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. There’s nowhere for the phoenix to perch, so we hover above the tips of the stone shards. It’s a tight squeeze for the giant lemur, and the smile soon vanishes from Vik’s 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 that’s visible from above is the rustling of leaves.

“Vik, are you okay?” When he doesn’t reply, I call again. “Vik, what’s happening?”

Then I hear a terrible cry, and I know that something’s wrong. Sensing my alarm, the phoenix carefully lowers me into the crevice. “Vik, where are you?”

I hear a groan, and then Shifaka appears, mouth smeared with white jelly. “Where’s my friend?” I ask.

“He appears to be reclining below.”

“Reclining?” With these razor-sharp rocks, there’s no way Vik can be comfortable. “Can you reach him?”

Shifaka licks the last bit of juice off their fingertips and says, “I’ll try.”

The lemur disappears from view once more but returns a moment later. “I offered my tail, but he wouldn’t grab hold. I think your friend prefers to stay behind.”

“No, he doesn’t!” I yell, trying to make the lemur understand the seriousness of the situation. “We have to help him. Vik, can you hear me?”

“I’m stuck!” he cries.

“Between the rocks?” I ask, wondering how I’ll ever get close enough to pry him loose.

“No—I fell onto some type of web. I’m okay, Jax.”

I sigh with relief and try to figure out what to do. The phoenix can’t hover here indefinitely. I don’t have a rope to lower to Vik, and I can’t 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.

“Hold on, Vik—I’m coming!”

The phoenix carefully hovers above the spiky rocks before slowly descending. Soon I’m able to see Vik. He’s 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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