Running through the forest, the small band of outlaws realized the gap between them and their pursuers had closed. Bryelle knew it was all her fault, that if she hadn’t stolen the goods, they wouldn’t have been fleeing for their lives.

The quintet were forced to run along the top of a cliff face, a waterfall rushing to a deep lagoon below. The pursuers thought they had them cornered. Up ahead there was a ledge that Bryelle knew very well. If she separated herself from the the group, maybe the pursuers would leave her friends alone. She dodged free from her troupe at the last second and jumped from the ledge, keeping her body erect, pointing her toes, pulling her arms tight.

She hit the water with a resounding smack, though barely making a splash.