Page 57 of Centaur Bolt

Tareal’s gaze had turned assessing rather than condescending, which I took as a sign of progress. Lora was glaring at someone behind me. The Sabre, Ryan, who popped into our midst and handed us a rope. There were two other teams standing with ours. With resignation, I noticed Scott standing among others that also looked like Dires. The third team looked more mixed.

As Ryan showed us how to attach the climbing harnesses to the rope, the other instructors spread the remaining teams out across the rock face.

“Select your climb order with care,” Ryan said. “Does anyone here have climbing experience?”

Team Centaur stared at him. A couple of Dires from the other teams put up their hands. The Sabre snorted. “Allrighty then. This will be fun.”

I regarded him with some exasperation. Their response to us being rookies required some work.

“You will each have an anchor rope attached at the top,” he continued, gesturing to the long lines hanging suspended about ten feet off the ground. “They will keep you from hitting the dirt, but not the cliff if you slip. And you are not allowed to hold onto them.”

“This just gets better and better,” Kiko muttered.

Ryan swept his gaze over her, and she smiled at him. “We will teach you proper climbing techniques in another class,” he said. “But for this one I will demonstrate the climb, and be here to provide support, but this is all about working as a team.”

I shared Kiko’s lack of enthusiasm, but I hid it better. Our team already had enough challenges without me adding to them.

The Sabre handed us all a device to clip to our ears. “Above all, don’t panic. Watch me, and I’ll show you what to do.” He sprouted small, curved claws. “Claws can help find cracks and crevices. Those of you without them, use your fingertips.”

I noticed his feet were bare, and that his toes had sprouted claws as well. Vali stared at her fingers, and small talons appeared. Tareal held up his hands—they were tipped in tiny claws. So Vali, he, and Lora had an advantage. Kiko and I were stuck with our human-ish fingers.

Unless I tapped into what kept emerging when I Jumped. That would make it useful rather than just disturbing. But I didn’t know how to call on the claws without Jumping.

We watched Ryan begin to climb. It was a bloody good thing this realm lacked mosquitoes, because my mouth spent so much of its time hanging open. He talked the teams through every move he made, but you could tell his other form was a cat—his movements were smooth and fluid as he hugged the rugged stone. When he got to the top, he grabbed one of the anchor ropes and slid back down to us.

“Okay,” he said. “Here’s the thing. You will be roped together, so if someone falls, those closest have to hold on.” He gestured to the cliff. “This cliff has many crevices that will take a natural anchor.” He held up an odd-looking device. “I will show you how they work. While the two closest to the dangler hold firm, another member can come over and place the anchor, and throw down a line to the fallen member. The purpose of it is to support that person until they can climb back up.”

He showed us how the anchors worked, and gave each of us one to attach to our climbing belts, along with a shorter length of rope. “Teams, rope up. Your first objective is to reach your main anchor rope and hook on. After that, you have to get your team to the top. Each team gets three questions answered. The rest is up to you.”

I swallowed. Kiko and I exchanged a look. Vali’s lips straightened.

“How good are you guys at climbing?” I asked.

“Have no idea,” the Dragona said. “I tend to fly over cliffs.”

Lora rolled her eyes, so I looked to Tareal.

“We’re good at climbing buildings,” he growled. “Not many cliffs in the city.”

I assessed who was heaviest of us, and came to the conclusion it was the Dragon. I offered Vali the end of the rope. “Why don’t you go up first? Kiko and I are at a disadvantage without claws, so maybe we should go in the middle. Lora and Tareal, are you guys okay to go last?”

“What is it to you whether we go first or last?” Lora groused.

“We’re a team. Someone needs to decide,” I stated in a deliberately calm tone.

Who made you boss?” Tareal demanded.

“Don’t see you coming up with a strategy,” I countered.

“Lora and I won’t have problems getting to the top,” he sneered.

I planted my hands on my hips. “Did you miss the bit about this being a team thing?”

He opened his mouth to issue what I was sure was a snide reply, but Lora’s eyes flashed. I followed her glance to see Ryan watching us.

The Sabre’s expression remained blank. He could have been thinking about lunch, or fucking Kiko. Impossible to tell.

Either way, Tareal shut his trap, and he and Lora strapped themselves into their body harnesses. The rope had snaps every twenty-five feet, and the Hitzus attached themselves to the two on the end.

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