༄ 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐻𝑂𝐸𝑁𝐼𝑋 𝐴𝑅𝐶𝐻𝐸𝑅（𝐿𝑊𝑊）༄

Chapter 11- The River

After Peter's previous statement, we all desperately ran for the river. Thankfully, we weren't that far away and made it there quickly. The ice was already beginning to melt away from the surface; most of water upstream from the water had thawed. There was still a small path just below the waterfall, but it qas cracking. There wouldn't be anything left soon.

"We need to cross, now!" Peter demanded, taking Lucy's hand.
"Don't beavers make dams?!" Lucy asked.
"I'm not that fast, dear," Mr. Beaver replied.
"Come on!" Peter stated, anxiously.

Peter started heading down. Susan didn't move.
"Wait! Will you think about this for a minute?!" Susan said.
"We don't have a minute," Peter said, harshly.
"I'm just trying to be realistic," she replied.
"No! You're trying to be smart. As usual."

Susan looked offended and the others headed down towards the river. I waited for Susan to go with them before I made a move to follow. It didn't take any persuasion from me either. Once she heard the wolves howl, she followed them with me close behind.

Once we reached the frozen—now quickly unfreezing—river's edge, we all stopped. Peter took one step onto the ice but it sank slightly under the weight. He stepped back a little terrified and the rest of us shuffled back as well. We needed to get across to the other side and our options were very limited.

"Wait," Mr. Beaver offered. "Maybe I should go first."
"Maybe you should," Peter agree, his voice was shaking a bit.

At the okay, Mr. Beaver walked onto the ice. He was testing the weight of them so we knew which ones were safe to walk on. He tapped some of them with his tail, testing the safety. I noticed that some of them started to come loose. Mrs. Beaver commented on it, probably due to the stress of the situation.
"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?" Mrs. Beaver asked as we began to cross, walking only on the ones that were safe.
"Well you never know which meal's going to be your last," he replied. Then slightly quieter he added, "Especially with your cooking."

Peter began to lead us across the ice. Lucy shrieked in fear a couple times but it was probably from the ice moving under her feet. It also could've been from the freezing water that kept shooting up and hitting us. It was pretty cold to have it shooting up ones dress—or skirt in the girls' case.

We made it halfway across the ice when icicles started falling from the waterfall. I looked up and saw the wolves run across the top at the same time Lucy noticed and screamed.
"Oh, no!" she said causing the others to stop.

Peter looked at up and then threw caution into the wind by running across. We all followed his actions; however we all had to stop when the wolves jumped down, blocking our path. Mr. Beaver did a hiss-like thing to the wolves and raised his paw, claws displayed. He was ready to attack and defend. One of the wolves pounced on Mr. Beaver and held him down.
"No!" Mrs. Beaver yelled covering her mouth in fear for her husband.

I was focusing on the approaching wolves, specifically Maugrim, who was now cornering us. Behind us our path was gone. All the remaining ice had floated downstream. Maugrim pressed closer, backing us to the water's edge. He was growling at us when I heard a sword unsheathing. Peter had shoved his sisters behind him. He sent me a look that had me quickly jumping behind him as well. He remained in front of all of us and pointed his sword at the wolves.

"Put that down, boy! Someone could get hurt," Maugrim said.
"Don't worry about me! Run him through!" Mr. Beaver shouted to Peter.
"Leave now while you can, and your brother leaves with you," Maugrim taunted.
"Stop Peter! Maybe we should listen to him!" Susan yelled at Peter.
Maugrim chuckled, "Smart girl."
"Don't listen to him. Kill him! Kill him now!" Mr. Beaver interjected.
"Oh, come on. This isn't your war. All my Queen wants is for you to take your family and go," Maugrim stated.
"Look, just because some man in a red coat gives you a sword, it doesn't make you a hero! Just drop it!" Susan ordered.