Midnight snorted and ran faster. They made back to the village right when Cutter and Rayek were on the Bridge of Destiny. "Oh crap! He hates heights." Alex said.
Cutter lay on the bridge trembling. Rayek was going back to where he started. Skywise was about to point his knife at him. "Put it away, Skywise." A voice said, and a hand touched his arm. Surprised he turned around. Alex was standing there. Unwillingly, Skywise put away his knife.
"Cutter..." Alex sent.
Cutter looked shocked. Afraid to open his eyes or move.
"Alex, he hates heights! What are we ganna do?" Skywise asked.
"We won't do anything." Alex said. "Cutter..." Alex sent again.
"W-W-What?" Cutter sent with a shaky voice.
"Get up. You can do this. She's worth it, isn't she?" Alex sent standing on the edge of the bridge.
Cutter stopped trembling and slowly looked up. He saw Alex standing in front of him. She was no longer on the edge of the bridge but right in front of him.
"I can't help you so you best get up on your own." She said smiling and cart wheeled over him. She went to the other side of the bridge where the symbol was and jumped up onto it.
Cutter looked back at Alex and saw how easy it was for her. "You think it's that easy?" Cutter asked.
"Yea, if you don't think about it" Alex said smiling and jumped down. Cutter finally got up and was almost to the other side. "Come on Cutter." Alex said.
Cutter touched the symbol and looked at Alex. Alex smiled and said, "See I told you." Cutter smiled and slowly walked back to the other side of the bridge. When Cutter got to the other side everyone was happy that he made it across - ALIVE! Cutter turned around and saw Alex halfway across the bridge. She stopped and looked down. Cutter became frightened. Alex smiled and stood there for a moment.
"Alex!" Cutter yelled.
Alex had jumped off the bridge. Cutter and the others ran down to the bottom of the bridge. They ran under it and just as they did Alex landed, softly on her feet. Everyone stared. Alex looked up at them. Cutter was trembling again.
"What?" Alex asked surprised.
She didn't let anyone answer her question. She walked through the crowd of people and went to Leetah's hut.
"Leetah?" Alex whispered coming into the hut.
"Yes? Oh hi Alex." Leetah said.
"Umm the challenges are done. Cutter won." Alex said slowly.
Leetah looked away for a moment. Then she looked back at Alex.
"Thanks for telling me Alex. I need to think for a while." Leetah said.
Alex left the hut and went to the caves. She went to Cutter and sat down. "You look upset." Alex said.
"She refused me!" Cutter sent angrily. "I talked to her." Alex said.
With that the conversation was through and there was silence. "What was that?" Cutter asked breaking the silence. "What was what?" Alex asked.
"That stunt?" Cutter asked. Alex smiled and said, "I just felt like jumping, I guess."
Cutter got up and said, "Council!"
That night the wolfriders talked about the loved ones they lost in the battle with Madcoil. There was silence for a while. Alex broke the silence.
"Cutter, while you were doing the challenges with Rayek today, I went to your old holt in the forest beyond the Troll Caverns." Alex said.
Cutter looked surprised at her. "How does she know about the old holt she's never been there?" Cutter thought.
"The whole forest was gone, as well as the river and the animals. The holt was burnt to the ground. The trolls weren't there either." Alex said.
"Anyway, I found something. Under the ashes of the holt. Your father's necklace." Alex said holding the chain of the necklace and let the bear drop down out of her hand.
Cutter looked at the necklace. He couldn't take his eyes off it. "How did you---" Cutter asked. Alex just smiled, and gave him the necklace.
"The council is over." Cutter said holding back his tears.
Alex got up and looked at Cutter. He looked a little upset.
"Goodnight Alex." Cutter said and left.