Page 18 of Forsaken Secrets

8

Kaiya

The scream had come from the ruins near the cliff. If the person had been exploring them when the cliff collapsed …

"I'm coming!" I yelled. Images of a broken body sprawled on the coast, waves lapping at the blood seeping from their wounds bombarded my mind. That had happened right before Uncle Calix had died, and he'd been able to help the family. Something we were no longer in a place to do.

I broke into the clearing, crumbling tower looming to my left and just beyond it — oh no. An entire copse of trees had vanished!

Heart in my throat, I ran as close to the crumbling cliff as I dared before dropping to my stomach and crawling to the edge. "Please be alive. Please, please, please."

I fought the rising panic as I reached the edge and paused, then took a deep breath and forced myself to look down.

One hundred feet down, dark waters pummeled the fallen earth and stone. And yet, somehow, a dark haired man lay sprawled on a small outcropping just fifteen feet below me.

He must have the luck of the Kings.

Relief filling me, I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted above the storm, "Hellooooo? Can you hear me?"

No response.

"Please, sir. If you can hear me, just move your head."

Still nothing.

Stomach in knots, I examined his body as best I could from this distance, but there didn't seem to be any obvious injuries. If I could rappel down, perhaps I could get a better look.

Reaching back, I grasped my pack, heavy with fabric and ribbons for Aunt Grace, and grimaced. I'd just sold the equipment I'd need. Gods damn it.

There had to be another option!

I searched the area frantically.

Short grass covered the cliff with a few stone pillars jutting out at angles here and there.

A small tree — the only one left in the area after the collapse — stood about six feet back from the new cliff edge. It wasn't the ideal anchor, but it could work. Without rope, though, it wouldn't do me much good.

Damn!

I looked down at the man again. If he wasn't bleeding internally, perhaps it would be best for me to return to town and get help. Though that would take a while, and gods only knew how long that ledge would hold.

A revyn swooped and landed atop a stone to my right, blue feathers rustling in the wind.

My heart leaped. The revyn from the cove earlier! It had to be. But what was it doing here?

"You're just rescuing everyone today, aren't you," I cooed.

Even from this distance, its swirling golden eyes were arresting. It seemed to narrow its eyes as it cocked its head and looked down, setting the red plumage atop its head bouncing.

Part of me wanted to get closer and study it, but this wasn't the time for that. So, I forced my gaze back down to the still unconscious man and watched as a small chunk of rock broke off his outcropping and fell into the ocean below.

I needed to get down there, and fast.

A loud trilling chirp made me look back at the revyn. It sat atop the rock still, but as I watched, it shook its head sharply and bent down to peck at something beneath its curling orange talons. I froze. Was that a bag?

Perhaps it belonged to the injured man?

"Smart little revyn!" I said, moving towards the bag as fast as I dared. Perhaps it had a rope or climbing supplies inside? No one could be stupid enough to explore the area without one.

---