Page 70 of Spirit Trials

Kinsley swallows. “Yeah, like Harper said, if they get to us here...”

“Yeah,” I rasp.

“Oh, Farrah, your throat.” Kinsley reaches out and gently touches it, and even that hurts.

“We’ll deal with it when we can, but right now, we just need to get somewhere safe,” Harper says.

“Yeah, let’s move.” I take the lead and start climbing back down the tree.

“What if we split up?” Kinsley asks.

“No,” Harper says. “We stay together.”

“I’m with Harper,” I agree. I take a breath. “Ready?” They both nod. “Let’s go.” And then we’re on the run again. The arrows start flying almost as soon as I take the first step. I take the lead and run from tree to tree, always looking for the strongest branches. Kinsley cries out once, but Harper shouts at me to keep moving. So, I do. We run from tree to tree until finally, the arrows stop. Even then, I keep going.

“I have to stop,” Kinsley say, breathlessly. I stop as well and pull out my bow, looking all around us.

“What do you think?” Harper asks as she comes to stand next to me.

“I think we’re in the clear for now, but we should probably keep moving just in case they’re still following. But we can take a few minutes to catch our breath.”

Kinsley sits on the branch and pulls out her waterskin and takes a tiny sip. I pull dried meat out of my bag and pass it around, thankful once again to Rysden for helping me be prepared. I sit on the next branch up and chew on the tough meat. “How’s your arm, Kins?” I ask.

She turns her arm. “It’s just a scratch.”

“I can’t believe we didn’t get hit,” Harper says as she leans against the trunk.

“Yeah, we got lucky.”

“You know what else was lucky?” Harper asks. She holds her hand out, and I stare down at it in surprise.

“How in the world did you get two rings while we were running for our lives?” I question.

Harper shrugs. “I just saw them and grabbed them as we were moving.”

I shake my head and grin. “Good job.”

Chapter 36

After our snack, we start up again and spend the next hour making our way from tree to tree. It pays off when Kinsley finds another gold ring, and I add a fourth to my collection. We finally stop and spend the next hour getting settled before dark. “What are you going to do without your rope?” Harper asks.

“I’ll be fine. I’m used to staying in the trees when I’m hunting.”

“Yeah, but sleeping?” Kinsley asks.

I wave off her concern. “It will be—” A shriek fills the air, and my body chills. Goosebumps pop up on my arms, and I shoot to my feet as dread fills me.

“What was that?” Kinsley asks.

My heart thunders in my chest, as I scan the trees in every direction. I hear the awful shriek again, and my heart stutters. There’s only one creature that makes that terrible screech. “We have to get out of here now,” I whisper as panic fills me.

“What is that?” Kinsley asks again.

“Listen to me,” I whisper harshly. “That’s the sound of a Guivre. They breathe fire and are the creatures from your darkest nightmares. They’re also blind, so if we stay absolutely quiet, we might be able to escape it.”

“What?” Kinsley says in a high-pitched voice.

I smack a hand over her mouth. “Don’t talk,” I whisper against her ear. The shriek sounds closer this time. I put my finger up to my lips and try to see where the threat is. I hear a scream, and then I see a burst of fire and the trees a hundred yards or so away begin to blaze.