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My first instinct was to check on Talan.
He lay there, pallid and drawn, the poison turning his normally vibrant skin a sickly shade of gray.
My heart raced with fear, every passing second emphasizing his vulnerability and the impending danger we faced.
I unbuckled our restraints and hoisted him up, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
His weight was almost too much for me, but I couldn’t — wouldn’t — let him fall.
Every movement, every step was crucial now.
“Riley,” he rasped, his voice barely audible over the chaotic noises of the jungle, “let me sever my arm. You need to save yourself.”
I shot him a look, one I hoped conveyed both my determination and irritation. “We’ve been through this, Talan. Together, remember?”
With him leaning heavily against me, we stumbled out of the pod and moved as fast as our combined weight would allow.
The urgency was unmistakable — the platform’s edge was much closer than it had ever been, as if our world was gradually shrinking, cornering us in an inescapable trap.
We could hear Krexar behind us.
His steps were not frantic; he seemed to be taking his time, enjoying the hunt, relishing our desperation.
The sound sent chills down my spine.
We needed a plan — fast.
“The tree!” I gasped, spotting a tall one with strong, sturdy branches.
Trees had offered us respite before, a vantage point and a temporary sanctuary.
If we could just get high enough…
But as we approached its base, reality crashed over me like a cold wave.
Talan, in his weakened state, would never be able to climb.
I cast a desperate look around, searching for anything — vines, rocks, anything that might assist our ascent.
“Talan,” I panted. “I’ll climb first. Maybe I can drop a vine or something for you to hold onto.”
He nodded weakly, his eyes filled with pain but also trust.
Trust in me, in us.
I started to climb, my fingers scraping the bark, my nails breaking against the rough surface.
Every second counted, and with every bit of strength I had, I pulled myself higher, the ground receding below me.
After what felt like hours but was probably only minutes, I reached a relatively flat branch and scanned the area below for vines or anything I could use to help Talan up.
I couldn’t climb high — his arm was fully stretched now above his head.
To my relief, I found a thick vine hanging nearby.
Without a second thought, I yanked it, praying it would be long enough.
With the vine secured to the tree, I lowered the other end, shouting, “Grab it, Talan!”
