Xavier walked up and licked her cold hand. Seeking comfort, she stroked his soggy fur, but felt all too clearly his ribs underneath. Reminded of food, she found her stomach growling painfully. What race were they running? Against hunger, or against the pollen? Against her past mistakes, or against Nature’s complex ways? More depressing thoughts adding to a sad morning.
“Hurry!” yelled Kwazar from the top of the saddle, cupping his hands to help his voice carry over the steady wind whipping through the gap. “See the view before it’s blocked!”
“I’m there in a minute!” Miranda looked at Annwn. “Come on—let’s walk faster.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be there shortly.” She winked.
Miranda smiled in understanding. Turning away, she rushed at her best speed up the small grade, a trot slowed from the lack of oxygen and food. Xavier scampered behind her.
Annwn and Wildwind were left alone, trudging through the small accumulation of snow that fell during the afternoon eclipse. Annwn shivered under her damp cloak, hoping dearly that the ridge was the highest one they’d have to traverse.
Now seems like a good time, she thought.
Turning to Wildwind, she said stiffly, “I’m sorry for my actions. I shouldn’t have endangered you, and the others.”
He smiled. “It wasn’t all your fault. I’m to blame as well… so I’m sorry, too.” He held out his hand.
Hesitating just the slightest, she shook his hand.
“But don’t get me wrong,” she said, pulling from his grip.
He frowned. “Hm?”
“I don’t have to like you,” she said, face emotionless, “and I don’t. I’m just forgiving you for your actions so we can work together without fighting.”
He paused, apparently debating how to respond. “Understood.” Looking at the ground he said nothing more.
She turned into a biting wind that made her head ache.
“Hurry up you two! The view’s getting covered.”
Kwazar didn’t need to yell, for Annwn had already reached the top. She stared out over a sea of hills lapping the base of the ridge. Low clouds poured in from the west below her, racing to meet the mountain’s foot straight under her numb feet. Shrouding the horizon, turbulent puffs mushroomed high into the sky, their edges muted by thick haze. Stacked lenticular clouds capped the peaks to her left and right.
“I think,” said Kwazar, “another storm is approaching.”
As he spoke, the hills below faded behind the racing scud. The clouds billowed up toward the party, torn edges twisting, dissolving, reforming.
“I won’t disagree with you,” said Annwn, shivering in a strengthening wind. “We had better get down from here.”
“Yeah,” said Kwazar, “it wouldn’t take us long to freeze in these conditions.”
“Oh, my legs,” said Miranda. “I don’t know if I can walk much farther.” She looked tired.
“All downhill from here,” said Wildwind.
“True.”
A strong, insistent gust of wind rippled over the ridge, nearly toppling everyone. Annwn had to shield her eyes from biting snow crystals.
Miranda, teeth chattering from the gust’s cold grasp, said, “Rubber legs or no, I’m going down.”
As one, they headed downhill. Clouds surged around them, darkening the ridge, and a light snow began falling.
Another day wore slowly on, comprised of clouds, wet marching, falling down slippery slopes, cramped muscles, restless sleeps, desperate attempts to forget about food and drinking the ever-present rain. The only improvement was warming temperatures, and such weather disturbed Annwn: spring neared. The race, she thought, we are losing to the seasons.
She could hardly move her aching legs, a task made particularly difficult by the slight slope she had to climb. When she’d reach the top, she’d have to go down again, only to walk straight into another rise. The rolling ridges of the coastal mountain strip seemed to continue forever. Fortunately, the closer they got to the coast, the lower the hills became, with shallower gradients. Such slow change was subtle, but it gave her hope.
The woods slowly grew darker. How much longer until night? She couldn’t tell how close the sun was to the horizon, for the clouds were too thick, hanging so low they appeared to scrape the barren branches above.
Tiredly she said, “Guys, let’s stop here.” Before they could respond, she sat—almost collapsed—down, leaning her back against a leaf-bare tree, moaning from the ache in her legs.
“No argument here,” said Miranda as she fell beside Annwn. She looked sad. “I don’t know how many more steps I can take.”
“Me neither.” Kwazar sat against a circuleaf tree a meter off, with Wildwind lying next to him.
“If we could eat even one plant, things would be so much better,” Wildwind said, his words slow and tired.
Was her tiredness due to hunger, Annwn wondered, or just the drastic change in her daily schedule due to Bode’s very long days? If she had food, she realized with frustration, she could answer that question. Feeling a lump at her side, she remembered the secret pocket she had sewn into her cloak. She reached in and pulled out the half bar Miranda had given her many nights ago. “Hey, guys, I have food!”
“What?” said Wildwind. “I don’t believe it.” Kwazar and Miranda looked at her expectantly.
Annwn held up the small meal. “I forgot I put this in my pocket.” She broke the bar into quarters. “We’ll all get some.”
She passed three pieces to Miranda, keeping one for herself. Miranda took a section and passed the remaining on.
“Enjoy it,” said Annwn. “That’s our last meal.”
“Well, don’t say it like we’re going to die or something,” said Kwazar.
Xavier walked up to her, tiny tongue hanging from an open mouth.
“You’ll get yours, too,” said Annwn. She halved her section and gave a piece to the puppy. Xavier happily ran off with the food, chomping quickly.
She placed her tiny piece in her mouth and chewed slowly, trying to make the meal last. The others ate as well.
After the meager dinner everyone rested silently. A slight breeze rustled through the forest’s thickly budding crowns, carrying a zephyr across the moist forest floor and into her face, a cool caress that left her shivering.
Panting from his latest workout, Xavier walked up to Annwn looking for more food.
Annwn held up her hands. “There’s none.”
Realizing no food could be had, Xavier jumped into her lap. He fell into a deep sleep, his furry body warming her legs. Annwn nodded off as well.
“Guys,” said Wildwind, forcing Annwn back into the real world, “I know you’re going to hate me for this, but I have a question.”
After a pause, Kwazar said, “Go on, don’t leave us hanging.”
“Well… where exactly is the colony?”
“We already told you,” said Kwazar.
“Yeah, I know that,” he said, irritated. “I mean exactly. The west coast is big. How do we know we’re anywhere near the colony site?”
“Good question,” said Kwazar.
Miranda remained silent.
Annwn gasped in shock and looked at Kwazar. “You mean, you don’t know where the colony is?”
He shook his head, “No.”
She sank low, sliding down the tree she leaned against. “We might as well just die here.” Sighing, she stared at the tips of her ragged, dirty shoes.
“Don’t say that,” said Miranda, who finally seemed to find the energy to talk. “I’ve been doing some thinking.”