Page 21 of The Stone Initiation
I swallowed past the dry lump of dread in my throat. “It’s fine. Thank you for getting me this far.” I didn’t want to ask what happened to those that stayed on this side of the ravine. We were in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by wilderness and goodness knew what kind of creatures.
“We need to work together,” Touron said to Sharniza.
I couldn’t blame them for dismissing me. They had a task to complete. A place to bag at the academy, and I was dead weight right now.
The receptionist had been clear on one fact.No onecame back from these tests. You either got enrolled or deceased.
I did not want to be deceased.
Think, Cameron, think.
The crash of water far below interrupted my thoughts and sent them spiraling. Because therewasa way across for me.
It just wasn’t by air.
It was by water.
“Hey, guys.” I stepped between the two gargoyles. “I need a favor.”
“The rules are clear,” Sharniza said, impatiently. “We can’t carry you across.”
“I know. But dropping me into the water isn’t carrying me across, is it?”
CHAPTER9
“That’s insane,” Touron whisper-hissed.
“No.” Sharniza kept her voice low too. “It’s brilliant.” Her lips curved in an approving smile. “Perfect in fact. We can completely avoid the terror hawks if we swim across the ravine.”
I grinned up at her. “You’re gonna take a dip with me?”
She matched my grin. “I’m a strong swimmer.”
Touron looked between us. “The current is lethal down there.”
“Not as lethal as a riled-up flock of terror hawks,” Sharniza pointed out. Then to me. “I’m in. I’ll get you to the water, but then you’re on your own.”
“Fine by me.”
Touron ran a large hand down his face. “I suppose it’s not breaking the rules. He said not to assist anyone across the ravine and dropping you into the water is hardly an assist. More like murder.” He winced. “Are you sure?”
“We’re sure,” Sharniza and I said in unison.
“Okay…Okay.” He strode to the edge of the ledge to look down at the churning, frothing river.
“See you on the other side,” Curi called out. “If you make it.”
He and his minions, sprang off the ledge and into the sky, flying in a kind of crisscross formation to evade the terror hawks. The other gargoyles followed suit and the air filled with the angry flap of wings and hungry caws.
The flock converged, attacking with a vengeance. The gargoyles evaded as best they could, dipping then rising to get past the threat, but the terror hawks were faster, and screams and bellows ripped the air as they sank their beaks into what they considered prey.
“Stone skin doesn’t work that great when in flight,” Touron muttered to himself. “Shit.”
A gargoyle fell, then another, but terror hawks zoomed across the ravine, catching them with snapping razor beaks before they could get close to the water. The crunch of bone was almost too loud.
“Fuck it,” Touron said. “I’m in.”
I tugged off my boots and yanked off my top layer of clothing. It was going to be freezing in the water, but my gargoyle nature would keep me warm, and my skin would harden as I hit the surface, protecting me from serious injury.
