Chapter
5
Karina looked
far up into the mountains. Large white flakes of wet snow hit her in the face.
Her crew and she were trying to shove off the wet snow so they could get air
born again. But this storm was settling in and that was working against them.
Kalkan slogged
through the wet snow drift that had formed across the bridge of the ship. “We
have to send for help. There are bears here that live in these snow mountains.
They are used to this weather. They might have something to remove the snow.”
Karina nodded.
She heard of the snow bears and was a bit scared of them but they would have the
brute strength to remove the snow.
Kalkan climbed
up the mountain to a ledge and called out. The mountains shook some snow off of
them from the vibrations. Finally a large white bear greeted him. Karina
couldn’t hear what they were talking about but they must have agreed to help
when she saw more bears come out and down the mountain to where they were.
She was glad to
have their help despite being scare of them. Two bears stepped out onto the
ship and started moving the snow in one massive push. Karina held her breath
hoping that the snow wouldn’t crash through the railing causing more damage.
But other bears
shoved it over the rails a little at a time. Karina was relieved but the snow kept
coming down replacing what they removed. They to get this ship air born and out
of this region. This passage was going to more difficult than what she thought.
The ship jerked
and she shoveled faster to make it lighter to lift. It got off the ground but
that was all. It had to momentum to lift them higher.
Kalkan was coming
along with one of the large bears and someone was on the bear’s back. They were
all bundled up so Karina couldn’t make out who they were until they climbed
onto the ship off the stone ledge. Whoever it was, was not very tall. They were dressed in wool sweaters and
leather boots. All Karina could see was large green eyes sticking out of the
hood.
“I see you need
held in getting this back up into the air. It’s a nasty day for that.”
“I have a
valuable delivery to make. Have to get air born and right away.”
“See what we can
do my friend.”
They got back on
the bear and went over the ledge where more bears met them. They all had
harnesses on them. She hooked up one large rope to the ship. Karina couldn’t
imagine what they had planned.
The bears all
lined up, one behind the other. Karina watched intently. Slowly one by one they
took to the air! Karina eyes went wide. These bears could fly!
The ship jerked
again. They started to lift up higher and higher. Karina and the crew scrambled
to their posts to help steer the ship.
Soon they were
at the level they should be. The bears pulled them along and the wind caught
the sails and help pushed them along. The bears kept going until they were out
of the heaviest snow in the mountains. The rope got untied and the ship was
using the wind as its engine.
The one that was
on top of the bear came flying back to them and landed on the ship. Karina
greeted them. “Thank you so much. We are on are way.”
“I’m glad as
these storms don’t let up here in these parts. And be forewarned when you get
out of the snow region into the warmth again, there is war on that side. And if
your cargo is worth anything, you will get attacked. Better to take the north
route through the Emerald pass. Less busy there if you know what I mean.”
“Thank you, I
will do that. I’ve had enough encounters already.”
“Glad to be of
help.” Karina watch them fly back out the other bears where they disappeared
into the blinding snow.
Everyone was
working hard to steer the ship through. Kit informed of the route that they
were going to take. There was only one thing that bothered her about that
route. There was a certain someone that she knew there and she did not want to
meet up with them.
He was another
dealer that she was in competition with-sort of. He wanted them to team up and
he liked her but she wasn’t ready for anything like that. But he was a charmer.
She could only
hope that she would not meet up with his ship-The fair maiden. Karina had to
hide the sapphire ice from his eyes.
Yes, it would be
a challenge but she could do it.
They sailed for
a while and now it was getting dark. They would take refuge in the mountains.
Just before they
were scouting out a place, Silver Fox spotted something. There was debris all
over the place. Wood splinters were on the side of the mountain. Karina
swallowed hard remembering the warning of the trouble that was out there.
Everybody was on
high alert looking for trouble. When they coasted around the corner off the
mountain, full view of the ship came into view. It was laying on its side. As
they got closer she could see crew working very hard to get themselves upright.
Karina knew depending on the ship’s damage that they could still fly. But she
knew they needed help but would decide if she could see if they were friendly
or not.
The flag was
flying still and she gasped. The ship was The Fair Maiden.
TIP JAR:
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