Bart Belly's Arc

Chapter 7 of 21

Bart stood in the doorway of the ice castle. The chest of flowers sat before him, bright and full. He needed one of these blooms. King Stormy had sworn to seize his gear and send guards after him if he came home with the wrong flower. Here was his answer. But the cold voice from the shadows had warned him off. He gripped the golden Speedo and stepped closer to the chest. "I heard you," Bart said. "But I need a flower. Just one. A king waits for it." The shadow moved. From behind the chest rose the yeti. Its wild mane brushed the frosted ceiling. Blue ice chunks studded its heavy limbs. Bart's breath caught. This was the same giant that had chased him across the snow. It had not gone back to its den. It had circled the castle and come home. This was the yeti's keep, and the flowers were its own. "Mine," the yeti said. Its voice was the cold voice from the dark. It stepped over the chest and blocked the light. Bart backed toward the wall. His paw struck something hard. A sword and shield of clear ice hung on iron hooks. He grabbed them. The sword was light and sharp. The shield spread wide across his arm. He raised both and faced the giant. The yeti swung a great fist. Bart lifted the shield. The blow cracked against the ice and shoved him back into the wall. His arm went numb. The yeti swung again. Bart ducked low and slashed the sword across its shin. The blade bit. The giant roared and grabbed its leg. Bart did not wait. He dove for the chest. He seized a single red bloom by the stem and yanked it free. Petals scattered on the floor. The yeti spun and lunged. Bart threw the shield at its face. Ice smashed against its nose. The giant reeled back, clutching its snout. Bart ran for the open doors. Cold air hit him. He clutched the golden Speedo in one paw and the red bloom in the other. Behind him the yeti crashed into the chest and bellowed. Bart hit the packed snow crust and kept running. He did not look back until the roar faded. He stopped in the open white and gasped for breath. He had the flower. He had the Speedo. But he had stolen from the yeti, and the giant knew his scent now. It would not forget. It would hunt him all the way home. Bart looked at the red bloom shaking in his paw. He had won the thing he needed. He had also made a lasting enemy of the strongest creature on the ice. He turned toward the Polar Kingdom and started walking.