Ok, I've given in. Here is the second chapter. Hope you all enjoy it. Thanks immensely to everyone who took the time to review.
Disclaimer: Refer to the Prologue...
Chapter Two
Narrow Escape
"Wait, maybe we should think about this," Susan said, upon seeing the ice already partly broken, and the river flowing quite fast.
"We don't have time," Peter replied impatiently, holding Lucy's hand.
"I was just trying to be realistic," Susan protested, glaring at Peter.
"No, you're trying to be smart…as usual!" Peter retorted. Susan looked ready to reply, but the distant howls changed her mind.
The three Pevensies, led by Peter, began to step onto the snow-covered ice, but it started to sink under their weight. Lucy gasped as she felt the ice shift underneath them, and gripped Peter's hand tighter.
"Wait," Beaver said, stopping Peter. "Maybe I should go first."
"Maybe you should," Peter replied nervously.
Beaver stepped in front of Peter and started to lead the way, taking the smallest of steps at a time. The loose ice creaked and groaned under the combined weight of the group crossing and the force of the already melted water rushing beneath it.
"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?" Queen fussed at Beaver.
"Well, you never know what meal is going to your last, especially with your cooking," Beaver commented, continuing to walk forward.
"If Mum knew what we were doing…" Susan began.
"Mum's not here!" Peter exclaimed, getting irritated.
"Oh no!" Lucy cried, pointing behind them. Peter and Susan turned to see the pack of wolves charging towards them, snarling and snapping.
"Run!" Peter yelled.
But it was too late. The wolves' leader, Maugrim, and two others leapt onto the ice in front of the group. One of the wolves grabbed Beaver by the back of his neck and pinned him roughly to the ice. Peter pulled his sword out of the sheath, and holding it with both hands, pointed it straight at Maugrim.
"Put that down, boy, someone might get hurt," Maugrim said, growling at Peter.
"Don't worry about me!" Beaver pleaded. "Slit his throat!"
"Leave now while you can, and your brother leaves with you," Maugrim continued.
"Stop Peter, maybe we should listen to him!" Susan shouted.
"Smart girl," Maugrim commented.
"Don't listen to him. Kill him. Kill him now!" Beaver yelled.
"Look, just because some man in a red suit hands you a sword doesn't make you a hero!" Susan argued. "So just drop it!"
"No, Peter!" Beaver cut in. "Narnia needs ya!"
"What's it going to be, Son of Adam?" Maugrim asked. "We're not going to wait forever."
"And neither is the river," a youthful voice called out.
Peter and his sisters followed Maugrim's gaze. They were greeted with the sight of a now-familiar figure dressed in light grey holding a drawn bow, fitted with two arrows, crouching on a crag on the side of the river that Peter and the others were trying to get too, the midnight black horse standing nearby grazing.
Quick as lightning, the arrows were released towards the many wolves. One took out a wolf heading for the Pevensie siblings from behind, the other brought down the wolf trapping Beaver on the ground.
"PETER!" Lucy screamed, terrified.
A thunderous noise resounded over the scuffle, which made everyone stop and stand still in fear. The frozen waterfall towering above had suddenly cracked and popped, and the water that was already melted from the rapids above the waterfall was ready to burst forth.
Peter glanced helplessly up at the grey-clad figure sitting on the midnight black horse, who was unfortunately, because of the melting waterfall, unable to come and help them. Peter then knew what he had to do, and smiled reassuringly at the figure, who thankfully, immediately seemed to understand.
As the figure turned and briskly rode away, Peter raised his sword high above his head; then plunged it into the ice between him and Maugrim. A massive crack slowly formed around the piece of ice that the siblings and beavers were balancing on, and separated from the rest of the still-frozen ice.
"Hold onto me!" Peter yelled.
The waterfall groaned and started to spray rivulets of cold, icy water into the river below it; then with a mighty crack, the rest of the ice from the waterfall collapsed into the river, making waves as it connected with the moving water.
The beavers clung to the coats of the girls, while Susan and Lucy held firmly onto Peter's arms, as he grasped the hilt of his sword, which was still stuck securely in the ice. With the momentum of the waves, the ice raft containing the group floated gratifyingly away downriver.
A ways downriver, the ice raft finally floated to shore. Everyone climbed, shivering from the cold water. Susan turned to Peter, about to say something, but her face took a hysterical look. "Peter…" Susan wailed, pointing at his hand.
Peter lifted to be met with the sight of Lucy's fur coat, but shockingly, no Lucy. Peter's face became frantic, while he looked around rapidly, trying to find Lucy.
"What have you done?" Susan cried. Peter was speechless; he couldn't say anything to reply to Susan.
"Lucy!" everyone yelled worriedly.
"Has anyone seen my coat?" a voice asked. Everyone turned to see Lucy standing there, freezing cold and wet, but all right. Susan's eyes welled up and she ran to Lucy.
"Your brother has you well looked after," Beaver said knowingly. Everybody laughed, while the siblings shared a great big hug.
"Wasn't it a great help that the Ranger showed up?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, it sure was," Peter replied, handing Lucy her wet fur coat.
"I don't think you'll be needing those fur coats anymore!" Queen said cheerfully. "Look, spring is arriving!"
Peter, Susan and Lucy looked all around them. Flowers were coming out into bloom, and the snow was slowly melting into the ground, revealing rich, fertile green grass. Leaving their coats by the riverside, they started walking again, continuing to head towards Aslan's camp.
There you go. Hope you liked it. Again, please review!
