Amazonia: An Impossible Choice

by Sky Croft

  The smell of burning reached Blake’s nostrils, and her head whipped to the right, instantly spotting the smoke and flames that were rising into the air. She grabbed Shale’s hand, not wanting to lose her in the commotion, and broke into a run.

  As they neared the blaze, Blake saw what was on fire—it was a cabin. The cabin was also half crushed by a large fir tree, and she summed up what had happened in an instant. Zeus’s lightning bolt had struck the tree behind the cabin, setting it alight. The strike had also split the trunk in two, and part of the tree had fallen onto the cabin, collapsing a section of its roof and setting it ablaze.

  “Amazons!” Blake yelled, somehow managing to make her voice heard above the din of the raging storm overhead. “We need water. Fetch pails, pans, anything we can use. I want you all to make a line to the stream, and pass the water along that line.”

  Now with a purpose, everyone went into action, their fears tempered by the task at hand.

  “I’ll take care of it, my Queen,” Aris said, suddenly appearing beside Blake.

  With the cabin being at the edge of the village, the wind was in danger of spreading the flames to the cabin next door, and to the surrounding forest. Blake pointed this out to Aris, who immediately seemed to understand the danger of the situation. If the fire were to spread to the cabins, their homes would be destroyed, but if the fire spread to the encircling forest, they could all become trapped and perish.

  Blake hoped the heavy rain would help to douse the fire, or at the very least stop the timber from being so flammable. Though from what she could see, the rain didn’t seem to be having much effect, the flames were still burning strongly.

  “I need an axe!” Shale shouted suddenly. She was trying to force the cabin door, clearly intending to see if anyone was inside the burning structure.

  Blake raced to help. The door was wedged tightly shut, and even Shale’s powerful kicks failed to dislodge the obstruction behind.

  “Step aside, Shale.” As if by magic, Kale was there, axe in hand. She swung it savagely at the door, taking a huge chunk out of the wood.

  Through the hole Kale had just made, came a scared, whimpering voice. Someone was inside. “Please, help me.”

  “We will,” Shale yelled. “We’re coming to get you.”

  As Kale took another swing at the door, Blake racked her brain, trying to recall who lived in this cabin.

  “Nephele, it’s Blake. Are you hurt?”

  “Not seriously. But I’m pinned beneath some wood. I can’t get out.” Nephele could be heard coughing, and Shale and Kale picked up their pace. They each grabbed a hacked part of the door and pulled, tearing the wood from its hinge. They looked dismayed to find that the tree itself blocked the door, and it stood firm, unmoving except for the orange flames that crept along its length. Smoke began to billow out, making it difficult to see.

  Kale dropped to her knees, indicating a gap beneath the trunk. She crawled into the burning cabin, Shale behind her.

  “Nephele, is there anyone else in there with you?” Blake shouted.

  “No, I’m alone.”

  “We’ve found a way in, Nephele. Just hold tight. Where are you in the cabin?”

  “Far wall. Away from the fire.” Nephele was coughing heavily now. The flames may not have yet reached her, but Blake knew smoke could be equally lethal. “I hear something...A strange hissing.”

  “The water’s arrived.” Blake’s relief was clear in her voice. “We’re putting the fire out.”

  SHALE FINALLY CRAWLED out from beneath the long trunk, able to stand at last. The thick smoke made her cough, and she was unable to make much out. She followed the sound of Nephele coughing, tripping over debris as she blindly stumbled through the cabin.

  Shale banged her leg into something solid. “Ow.”

  From ahead of her, Kale said, “Watch where you’re going.”

  Despite the situation, Shale sniggered. “That’s kind of difficult at the moment, Kale.”

  “Excuses, excuses.” Kale cursed as she loudly collided with something herself. She cursed Shale just as loudly when Shale laughed.

  “You’re getting close,” Nephele said, amidst a coughing fit.

  “We’ll get you out, Nephele,” Shale said.

  Blake could be heard shouting outside, but Shale could no longer make out what she was saying. The roar of the fire had grown closer, its heat intensifying to an uncomfortable degree.

  “Nephele, wave your arms so we can try and pick out your movement.” Shale spotted her as Nephele followed her advice, and she and Kale hurried to her side.

  Nephele was pinned by a large wooden beam, no doubt structural given its size. Though Kale had brought the axe, Shale knew there was no way she could chop through the beam in time. Not with the flames so close.

  Shale examined Nephele’s leg. Though it was pinned, the wood hadn’t actually fallen on her leg, which was fortunate, for the bone would’ve likely been crushed. “Nephele, when Kale and I lift, you’ll have to pull yourself free.”

  “All right. I’m ready.”

  “On three. One. Two. Three.”

  As they both lifted, grunting with the extreme effort, the beam rose up off the floor.

  Nephele twisted her leg, groaning in pain as she did so, but she managed to slide the limb free. “I’m out.”

  The beam crashed to the floor. Nephele was lifted to her feet, each twin sliding a supportive arm around her waist. It clearly hurt Nephele to put weight on her leg, but she gamely limped forward, looking anxious to get out of the now scorching cabin. With Nephele between them, Shale and Kale headed back the way they’d come, though now with a haste that wasn’t there before.

  They stopped in alarm when the tree began to groan, and an instant later it dropped, smashing into the cabin floor. As the tree was now lying flat, the hole they’d crawled in through was gone—the way out was blocked.

  Kale growled in anger. “Hades.”

  Nephele, who’d been admirably calm throughout, started to panic. “Now what do we do?”

  They had no choice but to retrace their steps, the flames herding them back into the corner where they’d first found Nephele. Turning away from the approaching fire, they found themselves face to face with a wall.

  Kale stepped forward and swung the axe into it, hacking deeply into the wood. Both she and Shale were coughing strongly, though Nephele had fallen silent.

  “Nephele?” Shale received no response. “You need to stay awake.” She lightly slapped Nephele’s face in an attempt to rouse her. It didn’t work. “She’s out.”

  Kale had managed to make a hole in the wood, but it was nowhere near big enough to fit through. She put her mouth to the hole and sucked air into her lungs. The outside air appeared to enliven Kale’s senses somewhat, for as Shale watched, Kale switched tactics. Instead of trying to make the hole bigger, Kale began to strategically place her strikes, making the rough shape of an arch. Seeing what Kale intended, Shale laid Nephele down on the floor. Shale wavered slightly as she stood, the smoke beginning to impede her actions. She was mightily tempted to take a breath from outside, as Kale was doing, but the axe would have to cease for a moment, and they simply didn’t have the time. She knew Kale needed the air more.

  Shale thought she heard Blake’s voice coming from beyond the wall, but she couldn’t be certain—her smoke-addled brain could be playing tricks.

  “Get back,” Kale yelled through the wall. She’d obviously heard a voice too.

  When Kale dropped the axe and nodded at her, Shale was in position. In unison, they both lashed out with their most powerful kick, putting everything they had into the strike. On the second attempt, the wood exploded outward, sending pieces of timber flying in all directions.

  The flames rolled toward them, as if wanting to prevent their escape. They hurriedly picked up Nephele and carried her unconscious form to the hole in the wall, which was far from big enough to walk through, but it wasn’t so small that you had to crawl.
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br />   Anxious faces peered in from outside, and several Amazons offered their hands in assistance. Nephele was quickly passed out to them and moved out of harm’s way.

  Blake could be heard clearly now, she was shouting orders. “Get Nephele to the healer’s. We need some water here!”

  Kale pushed Shale ahead of her, and Shale tumbled out through the hole, landing face down in the mud. She was coughing so much she couldn’t get to her feet, but she found herself upright as Blake and Amber hauled her up between them.

  Shale suddenly hissed and clutched at her forearm, the sharp intake of breath causing the wracking coughs to increase.

  “Shale? Let me see.” Blake tried to examine Shale’s arm, but the coughing fit caused Shale to bend double, stopping the attempt.

  Shale was shaking her head, trying to draw breath enough to speak. As twins, they could sense when the other was in trouble, and Shale was feeling that sensation now. “K—Kale.” It was all she managed to get out, but it was enough.

  As if understanding completely, Amber bolted toward the hole. Kale rolled out just as Amber reached it, and like Shale had done, she landed in the mud. Kale, however, sprang back to her feet, clutching a burnt-looking forearm in obvious pain.

  “Water,” Kale rasped between coughs, though she wasn’t incapacitated by them as Shale was.

  Since Blake had previously called for water, many Amazons close by held pails in their hands. Amber grabbed the closest pail she could, snatching it away before its contents could be tossed on the fire. She held it out to Kale, who thrust her arm straight into the water, covering the burn completely.

  Kale clenched her teeth in agony. “Gods, that hurts.”

  Shale knew the pain had to be bad for Kale to voice it. Amber obviously knew it too, for she gave Kale’s shoulder a sympathetic squeeze.

  “Amber, we need to move,” Blake said. “Shale, drape your arm around me.” She inserted herself beneath Shale’s shoulder and drew her upright. “Let’s get you clear of the smoke.”

  Shale couldn’t respond, for she was still coughing quite badly, and had to lean heavily against Blake for support. The exertion of movement only made Shale worse, so as soon as they were a safe distance from the cabin, Blake stopped and set her down on the rain-soaked ground.

  “Do you need help?” Amber asked as they caught up.

  “No, Shale just needs to catch her breath. I’ll take care of her,” Blake said the last part to Kale, giving her a reassuring nod. “Go and get that burn treated.”

  As Kale and Amber left, Blake knelt beside Shale and began to rub her back in slow, comforting circles. “Easy. Easy, Shale. Just take your time.”

  Several moments passed, then a low, tired cheer came from behind them. Blake glanced toward the noise, and a relieved smile appeared. “Fire’s out. It’s done.”

  At Blake’s words, realization suddenly dawned on Shale. While waiting for her breathing to calm, she looked up to the sky—the storm had passed. In all the commotion she hadn’t noticed. Clouds still filled the sky, but at least the thunder clouds were no longer present. The wind had dropped significantly, now barely more than a breeze. Even the rain had ceased to fall.

  “Typical.” Shale wheezed as she raised her arm, which was caked in both mud and soot. “Now that I need a bath, the rain stops.”

  Paying no heed to the dirt covering Shale, Blake laughed and heartily embraced her.

  SHALE ENTERED THE healer’s lodge and crossed to the nearest bed, seeing the pile of blankets that were ready and waiting to be used. She retrieved one and returned to Blake, who was just closing the door. Shale shook the blanket out, then wrapped it around Blake, who was once again wet from the rain.

  Blake’s green eyes twinkled affectionately at her, and Shale couldn’t help but tease. “I see you’re after another foot rub.”

  Blake chuckled. “You won’t hear me saying no.”

  Shale didn’t need a blanket for herself, as the extreme heat inside the burning cabin had all but dried her off. She glanced around the room to see if anyone else needed a blanket. Only Amber did. Kale had been inside the cabin with Shale, Nephele had never been out in the rain, given she’d been trapped, and Appollonia had likely stayed in her lodge, readying to receive the injured. Shale knew it was important that the healer stay at her post in times of crisis, as she needed to be easily located. She would be no good to anyone if she couldn’t be found.

  Shale was surprised that Nephele and Kale were the only patients in the room, given what had just occurred. Under the circumstances, it could’ve been a lot worse.

  Shale was pleased to see that Nephele was now conscious, and was being treated by Appollonia in the far bed. Kale was perched on the middle bed, her arm still in the pail. Amber sat beside Kale, a worried expression on her face. Though she managed a smile when Shale handed her a blanket.

  Shale peered down at Kale’s arm, and Kale raised it out of the water so she could see. Shale winced when she saw the harsh burn. She compassionately squeezed Kale’s shoulder. “Looks nasty.”

  “Feels nasty,” Kale said.

  “What happened? You were right behind me.”

  “One of the tree’s branches gave way. It fell onto me, so I shielded my head with my arm. The weight of it caused me to drop to one knee, and I had to brace it for a few moments before I could get out from under it. Unfortunately for me, the part I was bracing was on fire.”

  Blake grimaced. “Ouch.”

  Amber took hold of Kale’s hand at the news.

  “I’m so sorry you got hurt on my behalf,” Nephele said from the next bed. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did.” She smiled at Kale, then Shale. “Both of you.”

  Shale, who was the humble twin, was somewhat embarrassed by the praise. “You’re welcome. I’m just glad things worked out. How’s your leg?”

  Nephele looked to Appollonia, who answered for her. “It’s just bruised. You’re very lucky.”

  Shale wasn’t sure she agreed with Appollonia’s statement. After all, Nephele’s cabin had just been practically flattened by a falling, burning tree. It seemed she was outvoted though, as Nephele eagerly agreed.

  “Yes.” Nephele looked to Shale. “Kale’s been filling me in on how you got me out.”

  Shale sheepishly tugged on an ear lobe as she remembered the hole they’d made. “Ah. Sorry about your wall.”

  Kale sniggered in amusement. The pain clearly hadn’t dampened her sense of humor.

  “I’m sure I can forgive you under the circumstances,” Nephele said, her tone droll. “Besides, that’s the least of the damage.”

  Kale’s expression turned thoughtful. “You know, Shale, perhaps we should’ve entered through the wall in the first place.”

  Shale fell silent for an instant, then she nodded. “You could be right.” She shrugged. “Well, we know for next time.”

  “If there is a next time, can it be someone else’s cabin?” Nephele requested, making everyone laugh.

  “Do you have someone you can stay with, Nephele?” Blake asked. “Until your home is rebuilt?”

  “You can always stay here,” Appollonia said.

  Nephele smiled at them both. “I have friends I can stay with.” As if to back up her words, three women entered the lodge. They went straight to Nephele’s side, each fussing with obvious concern.

  Once Appollonia had finished her treatment, Nephele was released into their care. As the group left the lodge, they all hailed the twins as heroes. It was clear the accolades pleased Kale to no end, but they embarrassed Shale completely, so much so that Blake patted her back consolingly.

  Kale, it seemed, found Shale’s self-consciousness to be highly comical, for she laughed heartily. “Most people like praise, Shale.”

  “They were gushing.”

  “So? We deserved it.” Kale frowned at Amber’s not-so-subtle snort.

  “Well if we weren’t sure which twin got the modesty, we are now,” Blake said.

  Kale rolled
her eyes. “Here I am, in pain no less, and you won’t even let me boast.” She pouted. “Shame on you.”

  In response, Blake scoffed, Amber giggled, and Shale rolled her own eyes, each seeing through Kale’s blatant attempt to manipulate them.

  Kale grew serious as Appollonia came to her, a variety of implements in her hands. The healer retrieved the chair from beside the bed, positioned it in front of Kale, then sat down on it. Kale lifted her arm out of the pail. Since the burn was on the top side of her forearm, it was relatively easy for Appollonia to examine.

  “How quickly did you get to the water?”

  “Not as quickly as I would’ve liked,” Kale said, her voice wry. “Not that long. Amber was swift in getting the water to me.”

  Appollonia gave an approving nod. “Good. That should help to keep the blistering down.” She directed a knowing look at Kale. “I bet the water hurt like Hades’ fire.”

  “It did. Almost as bad as the burn itself.”

  “Did you manage to keep it immersed?” At Kale’s confirmation, Appollonia lightly placed two fingers on the burn. She held still for a long moment, then moved her fingers to another position, again pausing in her work. She repeated the process along the entire length of the burn. “The water’s drawn the heat from the burn. It’s also helped to clean the wound, though I can see a few bits of small debris that need removing.” Appollonia picked up a pair of tweezers from the bed and began to remove the embedded dirt. “Did I hear you say it was a tree branch?”

  “You did.” Kale’s jaw clenched as Appollonia probed at the burn, and she gripped Amber’s hand tightly.

  “Were you hurt, Shale?” Appollonia asked, though her gaze remained focused on the task at hand. “I know how you like to keep me busy.”

  Shale grinned. It was a standing joke between them. When she and Kale had first arrived at the tribe, Shale had been involved in incident after incident, constantly requiring the healer’s skill. “I’m fine.”

  A touch on her skin drew her attention.

  “What about your arm?” Blake said. “I thought you’d fallen on it awkwardly.”