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No one says no, or barks, so I assume that my shitty plan is our best option.Great.
I count up to three twice in my head because I am not ready. On the third time I know I have to say it aloud before I lose my nerve.
“One. Two.” I breathe in. “Three.” I feel Julie turn in my arm like she is preparing to reach for the ledge. I turn with her. I hoist her up before my foot leaves the ground to swing off the path. I turn my head as far as I can and glimpse the ledge. Julie grunts and I can hear her scramble. I’m too far out to go back. I use the foot still on the ground to push off toward the ledge.
It isn’t very high on me, but since I’m now half falling, I only manage to grab it with my claws. For a moment, I dangle. This is fine, as now I can see what’s going on.
I make two swings and then I’m able to lift my foot up on the ledge. With my next breath I’m up and rolling over to stare up at the sky. Above me, the top is only two body lengths higher. Not far at all.
A grin tightens my cheeks. I’m not used to smiling, and it hurts.
“I could probably toss you up the rest of the way.” I glance at Talon, or at least the slightly darker shadow that I assume is him.
“No thank you,” he says a little primly.
Julie looks up, then shakes her head.
The rock beneath our feet gives a creak. It was probably fine with only the two of them, but my bulk has pushed it too far. I scoop her up before she can argue and flip her over my shoulder. I don’t wait for it to give way before I start climbing.
I don’t look back for Talon either.
It’s only when I reach the top, and after setting Julie down, that I glance back. The ledge didn’t collapse. Perhaps I imagined the groaning of the rock, but I’d have rather not discovered I was right by waiting too long.
Julie flops onto her back, the purple robe spread around her. Her white shirt and black skirt are streaked with dirt, as are her legs. Even though she has claws, she doesn’t belong here.
“Thank you for helping me up the path.” I mean that. I couldn’t have gotten as far as I did without her…and wouldn’t have needed to go through that if not for her resistance to being carried.
She props herself up and shakes her head, as though she knows she is the reason for the drama.
I lick my lip. “It’s not just the path. Not having my eye…I’m still finding new limitations.”
I don’t like admitting that out loud.
I lift my gaze from her to the skyline at the center. There, in the distance, is the spire. Against the dark purple sky it is nothing but a silvery needle.
Between here and there, are monsters.
And for the first time in my life, I am terrified of having to fight.
This time, I have more than my life to lose.
7
Julie
If I could speak, I still wouldn’t know what to say to Michael. I didn’t do anything except cry and freak out. I didn’t help him at all. It’s not like I could even warn him about the overhang. I hadn’t even realized that it would be a problem because I was so worried about falling.
What would we have done without Talon?
What would I have done? Made us stand there all night until I thought of a plan?
Left Michael alone to find Tail and ask him for help? I’d have probably gotten eaten.
I flop back down, feeling completely useless. How long until the three of them become sick of dragging my pathetic ass to the center?
They don’t need me. I’m the one who needs them. I bite the inside of my lip so that it can’t shake and close my eyes. I will not have another cry. But my throat is thick and aching like I am full of self-pity that needs to spill out. I draw in several deep breaths, then open my eyes.
Michael isn’t looking at me. He’s standing about two yards away staring into the distance. Is he waiting for me to pull myself together so we can press on and meet up with Tail? If he was in a hurry, he’d pick me up like I’m a bag to be lugged around.
