Marnik: The Lost Jewel of Marnik-✔Completed

Chapter Seven: The Mountain

Hadley's POV
We started towards a cave the planet opened up. I didn't know where we were going to go. All I did was try to keep my breathing steady. It was still hard to breath from when Gerdad tried to strangle me. I was pretty sure I was going to bruise on my neck, but right now I don't care. I started to think about the Jewel of Marnik. Whatever that is.

We reached the sunlit in a matter of minutes. When it shined down on me I noticed the cut on my hand. I must have cut it trying to get out of the cave. I reached into my satchel and pulled out a strip of cloth. I wrapped it around the cut so the bleeding would stop. "Hadley, do you still have five ropes?" Owen asked.

"Yeah," I answered, " I don't go anywhere without five."

"Wait," Florence said, "You have five ropes. How come you wanted the one back that I wasn't going to give back?"

"Because I have been collecting ropes for awhile," I replied, "Also that was one of my good ones."

"Well we need to get started up the mountain," Owen ordered, "So stop talking and get started on tying ropes together to get up."

I got out the five ropes and tied one of them around my waist. I tied one onto Flana so she wouldn't get lost. I tossed one to everyone else. My breathing was still a little difficult, but it was slowly getting better. I also knew that the planet would be here to help if we need it. "Did anyone grab some pearberries?" I asked.

"I grabbed ten before we left," Lizzy answered, "Those should last us a few days. Until then we'll have to find some food."

Florence's POV
Everyone's rope was tied together before we started climbing. I never really tried climbing a mountain before. But I also haven't tried a lot of things before. Especially running for my life. I was normally put to gathering wood or digging in the village. There's a first time for everything, I guess. I hope Hadley's right about these ropes being strong. I really don't want to go falling to my death from climbing with a bad rope. I just hope I don't have to try and hold someone up if they fall. I am at least glad that people have to try to help keep me up. "Owen, how long are we going to climb, " Lizzy asked.

"Probably 'til sundown and then we will probably set up a temporary camp." he answered.

"Wait sundown isn't for another five hours though," I complained, "Are we going to have any breaks."

"We will have two ten minute breaks," Hadley replied, "One in two hours and then one two hours after that. Then we'll stop for the day."

That is long time to climb I thought to myself. They all must have all already climbed a few mountains. I really hope they all know what they are doing. I really don't want to die.

Lizzy's POV
"Hurry up, Lizzy," Hadley said.

"I'm going as fast as I can go," I said without looking down.

I still am afraid of falling since my last account with a mountain. I continue on with Owen in front of me and Hadley and Florence behind me. I foot slipped of the rocks causing pebbles to fall down to Hadley. I try to take the weight with my other foot but the rocks under it break to. "Owen, HELP!!" I yelled holding on to the mountain with my hands.

I was struggling to get a foothold on the mountain when Hadley came up beside me. "Lizzy, put your right foot a foot left and your right foot two feet left," she instructed.

"O-o-okay," I stuttered thinking I am going to fall and they are not going to be able to keep me up.

I got my footing back doing actually what Hadley told me to do. Which I was surprised I couldn't even get something that accurate, I don't think anyone could. "Thanks," I whispered.

Hadley's POV
I was two hours when we got the break which I was surprised. Normally Owen did three hours then a break. but I suppose that since there are four people not two he decided we need a break sooner. "Florence, you are not looking to good," I said.

"Oh, I'm just fine," he answered, "Though some water wouldn't be to bad."

"Well we don't have very much anyway," Owen said, "You can only drink a little bit."

"Owen, there's a stream right there," I informed.

"Well we don't know if it is safe water," Owen replied, "It could have something in it."

"Like what," I mumbled, "I can literally hear the planet."

"Well, ummm......I don't know," Owen said defeated.

"Exactly," I said, "And to be safe I will test it first."

I went over and drank some of the water. I tasted so good that I kept drinking it. I took out my extra canteen and filled it full of the freshwater. "I think it is safe," I yelled.

"We'll see how you feel in a hour," Lizzy said.

"Drink the rest of the water you have and then fill it with the streams water," Owen directed.

I continued drinking the water even though I knew to much would get sick but I didn't care. I already had a dry throat from being dead like for a day. "Hadley, don't drink to much," Owen warned, "You'll get sick."

Whatever I thought and stopped drinking the water filling my canteen up with the water. We started climbing again after I finished filling my second canteen up.