Free Beast Quest #3: Cypher the Mountain Giant by Adam Blade Page B

glances.
    “Don’t mind the boy,” one of the men said quietly. “He got a bump on his head.”
    “No, I saw it. I swear,” said the boy. In a trembling voice, he described the violent shaking and the sound of trees being snapped as boulders tore down the mountainside.
    When the boy had finished, one of the men said grimly, “I hope you two aren’t going into the mountains.”
    “I’m afraid we are,” said Tom.
    The men looked at each other, concern on theirfaces. “The mountains are a dangerous place, even in the best conditions,” the leader warned. “The main route is blocked now and the weather’s been bad for weeks. I’d turn back.”
    “We don’t have a choice,” Tom said bravely.
    The trader seemed to understand. “Well, if you must go, take this.” He handed Tom a short length of rope. “It’s not much, but it’s all I have. It may come in handy.”
    It was now growing late and the sun was close to setting.
    “You’d better get going,” said the kindly trader. “There’s a good place to make camp not too far north from here.”
    “Thank you,” said Tom and Elenna. They gave the traders some more of their water and all the food they could spare, then bid them good-bye.
    Tom and Elenna took one last look at the mountains. Tom wondered if something sobeautiful could be as dangerous as the traders had warned.
    Elenna mounted Storm and the four of them made their way down the other side of the hill. On their way down, the sky grew dark and it began to drizzle.
    “We’d better hurry up and make camp!” Elenna cried out. “We’re going to get soaked.”
    At the bottom of the hill, they crossed a small stream in the gully. The mountain water was crystal clear and ice cold.
    Tom knew it would be dangerous to sleep in the gully. If it kept raining, the stream might overflow and their camp would end up underwater. He scanned the next hill and spotted an outcropping of rock that would provide good shelter for the night.
    As they began their way up the next hill, Silver tensed and started to growl.
    “What is it, boy?” Tom crouched beside thewolf. He looked all around, but the whole area was deserted.
    Elenna shivered. “Let’s get going.”
    They set off again, picking a path between the trees scattered along the hillside.
    Silver growled again. Storm nickered nervously, his ears pricked up straight as his hooves skidded on the wet grass.
    Storm lunged forward and then stopped dead, all four hooves planted firmly on the ground. “Come on, Storm,” Elenna said, touching her heels to his sides. “It’s all right….” She broke off with a gasp. Storm was slowly moving down the hillside, even though he was standing still. “Tom!” Elenna cried as a rumbling noise started up. Storm started to slide more quickly. “The ground’s not safe!”
    “Get off Storm!” Tom yelled as the horse fought to keep his balance. Elenna jumped, just as Storm’s hind legs slipped from under him. With a crash,the horse fell heavily onto his side. His hooves sent great clods of mud flying into the air and Elenna fell to the ground with a cry.
    “Storm! Elenna!” Tom yelled, his voice filled with panic.
    Her eyes were wide in horror as she pointed up the hill, past Tom.
    “Mudslide!” she screamed.

S WEPT A WAY
     
    T OM SPUN AROUND. H E LOOKED IN SHOCK AS A sludgy torrent of mud surged down the hill toward them. It was as if the ground was
melting.
…
    With a terrified snort, Storm struggled back to his feet, his coat caked with mud. Silver tugged at Elenna’s sleeve, trying to drag her to safety. Tom began to carefully make his way back down the hill to his companions.
    But with a lurch, the ground gave way beneath him. Tom cried out as he was sucked into the thick, swirling muck. His back scraped over roots as he was swept down the hillside. Tom saw theterror in Elenna’s face as he rushed toward her in a mass of dark mud. As the thick wave hit her, Elenna reached for Tom’s hand. She caught