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“SKYLA!”

Alex sprinted over to the massive hole in the ground where Skyla had previously been standing. She dropped onto her stomach and wriggled the last few feet, balancing her weight so she wouldn’t fall in as well.

“Skyla, can you hear me? Are you hurt?”

“I’m all right,” Skyla answered weakly, her voice echoing up the deep hole.

Alex released a breath. “How far down are you? I can’t see anything.”

“Not too far, I think,” Skyla said, her voice shaky. “I didn’t fall for long.”

“Can you see me?” Alex asked, knowing there was at leastsome light shining on her and hoping it was enough for the other girl to see.

“Yeah,” Skyla answered. “But you’re too far away for me to reach.”

“Okay, hold on.” Alex wriggled away from the hole and stood up. She looked around the area, hoping to find something to help them, and settled on a long, sturdy branch attached to a tree. It took some twisting and pulling—and earned her more than one splinter—but finally Alex was able to yank it free.

She scurried back to the opening of the hole and lowered the branch down into the darkness. “Try to grab hold, Skyla.”

After a few moments of silence, Alex wondered what the other girl was waiting for.

“Ready when you are,” she added.

“I can’t stand,” Skyla whimpered. “I think I’ve sprained my ankle. I can’t reach the branch without standing.”

Alex had to stifle a groan. She had to get Skyla out of the trap, but how could she do that without a rope?

“Skyla, can you use your gift to lengthen your arm?” Alex asked. “Or just shape-shift it into something long enough to reach me?”

“I don’t have supernatural elasticity, Alex,” Skyla returned in a pained voice. “I can only shift into other people. And I don’t know anyone who has ladder arms.”

It had been worth a try, if nothing else.

Standing up again, Alex began pacing around the area, hoping for some kind of inspiration. She’d only taken three steps when she managed to trip on her cape yet again.

“Stupid thing,” she muttered, flinging it over her shoulder and continuing onwards. But then she froze as an idea came to mind, and she unclasped the annoying garment and hurried over to the hole, shoving the material down as soon as she was close enough.

“Can you grab my cape?” Alex asked.

“I still can’t reach it,” Skyla answered, her voice hitching. “Please don’t leave me down here.”

“I’m not going to leave you,” Alex promised. “Are you able to throw your cape up to me? Can you do that? I might be able to tie them together so they’re long enough to reach you.”

“I think so…” Skyla said, and Alex had to quickly grab the material as Skyla flung it towards her face.

“Good job,” Alex encouraged. “Give me a second.”

She tied the two capes together, securing them tightly, and threw one end of the cloth back into the hole.

“I’ve got it!” Skyla cried.

“Make sure you hold on,” Alex called down. “And help me if you can.”

Now for the hard part, Alex thought, as she strained to lift Skyla out of the hole. It wasn’t an easy task given that she was lying on her stomach and could only use the strength in her upper body, but between the two of them, they managed to get Skyla out of the trap. Alex’s arms burned from the effort, but she was more concerned about Skyla’s ankle. What were they supposed to do if she couldn’t walk?

“Can you stand?” Alex asked once they had scrambled a safe distance away from the hole and caught their breath.

“Maybe, if you help,” Skyla said in a pained voice.