City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments Fan-fic)

Chapter 17: Interitio

Clary wondered where the hell she was when the weather suddenly decided to turn so cold. The ruined rags on her shoulders offered no protection from the winds that bit at her cheeks and arms like little piranhas.

Realistically, she knew that at most, a few hours had passed since their desperate, and exhausted group left the clearing at the crack of dawn. But it felt like weeks had passed in the forests, although the sun's rays had yet to penetrate the thick foliage of dark pines that surrounded them.

The slowly brightening silhouettes of Clary's companions trudged along in unsettled silence, their features seen faintly only due to the dull, soft blue glow of the seraph blade Jace held aloft as if to light their path. The quiet pants and crunches of footsteps, along with a few whispered words of comfort were the only things that kept Clary from losing her mind, her strength, her will, in the haunting shadows.

Eventually, a warm arm wound itself around her shoulders, pulling her close to a slim yet lean body. Heat radiated from Jace's skin. Her wandering mind reminded Clary of the old days when she would go over to Simon's house and cuddle up to his fireplace during winters with hot chocolate, since she didn't have one in her own run-down apartment.

Clary pressed her cheek against Jace's threadbare T-shirt, the cloth worn and faded yet comfortable. The scent of blood and hurt and sweat mingled with Jace's familiar one.

They stayed that way, Jace's arm around her as they walked. Simon, having taken his turn carrying Alec, trudged along ahead of them. Isabelle was by his side, one hand around her whip and the other clenching Alec's like a lifeline thrown to a drowning swimmer.

Shadows faded slowly from pitch black to the dull gray of steel.

It was funny. Grey was exactly how she felt.

The dirt trail they followed through the thicket, tracing a path worn by generations of Shadowhunters and Downworlders, narrowed gradually as the trees thickened. Rather than stifling silence, the dawn's calm was broken by cursing as clothes and cheeks caught on branches or scraped against tree bark.

Gnarled roots were literal hell as Clary's blistered feet tripped and stumbled in the gloom. The undergrowth, coated with fallen leaves crisp with the night's cold frost, crunched lightly underfoot. The rush of a river, fast and angry, was audible even though there was no water in sight.

Then, after how long she had no clue, all of a sudden the the path of flattened dirt was gone, and they were walking on the twigs and pine cones that covered the leaf-strewn forest floor.

Isabelle's weary voice broke the increasing roar of the river as she said, "Shit. We lost the trail."

Jace's pace didn't miss a beat. "Follow me. To the riverbank."

He took Clary's hand, squeezing her fingers. She returned the pressure, relieved he wasn't treating her like fragile teacup. Jace's long stride quickened as he stepped into place just in front of a sweaty Simon. Clary nearly jogged to keep up with him, brushing her shoulder past Simon's lightly as she attempted to avert her eyes from Alec's ghostly pale features.

Not far ahead, glimpses of the soft blue light of dawn and clear water could be seen between the labyrinth of birch and evergreens that surrounded them.

Earthy ground abruptly turned into gravel and pebbles as she stepped past the line where the trees ended and smooth pebbles lined the ground. Clary glanced up the moment she escaped the shadows.

The pearly sky, clear of clouds, reflected nothing but emptiness.

The river, though shallow enough to wade though, was several meters wide and curved for miles and miles out of sight; a torrent of uncontrollable water. Spray from the water slapping across the rocks coated the slick pebbles in front of her. Clary thought she could see little fish in the clear blue-green-white waves, but they were swept away before she could get a good look.