Steel Flight [Completed]

Chapter 21: Flask

-Jack

In that moment I didn't dream what had been my usual dream since they died- of flight, family, and mountains. Instead I dreamed of laughter in the hillside and metal creatures of shadow.

Then I was back. I tried to kick at the ferocious cat, but it was still clawing at me, and my limbs were shaking. Skai sent it a swift kick, but it only growled at her before returning to me. I felt faint. Pain was the only thing grounding me in reality.

Next thing I knew, Skai had somehow gotten it off of me. I pushed myself up into a sitting position.

The others were upon me.

They had barely reached me, however, before an explosive crunch shot through the air. Everything froze. Except for one creature.

Marrianna shot through a cascade of falling glass with a speed and fierceness I actually feared to behold. Wind preceded her coming. She circled around me and plucked up the partly metallic cats like they were a handful of dust.

"Go!" she yelled as she barreled into the legions of creatures spilling through the hole she'd created and spewed fire at everything in sight.

Skai was at my side in an instant.

"Jack. Take off your duffel."

"But-"

"Do it."

Reluctantly, I slipped my arms through the straps. She grabbed it from me before I'd finished removing it, and I wondered distantly if I would float away. I hadn't felt so light all day.

Skai shouldered the duffel and held out her hand. The journey to a standing position was a difficult one, but between the two of us, we managed it. Then we ran, me limping, Skai supporting me the best she could with my duffel on her back. It was only when we stood before clear glass that I realized we hadn't made for the doors; we'd run to the side of them.

"What-"

Skai pointed. I looked up and stared at the window in shock. "Skai. That's high."

"The beanstalk wasn't?" She seemed preoccupied. Probably figuring out the logistics of our climb. This time, I couldn't blame her.

"The beanstalk had handholds!" I swayed. The world spun. Skai's hand flew to my arm.

"Look Jack. I'm going to climb to that window, then find something to let down for you."

"Skai, there isn't time!"

She looked behind us, then bit her lip. "Fine. Follow me. Carefully." She led me over to the frame around the doors. "You sure it wouldn't be better for you to wait? You look really pale."

I sat down and tremblingly pulled off my shirt. Pitchforks, my blood was bright. I hadn't realized I was so injured. Wrapping it wasn't hard, but tying it took a few tries. Then I looked up at Skai. "How are we doing this?"

She took a deep breath. "The glass is perfectly smooth, but this frame is certainly decorated enough."

Now I could see that intricate symbols had been carved into the golden door frame, which was also inlaid with the stones I'd seen earlier- each taller than me. There were many grooves; this much made sense.

"I think I've found a way to get to the window from the top. You're sure-"

I limped up to the deep purple gem and secured my left hand within the crack between it and the gold. My right hand went higher. My feet went up in quick succession, as my foot couldn't handle prolonged weight. I reached up higher with my left hand. I'd been climbing all my life, sometimes climbing the trees of the Farmlands' scattered orchards, but most often climbing our barn. I'd spent countless hours up there, thinking and imagining and longing. Now that I was so close, I would not fail, especially not when all it came down to was a bit of climbing.