Whumpers-Monthly Issue no 28 - Falling
On The Run - Chapter 2: Down the cliff
Published: 2022-01-01; Completed: 2022-03-11; Words: 30,667; Chapters: 12/12
When they reach the edge of the cliff, they are both breathing heavily and shivering in the cold ocean breeze.
"That looks like a feasible place to climb d-down." Cahir points at a spot to their far right, his teeth chattering slightly. There the cliff is less high and steep and leads to a lonely little half-moon-shaped beach, which would look quite romantic if the sand was white, not black like the cliff.
"How do you know there is a cave for us to hide in down there?"
"I d-don't. But see that darker spot in the r-rock face? C-could be a cave."
"Could be anything," she huffs, but still follows the Nilfgaardian as she has no better plan, or any plan at all. They'd just have to take the chance.
Luckily for Yennefer, Cahir slows down considerably as they walk toward the targeted spot, most of his energy reserves apparently spent. When they finally arrive, he looks more likely to collapse again than to be able to climb down a cliff. But he stays on his feet and closely inspects the cliff face, searching for the safest route down.
"Here. I go first. You follow after." He indicates the place with a nod, gets down on his knees and starts to swing his legs over the edge. His arms are shaking as they have to bear most of his weight until his feet find a safe hold in the rock.
"Sure you can handle the climb?" Yennefer is really worried now. This is so not a good idea. "I didn't save your neck and went to all this trouble just for you to break it."
"Worry about your own neck," he grinds through teeth clenched in concentration while continuing to descend. Yennefer looks on as Cahir's upper body and head slowly disappear from sight. Stubborn idiot! He could at least rest a little first. What if he falls and breaks his bones? She is not going to pick up the pieces, that's for sure. However, in case he does crack his neck, having to continue the escape on her own is not exactly a delightful prospect, despite the man being a bloody-minded, bigoted White Flame zealot and a pain in the arse most of the time. Although they do not look much alike, the Nilfgaardian definitely reminds her of a certain Witcher more often than she cares for, too. Similarly grumpy and obstinate. Typical alpha male behaviour. Which she hates with a vengeance. And, totally in spite of herself, finds annoyingly attractive - in Geralt, needless to say, not the Nilfgaardian. An attraction that has brought her nothing but trouble and heartbreak.
When Yennefer cautiously looks over the edge of the cliff some minutes later, Cahir has already, and against all odds, made it down the first, rather difficult part of the climb and is now standing on a broad bridge-like ledge leading to the easier middle section.
"Come!" He motions her to start climbing.
Cursing her long dress, Yennefer squats down next to the cliff and gingerly moves her legs over the edge. As she is considerably shorter than the Nilfgaardian, it is even more difficult for her to find a safe foothold in the rock. Several times she fears that she might fall. Will Cahir be able to catch and save her if she does? Or rather, will he even try to catch her if she falls? At least the dark, almost black rock seems to be pretty solid and does not crumble under her weight or between her fingers. Unused to this kind of adventure, her fingertips are already hurting badly, her carefully manicured nails probably broken beyond recognition. Inwardly Yennefer breathes a heart-felt sigh of relief when, eventually, she feels strong hands grip her around the waist, helping her down the last few steps until she is safely standing on the ledge next to the Nilfgaardian. Of course, she cannot admit to him that she actually liked the feeling.
"I had it under control," she grumbles.
"'Course you did. But better safe than sorry." He lets go of her waist, turns around and starts to climb down the rocky slope lying before them. Although it is easier, it is still no walk in the park to navigate their way down, sometimes hopping from rock to rock, sometimes squeezing through a narrow crack in between big boulders, sometimes slithering down a steep, gravelly patch more or less on their butts. It takes them a lot longer than anticipated, too, to reach the last part of the descent, another sheer-walled drop of approximately fifteen metres. Yennefer starts climbing when Cahir is almost half way down, trying, wherever possible, to use the same ledges, protrusions and cracks as the Nilfgaardian. It is slow going and not only physically, but also mentally straining as she has to concentrate hard to not make any mistakes, any wrong movement threatening to send her plummeting down the cliff. But she is making steady progress, even catching up on Cahir a little. Now she can hear his heavy breathing from hardly more than two metres below her.
Yennefer looks down cautiously. Not very far to the ground any more. A few more strenuous minutes and they'll have made it. In one piece. Carefully placing her right foot on a narrow ledge a little further down, her eyes trained on the rock face again, she proceeds.
Suddenly, there is the frightening noise of something, or rather someone, falling and heavily hitting the ground. Fuck! Of course, things would not go as smoothly for them as she imagined just seconds ago. From the precarious position she is in at the moment, Yennefer cannot look down to find out what has happened and is relieved when she hears Cahir swear. Not dead. That's something.
When Yennefer finally reaches the ground, the Nilfgaardian is sitting in the black sand leaning heavily agains the rock wall, very pale and sweaty, his eyes closed, but there is no blood anywhere, at least not that she can see, nor is any limb at a weird angle. So, probably nothing broken. He is holding his right foot with both his hands though. Exhausted, Yennefer sits down next to him.
