I swallowed, wishing for water to quench my thirst. I should have taken some from our home before running off into the depths of the caves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had walked for ages, twisting and turning through caverns I hadn\u2019t ever walked through alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A distant noise reached my ears. Running water. I\u2019m almost to the river!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I started running again. I never ran; it was too dangerous. But now\u2014the water was beckoning, and I couldn\u2019t help myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The roar of the river got closer and closer until I spilled into the larger cave, my footsteps echoing louder off the cavernous roof. I slowed, not keen on careening into the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked up at the faintly twinkling stone of the roof. Somehow in utter darkness, there was shining stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I stumbled to the edge of the river and drank. \u201cThank goodness I made it here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLeah?\u201d A familiar voice asked from nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My head shot up. \u201cElonyah? Are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you doing here? I\u2019m not coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are here! You scared ten years off my life, El.\u201d Her words penetrated. \u201cOh. I\u2019m not taking you home. At this point we are both wanted for treason.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A long silence followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere are you? I\u2019m coming to you.\u201d I squinted at the darkness around me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m across the river.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAcross the river?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI swam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSwam?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy are you repeating what I\u2019m saying? Yes, I swam. The river is only a little over my head. Just kick a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My mouth fell open. \u201cI can\u2019t swim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, you can. Come on, Leah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some reason, I decided to trust her. I waded into the water, shivering at the cold. I walked deeper and deeper, until my feet couldn\u2019t reach the bottom. \u201cAck!\u201d I paddled frantically, kicking my legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m\u2026moving!<\/em> I was slowly moving forward. The river was pushing me downstream, but my head was mostly above water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A rush of water smacked my face, and I instinctively breathed in, sucking water up my nose. I coughed and sneezed, kicking harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then my feet found the bottom of the river, and I was climbing up the riverbank. \u201cElonyah?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou made it! I knew you could!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My teeth chattered. \u201cI might freeze to death, but yeah, I made it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t be so dramatic,\u201d Elonyah said, her hand finding my arm. She pulled me away from the river. I crossed my arms. \u201cIf we start walking, we\u2019ll warm up in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n * * *<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was not warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019d been walking for who-knows-how-long, following the river farther and farther from anything we knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I breathed on my hands, rubbing my hands together to create some warmth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy feet hurt,\u201d Elonyah said. It wasn\u2019t even a complaint; it was just a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMine too.\u201d I refrained from reminding her that this was her <\/em>idea and her<\/em> fault. We couldn\u2019t go back home. No point dwelling on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We continued on in silence, having already exhausted all our conversation points. I didn\u2019t know what time it was. Without the town bells to inform me, I couldn\u2019t tell at all. Judging by how heavy my eyelids felt, probably late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe should stop and rest for the night soon,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elonyah sighed. \u201cI suppose. I doubt you\u2019ll sleep very well on the cold stone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I hadn\u2019t thought to grab anything from home. Elonyah at least had her sleep mat, her water container and a few changes of clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrinkled my nose. I was cold enough as it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our feet continued to move forwards, echoing through the cavern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then El\u2019s feet stopped. \u201cCeceleah.\u201d Her voice was hushed. \u201cDo you see that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSee what?\u201d I paused, squinting into the darkness. All I could see was the faint glimmer of the rushing river, the twinkling of the cave roof, and\u2026a flash of brightness farther down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs it\u2026?\u201d Elonyah\u2019s voice trailed off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt looks\u2026like light. Not pure darkness.\u201d I gaped a little longer, then started coming forward again. \u201cCome on! Let\u2019s see how long it takes to get there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our feet moved much faster now, going from a walk to a jog to a sprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The light grew brighter and brighter, drew closer and closer\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElonyah! You were right!\u201d I shouted, laughter slipping out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We reached the end of the cave. So much light was pouring in that I could see\u2014see!\u2014<\/em>the river pouring out of an opening in the rock. \u201cThere\u2019s a world outside the caves!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t hesitate to plunge into the water and paddle myself through the opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then\u2026light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n