Chapter 44: Chapter 44: throwing trash out The wind roared in Rhian’s ears. His back stung. Blood ran down from where the creature’s talons had dug deep into his shoulders.
He felt Nia’s arms gripping his legs, tighter now, as the flying beast carried them higher. Its wings beat hard, flapping wide and violent against the air, but the weight was clearly too much.
It screeched again, a shrill, piercing sound that rattled his bones. He could feel the strain in the creature’s flight pattern.
It was trying to stabilize, shifting their bodies side to side, wobbling above the forest canopy. It was looking for somewhere to drop them, maybe it’s nest.
Rhian could feel himself slipping in and out of focus. His breaths were sharp. Fast. The pain was becoming harder to ignore.
"Nia," he said through gritted teeth, "if we fall from here—"
"We won’t," she growled, refusing to look down.
But she hadn’t looked him in the eyes. She knew the risk.
She was holding on, her entire body locked under him, hanging by his legs. Her grip was strong, but even she couldn’t last forever.
He could feel the strain in her arms. Her legs dangled freely, the wind catching at her braids and clothes.
"We need to get you up," Rhian said, not waiting for permission. "I’ll pull. You climb."
"That’s risky," she muttered, eyes flicking down below, then back up to his face. "If I slip, you drop me."
"We both fall if you stay like this. Trust me."
Her lips pressed together, but she gave a small nod.
Rhian grunted, adjusting his legs slightly as best he could. With his hands limited by the creature’s grip, he braced with his thighs and leaned back.
Nia shifted, gripping his sides first, then slowly making her way up until her torso was level with his.
His hands found her waist. He held tight, locking her into place, doing everything he could to steady her.
Her face was very close to his now. She didn’t look scared, but her eyes flicked to the punctures in his shoulders. The monster’s talons were buried deep, bone-deep.
Her voice softened. "You’re bleeding a lot..."
"I noticed," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I’m good. Just hold on tight."
She didn’t move. She stared at him for a moment longer, seeing how he was forcing the words.
How much pain he must been in rught now. His expression didn’t give much away, but his body was trembling.
"I said I’m good," Rhian repeated.
Nia locked her arms around his back and held on.
Then Rhian glanced down past her. That’s when he saw it.
A massive ravine stretched beneath them. Long, deep, jagged at the edges. It cut through the forest like a scar. Rhian’s eyes narrowed.
There was no light down there. No trees. Just shadow. Whatever was inside couldn’t be seen.
The edges of the cliffs were sharp and dry.
His heartbeat surged. His chest tightened. Nia must have heard it. Her ear was close enough. She glanced at him, then looked down.
The creature shrieked again, turning midair.
It was aiming for the ravine.
She held on tighter, her arms wrapped around him, her hands gripping the fabric at his back like she’d never let go. Rhian pulled her closer by the waist, steadying her, refusing to let her slip.
Their faces were nearly pressed together now. Her warm breath brushed against his cheek.
He could smell her, sweat, faint metal, something warm. It was oddly grounding.
But there was no time for that.
The creature above them shrieked again and jerked violently, its wings snapping open wider. It twisted in the air, and its claws, still buried in Rhian’s shoulders, suddenly tore free.
Rhian’s back screamed as the talons ripped out of his flesh. Blood sprayed, hot and fast. His body jerked as they were flung together into open air.
The sky tilted.
The wind roared.
They were falling.
Rhian clutched her tightly, and she returned it with everything she had.
His eyes slammed shut. Nia’s did too.
Somewhere in the middle of it, he felt her body shake, not from fear, but from how hard she was holding on. A single tear slipped down her face, caught in the wind.
They didn’t scream and flail. There was nothing they could do now.
Rhian buried his face in her shoulder. His breath caught. His heart hammered so hard it hurt.
Above them, the monster shrieked again, its wings spread wide, circling above the ravine.
And they just kept falling.
Rhian wished, more than anything, that he had his cursed form. If it even existed. He wanted it now. Wings. Claws. Anything that could save them. Something to catch the wind and stop this fall.
He thought about it hard. Focused. Tried to will it out of him. Maybe it would feel his desperation, maybe it would answer. Maybe some part of him would split open and help.
But nothing came.
No wings. No flight. No miracle.
Just gravity.
They kept falling. Deeper into the ravine, the sun slipping away above them. Eyes shut, arms locked around each other, no screams. The sound of rushing air filled their ears, fast, wild, cold.
Then—
BAM.
SPLASHHH!
The water swallowed them. Legs hit first, but it didn’t help. The speed they fell from was too much.
Rhian’s thoughts shattered like glass. His chest exploded in pain. Everything went numb. He couldn’t feel her anymore.
He tried to hold on. He really did. But her fingers slipped from his.
Darkness took him, and the world disappeared.
Their bodies sank deep below the surface, swallowed whole by the still water.
No air or movement, just silence. Their limbs drifted, hair floating like smoke underwater as the current settled. They were motionless and drowning.
Above the ravine, the creature circled once before screeching again.
Its wings beat against the air as it turned away.
Its chest, large and exposed, bounced with each movement as it disappeared into the sky, leaving the quiet gorge behind.