We both partially threw ourselves over the railing to catch the bag to no avail. However, we had a little guardian angel watching out for us as a heavy dust cloud blew out from beneath the bridge. The sparkling dust surrounded Arian’s knapsack and caught it before the pack hit the unforgiving waters. A meilita flew out from beneath us and over the top of the bag, creating a trail of its dust behind it. The pack was pulled along the route as it flew in a dizzying circle up to our level.

  Arian leaned over and grabbed the bag while I gaped at the dazzling beauty of the creature as it fluttered above our heads. I held out a hand but the majestic butterfly flew out of reach. My heart sank but I still offered it a smile. “Thanks for the save. We owe you one.”

  The butterfly danced about our heads and dusted us with its magic. I felt lighter but there was no lift off like I hoped.

  Arian blinked at the creature before her eyes lit up. “I believe it wants a treat for its effort.”

  “Do we have any more chocolates in your bag?” I asked her.

  She rummaged around for a moment before shaking her head. “No.”

  I sighed and cupped my hands together. “Then I’ll just have to make a thank-you.”

  My silver threads floated out and crafted the delicious treat. The butterfly dove down and spun in a circle above my hands, sprinkling its dust over the chocolate. The bar floated out of my hands and was whisked away by our tiny friend. I expected them to fly toward the waterfall but they zipped away down the road.

  “I guess he doesn’t want to share,” I commented as I parted my hands and my magic vanished.

  “We should follow him,” Arian suggested as she shouldered her pack.

  We headed out and followed the wider river along its wild course. I was glad my icy boat hadn’t reached this far otherwise I may have been dashed to pieces.

  The sun crested and waned, and the air took on a chill as we reached the next campsite. It was much like the last one except a fallen tree had been dragged close to the firepit. We settled in for the night as the sun settled toward the horizon.

  Arian turned to me and smiled. “What do you say to some fishing to supplement our dinner?”

  I cast a wary glance at the rough waters. “In that?”

  She pointed at one of the pools on the far side of the tumultuous waters. “The fish stay in there to catch easy food. We should be able to find some in the darkest holes.”

  “But without a fishing pole?” I pointed out as I looked about us. “Or do we make our own?”

  Her eyes twinkled as she drew off her outer dress. “I will throw the fish and you will catch them.”

  I blinked at her as her form began to transform. “Wait, what?”

  I didn’t get a reply before my naked friend changed into her hulking bear form. She sauntered over to the rough river and slid into the waters. Her bulk meant the tide tried to take her but didn’t succeed. She swam from one heavy boulder to another until she reached the far end where a large pool offered her sanctuary.

  I stood at the edge of the river confused and tense. Arian waded to the edges of the shallow, swirling waters and turned her head to and fro. She stiffened and lifted one huge paw out of the river.

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  Arian lunged forward and swatted at the surface. Her paw dipped into the water as clean as a diving fish and she scooped something out of the river. She used her paw as a net and flung her catch at me.

  I yelped and leaped back as a flying fish landed on the ground where I had just stood. The creature flopped about and a roar from Arian brought realization to my fuzzy mind. This was my part of the deal. I had to catch the fish. Literally.

  I dove at the fish and clapped my hands together. Its slick body sprang out of my palms and up into the air where it flopped about, spraying me with water and bits of dirt. I shut my eyes against the onslaught and the fish took its chance to bounce back into the water.

  I sheepishly looked over at my friend. Her muzzled mug was hard to read but I don’t think she was too happy. I slowly lifted my shoulders and my hands on either side of me. “Sorry?”

  Arian huffed and returned her attention to the pool. Now prepared for my part, I knelt on one knee and waited for supper. My furry friend only took another minute before she swatted another fish my way.

  I body-piled the flopping fiend and pinned the creature to the ground. The fish flopped against me as I eased myself to one side and slipped a hand beneath me. I found its body and wrapped my hands around its slippery form but this time it didn’t win.

  I climbed to my feet and held up my triumph: the floppy fish in my fingers. Arian bobbed her head before her eyes flickered to the fire.

  “Right!” I shouted as I raced back to camp with my prize and pinned the fish by the tail with one of the fire rocks.

  The fish weren’t big so we went through the motion three more times until there was enough to whet our appetites. I sat down and built the kindling as I had seen Arian do the night before as she trudged out of the water. She was dripping wet even transformed into a human and I quickly wrapped two of our blankets around her.

  “You sit right here and let me do the chores for once,” I insisted as I set her down on the log.

  She lifted one arm. “But-”

  I grasped her arm and tucked it back into the blankets. “But nothing. It’s not going to be warm tonight and you need to dry off, so sit there and look as pretty as you always do and I’ll get everything done.” I turned away and used the flint lighter to ignite bits of twigs I’d found scattered about.

  “Do I truly look pretty?”

  The question was so out of nowhere that for a moment I thought I’d heard wrong. I turned my head and looked over my shoulder at my friend. Arian had wrapped the blankets tighter about herself and she stared at the ground.

  “Who said you weren’t?” I countered.

  She shrugged and scuffed the ground with a few bare toes. “I was told Lady Shian only picked the ugliest maids so she would not feel jealous around them.”

  I left my food-making business and shuffled on my knees over to my friend. She reluctantly lifted her head as I clapped my hands on her shoulders. “Listen to me, Arian. You are one of the most beautiful people I have met, inside and out. If anybody ever tells you you’re not pretty, you tell them they need to put down a mirror. You got that?”

  She blinked at me. “Put down a mirror?”

  I lifted my chin and nodded. “Yep. That means they’re just looking at their ugly selves. Besides, you have to care about their opinion for it to bother you, right?”

  She cocked her head to one side and furrowed her brow. “I. . .I suppose you are right.”

  I snorted. “Of course I am. Aren’t I always?”

  Arian bit her lower lip but the corners of her lips twitched upward. “I-I suppose.”

  I narrowed one eye at her and suppressed a sly smile. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She popped her head up and vigorously shook her cranium. “Nothing! Nothing at all!”

  We stared at each other for a few silent minutes before a titter escaped my friend. Then a stifled chuckle escaped me. Then we both burst out laughing until our sides ached.

  I wiped my tears away with the back of my finger and gently smiled at my friend. “Jokes aside, you are a very beautiful young woman, Arian. And to prove it-” I spun on my knees and crawled my way back to the fire, “-I’m going to make a meal fit for a princess.”

  I didn’t notice the startled look on my friend’s face, nor how swiftly she tried to hide the expression.