Narnia: The Fallen Angel

09 || Unexpected Events

(Crystalline's POV)

We looked down the banks of the melting river with it's ice breaking apart and floating away on the fast current. A frozen waterfall loomed on our left as I look around to see if there is any other way to cross. Crossing the top of the waterfall was extremely dangerous; but looking at the small river as it's icy surface slowly crumbled made me question whether or not walking across the top of the waterfall is a bad idea.

"We need to cross, now!" Peter said as he started to walk towards a small path that led to the bottom of the river. I guess we are going over the river of death.

"Don't beavers make dams?" Lucy asked as she looked from the river to Mr. Beaver. The beaver shook his head, letting out a defeated huff. "I'm not that fast, dear!" He said before stepping down the ledge with his wife following. I took a step forward, not exactly enthusiastic with the way we chose. I suppose it is better than facing the potential risk of falling off the edge of the waterfall.

"Crystalline?" Lucy asked as she tugged my coat by the slightest. I knew what she was asking by the quick glance to my wings. I gave her a sorrowful look and shook my head.

"I would fly us over, but my wing isn't completely healed," I stated as I looked back to each of them before following the beavers down the ledge. Lucy gave me a drop of her cordial earlier, and sadly it didn't heal my injury as I hoped it would. Right now, I wish it did.

"Come on!" Peter called out as he took hold of Lucy and followed me. "Wait! Will you just think about this for a minute?" Susan hesitated as she looked down fearfully at the breaking river.

"We don't have a minute!" Peter snapped at Susan as he led Lucy to my outstretched arms. I looked between the two siblings, biting my tongue to keep myself from involving in this feud. It seemed that tensions were rising the more they stayed in Narnia, and I worried that they just might lose self-control one day. I pray that they won't for Lucy's sake. Susan, who held an offended reaction, stayed put. "I'm just trying to be realistic..." She mumbled, hurt laced in her words.

"No, you're trying to be smart, as usual!" Peter hissed. Susan mustered up the harshest glare towards Peter, a glare that made me avert my own eyes away. Once I successfully helped Lucy go down on the ground, I helped Peter down. Turning to Susan, she looked like she wasn't going to budge, but the howling of the wolves in the distance seemed to change her mind.

"Susan! Come!" I urged her, already tired of her causing us to lag behind schedule. I took her hand forcefully and helped her down the wall before we came up to the breaking river. Susan's eyes burned holes in my back, but I didn't dare meet her gaze. I saw that glare she threw at Peter, and I was not one to take glares lightly.

At the river, Peter outstretched his foot on the ice, pressing gently on a broken slab. Water spurted up from the crack, and the slab shifted under his weight. He jumped back quickly, sending a wary glance my way. Mr. Beaver stepped forward, looking up at him worriedly. "Maybe I should go first," He offered as he slowly steps one paw onto the ice.

"Maybe you should," Peter agrees before Mr. Beaver steps onto the ice completely. Using his feet and his tail to pat on the surface, he tests out the strongest ice sections to find the safest passage. When the ice cracks more, a pit of worry grew more inside me. Looking at the ice crumbling just by the weight of a beaver was extremely unsettling; especially when my sword itself weighed as much as Mr. Beaver. It seems Susan was worried too because she started to grip my arm tightly as we watched.

"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?!" Mrs. Beaver gaped as she gave him a stern look.

"Well, you never know which meal's gonna be your last! Especially with your cooking." Mr. Beaver attempted to lighten the tense situation with a joke; it did the exact opposite. Soon enough we mustered up the courage and started to follow Mr. Beaver across the ice, retracing his steps with caution. "If Mum knew what we were doing..." Susan murmured lowly as I pulled her onto my previous step.