I Can See Evolution Paths

Arthur was falling.

There was almost no sense of direction anymore. Snow tore past him so violently that he could barely keep his eyes open, pieces of broken ice and stone tumbling alongside him, occasionally disappearing into the white storm below.

Arthur instinctively curled one arm around Eden, his other arm keeping Star pressed against his chest.

Then he noticed someone falling nearby. Luna.

"Luna!"

She looked toward him, but the wind immediately pushed her away. "Arthur!"

Arthur reached out, kicking against a piece of falling stone to change his trajectory, and for a moment he actually moved toward her. Then another piece of debris crashed between them.

Arthur reached again. "I’ve got you!"

He caught her wrist, the momentum nearly tearing his shoulder from its socket. Luna gasped. Arthur gritted his teeth and wrapped his arm around her. "Got you."

Luna held onto him tightly. "Thank you."

Arthur looked around. "Where’s everyone else?"

Luna looked around as well, and through the snow, Arthur saw Vedas, then Mithra, then Athena, Sun falling with Kong, Athy flying desperately against the wind.

Arthur exhaled. "They’re still together."

Luna nodded. "But how are we going to survive this?"

Arthur looked down. At first he saw nothing but white. Then he noticed the debris, huge pieces of the mountain falling alongside them, some spinning, some bouncing off the mountain, others sliding along the snow.

Arthur watched one massive slab of rock strike the mountain, and instead of continuing straight down, it bounced outward.

Arthur’s eyes widened. "...Wait."

Luna looked at him. "What?"

Arthur pointed. "That."

"The rock?"

"Yeah."

Luna looked at him like he’d lost his mind. "Arthur, we’re falling."

Arthur smiled. "I know." He pointed downward. "But those rocks aren’t."

Luna stared, and Arthur’s eyes brightened as the idea came together. "They’re falling..." He watched another piece hit the slope and begin sliding. "...and sliding." Then he smiled. "We can do the same thing."

Luna’s eyes widened. "What are you thinking?"

Arthur looked down the mountain. "We’re going to land on the rubble."

Arthur explained quickly. They couldn’t simply jump toward the ground. The mountain was too steep. The distance was too great. Even Guardian Shield probably wouldn’t be enough to completely protect everyone from a direct impact. But the falling debris was constantly creating temporary platforms, and they could land on one, run down it, jump to another, and repeat.

Luna stared at him. "You want us to run down the mountain on falling rocks?"

Arthur nodded. "Exactly."

"...While the mountain is collapsing?"

"Yes."

"...And then jump from one piece to another?"

"Yes."

Luna looked at him. "That’s your plan?"

Arthur smiled. "It’s the best one I’ve got."

A voice suddenly came from nearby. "THAT IS THE WORST PLAN I’VE EVER HEARD!"

Arthur turned. Sun was falling toward them, Kong clinging happily to his back.

Arthur laughed. "Do you have a better one?"

Sun opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He looked down, then back at Arthur. "...No."

Arthur smiled. "Then it’s a good plan."

Sun pointed at him. "That’s not how that works!"

Kong suddenly started cheering, raising both fists.

Sun looked over his shoulder. "Why are you cheering?!"

Kong pointed toward the falling debris, then made a running motion.

Sun stared. "You actually want to do this?"

Kong enthusiastically nodded.

Sun sighed. "Of course you do."

Arthur laughed. "See? Kong understands."

Sun looked at him. "Kong thinks falling down mountains is entertainment!"

Arthur shrugged. "He has good taste."

Sun’s expression became horrified. "You’re both insane."

Athena reached them, using Aegis to control her descent, having heard enough of the conversation to understand Arthur’s plan. "You’re planning to use the debris as platforms?"

Arthur nodded. "Yeah."

Athena looked downward, studying the slope, the debris, the speed at which the pieces were falling, then the distance remaining, and she became quiet.

Sun watched her. "Athena."

She didn’t answer.

"Athena."

Still nothing.

"Please tell him it’s stupid."

Athena finally spoke. "It’s dangerous."

Sun smiled. "Exactly."

Athena continued. "But it’s possible."

Sun’s smile disappeared. "...What?"

Athena pointed downward. "The mountain is steep enough that most of the larger debris is sliding rather than falling vertically. If we use the larger pieces, we can reduce the impact of our descent."

Arthur smiled. "That’s what I thought."

Athena looked at him. "I said it was possible."

"That’s basically approval."

"No, it isn’t."

Mithra reached them. "What’s happening?"

Sun pointed at Arthur. "He’s decided we’re going to run down falling rocks."

Mithra looked at Arthur. He smiled. "It’s a good plan."

Mithra glanced downward, then back at Arthur. "...Actually, I can see it."

Sun looked betrayed. "You’re agreeing too?!"

Mithra laughed. "It’s either that or fall."

Athena nodded. "Exactly."

Sun sighed. "Fine." He pointed at Arthur. "But if this goes wrong, I’m blaming you."

Arthur grinned. "Fair."

Arthur looked toward Athy, still struggling against the wind. Arthur called out, "Athy!" and she immediately flew toward him. Arthur connected through Vision Sharing, and his perception changed, the chaotic snowstorm suddenly becoming much clearer, so he could see the debris from above, which rocks were stable enough to land on, where the mountain was breaking, even the movement of some of the larger snow masses.

Arthur’s eyes widened. "Oh."

Athy chirped.

Arthur smiled. "That’s perfect."

Sun looked confused. "What?"

Arthur pointed toward Athy. "She’s going to guide us." "She’ll tell us when to jump."

Athy chirped again.

Sun looked at the owl. "You can actually see through all this?"

Athy’s eyes glowed.

Sun blinked. "...That’s useful."

Arthur smiled. "Very."

Athy flew higher. Arthur shouted, "I’ll follow your signals!" Athy circled once, then flew ahead.

Mithra looked around. "There’s still another problem."

Arthur looked at her. "What?"

She gestured toward the storm. "Even if Athy can see everything, we can’t." The snow was so dense that everyone was constantly losing sight of each other.

Melo floated beside Mithra, her tails glowing softly.

Mithra smiled. "Melo can help."

Arthur looked toward the fox. "Dream Weave?"

Melo nodded.

Mithra explained, "We’ll use the illusion to block out everything that doesn’t matter."

Sun frowned. "You’re going to use an illusion while we’re jumping between rocks?"

"Yes."

"While we’re falling?"

"Yes."

"And that’s supposed to make this safer?"

Mithra smiled. "If you keep panicking every time you see something falling toward you, you’ll freeze."

Sun thought about that. "...Fair."

Melo released her dream energy, and the roaring wind became distant, the blinding snow fading from their awareness, the world narrowing until the only things that remained sharply defined were the path, the debris, and their companions.

Arthur exhaled. "Much better."

Mithra smiled. "Now we can focus."

Sun looked around. "I hate how useful everyone suddenly became."

Arthur laughed. "You’re welcome."

"I wasn’t talking about you."

"Oh."

With everyone’s roles set, the real descent finally began. A massive piece of rubble fell toward them, and Athy circled, her eyes shining, and Arthur received the signal. "That’s our first one!"

Everyone prepared. Arthur grabbed Luna securely. Vedas reached toward Eden. Eden grabbed Star. Athena braced herself. Mithra prepared to leap. Sun grabbed Kong.

Athy gave a sharp chirp.

Arthur shouted, "Now!"

Everyone jumped and landed on the massive slab.

Boom!

The rock tilted, and Arthur’s feet slid.

Luna grabbed his arm. "Arthur!"

He caught his balance. "I’m okay!"

The rock began sliding down the mountain, and Arthur’s expression changed. "...We’re moving."

Sun looked horrified. "We’re moving!"

Arthur smiled. "That’s the idea."

"I KNOW THAT!"

Kong started cheering.

Sun looked at him. "Stop enjoying this!"

Kong cheered louder. Arthur laughed.

The rock crashed into another piece of debris, the impact launching it upward, and Athy chirped, and Arthur received the signal. "Jump!"

Everyone leaped. Arthur took Luna with him. Vedas caught Eden. Eden held Star close. Mithra moved with perfect balance. Athena landed cleanly. Sun almost fell, and Kong grabbed his shirt.

Sun looked at him. "...Thanks."

Kong nodded.

Then the rock beneath them broke, and Sun’s eyes widened. "Actually, never mind!"

They jumped again, Arthur landing on another slab, and he looked back. "Everyone good?"

Vedas nodded. "Yes."

Mithra smiled. "Fine."

Athena said, "Fine."

Sun said, "Alive."

Kong raised both hands.

Arthur laughed. "Good enough."

Athy suddenly gave a sharp warning, and Arthur’s eyes widened. "Ice!" Huge frozen spikes were falling from above. Arthur pointed. "Left!"

Everyone moved.

Boom!

A spike crashed into the rubble, the impact throwing snow everywhere.

A second one fell. "Right!" Everyone shifted, and another crashed behind them.

Mithra laughed breathlessly. "You really can see everything through Athy."

Arthur grinned. "She’s doing the hard part."

Athy chirped proudly.

Arthur laughed. "She’s proud of that."

Eden smiled. "Athy is amazing!"

Athy flapped happily.

Arthur noticed a massive spike falling directly toward Sun. "Sun!"

Sun looked up. "What?!"

"Jump!"

Sun didn’t ask questions. He jumped, and the spike crashed into the rock. Sun landed on another slab and stared at Arthur. "...You saved me."

Arthur smiled. "You’re welcome."

Sun paused. "...Thank you."

Arthur nodded. "Anytime."

Kong patted Sun’s head.

Sun sighed. "Don’t make this sentimental."

A low rumble came from above, and Arthur looked upward, his expression changing. "...That’s big."

Sun followed his gaze. A massive ball of snow was rolling down the mountain. Then another. Then another.

Sun’s face turned pale. "No."

Arthur watched their movement, and Athy gave another signal, Arthur’s eyes glowing through Vision Sharing as he saw a narrow path. "Straight ahead!"

Sun looked at him. "Straight ahead?!"

"Trust me!"

They ran, the snowballs thundering down behind them.

Boooooom!

One smashed into the rock they’d just left, and the entire slab exploded.

Sun looked backward. "...Okay."

Arthur laughed. "See?"

Sun pointed toward him while running. "I am never calling one of your plans reasonable again."

Arthur smiled. "That’s fair."

Kong started cheering again.

"And you need to stop cheering!"

The mountain shook harder, and a massive beast suddenly tumbled down the slope.

Arthur looked up. "Watch out!"

The beast crashed onto a nearby rock, the impact sending it spinning, and another beast came tumbling behind it.

Mithra looked surprised. "There are more of them."

Arthur watched. The beasts were still fleeing the collapsing mountain, some scrambling over debris, others carried downward by the avalanche. Arthur noticed something. They were all moving in the same direction. Down. Away. None were heading toward the deeper mountain anymore.

Luna noticed too. "They’re running."

Arthur nodded. "They’re still trying to escape."

One injured beast fell toward them, and Arthur raised Dusk. But he didn’t attack. Instead he pointed toward an open piece of debris. "Go!" The beast landed there, scrambled upright, then kept running.

Sun looked at Arthur. "You let it go?"

Arthur looked confused. "Why wouldn’t I?"

"It could attack us."

Arthur pointed toward the collapsing mountain. "It looks more worried about that."

Mithra smiled. "He’s right."

Athena watched the beasts. "They’re behaving differently."

Luna quietly said, "They’re afraid."

Arthur’s smile faded slightly, his eyes drifting back toward the mountain behind them.

A huge roar came from deep inside it, and the remaining beasts panicked.

His eyes narrowed. "...It’s still there."

But before he could think further, Athy chirped urgently, and Arthur looked forward. "Right." He immediately turned back to the descent. "We need to keep moving."

The slope became even steeper, but the snow below was finally visible. The valley. Trees. Open ground. They were almost there.

Eden flew beside Arthur. "Are we going to make it?"

Arthur smiled. "I think so."

Eden looked down. "...It’s really far."

Arthur looked too. "Yeah."

Luna looked at him. "What happens when we jump?"

Arthur thought. "We land."

Luna gave him a look. "That’s not very reassuring."

Arthur laughed. "We’ll be fine."

Athena looked toward the final slab. "That’s our last platform."

Arthur nodded. "Then we jump from there."

Sun looked down. "...How far?"

Arthur paused. "Far."

Sun closed his eyes. "I hate that answer."

Mithra laughed. "We’re almost there."

Vedas tightened his grip on Eden. "Prepare."

Arthur nodded. "Everyone stay together."

The final piece of debris crashed onto the slope, and they landed on it.

Boom!

It immediately started sliding.

Arthur shouted, "Run!"

Everyone moved, sprinting downhill as the debris accelerated, snow flying around their legs, Athy flying overhead, her eyes glowing. Arthur received the vision. The edge was approaching.

Arthur kept running. "Not yet!"

The edge got closer. "Not yet!"

Sun looked terrified. "WHEN?!"

Arthur looked toward Athy. She gave one final signal.

Arthur’s eyes widened. "NOW!"

Everyone jumped. For one moment the entire group was airborne. Arthur held Luna tightly. Vedas held Eden. Eden kept Star against herself. Mithra reached toward Melo. Athena braced Aegis. Sun grabbed Kong. Athy flew above them.

The collapsing mountain towered behind them. The group fell toward the snow.

They hit.

Boooooooom!

Snow exploded outward, and Arthur rolled across the ground, Luna tumbling with him. Mithra rolled several times. Sun disappeared into the snow. Kong bounced twice. Athena slid across the snow. Vedas crashed hard enough to leave a trail.

Arthur tried to stop himself. "Whoa—!"

Another shockwave hit, throwing everyone farther, and Arthur immediately raised one hand. "Guardian Shield!"

A golden dome erupted around the group.

Boom!

The shockwave hit the barrier, and the entire dome rolled across the snow.

Arthur gritted his teeth. "Stay together!"

Vedas grabbed the barrier. Mithra grabbed Luna. Sun grabbed Kong. Athena braced herself. Eden grabbed Arthur’s shoulder. Star pressed safely against his chest.

The shield held. The final shockwave slowly dissipated.

Silence.

For several moments nobody moved. Snow fell softly around them, drifting down over a group that had just carved a path straight down a collapsing mountain and somehow come out the other side of it together.

Arthur slowly pushed himself upright and looked down. Luna was still in his arms. She blinked.

Arthur smiled. "You okay?"

Luna slowly nodded. "I think so."

Arthur looked around. Vedas was sitting several meters away with Eden and Star. Mithra was covered in snow. Athena was half-buried. Sun’s head was sticking out of the snow. Kong was sitting on top of him.

Sun slowly looked upward. "...Get off."

Kong refused.

Sun sighed. "Fine."

Arthur started laughing. Mithra joined him.

Athena slowly pulled herself out and looked at Arthur. "That was your plan."

Arthur nodded. "Yep."

Athena looked around at the enormous snowfield, the destroyed mountain, the trail they’d carved down the slope. "...And it worked."

Arthur smiled. "Yep."

Sun looked toward him. "I cannot believe that worked."

Kong suddenly cheered.

Sun pointed at him. "Don’t celebrate!"

Kong cheered louder. Mithra laughed.

Vedas looked toward Arthur. "Good plan."

Arthur smiled. "Thanks."

Luna looked at Arthur. "You really thought it would work?"

Arthur scratched his cheek. "I thought it had a reasonable chance."

Everyone stared at him.

Sun said, "Reasonable?"

Arthur laughed. "...Okay. Maybe not."

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