The Enchanted Bridge by Zetta Elliott
Author:Zetta Elliott [Elliott, Zetta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-01-17T00:00:00+00:00
Just when I think I can see an end up ahead, Vik makes a sound that causes me to turn back. Vik plugs his nose, which probably means Shifaka let one loose. Then the gassy lemur spies a cluster of trees that are so short they look more like shrubs. Without warning Vik, Shifaka makes a sudden dive in search of more futfut fruit. Thereâs nowhere for the phoenix to perch, so we hover above the tips of the stone shards. Itâs a tight squeeze for the giant lemur, and the smile soon vanishes from Vikâs face as Shifaka maneuvers into a deep crevice to satisfy their craving. I watch from above as the lemur makes a dramatic downward leap. Then I lose sight of the pair. All thatâs visible from above is the rustling of leaves.
âVik, are you okay?â When he doesnât reply, I call again. âVik, whatâs happening?â
Then I hear a terrible cry, and I know that somethingâs wrong. Sensing my alarm, the phoenix carefully lowers me into the crevice. âVik, where are you?â
I hear a groan, and then Shifaka appears, mouth smeared with white jelly. âWhereâs my friend?â I ask.
âHe appears to be reclining below.â
âReclining?â With these razor-sharp rocks, thereâs no way Vik can be comfortable. âCan you reach him?â
Shifaka licks the last bit of juice off their fingertips and says, âIâll try.â
The lemur disappears from view once more but returns a moment later. âI offered my tail, but he wouldnât grab hold. I think your friend prefers to stay behind.â
âNo, he doesnât!â I yell, trying to make the lemur understand the seriousness of the situation. âWe have to help him. Vik, can you hear me?â
âIâm stuck!â he cries.
âBetween the rocks?â I ask, wondering how Iâll ever get close enough to pry him loose.
âNoâI fell onto some type of web. Iâm okay, Jax.â
I sigh with relief and try to figure out what to do. The phoenix canât hover here indefinitely. I donât have a rope to lower to Vik, and I canât touch the stone shards that have penned him in. I think back to the Imfezi and wonder if I can use my new phoenix powers once more.
âHold on, VikâIâm coming!â
The phoenix carefully hovers above the spiky rocks before slowly descending. Soon Iâm able to see Vik. Heâs sprawled on a sticky web that is layered enough to look white. I gaze up at the phoenix and try to silently communicate my plan. It seems to work; the bird gradually loosens its hold on my shoulders. I press my eyes shut and feel the warmth growing at my core. I pretend that I am making a snowball, compacting all my fear and anxiety and hope for Vik into a solid sphere of energy. When the phoenix releases me, I float in between the stone daggers. The force I am generating fills the crevice with light, and the bladelike rocks are blunted, buffed smooth.
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