We started to take the abandoned access road up the side of the mountain. We picked our way carefully over the loose rocks and stones. It was clear it hadn’t been used for some time. Nature had started to take it back. We came to across a bridge that was in bad shape. It spanned roughly across a twenty-five-foot gorge between the two mountain peaks. It was an old suspension bridge of ropes, cables, and wood. Some of the wooden planks were rotted out and some of them were even missing. The ropes and cables were fraying and worn from sitting out in the elements for so long without the usual upkeep. I doubt anyone had used it in quite a while. I tried not to panic or freak out when it started to shake and sway under our footsteps.
I was glad I wasn’t behind Remy as I watched it dip under his weight more so than everyone else. I trie
d to grab the ropes on both sides, but I feared they would disintegrate in my hands. That and my arms weren’t wide enough to grab each side at the same time.
I looked down and tried not to guess how many feet it would take me to plummet to the ground if the bridge collapsed. That is if I didn’t hit every pine tree below us on the way down. I could see the tension in Drake, Jaxson, and Noah’s faces too. I was somewhat reassured to know I wasn’t the only pansy in the group.
We had about ten more feet to go when the ground started to shake around us and the wind kicked up. The pines below us swayed dangerously close to us. The tops of their branches making the bridge sway more so. Drake put his force field up just in time, as gravel and rocks started hurling towards us from the nearby mountain. They pinged off the shield around us.
I looked around in confusion as I noticed the rest of the group had caught up to us and was now down at the foot of the mountain. Terrance was in front, along with the other gifted. I swore I could see his smile from where we stood.
Friend or not he was just as competitive as we were. He wanted to win this training exercise just as much as we did. Whether he succeeded or not after this standoff, there would be no doubt why we had been recruited into the program.
“This is it.” Jace said with determination. “Let’s give them what we got, with no injuries.” He stressed. “Remember this is just a training exercise.”
“Well, fatal injuries.” Troy smirked. “I’m not above a little singeing. Nothing like the smell of burnt hair in the evening.”
Jace shrugged. “That works. I don’t want any broken bones or death on us. Let them know we can control ourselves. They can give us the respect without the fear.”
“Game on,” Jaxson muttered behind me.
Remy turned and started grabbing large rocks and boulders and started to lob them down the mountain, preventing some of the group from advancing up. The few that had been close had to be thinking their lucky stars that he had accurate aim. They stumbled back, avoiding the pile he was building.
Drake continued being our defense as Gavin, Marcel, Sierra, Sam, and Terrance tried their best to hinder our progress across the bridge. Earth, wind, and ice was coming down on us with a vengeance.
“We need to cross the bridge before they tear it down.” Troy said insistently as he hurled fire balls at the people trying to climb up the mountain. They came close to hitting them but fizzled out before they could actually hit their marks.
We carefully picked our way across the bridge. We made it across just in time as the middle of the bridge finally gave way and both sides slapped against the sides of the mountain. I looked down as I saw several boards scatter in different directions.
Noah squeezed my hand reassuringly and I smiled at him in appreciation. He probably imagined us plunging down to our deaths as I had.
“Now how are they supposed to cross?” Jaxson asked scornfully.
“I’m sure Terrance will come up with a solution,” Jace said dryly.
“Remind me to kick his ass the next time I see him. Shaking the bridge while we were on it was a bone head move,” Remy grumbled.
“Not if I get to him first,” I stated. My heart was just starting to slow back down. It had been in my throat. I thought for sure I was going to suffer from a heart attack in the moments before we got off the bridge.
They gave me a smile before Jace turned back to the other group. “I don’t know what they think is so funny,” he muttered.
“But they’re not-” Noah said mystified until he turned around. “Oh. Oh! Good one, Jace.”
Jace had a group of people laughing to the point that they couldn’t even move.
I heard screeches rent the air as eagles and hawks came into view. They were swooping down at the people’s heads with their talons. Jaxson chuckled at his illusion as the other group began to panic. Their panic outweighed their reasoning. They hadn’t realized it was just an illusion. The birds of prey couldn’t touch them.
“I think this party needs some dragons,” Noah laughed.
“But dragons don’t-” Jaxson’s eyes widened as a mischievous light entered his eyes. “I’ve never tried anything that big yet or anything that doesn’t exist.” He had the eagles and hawks fly back into the forest.
“Sounds like todays a good day to try,” Remy said with a smirk.
I almost had to cover my ears as a loud roaring shriek came over our heads and a massive creature the size of a house came soaring over our heads. I stared in awe at how realistic it looked. I could see its green scales shimmer in the dying sun. Its talons were easily as big as I was. I watched as its mouth opened, and flames burst forth. I ducked as if the flames could reach me.
Noah and Jaxson laughed at my reaction, and I couldn’t be mad at them as I stood back up. I would have laughed too if the roles had been reversed.
I saw as people scrambled to get out of its way. Screaming to avoid its massive talons and mouth still agape. It looked eager to swallow them whole.