Amongst Fire

It's not that important!" Cee yelled, frantic with worry. If another gust like that came, it would knock her friend out into oblivion.

"It's my only link with home, Cee. Don't you remember what Hannah said? That ribbon was as if it was guiding us home." She laughed at the memory. "Silly, but I'd like to believe that. It's important to keep us together!"

The words were icy to Cee. The mention of Hannah cut her hard. Angie's sister was a great loss. When they find Hannah? What if it was never? It seemed like eternity since the friends had been separated.

Angie leaned dangerously out from her perch, spread eagle on the rock, her hand working its way towards the shelf.

"Do be careful," Cee shouted again, gnawing her fingernails with anguish and doing a little dance to keep warm. Angie's fingers drew nearer and nearer to the fluttering ribbon, they brushed the cloth, stroking it and then lodging it between thumb and index for a fleeting moment but it was tugged free by a sudden rush of air. Angie stumbled as she lunged for it. Cee screamed but her friend hung on determinedly, eyes following the ribbon as it flew from her grasp.

Without thinking, Cee scrambled after it, arms over her head, racing after it.

"Cee! Cee! Watch out!"

A huge crevice welled open before her, a black gap with the flicker of red light far within it. Some force was dragging the ribbon into it, sucking it down.

"Cee!"

Cee leaped into the air, her fingers clutching the ribbon so tightly it hurt. Up into the air she climbed, over the gorge. The sound of drums filled her ears and heat embraced her in a furious flaming heat.

"Cee!"