Flame wasn't sure what the proper term for a collection of hawks was, but it hardly mattered. She suspected they were there for a reason.
"We have vines," Marionette said. "Could we fashion a rope to swing across, or to anchor at either side so we could scramble along it?"
"We could," Flame said. "But what would those hawks be doing meanwhile?"
"An air challenge," Marionette said. "We must cross while fighting them off. All they have to do is peck or claw at our hands." She gazed down into the crevice, and winced.
"Sticks and stones," Vila said. "I don't like being mean to birds, but maybe we have to."
"It would be difficult to swing across one-handed while beating off birds with the other," Marionette said.
"I was thinking maybe one of us crosses, while the others throw rocks."
Flame and Marionette exchanged another glance. "Out of the mouths of babes," the Mistress murmured. Then Flame got to work on a vine rope, while Marionette and Vila gathered stones and sticks.
When they were ready, Flame tied a stone to the end of her makeshift rope, whirled it several times around her head, and flung it across the chasm. Her aim was true, and it wrapped around a treetrunk and was firmly anchored.
Then she tied the near end to the larger tree on the near side, up at the base of the largest branch. Now they had a rope slanting down across the cleft.
Marionette, proficient in such womanly arts as Flame was not, had also fashioned crude mitts from twigs, leaves, and grass that they could use to protect their hands while clinging to the rope. They were ready.
"Who first?" Flame asked, eying the poised birds.
"I will," Vila volunteered. "I'm lightest."
Flame had expected to be the first, thinking the chasm would daunt the others. But this made sense. Not only was the child the lightest, but the other two had stronger throwing arms. They would best be able to protect Vila from the hawks.
"Remember," Marionette said as Vila took hold. "If you drop, you won't die. We will lose, but you will survive to return to Charm."
"Oh, sure. But I won't drop. I've climbed ropes before, and it's not that far."
Surely she had, and indeed it wasn't. It was the birds that couldn't be readily factored in.
"Just concentrate on getting there," Flame advised. "Don't look down, and try to ignore the birds. If one does nip you, don't let go of the rope."
"Got it, daddy."
Flame turned to Marionette. "You supply me. I'll throw."
"Of course, dear."
Vila swing out over the gulf. Immediately the hawks were airborne, circling her in a cloud. Too many to stop all at once.
"Hawks are generally solitary birds," Marionette said. "Most should hover while individuals attack."
They did. When the first hawk dived out of the cloud toward the girl, Flame hurled her first stone. Her aim was of course perfect; she never missed. This was not a Glamor power; it was her assiduous Amazon training. The stone struck the bird's body, knocking it clear of the girl.
Marionette slapped a second stone into Flame's hand, so that Flame could keep her eyes on the target.
A second hawk dived. Flame smashed it out of its path.
If the remaining hawks were daunted, they didn't show it. They kept diving, one by one, and kept getting blasted.
Soon Vila was across the chasm, untouched. She let go the rope, stood on the far bank, and waved cheerily.
The birds returned to perch on the branch.
"I'll go next," Marionette said. "There are fewer birds remaining. With luck you'll take the rest out before you have to cross."
"I can handle them."
"With your hands occupied?"
"Affirmation."
Marionette didn't question it further. She put her mitts on the line and started across.
The hawks rose in a smaller swarm and circled. One dived, and Flame took it out with a stone. Another dived, and was similarly taken.
Then Flame was out of stones. She took a stick and hurled it at the third bird. The stick was lighter and less regular than the stone, and did not fly as well, but it clipped the bird in the tail and sent it spiraling out of control. The next stick was better, and caught the next hawk in the head. It dropped into the chasm.
The fifth bird was smarter than the others, and tried to avoid the flying stick. It succeeded, but in so doing lost its chance at Marionette, who landed safely at the other side. She stood and made a victory signal.
Vila had been gathering rocks and sticks, a number salvaged from throws at earlier birds. The two of them stood ready to throw, but Flame was not comfortable with this. They were more likely to hit her than a bird, she being a much larger target. "Feint," she called. "Threaten, but don't throw. I'll protect myself."
They both looked doubtful, but nodded assent.
Flame took a stout stick in her right hand, and grabbed the rope with her unshielded left hand. She swung her foot up and hooked her knees over the rope. She started inch-worming along it, hanging by knees and hand.
There were few hawks remaining, but they were game. They clustered, and the first one dived. Flame bashed it out of the air with the stick.
By the time the last bird tried, she was across. She got on the bank as the bird dropped into the void. Once more she had avoided using any special powers.
Both Vila and Marionette hugged her. "Confession," Marionette whispered in her ear. "I wish you really were Warp. I'd give you such a reward!"
"Needless," Flame said somewhat sourly.
There were beets and carrots growing nearby. They considered, then pulled up a few and washed them and ate them. They still could not be sure that food would always be available at need.
The path led on until it wended down to an inlet of a sea. There it halted. They could see where it resumed on the far side of the inlet. "A fjord," Marionette said. "We have to cross—and I'll wager there are sharks."
"Sticks and stones won't stop them," Flame said. "Swimming seems inadvisable."
"Amen. But what else offers?"
"Go around?"
"Have you observed the geography?"
Flame looked. The land on either side of the fjord rose steeply into mountains, and their tops where white with snow. That was not a feasible route. "What do you recommend, Vila," Flame asked.
"Raft."
They nodded. It would take time, but seemed to be the only way.
They got to work locating fallen wood, rolling it to the water, and binding it together with vines. Flame realized that it was no coincidence that both logs and vines were readily available; the challenge was to figure out what was needed, and to put it together and use it. Every threat had a counter; it just had to be fathomed and applied.
"I think it's ready," Marionette said as they secured the last log. "All we need are the paddles."
"Negation," Flame said, gazing out where the inlet widened into the full expanse of the sea.
"Question?"
"Storm."
"Uh-oh." It was an Earth expression that covered the situation. "If that catches us, we could be swept into the water and become shark food."
"Affirmation."
"We'll just have to wait for it to pass."
"Negation."
Marionette looked where Flame was looking now. In the distance behind them was something moving toward them. "Wolves," Flame said.
"But wolves don't attack people," Marionette protested. "That's folklore."
"This is not Earth."
Marionette sighed. "Indeed it is not. Here wolves surely do attack people. What can we do?"
"We must risk the storm."
"Warp, I don't think Vila and I would be able to hold on if waves smash across the raft, as they surely will."
"We'll have to tie ourselves to the raft. It won't be fun, but we should survive." Marionette looked at Vila.
"Can you handle that?" The child gulped, daunted but brave. "I'll try."