Goraldia: The Element Wielders

16: Flying Islands

As we approached the cliffside, the wind grows stronger and stronger. It howls against our skin and Icarus has to shout to be heard. "We should be nearing the cliff! Watch your step!"

"Icarus!" I shout over the wind. "What's at the cliffs?! Is the temple there?!"

"No! The cliff is just the beginning of the climb to the temple!"

I don't understand, but I continue anyway. The wind continues, too. Step after step, it is a laborious task. I dare to look ahead into the raging wind, to see the edge of the cliff nea, and nothing but fog afterr. I close my eyes. Keep looking, I think, taking a few more steps. I'm too close to the edge. I have to look. I open my eyes again. The cliff is only a few steps away, but Max is much closer, and she isn't looking. I run forward, in defiance of the wind. Max steps off the cliff and loses her footing. She gasps and begins to fall, just as I grab onto her. She cries out from what almost could have been, and I attempt to soothe her, "it's ok. I gotcha. You're safe. Shhh." By now everyone has stopped.

Icarus informs us, "We're at the start of our climb! Right in front of us are the floating islands! Near the top, is the next temple! This is gonna be a difficult climb, because the wind is so strong, so watch your step!" I get Max to stand and ask her if she'll be alright. She nods and we turn to Icarus. That was the first time we saw them. In the fog, were bits of ground suspended in the air, nearly unaffected by the wind. Vines wind down and across to other chunks. Trees grew on the sides and on top of the bigger islands. On some edges of the giant mounds, where the dirt had scraped away, metallic gemstones were visible. That must be how it works. Icarus continues, "I'll go first so I can help you up!"

He backs up, then takes a running start to the edge of the cliff. He takes a massive leap into the air, forcing against the wind. He grapples the rock with one hand, but misses with the other. His body continues to swing underneath the small island and his grip falters. He reaches out to the roots hanging under the ground, which also happen to be the vines that connect them all. Icarus regains his grip and stops his descent. He climbs back up to the rocks and grabs hold.

"Ok! One by one, jump to me! Dieter, you go last!" Icarus orders.

Yrisi goes first. She gets ready, and so does Icarus. She runs up and, screaming the whole way, jumps into Icarus's arms. Well, arm. Icarus has to hold on somehow. Yrisi calms down and Icarus helps her climb up. Once Icarus is sure she's safe he motions for the next. Max offers to go. No one protests.

"Can you boost me?" she asks me over the wind. I respond, "Ok," and wander to the end of the cliff. I get down on a knee and lock my fingers together. I look over at her. We nod to each other. I see her take a breath in and release it. She runs up to me, plants her foot in my hands, and I push her up while she keeps moving forward. Icarus catches her with ease and she climbs up.

"Trayc!" I call out. "It's your turn!" She looks at me and shakes her head. "I can boost you up!" I reassure.

She calls, "No! I'll never make it!"

I shout back, "Yes you can! You will make it! We have to do this!" We stare at each other until she agrees reluctantly. She hesitates a long time until she runs forward. She successfully plants her foot in my hands but doesn't expect the lift. She falls forward, but Icarus isn't close enough to grab her.

"NO!" Icarus screams. All I can manage is a look of shock. Down she goes. Trayc screams and flails around down the cliff. But she stops.

Mid air, she covers her eyes and floats in the air. A huge updraft shoots upward, pushing me away from the edge and Icarus upwards. I look over to see Icarus clinging on, trying not to get blown off. What just happened?