Starfinder

THE RIVERBANK

BY THE END OF THEIR SECOND DAY of walking, Moth and Fiona had nearly reached the mountains. The meadows and green hills had given way to a rocky, uneven terrain, making following the river difficult. Their blistered feet ached in their boots and the wind had chafed their skin, turning their cheeks and foreheads crimson. Towering pine trees lined the river, showering needles into the rushing water. To the east, the sun was already heading down.

Before them loomed the enormous mountains, the ramparts of Fiona’s imaginary castle. Moth’s eyes crept skyward as he walked, trying to see the peaks in the darkening sky and gray, growing mists. Throughout the day a storm had dogged them, threatening a downpour. So far, the rains had held off, but the wind was picking up again and Moth knew their luck was waning.

“If we don’t find shelter soon we’ll be drowned,” he called to Fiona. “Might as well just sleep in the river!”

Fiona waved at him to keep up. “We’ll make it,” she promised—the same promise she’d been making all day. She walked quickly along the stones, sometimes balancing herself with outstretched arms.

“Slow down,” Moth cautioned again.

“Can’t,” said Fiona.

“You’re gonna fall!”

“Moth, we need to hurry. You need to hurry.”

Moth considered the distance ahead. It was hard to tell just how far away the mountains still were. He looked up just as a raindrop plopped onto his nose.

“Uh-oh.”

Fiona turned around. “What?”

Moth put out a hand to feel for rain. The gesture made Fiona groan.

“We should look for a place to stop,” said Moth. “Some trees, at least.”

“It’ll be dark soon,” said Fiona. “Those things will be looking for us. It’s not that much farther…”

“Fiona, we can’t make it, not when it’s dark. We can’t even see where we’re going! We could break a leg if it starts raining!”

Fiona pointed toward the mountains. “They’re right there!” she said. “Maybe a mile away. Just a few more minutes…”

“How can you tell that? You’ve been saying that for an hour.”

A thunderclap went off over their heads. Moth glanced around for shelter.

“There,” he said, spotting a clutch of nearby pine trees. “We can wait till the storm passes.”

“It’ll be too dark,” said Fiona. “It’s just rain, Moth.”

She was getting desperate. Moth was getting annoyed. “We can wait,” he insisted.

Fiona shook her head. “I’m going on,” she said, and started off again along the river.

Moth hurried after her. “Okay, so you’re testing me, is that it? You want to see if I’ll follow you? You told Merceron you wouldn’t leave me, Fiona!”

She whirled on him. “Moth, are you crazy? Merceron’s the one who left us! And you know what? He’s not coming back. He just said that so we’d leave him alone.”

“That’s not true!”

“It is!” Fiona railed. “Only you’re so trusting you can’t even see it! Nobody ever comes back, Moth. They just leave.”

A patter of rain struck her face. Fiona wiped it away.

“They just leave, Moth,” she said.

Moth jammed his hands into his pockets. He wanted to touch her, but all he could manage was a smile. “Hey, listen,” he said. “I never thanked you for coming here with me.”

Fiona had to swallow to keep from crying. “Yeah.”

“And I never said I was sorry for talking about how pretty that mermaid was.”

“Okay, yeah,” Fiona nodded. She took a shaky breath. “I gotta go now, though. I gotta get there.”

The rain came harder. Moth pulled up his collar. “Come on.”

This time he took the lead, trudging carefully along the riverbank with Fiona right behind him. He could get soaked for her, he decided. She needed him. They’d find the path together. They’d find the centaurs, too. And then Merceron would come back for them. Moth was sure of it.

“What’s that sound?” said Fiona suddenly.

Moth’s heart jumped. “What?”

Fiona cocked her head. “That. You hear that?”

Moth heard the wind—and something else. It was such a familiar sound, so much a part of his memory that at first he didn’t notice it. A hum and clang. A sound he’d always loved.

“Redeemers?”

Moth pointed across the sky. “There!”

It appeared like a ghost, the last bit of sunlight playing on its wings.

“A dragonfly…”

The craft buzzed out of the clouds. Behind it, blocking out the rising moon, floated a massive, black airship. Moth knew instantly it was the Avatar.

“That’s my grandfather,” cried Fiona. “He found us!”

They stood together, frozen by shock, watching the dragonfly bear down on them.

“This isn’t possible,” Moth sputtered. “They couldn’t have. How?”

Fiona regained her senses. “We’ve gotta run,” she clamored, pulling Moth along. “Run, now!”

“Fiona, wait!”

“Run, Moth!” cried Fiona. “I’m not going back with him!”

She was gone before he could answer, her booted feet slipping and sliding across the slimy rocks. Moth bolted after her. Behind them the dragonfly was gaining fast.

“Get away from the river!” he shouted. “Hide in the trees!”

“No! Don’t lose the way! We’re almost—”

Her voice disappeared. In a flash she was falling, tumbling headlong down the riverbank.

“Fiona!”

Moth slid down the bank to reach her. The current snatched her, dragging her fast. She screamed, gurgling his name, her red hair whipped by the swirling water.

“Fiona!”

He caught a glimpse of her thrashing arm. The wind swallowed her screams.

Moth ran. He fell, got up again, and stumbled over the rocks. The dragonfly closed in on him, the racket of its wings drowning his cries. He was trapped now but didn’t care.

“Help!” he cried. He waved his arms to signal the pilot. The dragonfly roared overhead, then jerked back around again. “Stop!”

Rain pelted Moth’s face as he stared skyward. The dragonfly descended loudly, beating the storm into a froth. There wasn’t time to explain anything. All Moth wanted was to find Fiona. The craft came down hard, nearly crashing. Moth didn’t recognize the pilot until the canopy popped open.

“Moth!”

Skyhigh vaulted from the cockpit.

“Skyhigh…”

Out of breath, too horrified to speak, Moth nearly collapsed. Skyhigh dashed over to him, grabbing his shoulders.

“Where’s Fiona?” he demanded. Moth pointed toward the river. Skyhigh’s eyes went wide when he realized what had happened. He shook Moth in a rage. “Why the hell did you run? I was coming to help!”

Moth couldn’t answer. All the emotions he’d pent up for days burst like a dam. “She’s gone!” he sobbed. Hot tears streaked his ruddy face. “Skyhigh… Fiona’s gone!”