Beast Quest #3: Cypher the Mountain Giant (3 page)

T
OM SPUN AROUND.
H
E LOOKED IN SHOCK AS A
sludgy torrent of mud surged down the hill toward them. It was as if the ground was
melting.
…

With a terrified snort, Storm struggled back to his feet, his coat caked with mud. Silver tugged at Elenna’s sleeve, trying to drag her to safety. Tom began to carefully make his way back down the hill to his companions.

But with a lurch, the ground gave way beneath him. Tom cried out as he was sucked into the thick, swirling muck. His back scraped over roots as he was swept down the hillside. Tom saw the
terror in Elenna’s face as he rushed toward her in a mass of dark mud. As the thick wave hit her, Elenna reached for Tom’s hand. She caught hold of it for a moment, but it was soon wrenched away. Tom reached out for her again but his fingers closed on grass and mud.

“Elenna!” he yelled.

Storm kicked wildly as he tried to escape. Tom threw himself to one side to avoid the horse’s thrashing hooves. Elenna was swept away from Tom and her head disappeared under the mud.

“I can’t breathe!” she yelled, fighting her way to the surface.

“Reach out to your right!” Tom shouted. “Grab hold of Storm’s reins!”

Blindly, Elenna reached out and managed to grab them. “Where’s Silver?” she yelled.

As the torrent tossed Tom around, he caught a glimpse of the hillside above them — and it wasn’t good. The entire top half seemed to be collapsing
behind them. Trees and bushes were tumbling into the waves of mud that were furiously ripping them from the ground. With a rush of relief, Tom saw the wolf racing along beside them on firmer ground, howling furiously. “Get away, Silver!” Tom shouted. “There’s nothing you can do to help us!”

Tom reached out for something solid — - something to grab a hold of — anything! His hand scraped against a boulder and he managed to find a fingerhold. He fought to hang on as mud and debris rushed past him. Tom wasn’t sure how long he could keep his grip on the wet rock.

Storm was swept farther down the hill with Elenna dragging behind, clinging to his reins. The horse’s huge flank slammed into a few tall, sturdy trees and Elenna crashed into his side. The trees were keeping both of them from being swept away — for now, at least.

“Don’t let go of Storm’s reins, Elenna!” Tom shouted above the roar.

Elenna gritted her teeth as she held on tight. Snorting in fear, Storm struggled to haul himself upright, leaning heavily against the trees.

Exhausted, Tom tried to pull himself up the side of the boulder. The ground was shaking, the black mud was sucking at his ankles, but with all his strength he kept pulling himself upward. Just a little farther …

But it was too late. With Elenna’s screams echoing in his ears, Tom braced himself as another surge of mud hit them.

He squeezed his eyes shut as the gritty wave tumbled over him. He was almost ripped from the boulder by the force of it. It was all he could do to drag a breath into his lungs as the mud and debris tore at his clothes and grazed his skin.

With a final burst of strength, Tom reached for the top of the boulder. He let out a loud yell as he clawed to the top. His voice echoed above the angry churning of the mud. He wasn’t going to be defeated!

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T
HE MUD KEPT COMING, PULLING FIERCELY AT
Tom’s legs. He could hear his knuckles pop as he strained to keep his grip on the slippery boulder. Tom thrashed his legs, trying to locate a foothold. He found one just to his right. As he gained his footing, it took some of the strain off his fingers.

With his foot in place, Tom took a step up, and began clambering to the top of the boulder. His tired muscles trembled as he watched the mudslide become a slow ooze of debris.

Once he was sure the danger was past, he eased himself down to the soggy ground. Tom felt a rush of panic as he looked for Elenna. All around him
the hillside was destroyed. Only a few trees were left standing in the muddy wasteland. He wiped the mud from his eyes and walked in circles, looking for his friends.

“Tom!” Elenna yelled. She was waist deep in mud, still holding tightly to Storm’s reins. Tom made his way over as they struggled to free themselves from the muck. From the other side of the hill, Silver padded his way over to his muddy companions.

The slide had slowed to a crawl. Tom was exhausted. It felt like he was wearing a suit of armor; even the smallest movements seemed to take all his strength. Storm walked carefully to meet him. Shivering with cold, Tom gratefully wrapped his arms around Storm’s neck, sinking his hands into the horse’s thick, muddy mane. Tom let go of the horse as Elenna approached.

“I was so scared,” said Elenna, hugging Tom tight. “I thought we were going to be killed.”

“Me, too,” gasped Tom. His legs felt wobbly and he leaned against Storm for support.

“You’re freezing,” said Elenna.

Tom saw that Elenna was shivering, too, and her face was pale. This wasn’t the time to show weakness. He had to be strong. “I’m all right,” he said. “I’ll warm up once we get moving.”

Elenna nodded. “Good idea. Let’s get to safer ground and then make camp.”

The four of them hiked cautiously toward the outcropping of rock Tom had spotted earlier. The rain had stopped, but the ground was still thick with mud. Each step took great effort as they made their way up.

By the time they reached the rocks, the sun had set. The air had grown colder and it was too dark to see. Guided only by starlight, Tom and Elenna found a cave in the rock wall.

“Let’s make camp in here,” Tom suggested. He
could tell from the look on Elenna’s face that she was scared.

“What if there’s another mudslide?” she asked. “We could be trapped inside.”

Tom had considered the same thing himself, but he knew they didn’t have a choice. It was too cold and dangerous to spend the night without some shelter. They would have to take their chances.

The four of them entered the cave. It smelled damp and echoed with their footsteps. Silver eyed the place suspiciously and sniffed around. Satisfied, he padded over to Elenna and curled up next to her. As Tom laid out his bedroll, he wished they could have a warm fire. He could feel his stomach growling with hunger, but that would have to wait. Before he could suggest they build a fire or cook some dinner, he was overcome with exhaustion and fell asleep.

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