Jem wrapped his arms around Qinan�s neck tightly as they flew over the mountains. Luqman, mounted on another, stout and strong, chestnut, winged steed, named Erzurum, was not far from him. When Jem ventured to look down he saw only mountaintops above thick blankets of cloud. He tightened his grip around Qinan and closed his eyes to ease his fear. His stomach churned. He had never been so high above the ground in his life. At first he thought it would be exciting to fly but now he found it simply terrifying.

Qinan laughed upon feeling Jem�s tightened grip; he sensed Jem�s uneasiness. �Are you all right Jem?�

�Not really.� Jem replied.

�Do not look down and you will be fine.� Qinan reassured.

�I hope so.� Jem said feeling kind of queasy. He was not accustomed to flying at all. He hoped Luqman was taking this all better than he was but he did not dare open his eyes to look over at him. How he wished he could be on the ground.

As Qinan flapped his powerful wings and glided gracefully in the air Jem remained with his eyes closed, wishing for this journey to end quickly. In the distance he heard the rumbling of thunder. The air got cooler and a cold brisk wind bit his face. He began to shiver. When he ventured to open his eyes he found dark grey clouds frowning upon him. The sky had darkened significantly.

�Qinan it�s getting dark and cold.� Jem said concerned.

�I will try to find a suitable place for us to land.� Qinan said. He flew over to Erzurum and Luqman.

�Erzurum we must land soon. It looks as if a storm is upon us.�

Erzurum nodded and both swooped down together. Jem clutched Qinan even more tightly. Ice droplets fell and melted on his face, so cold that it felt as if it had stung him. He looked down and found nothing below them but barren mountainous land. He looked farther to his right and saw only water, the sea. A billowing dark mass of clouds enveloped the sky and flashes of lightning could be seen from a distance. The wind blew stronger that Qinan had difficulty flying. Every time he pushed forward the wind thrust him backward. The rain started to pour down in sheets, the lightning flashes blinded them and the booming thunder deafened their ears and echoed in their heads. Jem was soaked and cold to the marrow of his bones. His hair stuck against his face and obstructed his view. He shook his hair out of his eyes but he still could see almost nothing before him for the rain blurred his vision.

A strong gust of wind suddenly hit them with mighty force. Qinan lost his balance and began spiralling downwards. Jem, who's hands were numb and swollen from the cold, almost lost his grip from the force and would have fallen off but miraculously he managed to hold on. He couldn�t see anything. All he felt was the cold. The wind and the rain stifled his breath. He felt as if he was drowning.

�Qinan!!� he cried in despair.

�Jem! Hold on tightly!� Qinan shouted over the wind and downpour of rain. Qinan struggled. He caught hold of himself again and battled the storm. The storm fought back, pounding, mercilessly. Nevertheless Qinan would not give up. He fought and battled. He must; not for himself. He was determined to protect Jem.

�Erzurum!! Luqman!!� he yelled with all his might but the storm drowned his voice.

They did not hear anything.

�Erzurum!!� He called again.

No response.

Qinan swooped down with all his strength. He scanned the area but saw only choppy water. They were right above the sea. Qinan was in a state of panic. The wind had thrown them off their path and separated them from their friends.

�Qinan where are they?!� Jem cried, in a state of fear, over the intemperate wind, that howled in their ears. He was afraid for Luqman and Erzurum.

�I don�t know. We cannot search for them in this storm. We must find shelter.� Qinan replied. �Hold on tightly Jem. I don�t want to lose you.�

As Qinan fought the bitter wind and pelting rain he tried to fly back inland but found it difficult. Now the wind seemed to be blowing from all directions in a furious rage. The unrelenting rain, that came down in sheets, shielded his vision. The waves, that grew high and descended with great intensity, also pounded with equal ferocity. Qinan struggled hard and Jem found it difficult to keep his grip upon Qinan. His cloak, soaked and heavy, snapped vigorously in the wind and whipped his face. It seemed as if the storm came back with a mighty vengeance. A more forceful fierceness every time they resisted and made a minor victory. Jem shut his eyes against the stormy world. He was afraid. He feared this was the end. He did not know if he was prepared to go. How he hoped he was prepared. How he feared he was not. �You are The Relenting, the Most Forgiving Who loves to forgive, so forgive us.� Jem said to himself over and over again in his heart.

The wind blew stronger and another powerful gust hit them. This time Jem lost his grip and fell off Qinan. He let out a cry before he plunged backward in the ice cold water.

�Jem!� Qinan shrieked. He fought the wind bitterly and plunged in the roaring sea after Jem.

Jem saw nothing but darkness, he felt nothing but coldness. He struggled against the waves and he gasped desperately for air but swallowed large amounts of saltwater. He cried in anguish as he felt his lungs burn inside his chest. The water filled into his ears and he heard the thudding waves only as if they were from a distance. He was sinking. The waves tore the cloak off his neck, stifling him for a moment, but he was grateful, for it hindered him. Now that he was free of the cumbersome cloak, he struggled to make his way through to the surface but every time he fought his way up a wave would come crashing down on him, plunging him deeper into the water. He battled hard but lost. His strength was failing him. He could no longer fight. He felt himself being tugged and pulled from behind. It was Qinan, he realized. Qinan pulled him up by his shirt from behind and managed to pull him up to the surface. But another wave closed in on them and thrust Jem into the water again.

�Jem!� he heard from a distance. Then a total darkness surrounded and wrapped him protectively away from the pounding fists and the raging fury of the tumultuous waves. He drifted slowly into darkness.

�Jem!� Qinan cried when the wave tore Jem from his grip �Jem!� He called again as he gasped for air and dove into the water again. He found Jem sinking, unconscious, he swam after him and gripped Jem�s shirt from the front with his teeth. When he grabbed him he pushed his way through, holding Jem tightly determined not to have him taken away from him again. When he reached the surface he found nearby, a rocky island and praised the Most Merciful. He paddled his way to the island but his path was made difficult by the waves that swept him away from his destination. He flapped his wings against the waves and found it was helping in him in his battle. All this time he still had Jem shirt in his teeth and prayed that it would not tear.

Finally weary and exhausted he reached the sandy shore of the island. The island was barren, it was nothing but rocks with a few patches of grass. He carried Jem high unto the rocky hilltop far from the reach of the waves. The rain still poured hard. The waves collided against the rocky shore and foamed then new waves rolled in and swept the foam away. When he felt they were secure he lay Jem down on his stomach and placed his right cheek on the grassy ground. He leaned close to his face and heard breathing. He was relieved and grateful again. Jem was still alive for the moment. His face was cold and pale. His dark brown hair a tangled mess. Qinan placed his snout on Jem�s back and pressed forward to release the water from his chest. Water came out of the youth�s mouth and nose and he coughed and released more water. Qinan continued until no more water came out. The boy shivered. Qinan rested his body against Jem�s and spread his large wing on him to protect him from the cold and rain. As the numbness of the cold water wore off, Qinan felt his body ache with pain. His weariness overtook him and he drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Not long after Qinan was awoken abruptly by a sharp coldness against his neck. His breath stifled. Iron chains. Someone had clapsed iron shackles around his neck and his legs. The chains pulled against his neck. He felt himself being dragged away. He looked down over to his side and did not see Jem. He had no strength to resist or the breath to cry out.