“We won’t make it over.”

“No one has ever done it. What makes you think we will survive?”

The Bidton’s had always been pessimists, but this time they weren’t the only ones. This time they were backed up by six nodding heads.

“There are fifteen of us. People have gone through the pass in groups smaller and larger than ours. Our number is perfect because we will be able to help each other, physically, mentally and magically. We can share the load enough so that we will make it through anything.” Mike’s words rang true so almost everyone was agreeing. His confidence made it sound even better.

“We’re all friends and trust each other. But we also do what needs to be done. We have stuck together through everything thrown our way, from tests to executions. We have made it this far together so nothing is stopping us from continuing together.” Charlotte was the one that held us together through all of our trials. She always knew the right words to strengthen our bonds and keep us together.

I decided to add to their arguments. “Each of us has at least one Folixpa that will help us on our journey through the pass. Between us, we have elemental control, weather, shape-shifting, healing, physics, teleportation, telekinesis and telepathy. We easily overcome any challenges we face so we will make it through alive.”

Everyone was on board after that. And by the next week, we had left everything behind. Our families, our lives. Our friends, our homes and the relative safety of our barbaric country. All we had was some basic clothing and enough food for two weeks. And each other.

After a week into our journey, we hadn’t come across anything. Well, nothing to indicate why no one had survived. It was just a normal hiking trail. Minus the animals.

“How much further do you think we still have to go? We’ve got to be pretty close by now.”

“Why don’t I mess with your gravity and you can find out?”

“Er, no thanks. I prefer having my feet on the ground if that’s alright with you.” I really hated being high up in this form, and relying on Jack to hold me up there is not a good idea.

“Suit yourself, Rina. Guess I’ll send-”

“Look! We’ve made it!” Cooper ran to the end of the cliff, following him we all realised he was right. There were no more mountains beyond, only forests and hills and plains. We had made it to the unknown land!

“But that can’t be right.” Mike’s brow furrowed. “Nothing happened. Anyone could survive that.”

“Maybe we’ve been lied to?”

Hailey was very hopeful about that idea. But our government wouldn’t bother. From a quick read of everyone’s thoughts I knew we were all thinking the same thing:

They died after the Crossing. Our journey was only just beginning.