54 Chapter 54 The Falls (1/2)

The rocks were becoming more and more slippery as they climbed higher to the top of the waterfall. This meant their speed was cut down more and more as Tom struggled not to get distracted with the many rainbows that were glistening everywhere and as Carla struggled with losing her eyesight in one eye.

Gia was keeping a close watch on Mikey, who kept wanting to stop and let Sprout see the rainbows, too.

\”Mikey, keep Sprout in his pouch until we're on the other side of the waterfall, or he may get lost and fall into the waters. You don't want to lose him, do you?\” asked Gia, frustrated that he wouldn't keep moving.

\”Gia, he's just as excited as the rest of us, at being in such a beautiful place,\” said Tom, admiring another rainbow.

\”Dad! This isn't the place or time to be excited about beauty!\” complained Gia. \”This is a very dangerous place! If anyone slips, they will fall into the waterfall and die! We need to keep going!\”

\”She's right, dear,\” panted Carla, as she rested against a wet and slimy rock. \”These rocks are very slippery, and none of us are very good at climbing with heights.\”

Tom's head snapped up as he realized she was afraid of heights, and quickly made his way to her side. \”I'm sorry! I totally forgot. Are you doing alright?\”

\”Not really, but I haven't stopped yet,\” she said, a shake to her voice as she tried to smile at him.

Mikey sighed and slipped Sprout back into his pouch, before reaching for the next rock to keep climbing. The pouch swung out, away from his body, and banged against a rock. His head jerked back and Gia barely managed to catch him as he crumbled, falling back away from the rocks they were climbing.

\”Mikey! Vonn, something's wrong with Mikey!\” she screamed, clutching her lifeless brother in her arms as she clung to the rocks.

\”Gia, calm down,\” said Vonn, moving over to see what was wrong. \”I'm sure he'll be fine. Here, let me have him.\”

She gratefully let Vonn take the boy, and followed close behind as he finished the last of the climb to the top of the falls. Concern had Tom and Carla reaching the top at the same time. The dark colored lizardfolk was watching from a distance, having reached the top a long time ago and was lazily waiting for them to make their way to the top as well.

Vonn lay Mikey down and checked his breathing.

\”Did something bite him? Like a snake or a spider?\” asked Carla clutching her shirt.

\”No, there's no marks on him,\” said Vonn, examining the boy's fingers and hands.

\”Did he bump his head?\” asked Tom, rubbing Carla's shoulders.

\”Not that I recall,\” said Gia, shaking her head. \”I told him to put Sprout up and to get back to climbing. The pouch hit the rock when he did, and then he fell. Do you think it's because Sprout hit the rock?\”

\”There's one way to see,\” said Vonn, gently opening the pouch and pulling the limp green Limcheez from its pouch.

As he turned it over, they saw a small bump protruding from the back of its head.