Page 87 of The Unseen Hour

Surely Charon couldn’t be here. Not unless Death had failed to live up to her side of the bargain, and if that was the case we were in even worse trouble than we’d imagined.

From outside the cave came a growl, sending an echo through our crystal sanctuary.

Orion’s eyes went wide, and he reached for me.

“A great bear. The tree hoppers were warning us.”

“You don’t think it’s the one that went over the ledge?”

“No, it wouldn’t have survived the fall. I’m surprised more of them could even get down here. The pathways are so narrow.”

Unlike Orion and me, though, the bears had all the time in the world to meander through the forests. It was very possible wider or less visible pathways existed somewhere along the canyon.

A squeal and snort followed the next roar.

“What was that?” I asked, knowing in my gut that it was indeed the worst-case scenario.

“Brush boars.”

A yowl joined the other calls, and my heart sank further when I recognized the slycat call.

“Ry, what do we do?”

One of the bears lumbered past the entrance of the cavern. It didn’t charge us, but it lifted its head and sniffed, then roared and wandered back outside toward the other predators.

“They’re like guardians of this realm for Charon. Even if he has no idea what we’re up to, they must have realized that someone who’s not Charon entered the area,” Orion guessed.

“Then why not come in and kill us?”

“Maybe they’ll keep us trapped here until the god does eventually realize someone’s here? Or maybe they will grow bored, and we’ll end up dinner after all.”

I paled.

“That’s not at all reassuring.”

Orion scowled.

“No. It’s not. I’m going to say this, and you’re not going to like it. I recommend we do what I suggested during our first encounter with the great bears. I’ll distract them, and you run.”

“There’s no way I’d leave you, and there’s too many animals anyway. We’d never make it. I have a better idea.”

It was a foolish plan. Haphazard and dangerous, but at the moment I thought it significantly less of a risk than the gnashing teeth. I explained to Orion what I wanted to do: we would make a run for it, straight out on the sands and then into the rapids. Once the water got deep enough, we could use the current to deter the animals and make our escape.

I twisted my hands.

“It’s completely mad. Don’t worry, you can say it. I happen to agree with you. But it’s also our only way out. These creatures are all stronger and more sure-footed than us on land. They’ll tear us to pieces. The rapids are dangerous, but they’re our only chance. Besides, you said yourself the waters flow south. We’d be closer to the beach Death asked us to look for,” I reminded him.

“Yes, but we could also drown. Even if we survive, I doubt we’d get out of this unscathed.”

He was right, of course. And we still had to make it past the predators far enough down the bank that the waters were strong enough to prevent them following us.

“Orion, the water. We empty our waterskins and take more from the pool here. Hopefully it could help any injuries we might incur.”

He frowned at the glowing water.

“I still don’t like it, but I can’t see that we have another choice. The predators are certain death. Waiting for Charon is certain death. The waters give us a chance.”

“Then let’s hurry, before they decide to come in after all.”