Elegy of the Leaves

II | The Guantlet

Evan's gloves groaned as he tightened his grip around the helm. He eased off the forward movement and brought the airship to rest before the churning mass of rocks in front of him.

The crew fell silent and all that could be heard was the whirring of the engines, the crushing of rock colliding with itself, and the whistling of the breeze that floated by Evan's ear. He tried to tame the fire that coursed through his veins. The memory of his last attempt to enter this place flooded his mind.

The back of his neck clammed up from the thought. But this was no time to hesitate. He looked to his sister who held a determined gaze upon the rock mass. Proctor Calletus however, appeared paler than he had been back in the port. Evan could see him chewing against his cheek.

He filled his lungs and closed his eyes. Coming in the way he had before was too risky. It would require too many quick movements, movements he questioned he could make with little time to contemplate his next, but the rocks at the bottom of the roiling mass moved slower. He could come in from underneath. Once inside, the rocks would follow a more predictable pattern.

Evan blew his bated breath out between his lips, easing his hand against the throttle. The ship groaned but moved forward as the engines spun louder. He pulled back on the other lever, allowing the ship to lower itself.

"What do you think you're doing?" Calletus hissed.

"The rocks below are smaller and easier to avoid, Proctor."

"Perhaps, but those that fall from above are nonetheless lethal! If one were to puncture the airsail, we'll all fall to our deaths! I order you to take a more practical route before I fail you!"

Evan ground his teeth. He knew he was right, but he wasn't going to argue. Calletus was known to fail Leafbuds for less. He pushed on the throttle and forced the ship to ascend once more.

And it did, along with the terror that welled in his stomach.

He watched the rocks as they drew closer. It looked like a cone in the sky, frosted in the pale green leaves of the Redbush. It was only at the gnarled tangle of their roots that the smooth burgundy bark that gave their name could be observed. The mass known as the Gauntlet formed a set of four layers that encircled each other, each taller than the other. The rocks at the outer most edge moved with the most speed, and those inside turned slower. Despite this, no Leaf had every been able to reach the center of the labyrinth. Many pilots who felt they could, lost their lives and that of their crews'.

The course Evan was to follow would take him inside the second ring and back out the other side. Each ring tightened on itself, and the second proved difficult enough for unseasoned pilots such that if they can navigate in and out of it, they could fly well enough for the Alliance.

"All ahead full!" Evan shouted as he slammed the throttle forward.

The ship gained speed. The crew held tight to its railings. Just like before, two rocks aimed to collide with each other. If Evan didn't enter the ring fast enough, himself and the crew would either be smashed or crash against the outer edge.

"Crap, crap, crap..." he whispered to himself.

The ship entered between the rocks, and the sides drew closer to the ship's. Evan flicked his head right then left, monitoring the position of the rocks as they enclosed on them. They seemed like they'd collide with the ship at any moment. The cracks blurred together as the path through closed in around the ship. Evan was sure he would hear the splintering of wood any second. He could already feel as if the rocks were scraping along its sides.

He wanted to dive. Maybe he would avoid the collision in time then. The inner ring was in his sight though. If he dropped the ship, Calletus would fail him for sure. But if he held his course, would Claire have enough time to pull them out?