"The Crossing"
08-2013
Laisa stood before the rope bridge, her heart racing at the thought of crossing it. Many a night she had prayed this day would never come, but now the enemy was here, and to survive the death and destruction they brought, she must cross the bridge. Yet, to attempt a crossing, surely meant her death.
Watching the others cross did nothing to ease her fears. The bridge swayed and sagged with their weight, it's creaking and moaning filling her ears. Surely it would collapse the moment she reached the middle, throwing her into the whitewater that swirled below.
From behind she heard the yells and cries of the enemy as they destroyed her village. The time was now, she must cross before they arrived.
Sweat covered her face and her hands trembled as she took her firsts steps onto the bridge. The boards creaked with a sickening sound that sent chills down her spine. She grasped the ropes at her side and took a few more hesitant steps, each board bending with her weight. Laisa took a deep breath. As she exhaled, the sounds of the enemy grew louder, they were nearing the bridge.
Slowly she made her way across, sweat pouring off her face and soaking her dress. She never once looked at the rushing river below, her eyes were fixed straight ahead to the other side. As she neared the middle of the bridge, the wind began to blow and the bridge started to sway. Laisa froze in place and gripped the ropes so tightly they cut into her hands. Her stomach turned and her knees weakened, chills raced across her body, she was paralyzed with a fear that gripped her whole being. She looked across the bridge for help, but none was there. Where had they gone? Where was her family? It was then that she heard the dreaded sound of voices from behind, the enemy was here.
She forced herself to look over her shoulder and saw two men standing at the foot of the bridge. They glared across at her, lustfull, wicked smiles on their faces. Her mind raced, she had to move now or things more horrible than death awaited her at the hands of the enemy.
The first man stepped onto the bridge, then the second. Slowly they started across. Their prey was in sight and soon they would feast on her.
The bridge creaked loudly under the added weight and the swaying increased. Laisa tried to force her legs to move, but they wouldn't respond. She painstakingly inched her way along.
The men were beginning to close in, when, from the far side of the bridge, Laisa heard a call. Looking up, she saw her sister Miarta step onto the bridge and start her way across. Her father was there too, standing with a bow in his hand. Miarta was small and light, she moved quickly across the bridge and was soon with Laisa. The two joined hands, but even with the added support, Laisa's fear gripped tightly and she could only move very slowly.
The enemy had now passed half way and were within feet of the girls. The thought of jumping ran through Laisa's head. Death by drowning would be better than what the enemy would do to her. Suddenly she felt Miarta grab her shoulders and she was thrown down onto her belly. The sound of an arrow whizzed overhead as it found its target. The lead man clutched at the his chest and fell from the bridge into the river below. A second arrow flew by and found its mark too. Only this time the man did not go over. Instead he fell towards Laisa and lunged, grabbing her leg. He held her leg tightly and began to roll off the bridge, taking her with him. Miarta reacted quickly and with cat like finesse dove across Laisa and impaled her knife deep into his arm. The man roared, let go of the leg, and fell into the river.
Miarta rose to her feet and pulled Laisa up. They had to get across the bridge, more men would be coming. Already they could hear them close by. The bridge needed to be destroyed before they arrived.
Laisa's paralyzing fear had loosened its grip, and with Miarta steadying her, she was able to walk across the bridge. Soon they were standing on the far side and their father was beginning to cut through the support ropes. Just as the enemy appeared from the trees, the ropes severed and half of the bridge fell into the river with a mighty crash. The other half dangled from the far bank, useless. They were safe for now.
Laisa, Miarta and their father ran to rejoin the others. Soon they would began their trek to find a new land where they could rebuild their village and continue their peaceful existence, at least until the enemy returned again.
