Sky undid the rope and slung the loose end over his shoulder. He pulled it tight and jumped into the stream. It was a battle of time, the river swept him up and he kicked hard, pulling on the rope and curling it around his arm as he went. Once he almost flowed out from under the bridge but he managed to pull himself along the rope just in time. Sky fought hard against the river and his progress was slow. Fire cringed in fear, she wondered if Dragon would say something but he did not, he just stood staring at Sky with the same frown and his ears pinned flat. Sky finally got to the dock, Fire and Dragon leant down and pulled him up. Sky lay down flat on his back, breathing hard, his eyes closed. Fire helped Dragon uncoil the rope around him. Dragon then recoiled it and slung it over his head and shoulder.
‘We need to keep moving.’ Dragon said and walked to the edge of the alcove and peered up the bank. ‘There isn’t a guard post on this side?’ Dragon asked turning to Fire.
‘No. But can’t we give Sky a few more moments to rest?’ she asked, Sky was still breathing hard and coughed up some water.
‘No. Besides he will go last, that will give him more time to get his breath back.’ Dragon replied with no emotion. ‘I’ll go first. We will go one at a time. When you get to the top, stay low, go fast, stay in the shadows and head straight for the trees. If you are spotted, make sure you run away from us and try to get the guards to follow you.’
Fire ears flattened in anger, ‘So, if we’re spotted, we must sacrifice ourselves?’ but Dragon had already gone.
Fire waited nervously, until she thought Dragon had had enough time to make it to the trees. There was no sound from the guards, so he must have made it safely across. She did not want to wait too long, as the moon was rising higher. She gave Butters hand a squeeze and followed the way Dragon had gone. She climbed the bank next to bridge with some difficulty and paused at the top, peering over the bridge’s wall. The guards were far away on the other side, their helmets gleaming in the moonlight, they never came all the way to this side. The trees shadows stretched all the way to the tip of the bridge. Fire remained low and ran on two legs and four - straight for the trees. She dived into the branches and landed hidden among the bushes. Turning around, she peered through the leaves, everything was quiet. She needed to meet Dragon deeper in the trees, but she wanted to wait for Butters. Her friend emerged over the bank. She glanced in the direction of the guards and ran as fast as she could for the trees. Fire emerged from the bushes so that Butters could see her. Butters ran past her into the trees and out of sight. Fire followed.
‘Lets find Dragon, I don’t want to stay so close to the forests edge.’ Butters said, breathing hard, her voice shaking.
Fire grabbed her hand and lead her through the trees, they did not have to go far. They found Dragon. He was leaning against a tree, his expression reserved; he merely flicked an ear in their direction but said nothing. Fire and Butters joined him without a word. They were all too worried to speak. Fire adjusted her feet straps again, they were still soggy and loose dirt crept in under them. After an excruciating long time, two more Dwellers joined them. Fire did not know their names; they were Dragon’s friends.
Time passed, she was getting more and more agitated, where was Skylark? Her ears flick every which way, listening for any sound of him. Dragon did not seem too worried as he was examining the trees.
Sky emerged from the foliage, and Fire breathed a sigh of relief. He came to stand beside her with out a word or glance in her direction. Fire wondered if he even knew how she felt about him, but she could not think about that now.
‘We need to find a step-rope that leads to the tree paths above. There is a path leading off from the bridge. We must find it and follow it until we see a way up. But remember to remain quiet, as guards could be patrolling. Stay close to the bushed so that we can hide quickly.’ Dragon said and headed into the trees. The rest followed and it was not long before the group came upon a path. It was wide and looked like it was often used. Fires eyes were adjusted to the dark and she made her way along the road without much trouble, but a few others stumbled. Fire could see the best of all of them in the dark, something she was proud of.
Dragon walked in front of their small group and Skylark walked behind. Fire had to stop herself from looking back at him. They walked in silence, and met no one on the road. Fire spotted a step-rope hanging from a tree up ahead and pointed it out to Dragon who took a little longer to see it.
‘We will climb up in single file, remember go slow and if a guard comes down the road we must all stay still.’ Dragon said and climbed up.
Fire followed. The climb was difficult and the rope ladder moved under them; they had no choice but to go slow. The end of the ladder was very high up and Fire forced herself not to look down and ignored the fear that was tying her stomach in knots. She reached the top and hauled herself onto the wooden platform. She moved out of the way for the others, not wanting to go near the edge. Fire looked down the paths that had been cut into the thick branches of the trees, one lead to the left and the other to the right. She wandered how stable these paths were?
The forest around Lone Town’s island had been allowed to grow deep and too thick for anyone to pass through it. For defence the Nobles had said, ‘Nobles! More like inbred, rich swine,’ thought Fire. Well, there was two roads that lead through the forest, one leading to the west and the other to the East, but they were well guarded and there was said to be a huge gate at either end, too high too climb over and too strong to break down. Well, that was what Fire had heard but she was not sure if it was true. What was true was if you were found walking down one of the paths and you were not a Noble or a Nobles slave, you would be killed. It was Lone Town’s law.
Butters joined Fire and also looked up and down the path, she seem to share Fire’s doubts. ‘It doesn’t look too safe.’ Butters said. ‘Wont we be seen?’
‘I don’t know? But Dragon says it’s the only way to get to the outside world.’ Fire said standing up straight. She felt her hair being whipped by the wind; it was cold, but some how also felt good, and refreshing. She had never felt wind like this in Lone Town, where the buildings were close together and the trees shielded them from the weather. The moon shone brightly above them, and the sky seemed so big. The forest stretched out in every direction, it seemed to have no end.
‘Ok follow me.’ Dragon said, and walked past Fire to the right.
‘How did he know which way to go?’ Wondered Fire, but said nothing. With a quick glance to see if Sky was with them, she followed without a word.
The small group of Shargru Dwellers walked in silence. The paths felt strange to walk on, the branches were thick, warn down and smooth but still the many pressure points on Fire’s feet made them feel uncomfortable, and later the discomfort became a hurt. And once it felt like Fire’s sole had been cut open by a branch but she did not want to stop and check, she knew how important it was to keep moving. The guards often used the paths that were cut in the tree canopy. They patrolled these roof top heights to keep watch over the sky and the land beyond, so that Lone Town was kept safe. So the Nobles said.
They walked for a long time, following the path as it wound this way and that. Some times it split or other paths branched off, but Dragon kept them going in the straightest direction he possible could. Fire still wandered if they would be sneaking around these paths all night? Sometimes the path would sink in deeper into the canopy or level out, with the leaves on either side no higher then their ankles. At these moments, they had to go one by one on all fours, keeping low and moving fast until the path sunk into the branches again. Fire was okay with this, as she often sneaked around on her feet and hands when she played hunting games, but a few others hands were softer and she had to help Butters pull a twig from her palm.
‘Suck it until the bleeding stops.’ Fire advised Butters.
Dragon was kneeling low in the path ahead, and indicated that the others must do the same. Fire joined her brother and peered around. ‘What is it?’ she whispered.
‘Sh.’ He put a finger to his lips and pointed, indicating a bobbing light in the distance.
‘Do they have a fire elemental up here!’ Butters said alarmed.
‘No, I don’t think so.’ Fire said calmly and quietly. ‘Fire elementals only work for themselves, or for people who can pay enough, which aren’t many. Besides a Fire elemental would not stoop so low as the Nobles’ guard duty.
‘Well, regardless who it is, they use fire and that will be an advantage to us, as it will blind them to the night and make it difficult to see through the branches.’ Dragon said with optimism. ‘Lets keep moving.’
The night wore on and Fire’s cut foot hurt more and more, she was not sure how long she could keep this up? It was a few hours later when they saw a light bobbing up and down ahead of them. Fire was alarmed; a guard was in the path ahead of them! The last branching of the path was over an hour behind them, and if they ran they would make too much noise. Dragon indicated that the group should stop and stay low.
‘Like that was going to help!’ Fire screamed inwardly, she felt panic rising in her. ‘What are we going to do? If we get caught, we’ll all be killed, it was the law!’ She could not stop herself thinking about the stories of how the Nobles took pleasure in making examples of people who broke their laws. ‘Dragonfly, what must we do!’ Fire whispered to her brother. She felt Butters squeezing her leg in fear. ‘Dragon!’
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