Page 35 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

I study her face a moment, wondering what I should say. I decide to keep it simple. “I’m sorry—”

“You already apologized,” Harper says, cutting me off.

I don’t know what to say after that. “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I finally add.

Harper blows out a breath. “I know, Farrah.” She looks away for a moment before turning back to me.

“I hate it, but I know you didn’t mean to.

Your prince, however, that’s a different story.

” I open my mouth to tell her that he’s not my prince but decide at the last moment to stay silent.

She doesn’t need any more fuel for this fire. “Now what trees are we going to claim?”

And just like that, hope fills me. I know that’s the best I’m going to get from Harper. I focus my attention on the trees. The success or failure of this trial is going to be the trees we choose. “This area is really different.”

“Yeah, it’s hot,” Kinsley points out.

I notice the warmth for the first time and wipe the back of my neck.

“I’m already sweating, and we haven’t even started yet.

” I turn around in a slow circle, taking in the deep green of everything around us.

“Everybody’s going to choose the ones closest to us,” I say after studying the area.

“I think we should go further into the trees and then choose. It’s impossible to see past these trees up front. ”

Kinsley looks at Harper, and I can see her nervousness. “Sounds like a plan,” Harper says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Kinsley turns to me and smiles, and I feel like I'm walking on clouds. No matter the outcome of this trial, I have my two friends back. It feels good, really good.

“The leaves are so green and thick,” Kinsley points out, and I have to agree with her.

We don’t have to wait long as we were one of the last groups brought over.

Soon, the trumpets sound and we take off.

I’m not really sure if we are protected during these twenty minutes or not, but I don’t aim to find out.

I take the lead as we run towards the cover of the trees away from the edge of the forest. One minute, we’re running with sunlight all around us; the next, we’re plunged into near darkness.

I stumble for a moment and come to a stop.

“What in the world!” Harper says. “I can’t see anything.”

I turn around in a slow circle. “Let your eyes adjust; there is light but not much.” I look up at the trees; the sun is almost completely blocked out. I look back the way we came and then forward.

“If we go in much further, I don’t think we’ll be able to see anything at all,” Kinsley says softly.

“Yeah, but neither will our competition,” I point out.

“If they can’t find us,” Harper starts.

“They can’t bother us,” I finish. “Should we go further in?”

“Let’s go,” Harper says, leading the way.

“Just be careful, since we can’t see the ground. Be careful of snakes and other creatures,” I call out. Kinsley yelps but keeps going. I scan trees as we run, knowing we’re swiftly running out of time.

“What are we looking for in particular?” Harper calls out, quieter this time.

“I don’t know exactly, but I’ll know when I see it,” I tell her. We keep running, and I start to panic that we’re not going to find three good trees next to each other. There are trees everywhere, but ones that will work for us, not so much. And not three right next to each other.

“We’re going to run out of time,” Kinsley says.

I keep pushing forward. I know how important a role the trees we choose are going to play in this trial.

And then I see it. Three perfect trees—branches low enough to climb but high enough to keep some wild animals at bay, closely aligned, with big thick branches, even at the top.

“Those three. Go, go, go.” I take the lead, running for the three trees I’m looking at.

I take the one with the highest first branch, knowing it will be harder to climb.

I watch Kinsley for a moment before I call out to Harper.

“Help me give her a boost; she’s too short.

” Harper runs to us, and we both cup our hands together and boost Kinsley up and over the first branch.

Harper runs to hers. “Are you good?” I watch as she jumps and grabs the branch and begins the slow process of pulling herself up and over.

Knowing she’s going to get it, I run to mine.

I hear the trumpets begin to blow, and I panic.

I run right at the tree and up the side before I turn sideways and jump at the nearest branch.

I land on my stomach and pull myself up and then straddle the branch.

I jerk my head towards the girls. “Are you both up?”

“Yes,” Kinsley calls out.

“Yep,” Harper says, not quite as enthusiastically.

“That was close,” Kinsley says breathlessly. “You almost didn’t make it, Farrah.”

“I know.” I'm still trying to slow my racing heart. I stand up on my tree branch and take it in, studying its strengths and weaknesses since it’s going to be my home for however long this trial lasts. “This is going to be good. We just have to stay up here, and we’ll be fine.”

“Says the girl who loves being in the trees,” Harper mumbles.

I smile. “I do, but you have to admit, it’s better than being on the ground and constantly running or fighting for our lives.”

“She has a point,” Kinsley points out.

“Yeah,” Harper begrudgingly admits.

I start to climb my tree, anxious to check out the rest of it. “Do you think there are any snakes in these trees?” Kinsley asks nervously.

“There definitely could be,” I admit. “Just check each branch first before you grab hold.” I continue to climb.

“What are you doing, Farrah?” Kinsley asks.

“I’m just checking out my tree; I also want to see if we can see anything in the distance from up at the top.”

“That’s a good idea,” Harper admits, and I watch as she begins to climb too.

“How about you check it out and let me know what you find?” Kinsley calls out.

“You okay, Kinsley?” I call out from much higher up.

“I don’t like heights,” she admits.

I pause. “Oh, that’s not good.”

“Yeah, definitely not good,” Harper echoes. “Just don’t look down.”

“Sure. No problem. It’s not like we’re stuck up here for the next few days or anything,” Kinsley mutters.

I keep climbing. I'm very careful to test each branch before putting my full weight on it, especially towards the top. When I make it up as high as I can go, I look out and sigh in disappointment. “Well, that’s not helpful,” Harper says a few moments later.

“Yeah.”

“What is it?” Kinsley calls out from below.

“You can’t see anything,” I call back. “The trees are so close together, and the leaves are so thick. It’s crazy; I’ve never seen anything like this.” I look at the tree next to me. The leaves are wide and as long as my arm. I pluck one from the tree. “Look how huge these are.”

“We should collect them,” Harper says.

“That’s a really good idea.” I reach out and snag a few within my reach.

“Be careful,” Harper calls out in warning.

I study the tree for a moment before looking back at Harper. “Terron just said our feet can’t touch the ground, right?”

She nods slowly. “Yeah. Why?”

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.