32 Chapter 32 Plummeting Interes (1/2)
Gia heft the meat higher on her shoulder, trying to hide how much her shoulders were aching.
”Why don't you let me carry that?” asked Llewel with a smile that melted something down low.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
She cleared her throat, finding it suddenly dry and nodded. He took it from her with a grin, and she averted her eyes, catching Vonn watching them. Hurrying to catch up to him, she reached for his hand and grabbed it, as if it were a life line. Ignoring the chuckles behind her, she looked ahead of them, to see massive trees that stretched high above their heads.
Kilyn had stopped with her parents up ahead, looking at something. When she got there with Vonn, Gia's breath stopped. They stood on the edge of a great ravine. The sounds of water in the distance echoed among the trees, and a light breeze blew up from the depths that seemed to have no bottom.
”This is where we start traveling along tree branches,” said Kilyn with a grin at their horrified looks.
”What's going on?” asked Tom with a frown. ”We're walking on tree branches?”
”They're like wooden paths,” said Vonn, giving everyone a look. ”Just without rails.”
Mikey was staring at the branches ahead of them, that were easily four or five feet across, but were covered in moss and slick wood.
”Elven children are taught to walk over these branches from a very young age, so you should be fine,” chuckled Kilyn, stepping out onto the first branch that presented itself.
”I'll go after anyone who falls,” said Llewel, with a similar chuckle.
”How?” asked Carla, not moving an inch. Fear was evident on her face.
Gia glanced at Vonn, worried. He had to carry her across the dwarven bridge, but it was a short distance. This was much longer, and not as smooth!
”Let's play a game,” said Gia, stepping forward to make eye contact with her mom before looking at Mikey with an excited smile.
”What kind of game?” he asked, perking up immediately.
”Yes, what kind of game?” asked Carla, not as excited by the idea.
”Dad can't see to know when to step up or to turn at a bend, and mom is scared of being so high up. Let's play follow the leader, but with our eyes closed, so no one is scared,” she said, focusing on Mikey.
”What do you mean, with out eyes closed?!” exclaimed Carla, her voice rising as her eyes widened at the thought of being unable to see at all.
”I do it all the time,” said Tom, patting her arm. ”I think this is a brilliant idea.”
”I'll go first, and watch where to put my feet, and you follow me, holding on to my hips. Dad can go after you, holding on to your shoulders, and Mom can go after him, holding his hips. Vonn can go last, to make sure no one is about to do anything wrong. Every step I take, you will take, and when I turn, you'll feel me turn, so you can too. When I have to step up, I'll tell you.”
Mikey thought about it for a moment, before nodding. ”That is brilliant, Gia! We'll be like a snake, or worm!”
”Oh, dear,” whispered Carla, holding her hands to her chest as tightly as she could.
”I have experience catching people who fall,” said Llewel. ”You don't have to worry about anything.”
”How do you catch people?” asked Tom, curiously.
”I have a rope and a whip that I use to secure myself to the branch if I have to jump after someone who's fallen. When I catch them, the rope stops us.”
”That sounds painful,” Tom said.
”I won't lie you'll have bruises and be sore, but it's a far cry from being dead.”
”Oh, dear,” whispered Carla again, closing her eyes tightly.
”Mom,” said Gia, standing right in front of her.
Carla opened her eyes.
”Do you trust me?”
Carla started to say something, and glanced at the tree branches behind Gia.