roared its way over the swirling rapids—the sound was deafening.
"My pleasure," Suko said, relaxing her grip once she saw Sigrid was safe.
The trail they were on came to an abrupt end, revealing a gap in the rocks that led into a cave. The three girls looked at one another, not sure what to do.
"Do we go in?" Suko asked.
As an answer, Sara immediately made her way inside. She'd taken two steps when they all heard a low, bawling moan—then the elk thrust its head out of its hiding place. Sara was completely startled and jumped back, her foot slipping on the rock. She teetered briefly on the cliff edge, her arms flailing. Suko grabbed for her, catching her hand, but Sara's momentum was already carrying her over and she only ended-up pulling Suko with her as the two girls tumbled backward down the steep slope.
Sigrid had a brief glimpse of the animal tearing away down the path, but her eyes were glued in horror as she watched Suko tumble helplessly down over the loose mud and rock. Suko lost her grip on Sara. She managed to slow herself, spreading her arms and legs out as she descended face first. Sara fell backwards, doing several spectacular somersaults.
For a terrifying instant, Sigrid thought they'd both go careening over the precipice ahead of them, but Suko came to a skidding halt a few meters from the edge. Sara was saved as well, but only because she slammed into a tree—Sigrid heard the smack as Sara's head hit the trunk.
Without a thought for her own safety, Sigrid scrambled down the slope as fast as she could, skidding, sliding, grabbing onto the branches that lashed at her legs and face. Gripping a tree-branch with one hand, she reached out and grabbed Suko's ankle.
"I got you!" Sigrid hauled her away from the edge, grabbing onto her belt and hefting her back to her feet. Suko's shirt was torn and she had several scrapes on her nose and face.
"Thanks." Suko said; she had to shout over the din of the thundering river below.
Getting to Sara proved more difficult. Sara sat with her back to the tree at the very edge of the cliff. She looked dazed. Sigrid could see the blood trickling from both of her ears.
Grasping hands with Sigrid, Suko reached out to Sara, but she was too far away. "I can't reach her!"
Inching very carefully, Sigrid crouched as low as she could, grabbing onto one of the many roots that stuck out of the loose earth. It seemed secure enough, and she eased her weight onto it, but when Suko leaned forward, it gave way, uprooting itself a good two feet, sending both of them skidding closer to the edge. It held though, if just barely. Sigrid caught her breath.
Suko turned back to her, her eyes wide.
"Sorry," Sigrid said—Suko gulped and nodded.
Suko reached down again, stretching out—her fingers still inches away from Sara. "You need to reach up!"
Sara looked up at her, struggling to focus. "I hurt my head." She laughed, then, looking at Sigrid, her eyes narrowed. "I don't like you very much."
Sigrid rolled her eyes. "Really? Now?"
"Take my hand!" Suko ordered.
Still groggy, Sara looked down and saw the drop and the rocky riverbed below. Suddenly panicked, she flailed, reaching for Suko's outstretched arm, pulling hard, and scrambling to her feet, but the loose earth gave way and her feet slid out from under her, dangling over the cliff's edge.
Sara clung desperately to Suko's hand. "Don't let me fall…"
For a sickening moment, Sigrid felt Sara's weight pull all three of them downwards, threatening to drag them all over the edge; the river now loomed fully in Sigrid's view, some thirty meters below. Sara looked at her, desperation in her eyes, fighting to keep her grip as much as she fought to stay conscious. She scrambled madly for footing, but found none.
Sara's thrashing wasn't helping any and the tree root Sigrid clung to tore free. Suko stared in horror, helpless. "Sigrid!" she called out, but there was nothing she could do.
Sigrid dug her heels into the earth, but Sara's