CYOA November 2020
Author's Notes
Prompt 3
Clouds gather in the sky, heavy with rain, as a wind picks up. The smell of the creature is close, but still too far to tell what it is. Uh oh... there's the first drop of rain, and was that lightning? As you push on, you find that the river you came across earlier winds into your path and there are only three ways to get across. Better decide fast! The water's rising.
1) It doesn't look TOO deep. A storm is coming, and the water is rushing, but you could swim. It looks dangerous though. If you're not careful, you could be swept downstream. Knowing the risk, you step in.
2) A huge tree fell down and stretches all the way across the river. It's a sad sight to see, such a majestic tree bare and dying, but it could act as a bridge. As the water begins to rush over it, you decide to hurry across before it's completely submerged.
3) You're not taking any risks. You saw some grans fishing in the same river earlier, and if it was shallow before, it'll be shallow again. You decide to find a way around.
The Fallen Behemoth
Day 3, Choice 2
Hualiama, 842
The river remained placid for several miles and Li enjoyed the company of his new companion, whom named herself Tree. He lifted an eyebrow at that, but didn't question it, since she was clearly a talking animal, blessed by Maia. The maltese only shook his head and asked her the occasional question; about herself or the area. The pair fell into companionable silence several times, broken only by Tree going after her own lunch or Shayde putting her two cents in. Moss was, of course, silent but for mews for attention, though she watched the river avidly. The path followed the river and looked like little more than a deer trail with the occasional old hoof print as proof. The rocky shore held well-worn stones and Li watched carefully for the water line, but eventually spotted it on the other side of the path he was on and frowned.
Li looked up as the wind picked up slightly, the stiff breeze riffling his mane as one of the cats tucked closer at the gust. The thera looked around, sniffing the air, but shook his head in frustration as the scent was still too faint to detect what it was. His nose detected rain, however and the feline ducked off the path briefly as he hunted for a bit of shelter him and his companions could weather out the coming storm. Tree returned from her exploration scouting to announce a storm coming, to which Li only nodded and looked around. "Is there shelter nearby or should we push on?" he asked her, for she knew the area better than he did. Shayde immediately vetoed the idea of moving on and possibly getting drenched. "There were others fishing back that way," Shayde complained with a wave of her tail as her fur bristled slightly. "We don't have to get wet, Li!" He smirked faintly at her, but nodded and looked around. There was more shelter on the other side of the river, but he noticed it was starting to pick up in swiftness and looked for a way across.
"Backtracking would take too much time, ah, there we are," he mused, half to himself, but tilted his head as his ears pricked up to listen to their surroundings better and picked up his pace towards an ancient fallen tree that looked just large enough to get him across with his passengers. The fallen behemoth was a sad sight, the great trees surrounding them like guardians of the forest, ancient and unknowing. Protecting the heart of their world as best they knew how and those beneath them following the rules of nature as laid down by Maia long ago. "I'll go first, not sure how safe it will be," Tree offered and hopped on top. She could have fit inside the hollowed out behemoth, but Li certainly wouldn't, so she was taking the high road, as it were. Shayde whined slightly as the first drop of rain splattered into the river nearby and ducked beneath her thera. Moss didn't seem to mind as much and just clung to Li's mane as they watched Tree make her careful way across the log. Halfway there, her paw broke through a bit, but she tested it carefully and pronounced it an accident. "Just don't step there." The thera watched their surroundings and caught sight briefly of a bear that could have given them trouble, but the animal was more intent on finding its cave. Li's ears flattened at the piercing call of a hawk, but only turned back towards the lynx, who had made it across and nodded at him. Shayde, with Moss following belatedly, pelted across, leaping agilely down the log with no issues whatsoever and huddled beneath the larger cat, who seemed amused by the black cat's anti-water. Li stepped onto the log, testing its weight as he was much larger than the lynx, but it held firm and he began making his slow, careful away across. Halfway across, the river had picked up speed greatly, occasionally slamming into the log as if attempting to knock the thera into the now rushing waters. Li planted his feet and tried picking up his pace as he eyed the rising water, watching it punch through the log in a few weak spots. Reaching the hole where Tree had nearly fallen through, he gingerly tested his footing and passed it safely.
After far too much time spent on a rickety log, Li hopped off the other side, giving an internal sigh of relief as his three companions echoed it audibly. He gave a short chuckle and Shayde immediately reclaimed her spot on his back, reprimanding him for taking so long and they were going to get drenched now. Li only shook his head and moved off toward a path only he could smell any longer. Was it an animal or something else? The memory tickled the back of his mind like an itch that couldn't be reached and he grunted, letting his black companion let off steam and worry.
Author's Notes
Prompt Result for Choice 2
You hurry across the tree, your paws getting wet as the water laps at your toes. You go too fast, however, and slip! Catching a branch, you hold on tight, dragging yourself back up onto the tree, branch breaking off in your mouth. You run across, still holding the branch, only realizing when you get to the other side it’s heavy with 2000 pinecones! You look back at the fallen tree and say a silent thanks.