Page 67 of Spirit Trials

I climb down a few branches and then test the branch next to my foot. When I see it’s strong, I walk over onto it carefully. “What are you doing?” Harper calls out.

I turn back and grin at her. “I’m collecting leaves...annnnd looking for rings. If we can find trees that connect to each other, we can find rings and still stay in the trees at the same time.”

“Hmmm.” That’s all Harper says.

“Oh, come on. It’s a good idea; admit it,” I goad her.

“Fine. It’s a good idea,” she finally admits. “But I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I made it this far, but I don’t know if I can let go of the trunk to switch to a different tree. My legs are shaking too badly.”

I’m actually surprised she admitted that much to me. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind doing it. I’m going to do a quick circle around our trees and see if I can find any.”

“Okay, be careful,” Harper says. I look over to see her trying to climb back down. It looks like her nerves are finally getting ahold of her. She’s pretty stiff as she climbs down. I turn my focus back to my task at hand. When I transfer to another tree, I hear Kinsley gasp way below me.

“Farrah, what are you doing?”

“Looking for gold coins.”

It’s quiet a minute, and then she calls back, “You’re crazy.”

“I know,” I call back.

“Please be careful.”

I smile at her words. “I will.”

I work my way from tree to tree. Occasionally, I find a tree that’s not strong enough to cross over, but most of the trees are okay. I find it easy to cross from tree to tree. I’m just about ready to head back when something catches my eye a few trees over. It takes me a little while because I have to go out of the way to get to the tree that I want, but it’s worth it when I finally get there. I reach out and snag the gold coin hanging from almost the very top branch. I grin as I pocket it and absently wonder who in the world even puts all these gold coins out for these trials. My bet is on the gryphon; he could just fly to the tops of the trees and place them there.

On the way back to where Harper and Kinsley are, I see something else that catches my attention. “No way.” I climb to the next tree, keeping my eye on the green fruit that I almost missed. When I get close, I pump my fist in victory, because it really is what I thought it was. I grab several leaves from the branch I’m currently standing on and carefully wrap it around the spiky fruit before plucking it from the tree. It’s heavier than I thought it would be, and it makes me slower going back.

“Farrah!” Kinsley calls out. “I thought you were gone, swallowed up in this forest.”

“No, I’m here, and I brought back treasures.”

“A ring?” she asks hopefully.

“That and something else.”

I climb back into my tree and sit on one of the really thick branches before I carefully unwrap the green fruit. “What is that?” Harper asks. “A weapon?”

“It could certainly be used as one,” I say with a grin. “These really hurt if you get poked by one.”

“Then why did you bring it with you?” Harper asks.

“Because of this....” I use my knife to cut it open and peel the fruit from its spiny outward casing. Inside is a large, round fruit. I cut it open, revealing its honey-colored flesh and large seeds.“The flesh is sweet and great for energy,” I explain. “And these seeds have protein in them, the same as eating meat. It’s really an amazing fruit and a really great find.”

“That’s amazing, Farrah,” Kinsley says. “Good job.”

“Thanks. The good news is there are several more in that same tree.”

Kinsley beams at me, and even Harper manages a smile. We each take a piece of the flesh of it and a seed. “Here’s to Trial Two,” I say. We all bump our fruit pieces together and take a bite. “What do you think?” I ask.

“It’s actually pretty good,” Kinsley admits.

I look at Harper next. “Looks like we might not die.” I smile to myself because from Harper, that might as well be a compliment.

Chapter 35

All in all, day one isn’t bad. I use the ropes I packed and show the girls how to tie themselves to their branch, so they don’t fall off once they fall asleep. Again, I’m grateful that Rysden gave me a heads up. He’s the one that gave me the ropes. Now that the three of us are tied in for the night, I’m incredibly grateful.