Path to Starry Pool (MAJOR EDITING)

Chapter Ten: Vines

"Hurry up!" Fleur shouted over the rush of wind. "We don't have all day to dawdle!"
Astoria felt as if she was flying as Fleur ran while dragging her along. The air crackled with Fleur's new-found aura. Instead of the sweet, motherly aura she had felt around Fleur and Ji, it had taken a drastic change. Fleur's aura was now different. Astoria felt that if she would speak or try to explain that she had no idea what she was doing, Fleur would bite her head off. Instead of the sunny and happy feeling around Fleur, it felt as if lightning was thundering through the air.
Astoria didn't have much more time to think as Fleur dashed through the trees. Suddenly, they skidded to a stop in front of the same ridge-face as before. Astoria's eyes widened as the vines that had brought them down were coming back down, at an inhuman speed. They whirled around Fleur's waist, and squeezed Astoria around her torso and shoulders. The vines, without warning, shot up again, this time clutching the two people in its grasp. Astoria's mouth gaped open, while Fleur kept her serious expression. The sound of wind rushing past their ears silenced Astoria's scream.
"Right, c'mon!" Fleur commanded as the vines stopped and dropped them down on the top of the ridge.
Astoria couldn't agree as Fleur pulled her along once again. I almost feel as bad for Ji as I feel bad for myself right now! She has to deal with her! Astoria thought in agony as Fleur thundered up the hill. Astoria's lungs screamed for air, and her leg were beginning to falter. She felt like knives were stabbing her heart, making it seem to be beating hundreds of times faster than before. Fleur suddenly stopped. Astoria, from the force of impact from smashing into FLeur from behind, toppled over and didn't attempt to get up again.
"Astoria, I'm going to send you home right now, and you better bring Chin-Hae here," Fleur instructed Astoria. "I would never do this, but I have to right now."
Astoria silently agreed after a few moments and nodded. She watched as Fleur bent down and picked a twig off the ground. She searched across her arms and let out a relieved sigh. Fleur had spotted a small cut across her arm. It was small, bright red, seeming to have been most likely caused by being snagged by a thorn. Fleur pressed the tip of the twig to the cut, her eyes fluttering shut. The twig's tip glistened with crimson blood, but the blood soon grew to be a shining silver color. Fleur opened her eyes and pointed the stick down at the ground. A single drop of the silver blood fell from the end of the twig, and dropped down to the ground. Astoria watched Fleur's dexterity carefully, Fleur gracefully flicking the twig back upwards.
"Okay, Astoria," Fleur continued. "I want you to... drink this."
Astoria gazed down as Fleur placed the twig in her hand. "Drink it?"
"Yes!" Fleur answered, her tone sounding extremely impatient. "And get Chin-Hae, whatever it takes!"
Chin-Hae. Got it. Astoria hesitated before thinking of something. The words 'Never take food or drinks from strangers,' flew out of her head, and she quickly licked the silvery blood at the end of the twig. It tasted cold and sticky, and the aftertaste almost made Astoria gag. What's the point of this? Astoria was going to ask Fleur, but she had dropped to her knees instead, clutching her stomach. Astoria shivered and froze, her body didn't want to communicate with her brain anymore. She wanted to speak, but all that could slip out of her mouth was a groan. Her vision blurred, and she felt darkness surrounding her. Her mind went numb, she couldn't speak, hear, see, or even think. All she could do was wait.
"Wah!" Astoria suddenly cried as everything came back to her.
She was falling from the sky, heading straight to the ground. As Astoria drew closer, she realized it wasn't the ground. It was the Ice Creek, the creek located in the middle of Astoria home in IceCreek, her town. Astoria winced just as she was about to hit the water; she knew that it would hurt badly, seeing as falling from such a high point into water was never a great situation to be in. She closed her eyes tightly, and folded her knees against her body. Though as she was about to plunge into the water, she felt nothing below her, yet she was on a solid surface. Or as to say, it wasn't solid at all. With nothing below her, she was practically floating in midair. Her jaw fell, and she wasn't stopping it. Instead her mind filled with tragic thoughts. Oh my goodness, how is this happening? This is insane! Horrible! Scary! I should have never done any of this! Why did I have to open that stupid locket, why?!
"Oh, right!" Astoria had just thought of something important. "Chin-Hae!"
Astoria struggled to her feet. She was still floating above the water, and wobbled sideways. Every step she took, the closer to the bank she got. Suddenly pausing, she gasped as she felt the invisible platform she was on beginning to sink. She shrieked in panic and began to race across the platform. Just as she was about to sink into the water, she took a giant leap forward. Astoria toppled down onto the creek's bank, the water lapping hungrily at her feet. She struggled forward, breathing sharply. Everything in her body was aching and screaming at her to stop all actions, but Astoria stood firmly. If Ji really did take the locket, and is evil, then I've really gotta go! Astoria thought, and stood up. She wiped sand off of her cheeks and stood up shakily. She blinked, glancing up at the sun as it was beginning to crawl down IceCreek. It cast a golden light on the creek's water, and Astoria felt herself trembling. I really don't want to go back. I want to go home. Her lip trembled but she stood firm. No, I need to go.
Astoria began to run up from the creek. Up from there, she ran into the quiet streets of IceCreek. People were already back in their homes, as the afternoon markets had closed. Astoria dashed down the street, heading straight to her mansion. I can't just run to the orphanage. I need some sort of transportation. She glanced up the street and spotted a sports shop. She let out a sigh of relief, and ran to the door and slammed it open. A balding man sat at the front counter, closing his eyes as a fan blower air into his face.
"Get me a bike, stat!" Astoria shouted, slamming down a stack of money onto the counter.
The man immediately opened his eyes, only for them to grow wider as he looked down at the money. His mouth formed an 'o', and he nodded and rushed out from behind the counter and led Astoria to a rack of bikes. Astoria pulled one off the rack and rushed out the door.
"Keep the change!" She called to him as she left.
Astoria hopped onto the bike while still running and peddled as fast as she could. The tires screeched against the gravel, and took off at alarming speed. Astoria sped down the street, following the street signs until she spotted a familiar one and tired around a sharp corner. Sure enough, it was the same spiraling road up to the orphanage. Astoria peddled faster, and eventually skidded to a stop in front of the orphanage doors. Wasting no time, Astoria jumped off her bike and ran inside. Miss Anderson greeted her as she rushed by, and Astoria was rocketing up the stairs. They creaked in her wake, and Astoria soon ran down the hall and knocked on Chin-Hae's door.
"Hello," Chin-Hae greeted as he opened the door. "What-"
Chin-Hae was interrupted as Astoria pulled him out of the room. She groaned as Sara opened the door next to the room at the sound of Chin-Hae's voice. Chin-Hae looked bewildered as Astoria held onto his shoulders.
"I need to take Chin-Hae somewhere for a while, " Astoria explained quickly.
"Can I come?" Sara asked immediately after, her eyes brightening.
Astoria bit her lip. Bringing Chin-Hae is all I need to do. But she said I had to do whatever it takes, and quickly. Looks like Sara is going to come, I don't want to spend time trying to leave without her. Astoria simply nodded her head and beckoned Sara forward.
"Let's hurry," Astoria replied, and let go of her grasp on Chin-Hae. "It's very important!"
"Okay," Chin-Hae and Sara responded in unison.
They followed as Astoria rushed down the stairs. They were much more slower, chatting and walking down the creaking stairs. Astoria drew a sigh and ran back up to them. Astoria growled in frustration, and grabbed both of their arms. I learn from Fleur, I guess! Astoria thought as she pulled her personals along her side. Sara was trying her best to run in sync with Astoria, while Chin-Hae stumbled and shouted in confusion.
"Wait! This isn't very necessary! I can run too!" Chin-Hae shouted.
"Oh, yeah!" Astoria shouted, ignoring Chin-Hae and pushing them through the front doors. "Chin-Hae, what was your mother's name?"
"Um," Chin-Hae faltered in his steps, opening his mouth to question her, but decided against it. "Ji Lee."
"Okay, now wait right here!" Astoria instructed them, and let go of their arms.
How will I get back? Another voice rang in her head; Find me. It was Fleur's voice. Astoria looked up and around. Leaning against the orphanage wall was none other than Fleur, but much more normal looking. Fleur smiled and stepped away from the wall and towards them.
"Well, hello again," Fleur greeted Astoria. "I forgot to give you this when you left. So, here. You know what to do."
Fleur handed Astoria a small glass bottle half way full with the silvery liquid. Sara and Chin-Hae stared at them curiously, and Astoria nodded her head. Fleur waved and began to dash back down the road, and vanished into the shadows. Astoria turned back to Chin-Hae and Sara, and popped the small lid off of the bottle.
"So I want each of you to drink a bit of this," Astoria said to them, feeling a bit unsure. "I think that's what she meant."
"Why?" Sara questioned, while Chin-Hae remained silent. "Who was she?"
"I..." Chin-Hae began, staring in wonder at the liquid. "I remember this stuff. My mother used to have it all the time."
Astoria stared down at him in surprise. His mother used to have it? She thought in shock. Judging by it's powers, how could have Chin-Hae's mother had it? Chin-Hae held out his hand, and Astoria set it down inbetween his fingers.
"Well, I guess we do what you say," Chin-Hae shrugged his shoulders and lifted the bottle to his mouth.
A bit of the silvery liquid dripped into his mouth, and he handed it to Sara. Sara imitated Chin-Hae and drank a bit too, and winced at the harsh taste. Astoria took the bottle from Sara's loose clutch and drank the rest. Chin-Hae had already dropped to his knees, Sara as well, and Astoria collapsed against the wall. The feeling of it! Astoria thought, crippling against the cold ground. She felt all of her sense cutting loose, and then nothing.
***
Astoria felt wind rushing past her, and opened up one eye. Chin-Hae and Sara had closed eyes, but it was no doubt that they were completely shocked and horrified as they sped towards the ground. Sara slowly opened her eyes, and they began to water. Chin-Hae curled tightly around himself, not daring to move.
"HELP!" Sara cried out, her hands balling into fists.
Astoria glanced over at her for a heartbeat and looked down at the ground, coming faster and clearer to her. Below them, it was more water. I think there may be a platform again. I have to try. Astoria thought, slowly turning her body to her personals.
"Alright, guys!" Astoria bellowed over the wind. "When we're about to hit the water, put your legs out first!"
"Why?" Sara yelled in reply.
"Just do it!" Astoria shouted. "Trust me!"
Chin-Hae nodded, his eyes scrunched harder. Sara made no remark, and as they drew nearer to the ground, she unfurled and shut her eyes tightly. Astoria forced her body to go straight, and she hit the water. More like the platform. Sara and Chin-Hae hit the platform as well, and Astoria wasted no time in grabbing their arms and pulling them towards the shore. As Astoria had expected, the platform was sinking. Probably because it's now holding three people, Astoria thought, then threw them forward. She jumped after them, and tumbled down to the shore of the river they had almost sunken in.
"What..." Sara huffed, trembling and staring down at the ground with extremely wide eyes. "Where... Why...?"
Astoria debated whether to have a long talk, but decided against it. "I'll explain later, there's not much time. But don't worry." She gulped. "I think."
"That's not very explanatory!" Sara shouted, distress vivid in her gaze.
"I think it's urgent!" Astoria remarked, and grabbed hold of Sara's arm.
"What do you mean you think?" Chin-Hae shouted, more out of worry than anger. "Where are we?"
Astoria flinched. "I-I can't answer that well... If you follow me, I can... Um... Actually, I don't know where to go..."
"You-" Chin-Hae was interrupted.
The ground shook, and they were all flown up into the air. Astoria yelped, and the ground beneath them cracked. As soon as it had happened, it was over. Dust flew into the air, clouding Astoria's vision. Yet, the split second of shocked silence in the air ended immediately. They were falling back down, and the last crack was just below them. Water poured in, but they were above the hole into nothingness. Astoria shot out a hand as she fell down the side, and she felt her hand grip tightly around the very edge of the top. Rocks stabbed into her hand, but she hung on tightly and dangled there. She shot out her other hand as Sara flew by her, but she couldn't hold a grip. Chin-Hae dropped to far from her grasp, and Astoria felt nothing.
"SARA!" Astoria yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Calm down, I'm right below you!" Sara's voice shouted from below Astoria. "Now pull yourself up and us!"
Astoria nodded her head quickly and struggled to pull herself up. She swung her leg up, and her foot lodged in a gap between rocks. She propelled her whole body up and placed her free foot in another gap. Her head was then peeping above the edge. Astoria carefully placed her hand up on the edge and climbed up the rest of the way. She then put her feet over the edge, and sat while trembling. Astoria wiped away her tears sloppily and then looked back over the edge. Sara was clutching tightly around a rock poking out from the wall of rock, her face powdered with dirt and her clothes somewhat ripped. Blood dripped from the rock Sara was holding onto, and a single tear was trailing down Sara's cheek as she forced herself to hang on. Chin-Hae made it even harder, as he gripped onto Sara's leg while placing one foot in a gap. Astoria hard sped up as Sara's grip on the rock began to loosen, and one of her fingers popped loose from the harsh hold. It was pink and raw, with crimson blood coming out of the scratches on it.
"ASTORIA!" Sara shrieked, her eyes shutting tightly from the strain. "Hurry! I can't hold for much longer!"
"What can I do!?" Astoria bellowed down to her, her hands shaking. "I don't know what to do! I can't go back down or we'll all fall!"
Chin-Hae peeked up from behind Sara's back. "Get something like a rope! Vines or something, I saw some earlier! Hurry!"
Astoria sprang back from the ledge and hurried back down to the bay of the river. She saw a tree in the distance, and vines hung from the leaves. With no hesitation, Astoria sprinted down the shore and towards the tree. Her feet ached, but she kept going. Sara could have slipped at any moment. Astoria had to be quick. She skidded to a stop in front of the tree. Astoria curled her arm around one of the lowest vines and tugged. It stuck in its place. This is no time to be weak! Astoria thought angrily and tugged again. She fell from the force of the pull, and the line snapped. A coil fell down onto her, and she grabbed it with a victorious sigh.
Astoria dashed back to the crack and peered back down at Sara and Chin-Hae. Chin-Hae was barely holding on to Sara, and his foot was unsteady and bent awkwardly. His leg fell asleep! He could slip at any moment! Astoria thought worriedly as Chin-Hae struggled to stay against the wall. Sara, on the other hand, was doing terrible. She looked exhausted as she still gripped onto the rock. She now had one hand holding on, as her other hand was dangling uselessly at her side with blood dripping down from it. Her eyes were shut tightly as she held on even tighter, the rock scratching her hand. She looks like she's in so much pain! This better be worth it when I get to Fleur, because these innocent people are really getting beaten up here!
Chin-Hae's eyes sparked with determination as Astoria peered back down at them, and he continued commanding her boldly. "Now hold onto one end and throw down the other! I'll tie the end to Sara, and you'll pull her up! Then me!"
"How will you hold on while I pull up Sara!?" Astoria demanded to Chin-Hae, panic flashing in her eyes.
"I'll figure it out, just go already!" Chin-Hae shouted. "We don't have time to argue! Sara looks so close to going unconscious!"
Sara groaned in protest, but her jaw dangled the second she opened her mouth. It was true; Astoria observed that her face was going pale, and the hand she was using was trembling and bloody. Astoria kept silent and gripped one end of the vine tightly, and threw down the other end. Chin-Hae reached out his free hand and took hold of the end. However, how he was going to tie the rope to Sara was the bigger question. Chin-Hae reluctantly began to wrap the rope around Sara's waist, then came to a problem as he tried to knot the vine together. Using one hand made it impossible for him, and they were running out of ideas.
Suddenly, Chin-Hae was hit by an idea. He let the vine go and trailed his hand up to Sara's head. It was a long stretch, but he managed with his rather long limbs working to their greatest. He grabbed the tie holding Sara's hair in a ponytail and pulled it off. With the tie in hand, Chin-Hae wrapped the vine around her waist again and used the tie. He clipped it together around the vines connection and looked back up at Astoria and nodded. Astoria gulped and slowly listen Sara up.
"Ugh!" She coughed as she was heaved up. Her hand still held onto the rock, but it was soon off and trailing up the wall.
Chin-Hae struggled to stay still as he swung dangerously. He only had one stable hold, and that was his hand on the same rock Sara had been holding onto. His leg already held in the gap was useless, unable to move and painful to the touch. The rock Chin-Hae was holding on to was slick from Sara's warm blood, and he felt himself sliding a bit. There were no other gaps for him to hold himself in, so he had to wait and use all of his strength to keep himself from falling to doom.
"Chin-Hae, hold on!" Astoria shouted as she carefully heaved Sara up.
Sara's face was going even paler as the vine tightened around her waist as Astoria pulled. Astoria was trying to hurriedly pull Sara up without squeezing her to death, and it was proven to be a difficult task. Astoria also wanted to get Sara up over the ledge, as Chin-Hae once again struggled to stay alive. With one last powerful heave, Astoria pulled Sara up all the way. Her eyes had fluttered shut, and Astoria pressed a hand to her heart.
"Unconscious," Astoria murmured, snapping the vine from around Sara's waist.
Without much thought, Astoria dragged Sara farther away from the ledge and grabbed what remained of the vine. It had become stretched and worn from carrying the weight of Sara, and Astoria worried that it may snap if she used it again. With a gulp, Astoria began to lower the vine back down to Chin-Hae.