Page 59 of Centaur Bolt

“She’s okay,” Vali said with a snort.

“Just unsnap the rescue line when you get close to the anchoring device,” Ryan reassured.

She complied, and we resumed our climb. The Hitzu twins hugged the rockface and easily found good hand and foot holds. Vali’s talons were a major asset, whereas Kiko and I struggled along. But there were no more issues, other than a few scraped fingers, knees, and elbows.

I hauled myself over the top, feeling a true sense of accomplishment. Kiko’s eyes shone as she exchanged a triumphant glance with me. We sat with our legs dangling over the edge, watching the last team fight its way up. They’d had two of their members fall. It seemed that Dires weren’t used to climbing as humans, even with the use of their claws.

We all looked down to Ryan, who called up to us.

“Okay. Well done. Now climb back down.”

Dammit.

“We have to go down, too?” Kiko groaned and eyed Vali hopefully. “I don’t suppose you could grow your wings and float us down there?”

Vali grimaced. “I’d love to. But talons are as far as I should go, right now.”

I sighed and stood. “We should have known that what goes up, must come down.”

“What a grim sentiment,” complained Kiko, peering downward and frowning.

“Only if the down is too rapid,” Vali stated.

The Satyr shuddered. “Almost did the rapid thing once. Not keen on trying again.”

“Going down should be easier,” soothed Vali.

“Nothing about this place is easy.” Lora appeared distinctly out of sorts. But then, I’d never seen her smile. Maybe Hitzus didn’t smile? Sneer seemed more their thing.

I searched my brain for something motivational and team-worthy. “Nothing worthwhile comes without a cost.”

Kiko stood and looked down. “Ugh. If it means you’ll stop with the wisecracks, I’ll give it my best effort.”

I grinned at her. “Just do it.”

The Satyr placed her hands on her curved hips. “What kind of motivational drivel is that?”

“It’s all I’ve got.” I eased myself over the edge of the cliff.

Kiko sighed and followed me. “Actually, now that I think of it, I kinda like the last one.”

“You live by it,” I agreed.

As Vali started her descent, reaching for the first handhold, she offered her own tidbit of wisdom. “All Satyrs do.”

* * *

Kiko didn’t turn up at all for lunch.

She’d left us to, as she put it, “Charm Scott out of his phone.” She’d also promised to take a photo of somewhere I could use as a reference point.

But as the minutes and finally an hour ticked by without any sign of her, it confirmed the true meaning of the word “charm.”

Tareal and Lora inhaled their strangely textured meals and vanished. Vali packed away a tremendous amount of food. When she went up for seconds, I went with her.

I’d never eaten like this before. Jumping certainly burned the calories. And, of course, running and climbing helped it along.

We returned to our table and inhaled more goodies. But still, no sign of Kiko.

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