| The whole group gasped in horror. "Are you mad, girl?" Keilich cried. "You will surely die if you do not make it. That is a great jump!" "You're not thinking right," Erma warned. "It is too far a leap, and you are too young to die this way! I beg you not to jump! You'll fall hundreds of feet to your death!" Kat walked far back from the edge of the cliff that separated one part of the path from the other. "You must believe in me," Kat said, "and I must believe in S'Allumer and myself. If I die, I die honorably." That's Kat, for sure, Clara said. Impulsive as the day she was born. Clara ran up to Kat, almost crying. "At least," Clara said, throwing her arms around her friend, "pray for us all, and kiss me once before you leap, should you not make it." Without saying a word, Kat fell to her knees and prayed, with her eyes closed and hands folded. Clara soon joined her, as did the rest of the group. She then stood up with Clara, and raised her mouth to hers. Kat kissed Clara passionately, slipping her tounge into Clara's mouth, and held her still for several seconds, holding her tight in her arms. Tears ran from Clara's closed eyes down her face as Kat opened her eyes to finish her kiss with Clara. Where in the world did she learn to kiss like that? Clara wondered. I never remember--oh, wait, I do know where.... Kat looked at Clara again, releasing her. "Do not cry for me, Clara," she said, resting her right hand on Clara's left shoulder. "This is my destiny and yours together." Clara stood aside as Kat positioned her feet and took a few deep breaths. After a few seconds, Kat suddenly set her feet and she bolted. The young cat ran as fast as she could towards the edge of the chasm, her heart beating fast in her chest. Finally, as she reached the end, Kat let out a great cry and lept from the path. She soared through the air, kicking her legs for momentum. Her legs bicycling furiously, Kat reached out for the edge of the other cliff. To her surprise, the jump was considerably easier than she imagined. She landed on her feet on the other side, clearing the ledge by a full foot or greater. Kat fell onto her hands and knees from her foward momentum. Clara breathed a great sigh of relief. "I can't believe it!" she exclaimed. "Surely if you can overcome an obstacle like this, so can I." "I pray for you," Kat called out. "Now, with all your heart, overcome the chasm and stay with me." Clara walked back to where Kat once stood and turned to face her. Without warning, Clara was off, racing in her bare feet along the frozen dirt road. With all her might, she lept furiously, soaring over the chasm, kicking her feet as Kat did. Realizing her apparent success, Kat held her arms out to catch Clara. The black pantheress fell into her friend's waiting arms, knocking them both down just a few feet from the edge of the cliff. "I knew you could do it," Kat said, sitting up. "There is still one more of us left," Clara said, pointing across the gorge at Salem. "Me?" Salem said, stunned. "That's a big jump." Isengrim walked over to his son and pulled him aside. "Salem," he began, whispering, "you can do it; Kat and Clara believe in you. They need you; only hours earlier, you saved Clara's life, in fact. You are the one who can protect them and keep them away from harm. Now, get a running start and jump over that chasm!" "Yes, father," Salem said, eyeing the edge of the cliff. "I will try." "And you will succeed, son," Isengrim assured him. "S'Allumer is watching out for you. Look what He has done for Kat and Clara." Salem walked far back and turned, looking at the road ahead where Kat and Clara stood, waiting for him to jump. I do this for my Lord, for Kat, for Clara, and for my family. Salem thought. At the very least, I do it for myself. Salem set his feet and took off running towards the edge of the cliff. He ran as fast as he could, taking long strides, huffing and puffing, his heart beating a mile a minute. Kat and Clara watched in silence as Salem lept from the edge. As Salem became airborne, Kat's hopeful expression faded. Salem flew through the air, with a terrified expression on his face. Kat suddenly jolted from where she stood. "Salem!" she cried, as his hands reached out for the edge of the cliff. Salem grabbed onto the ledge as tight as he could, trying not to look down. Kat dove for him and grabbed onto his wrists, maintaining a death grip on his wrists. Clara hurried after her, grabbing onto Kat's ankles as she lay on her belly to aid Salem. Salem's legs kicked anxiously. "Don't let go of me, Kat!" he wailed. Clara began to pull Kat's legs, dragging her friend backwards. A great struggle ensued as the three elderly onlookers watched in horror. Erma covered her eyes, fearing the worst would occur. "I'm not going to let go!" Kat said, struggling. "I will save you!" Once Clara had pulled Kat far enough back, she slowly unhanded her, making sure that she would not slide back towards the cliff. She then ran to the edge and laid down next to Kat, grabbing onto Salem's Left arm with both hands. "We will get you to safety!" Clara exclaimed, pulling Salem upward, with Kat helping his ascent. Kat and Clara pulled Salem upward until his belly was even with the edge of the cliff. The girls shuffled backward and clutched his clothing tightly in their fists as he pulled himself up to safety. Salem lay on his belly in the dirt, dizzy and scared. "Thank goodness!" he exclaimed, totally out of breath. "I owe you both my life!" Kat and Clara knelt beside him. "I am happy you are safe now," Kat said. "We will be waiting for you when you come down from the mountain," Isengrim called out. "Be careful, and may S'Allumer's light guide you!" Keilich, Isengrim, and Erma turned and walked down the mountain from where they came, bidding farewell to Kat, Clara, and Salem. "What is ahead for us now?" Clara asked. "We are prepared and warmed, but this aura cannot last forever." "That is true," Kat said. "We must hurry up and climb this mountain. Who knows what lurks ahead. I would dread another owlbear attack. I am still feeling his attacks from before." Salem raised his head. He then pointed toward a distant cliff. "I see something!" he exclaimed, pointing to the cliff. Kat and Clara looked in his direction. Together, they saw what appeared to be a temple or some sort of tavern. "We should reside there for a while," Kat said. "Maybe they can prepare us for whatever is in store for us along this road." Kat, Clara, and Salem walked together towards the old building. It was now toward sunrise, but much of the day's adventure was still lying in wait. Back to Stories Back to "TAOK&C" Back to Home |