Threads of Fate

Chapter 18 ~ Of Fangs and Blood

    Pins and needles filled his legs but Azael kept pressing forward against the current. He was grateful the river wasn't still swollen with melted snow like it was in early spring. It was late enough that only rains would flood the river now, and he knew the water would grow shallower as they pushed further inland.

    But unfortunately the storm from before had caused the water levels to rise enough that areas of the river were deeper than they should've been. Water lapped at his shoulders already and Azael shot a quick glance at Tissaia.

    She was breathing hard, her head craned back in an effort to keep her chin out of the water. He pushed over to her, gripping his weapons with one hand and stuck the other around her waist, lifting her slightly. Tissaia didn't protest or try to pull away. Her sapphire gaze slid to him, shining with a sliver of gratitude.

    "We've almost gone far enough," he assured her. "As soon as the water levels dip down, we'll get back on the ground."

    Tissaia managed a quick jerk of her chin, her teeth clattering together too hard to talk through. Azael peered up ahead where several massive boulders broke through the surface of the water. They appeared dry enough on top that they could climb onto them without fear of slipping off.

    That was where they would get out, he determined. From there, they'd have to hurry back towards the hidden village and hopefully regroup with Talarion and Kaius with enough time to change into dry clothes before they set out. The last thing they needed was for one of them to get sick from the cold.

    Tissaia had openly begun to pant by the time they reached the boulders and her whole body was shivering as he steered her towards them. Azael tossed his weapons on top of one of the rocks, then took hers and did the same.

    "Can you climb up?" He asked. Tissaia faced the boulder and swam closer. She hooked her hands in the cragged surface and attempted to heave herself up. Her arms trembled as water poured from her body.

    Azael joined her and hooked his shoulder beneath her thigh, wrapping his hands around her knee to help lift her leg as she managed to push herself a little higher. She braced herself against him and pulled her other leg out of the water, wedging her foot into another crevice. Her weight vanished while she hauled herself onto the rock and rolled onto her back, gasping for breath.

    Azael dragged himself out behind her and spared a few minutes to regain his breath as well, then grabbed his weapons and buckled the belt to his hips. He pushed Tissaia's over to her while she sat up. Once she was ready, he stood and helped her to her feet, not giving her a chance to refuse this time.

    He let go as soon as she was steady and began easing his way down the boulder to where it was broken from the bank. There was only a small gap between the two surfaces, at least two feet in width. Azael cleared the leap with ease, then turned to wait for Tissaia. Her legs were trembling with weariness, but to her credit, she didn't hesitate and flung herself across the gap.

    She landed with only a slight waver, and straightened before he could reach out to steady her. Rather than risking her anger by asking if she was all right, Azael set off back into the trees and she stumbled after him. They'd only been walking for ten minutes when hoofbeats sounded up ahead.

    Amber power fizzled around his hands as he slammed shields into place around himself and Tissaia, and drew his sword. Tissaia raised her bow, an arrow already primed, but before she could loose it, two familiar figures broke through the trees, leading extra horses behind their own.

    Tissaia sighed in relief and lowered her bow as Talarion dismounted and hurried over to her. "Are you all right?" He asked. "We followed your scents and found the Humans."