Pup's Arc

Chapter 2 of 6

The road to the mountain ended at a waterfall. Two curtains of water parted around a glowing tunnel in the rock. Fenrir pointed a claw at the light. "That's the way through the Spire's base," he said. "The climb starts inside." Pup craned his neck up at the falls, then hurried after the wolf into the tunnel. Inside, blue gems glowed along the cavern walls. Pink and orange flowers grew between the crystals. Pup reached up to touch one. Then something moved in the dark ahead. A slime man rose from the floor. He was broad as a boulder and blue as deep water. A necklace of iron spikes ringed his thick neck. He fixed small angry eyes on Pup and charged, arms wide, faster than his bulk should allow. Fenrir stepped between them. He caught the slime man's charge with both arms and held. The two giants strained. The wolf's paws sank into the slime's chest but did not let go. "Back," Fenrir growled. "We're only passing through." The slime man shoved once more, then stopped. His arms dropped. Over Fenrir's shoulder, his eyes found Pup again. This time they widened. Pup ducked under Fenrir's elbow and held up both hands. "Nobody has to fight," he said. "We just want to climb the Spire. There's a crown at the top. I mean to wear it and grow tall." The slime man stared down at him. Pup barely reached his knee. Blue color rushed to the slime's cheeks. He looked away, then back, like he could not help it. "You," he said, in a heavy, rolling voice, "are very small." His scowl melted. "And very cute." Pup blinked. Fenrir lowered his arms slowly and watched. "I am Gorbov," the slime man said. He knelt to bring his huge face level with Pup's. "I guard this tunnel. Nobody I like has ever come through it." He pressed a heavy hand flat to his own chest. "I like you." "Then don't stop us," Pup said. "Help us instead." Gorbov's whole face brightened. "The upper path is cruel. Ice. Falling stone. You would slip and die at the third ledge." He looked at Pup's short legs and frowned with worry. "But I know every crack in this mountain. I will carry you past the worst of it." Fenrir studied the slime man, then gave a short nod. "Two of us is better than one for the high climb," he said. "If you can keep up." Gorbov stood. His bulk filled the tunnel. "I never tire," he said. He looked down at Pup and softened again. "And I have a reason to reach the top now." Pup felt heat in his own face. He turned toward the glowing passage before the giants could see it. "Then we go up," he said. Three of them started the climb. Behind Pup walked a wolf and a smitten slime, and ahead rose the dark throat of the Spire.