[color:"#00cccc"]"Hold on there, Jurak, take it easy,...
this road isn't quite even a road, it seems to be more of a path,
and it's bumpy , so stop for a sec, and let me fix this "wedgie",
that i'm sportin',and then we can go."
said Womble, who was squirming in his seat, looking uncomfortable! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
While they were stopped for the dwarf to fix himself,
Viper flew overhead shouting something....
Both Womble and Jurak looked wayyy up, viper looked to be in
some sort of distress or pain, and was gritting his teeth,
which kind of made it look like he was smiling, but this was not true...
[color:"#33cc33"]What is he trying to say?,[/color] asked Jurak,
knowing Womble could hear so acutely, that he could even hear ice melting!
With those ears....anythings possible!
Viper, come down here this instant, you've been flying all day
and you must be very tired, so get down here and tell us, what?
Viper dropped to the ground in a split second and was telling the group
that just a mile or two down the path, was a bridge across!!!
But it looked very woebegone and very shabby, viper didn't think it
would carry the weight of the sled and all it's passengers as well.
Womble piped up, "thats O.K., it's simple really, we go across one at a time,
then pull the sled over with some of Juraks ropes!"
They all agreed this was a good plan, and told Viper to fly re-con,
everyone said at once......."what", is re-con?
Jurak explained it was military terminology for scouting,
and beamed a big grin! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
He asked Viper if he was allright, because Viper looked
in some pain........"no-no, I'm fine!
said viper not very convincingly, but they let it go at that!
So Viper took to the skies......once again, flying slightly ahead,
but not very high this time, just above the treetops,
it was a fine day, warm breeze, butterflies, and the smell of clover!
It was like a scene from a picture, very picturesque, and peaceful,...
this peacefulness would end soon enough......
Jolie asked Womble if he could sit in the front now,
but Womble kept saying,"in a minute, in a minute.....
Jolie gave up trying, and turned back to Willow who was in deep thought.
Jurak comandeered the now-lighter sled at speeds that were unheard
of in those times, but this time......he WAS paying attention!
Only because the Orc had to admit, he loved a good adventure as much
as the next guy,
and wanted to see this epic escapade come to full fruition
(wow, my head hurts) thought the orc as they rounded the bend,
and on to the straightaway.....Whoooosh!
They flew by a frog that was trying to cross the "road",
and barely missed the old toad, wow if we hadn't missed that toad he,
woulda croaked! said Womble and chuckled.
Rrrrrrrrrrrriibit! the frog said,
nobody could tell if it was mad or not, they kept going and going,
like a bunny.
They noticed Viper hovering about 300m down the road......
that must be it!, thought Jurak, and reached for the brake this time,
easing the large, cantilevered stick upwards, to slow the sled down.
"Full stop, everyone out!" exclaimed Womble!
" O.K. Jurak lets have those ropes, and why don't you... willow,
start across the bridge, you are the lightest and should be
no problem for you.
Jolie piped up and said he would go first, but they need him,
to help with all the belongings that were tied to the sides......
they need those ropes, most likely all of them too!
Jurak, Jolie and Viper all helped holding the stuff, while Womble
ran around and pulled all the ropes free........
"Right then, just attach this here, and make a double clove-hitch (yank)
there! done!"
Womble said, standing with his hands on his hips looking like a teacher!
Everyone laughed at his hard-line, uncompromising, stance, and were excited about continuing.
Willow had already reached the other side, and waved back
at the others to hurry, for she was probably frightened.
Jolie was next, well just because he wanted to be, we all knew why. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
That left Jurak, Womb, and Viper, who didn't need to walk anyway,
so he jumped into the air and zipped over to the other side and started
chatting with willow, even before Jolie was halfway!
Jolie on seeing this picked up the pace a little, and was soon giving
willow a big hug! Viper turned the other way and pretended to stick
his finger down his throat... in reaction to Jolie's smooth move.
Across the bridge Womble and Jurak seeing this,
burst into fits of laughter!
[color:"#33cc33"]Womb, your next, because if i go and the bridge breaks,
we will both be stuck![/color]
Womble hesitantly slogged across, dragging the rope with him,
and was shortly on the other side with the rest.......
Now it was the orc's turn, his stomach was rumbling and he thought,
it was a good thing he didn't eat anything today,..
he didn't need any extra weight for this!
Jurak made sure the sled was in the correct position for the pulling contest
that was to come, and started to tippytoe across, the group on the other side
just roared at the sight of a big green orc doing the tippy-toe across the
bridge! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
At about the halfway point, the poor old bridgeworks let out a creaky moan,
as if to say you better be quick about it!
Jurak heard this and went from tippy toe to fleet footed, in the blink
of an eye and was much relieved to be reunited with his friends!!
Womble handed the end of the rope to Jurak and told him he was to be
"the anchor" and to stretch the rope taut, wrap the loose end around the
large boulder a few feet away, and pull for all his might!
They all pulled and pulled, until sweat poured from their pores profusely,
"Good God, Jurak, I thought you said the sled was lighter now!"
Jolie said with a grimmace.
"And i am only a Deva and keep falling down," Viper retorted.
They all snickered at their own humor, and found new strength
to finish this arduous task.
While loading the sled and tying off all the belongings,
Willow pointed and said.....
look!! at that!!They turned........and what they saw was eerily awe inspiring...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
It was a castle of such they had only dreamed about! In the distance,
they saw a flat tableland with steep edges,and a very large
castle-fortress perched atop the sheer rock cliffs!
"That's it, that's it," ranted willow, "i know i've seen this in a dream,
from somewhere!"
"We'd better hurry",she said just as a large flash of
lightning struck and the ensuing thunder was split the silence in two,"
Let's Go, someone shouted and they jumped aboard the sled and were off
to the base of the ominious looking structure..............
Arriving at the sheer, steep, rock walls, Womble suggested they find a way
up there post haste, Jurak agreed,and asked willow if she could make a fire,
they would probably be spending the night here, and start a fresh search
in the morning........... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sleepey.gif" alt="" />
