Chapter 10: Wind and Stone
The terrain began to change again.
After leaving the peaceful stream behind, the group pressed forward toward the horizon. The land grew rocky and uneven, rising into sharp ridges and narrow paths carved into stone. The air was cooler here, but the wind howled constantly — tugging at tails, cloaks, and antlers alike.
They had arrived at what looked like the edge of a wind-carved canyon, its walls steep and narrow. Deep below, sharp rocks jutted like spears, and far off, they could hear the whistling roar of the wind funneling between the cliffs.
Littlefoot stepped carefully to the edge. "How do we get across?"
"There's a path," Matt said, pointing to a thin trail carved into the canyon wall. "But it's narrow. One wrong step and—"
"Yeah," Thomas muttered. "Splat."
Chopper looked nervous. "I… don't like heights."
Ducky, ever cheerful, bounced ahead. "We just go slow-slow-slow and don't look down, nope nope nope!"
The group began their careful trek along the narrow ledge, pressed tight to the rock wall. Matt walked ahead, manipulating gravity in small pulses to help steady everyone's steps. Thomas followed close behind, keeping an eye on Ducky and Littlefoot. Chopper moved slowly, hooves slipping once, but Matt caught him with a subtle gravity tug.
They were halfway across when the wind shifted.
A sudden, violent gust blasted down the canyon — catching Ducky mid-step.
She screamed as her feet slipped— Thomas grabbed her just in time, yanking her back against the rock wall.
"Careful!" he shouted. "That wind's trying to throw us off!"
The narrow ledge finally gave way to a broader plateau, and the group collapsed onto it, breaths ragged with exhaustion and fear. The relentless wind still howled above, but its force ebbed slightly here, offering a fragile sense of shelter beneath the jagged cliffs.
Chopper's heart raced like a drum in his chest, the echo of Ducky's scream still ringing in his ears. His legs trembled so much he thought they'd give out beneath him, but he forced himself to stand. His fear clawed at his chest, but he shoved it down, focusing on his friends. They need me. Focus on them. Not me.
He moved from friend to friend, his voice unsteady but determined. "Littlefoot, are you okay? Ducky, any scrapes? Thomas, your shoulder—does it hurt?" His hooves felt unsteady on the rock, slipping slightly on loose gravel, but he masked the stumble with a quick shuffle, pretending it hadn't happened.
"I am good, yes I am!" Ducky chirped with forced cheer, though her hands clutched tightly at her knees, knuckles white. Littlefoot gave a strained nod, his chest heaving with deep breaths as he stared back at the path they had crossed, disbelief flickering in his wide eyes. Thomas winced as he flexed his shoulder, the memory of the violent gust still fresh. "Just a little sore," he muttered, trying to sound casual.
Chopper nodded, managing a shaky smile. But inside, the fear coiled tighter. What if I hadn't been able to help? What if I had slipped too? He clenched his fists behind his back, hiding the tremor that wouldn't stop.
Matt stood apart from them, gaze fixed on the jagged landscape ahead. His expression was hard, but Chopper could see the tension in his jaw. "We can't keep doing this," Matt muttered, adjusting the device at his belt. "One more gust like that, and we won't be as lucky."
Thomas moved beside him, his expression tight. "We can't keep relying on narrow ledges. Maybe we find a way below the canyon rim—less wind down there, more stable footing."
Matt's jaw clenched as he considered the suggestion. "Climbing down could be just as risky. We need a guide—or wings."
As if summoned by fate, a sudden rustling echoed from above. Heads snapped upward to see a small, figure tangled in the branches of a scraggly tree clinging stubbornly to the cliff face. The flyer flailed, wings beating wildly before he tumbled from the tree in a chaotic spiral.
The creature landed with an awkward thud, skidding to a dusty stop beside Matt's feet.
A groan escaped the tangled heap of feathers, then the small flyer sat up, shaking off dust and dignity alike. "Me… am okay! Yes, yes, just practicing emergency landing. Was perfect."
Matt blinked, his tension briefly interrupted by the unexpected sight. Thomas let out a short, surprised laugh. Littlefoot stepped forward cautiously, still processing the fear lingering in his chest. "Uh… hi there. Are you okay?"
The flyer puffed up, trying to appear taller than his small frame allowed. "Me Petrie. Me very good flyer. Wind just… tricky today. Yep, yep."
Ducky giggled, the sound fragile but genuine, a small crack in the shell of fear that had gripped her heart. Chopper's heart eased just a little hearing her laugh. If she's okay… maybe I'm okay too.
Petrie dusted himself off proudly, oblivious to the tension he'd interrupted. "You going that way? Me know paths. Maybe. Windy ones, rocky ones. Less fall-y ones too."
Matt exchanged a glance with Thomas, the corners of his mouth twitching into the faintest smile despite the lingering fear. "Looks like we've got ourselves a guide."