The River Flows

The River Flows

Rintaron reached the icy capped shore of the frozen river first, laughing.

“I knew it wouldn’t crack.”

Blena was second, no surprise there. She was an out-front, try-first go-getter, and she led Kaelen all the way down the mountainside even when trying to avoid the avalanche. Kaelen was not certain, but he felt like her bravado on the mountain and her excessive leadership were the reasons for their current predicament. He had no time or interest in proving it right now.

Alster and Tajan followed Kaelen and made it safely across the river in the rear.

Alster couldn’t seem to help himself, constantly on the lookout for plants that he knew had crystal-imbued powers or medicinal properties. He tripped at least twice on the way up the riverbank, as his scanning eyes and wandering feet were anything but coordinated.

Kaelen could tolerate Alster's quirks, as he had a lot of healer friends at the Academy in Kefar, and he also liked Alster's sense of humour.

They followed the river towards a solid grey granite face where the water formed a line like a horizon against the light grey stone.

“The river must turn or drop into a falls up ahead,” said Kaelen, confident in his scan of the distant view.

“Wouldn’t there be spray for a falls?” Tajan questioned.

Kaelen looked again.

“You’re right. It must turn at a sharp angle.”

They walked on at a calmer pace, and the group fell silent as they had time to reflect on their near miss in the mountain pass.

Alster broke into the silence after a short walk further up the stream.

“Look! A red triumph,” he exclaimed with great excitement.

Everyone but Kaelen looked up expectantly, scanning the sky for some danger with wings that might sweep in at them. Kaelen knew better and was tracking Alster’s eyes to the rocks and soil on a sunny hill crest to their left.

There were outcrops of tall-stemmed red flowers with a large yellow, bell-like stamen that was so heavy the flower was forced to bow and bob in the wind.

“Why was it called the triumph again?” Kaelen asked.

“Because the flower doesn’t collapse or break with that heavy weight pulling it to the ground,” Alster reminded him matter-of-factly.

Tajan was less interested in the flora on the hill and was making her own discovery.

“If you two flower lovers will stop getting all excited about a few petals, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that this river completely disappears up ahead under that giant granite mountain in its path.”

Kaelen and Alster, intrigued by the idea of a disappearing river, turned from the small riverside hill to see the white caps and foam of endless flowing water suddenly dropping into a constant smooth wave rolling under the mountain face.

“Woah,” they both uttered in unison as if rehearsed.

“Yeah, that is impressive. But where does it go?” asked Kaelen.

“This river must feed the underground caves and tunnels that start in these mountains and run as far as the coast,” Alster surmised.

“Well, this is as far as we are going unless someone has the power for breathing water,” Kaelen said.

“I bet the Thalorians do,” Alster added.

“More likely Mech has an invention, don’t you think so, Tajan? You should ask them sometime when you are back in Solaryn Reliquary,” Alster prompted her.

“So you do realise the Mechanum Ascendancy is more than a thousand miles south off the coast of where I grew up, and they don’t like visitors?” Tajan said as she rolled her eyes.

Rintaron reminded them all that the whole reason they were here was the map and its direction to a line that went under Mt. Peak.

“We have to follow this river. There must be a way.”

Kaelen spoke up, as he was sure that it had been quite enough of a day.

“Alright, we camp, we fish, we eat, and tomorrow we’ll see where all that water goes and hopefully find out what that stele map is all about.”

The night was cold and the travellers were uncomfortable but grateful for a fire that lasted the night, thanks to Tajan’s use of crystals and her knowledge of the elements.

Next morning Rintaron spoke first once he noticed others stirring.

“Strange dreams, Blena?” he inquired. “You were very restless all night.”

“Ew. Were you sitting around watching people sleep?”

“No, your movement and calling out woke me, and I bet some of the others too, but thanks for making me look like I am the strange one.”

“Well, your best friend is a Veylborn!”

At that moment Kaelen walked up the hill from the river with two small but very fresh-looking river fish.

“Breakfast anyone?”

Thy Quests
The party has to stop, rest, and make a plan instead of rushing into the unknown. Describe a time when you had to pause, think, or ask for help before solving a problem. How was your choice similar to Kaelen’s decision to camp before following the river?