Olivia goes West

Chapter 14

As soon as dawn broke over the desert, sun beams hit Olivia's eyelids and they fluttered open. The memory of the past day came flooding back to her, her body aching from the rugged trip down the rapids. She yawned and stretched, groaning a bit from the dull pain, before finding that she'd been resting against Fievel's chest. She blushed a little and sat up, but began to nudge him.

"Fievel, wake up. It's mornin," she said softly.

Fievel turned over in his sleep and curled up. Olivia giggled and tugged at his tail.

"Wake up, sleepyhead, we got to try to get back to the mine."

Fievel awoke to the startling feeling of having one's tail pulled, and turned to see Olivia sitting beside him.

"Good morning," he said shyly, "So far so good, we haven't been eaten by anything."

"Not as far as I can tell."

He stretched and sat up, "We can start right now before it gets too hot, but we may want to rest during the hottest part of the day."

"Let's try an' make it past the waterfall before noon," Olivia suggested.

Fievel nodded and got to his feet. They poured sand over the camp fire and moved on, filling their canteen before they headed off, following the river to the steep rocky outcropping where the waterfall flowed. The spray of water was in the otherwise dry air. They were enclosed within a ravine, which to someone their size was more like a canyon. Climbing was the only way they were going to get out of there. It would be a tough climb, but not an impossible one, as long as they minded their step. The rocks near the waterfall were moss-covered and slippery. The perfect place to fall and break ones neck. Carefully the two of them scampered up the rocky cliff face, trying to keep their footing and staying side by side for their own safety, taking advantage of every ledge and crack they could find. Luckily, at their size, the climb was relatively easy, but long. It took them near an hour to finally reach the top of the rocky ledge. When they did, their hands and knees were sore, and they were exhausted.

"I wish I could have a cheese crumpet right now," Olivia sighed.

"I'll eat anything that's not grass or seeds." Fievel said between panting.

"Hopefully that was the hard part, right?"

"I hope so," Fievel gazed at the roaring white water in the river. It made him shudder.

"Right, on we go then," Olivia took Fievel's hand and led him along the shore, "I know rushin' water makes ye nervous but we'll be stayin' away from it."

Holding Olivia's hand comforted him, "I'm not afraid of it..."

"Oh I don't blame you for bein' scared, it's okay," she assured him, "I never got lost in the ocean before but I imagine I'd be afraid of water too after that. I'm surprised ye even had a raft to begin with."

'I'm fine with calm water," Fievel admitted, "When I started rafting I thought I was done being scared of water. But, um..."

"I've been facin' my biggest fears ever since I came to Green River. Losin' me daddy, bats, Ratigan."

"Only fools are fearless," Fievel quoted Nellie Brie.

"We'll just stick together an' overcome them all."

"Yep!" Fievel agreed cheerfully as they walked along the riverside.

The river seemed to have carried them a long way in a short time though. Fievel had no idea where they were. He just knew if they followed the river they'd eventually be able to get their bearings. But how long would that take? How long before he could see his family again and let them know he was alive?