You hear the river before you see it, a dull roar that foretells powerful water. Sure enough, the wide river is moving quickly. It gashes itself on dull rocks, throwing up spray that quickly crystallizes like frigid smoke. Halpra hurries everyone up the riverbank, constantly checking the surroundings for surprise attacks. Finally, you reach a slower section of the river. Ice floes bob on the surface, slowly rotating in the invisible current. Some floes have fused to create a makeshift ice bridge.
“Tully?” Halpra asks, panting.
Tully assesses the bridge, her whiskers twitching with concentration. “Questionable. It would be better to find a more solid crossing…”
“No time! They’re here.” Roth interrupts. Indeed, the sounds of crunching footsteps, accompanied by the jangling of weapons can now be heard over the water flow. The thought of encountering weasels again fills you with terror.
“Will they chase us across?” you ask.
Halpra answers. “They are too heavy. But they are hungry and stupid. So they might try.” She tightens her pack. “Tully first, then Tolo. Then me. Then Roth, covering the back with his crossbow as long as he can. Count to five before you follow the mouse before. The bridge can't handle too much weight at once. GO!”
Tully responds immediately. She moves swiftly and gracefully, almost like she is a part of the flowing water around her. She makes the crossing look easy. Counting to five, you touch your lucky sprig of rosemary and follow her. Immediately, you lose your footing and land hard. There is an ominous crack beneath your body. You freeze, your mind blank with horror.
“Get up!” screams Halpra. Somehow finding your footing, you haul yourself up. You put one shaky foot out, then another.
“FASTER!” Halpra roars.
“Tolo.” Tully's quiet voice cuts through the chaos. “Just come to me. It's simple. You can do it.” Grateful for her guidance, you walk towards her, trying to ignore the shadowy water that laps on either side of you. Behind you comes the horrible shouts of the weasels as they sight their prey.
The bridge shudders as Halpra steps onto it. Sharp cracking sounds puncture the air. Feet sliding, you make it to the other side. You turn to see that Halpra is only halfway across the bridge, and Roth is just stepping out when four weasels arrive.
“Food! Come back!” they yell. Like you, Halpra struggles with the footing on the ice bridge, triggering an alarming series of crackles and breaks. Roth falls, causing the weasels to cheer enthusiastically. “Stay there mousie! We’re coming!” they taunt. Not bothering to stand, Roth begins to scuttle forward on the ice on all fours.
Three of the weasels stop at the river’s edge, but the fourth charges onto the bridge after Roth. There is a final enormous crack and the bridge split into pieces. Halpra is close enough to jump to shore, but Roth finds himself alone on a floe, spinning. His eyes wide with fear. The pursuing weasel plunges into the water, howling. His companions shout with laughter.
