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I run up the first ascent, not letting myself stop before I speed over the spinning log. I'm over it in a second, and I let out a breath as I keep running along the course. I jump easily from each granite post, and the only thing slowing my time is the increase in height between each one. Fuck being short.

Finally, I come to the final part of the first ascent— the rotating wheel. Only a single narrow entrance and exit. I watch it go around once before darting inside, balancing myself before watching for the other side of the gravel path. It spins once, twice, before I leap out onto the second ascent. Perfect. One-fifth of the way done.

I run to the buoy balls and don't hesitate to throw myself onto the first one, scrambling up the side so I'm on top. I grab the rope suspending the ball and don't let myself look down before jumping to the next one. The curved surface and instability of the ball makes it incredibly difficult to stay upright, but I grip the rope tightly, planting my feet on either side of it, and leap from one ball to the next, allowing myself a second to steady myself between each one.

I come to the metal rods, and swing my way across the three of them one by one without much problem. The next obstacle are several spinning logs jutting from the side of the cliff in a staircase fashion, a sizable gap between each one. I take a deep breath before I begin to jump from log to log, my heart jolting into my throat with each precarious wobble. Finally, I reach the end of the death staircase.

I make my way through the rest of the course with ease, before finally coming to the final two obstacles in the course. I study the 20 degree chimney that towers over me. I think back to what Sawyer did—splaying out his arms and legs to make an X win his body, before inciting his way up. I could do that, but I'd most likely slip and gravity would send me slamming back down to the gravel path.

So I start off as Sawyer did, making an X with my body, but instead of hopping up the chimney, I inch my way around so I'm standing on top of it. Perfect. I dart up the chimney and hop down. The ninety degree ramp stands tall in front of me, and I don't let my feet stop as I fling myself at the obstacle. I cling to the side of it, my right foot finding a small foothold in the otherwise smooth surface. I push off the foothold, and my hands find the top edge of the ramp.

With a grunt, I struggle to pull myself up, swinging a leg over the edge before coming to a stop once I finally rest at the end of the course.

I sit there for a few moments, panting. "Shit," I breathe, my face breaking into an uncontrollable grin.

"Way to go, Ria!" Sawyer walks up, a wide smile resting on his handsome features. He offers me a hand, and I intertwine my shaking fingers with his as my squadmate pulls me to my feet.

"Thanks, Sawyer," I say, trying to call the adrenaline racing through my veins.

"Almost as good as me," he gives me a wink, and I laugh.

"Maybe next time I'll beat your time," I reply.

"Please," Sawyer scoffs. "Like anyone could ever beat me."

"Hey, you have an unfair advantage," I protest. "You've done this before."

Sawyer shrugs. "Sucks for you then, doesn't it?"

I respond with a playful shove, and the older cadet laughs. We go to stand at the edge of the cliff to watch the rest of our squadmates go through the course. Violet and Aurelie approach the spinning staircase logs, and I can see Violet's hesitance before Aurelie urges her forward.

The smaller woman begins hopping from log to log with more ease than I would have expected, and makes it to the top with a faint, "Yes!"

I can distantly hear Aurelie say, "Go, Violet! Here I come!" Before she starts up the logs herself.

My squadmate has almost made it up the staircase when a loud, ear shattering roar splits through the air. I jerk my head up just as a Green Daggertail soars overhead on its way into the Vale. I watch it go, mesmerized by its grace, before a panicked yelp reaches my ears.

My gaze returns to my squadmates at the staircase just in time to see Violet lunge for Aurelie's hand, her fingertips skimming the seventh log, as the other cadet falls into the log above her. I don't have time to register what's happening before Aurelie is rolled away from Violet's outstretched hand, and goes tumbling half way down the Gauntlet.

. . .

Aurelie is dead.

The one who had been so confident, so well trained, so determined to make it. She had been ready. She would have made it with to problem if it weren't for that damned dragon.

I stand numbly during formation, keeping my gaze fixed on the stone behind Captain Fitzgibbons as he reads the names off of the death roll. Rhiannon sniffles, and Violet reaches up to wipe her tears as Aurelie's name is called. The first one. The first one our squad has lost.

And it makes me wonder who's going to go next.

. . .

I stare up at the Gauntlet. It's past curfew, but I don't really care. I don't wear my armored leather vest, and the only weapon I have on me is my knife tucked into my boot. I cross my arms over my chest against the chilly night air, still staring.

I'm so lost in my thoughts I don't realize there's someone walking up beside me until they're right beside me. I jerk my head to the side, jolted out of my head, to see the one and only Liam Mairi gazing up at the Gauntlets next to me.

"What do you want?" I ask, uprooting the grass beneath me with the toe of my boot.

"I saw you come out here, and wondered what you were up to," he said simply.

I give him a sharp look. "Why would you care what I'm up to?" I question suspiciously.

Liam raises his hands above his head. "Am I not allowed to care about my friend?"

"We've spoken once," I mutter, averting my gaze from his absurdly beautiful eyes.

"So?" Liam leans in just the slightest bit closer to me, a light smile on his perfect lips. Stop thinking about his lips. "We can still be friends, can't we?" He pauses, an eyebrow raising. "Unless, of course, you have something against rebellion relics."

I glare at him. "Please," I scoff, "if I did, I would have ratted you out immediately, no matter how scary Riorson is."

"I'm going to tell him you said that," Liam teases, leaning back again, smirking.

"I'll fucking kill you if you do that," I warn, but I can't help the small smile that had somehow managed to work its way into my face.

"You can try." Liam replies, still smirking. We stand in a comfortable silence for a moment before Liam speaks again. "So, what are you doing out here? Since we are officially on 'friend level' now?"

I hesitate. "I'm not really sure, to be honest," I murmur. "I guess I'm just confused."

"Confused?" Liam asks, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Yeah," I say. "Like, yeah, of course, you need to be prepared for battle when you go into it, but I don't understand why they can't manage to do that without killing us before we've even bonded our dragon."

"They can't keep us all safe, Wisteria," Liam says, and I bristle at his almost condescending tone.

"I'm not asking them too," I snap. "I just...I don't know. Nevermind. I should never have come out here."

Before I can walk away, though, Liam wraps a hand around my forearm, pulling me to a stop. "Wait! I'm sorry." He gives me an apologetic smile. "Might as well practice while we're out here, though?" Liam gestures to the Gauntlet, and I glance up at the cliff. The obstacle course is fully functional all the way up until Presentation, so cadets can practice whenever they want.

I hesitate a moment before giving Liam a small nod. His smile widens, and he takes off without a moment's notice. "Race you!"

"Hey!" I yelp, taking off after him. I dart over the spinning log without a second of hesitation, intent on catching up to Liam. I jump from post to post in the second obstacle.

The lack of light is unnerving, to say the least, having to rely on the dim glow from the moon hanging low in the sky, but I can vaguely make out where my feet are supposed to land. I move on to the spinning wheel, which Liam is currently inside.

I hop in next to him, and don't let myself register the lack of room in the wheel. "Caught you," I say breathlessly.

"I suppose you did." Liam's blue eyes shimmer, even in the dark, and they glow with amusement. I give him a cocky smile before hopping neatly out of the wheel, and he follows close on my heels.

I jump onto the buoy balls and take them the same way I did the first time—by scrambling on top of them and hopping from each one. Liam watches me in bewilderment. "What kind of approach is that?" He asks, laughing.

"Mine!" I call back, jumping down onto the other side of the obstacle. Liam follows, and I grin when I see he's trying my technique.

"I suppose that is easier," he admits when he reaches me.

I shrug, still smiling. "Let's go."

I inch my way across the metal rods slowly but surely, Liam close behind me. We jump down at nearly the same time. "No fancy approach for that one?" The man asks, shaking his golden hair out of his eyes.

"Nah," I reply.

"Damn. I could use one." Liam shudders. "I hate those things. So awkward to get across."

I nod my agreement as we jog further along the path. We come to the spinning log staircase, and I hesitate. This was where she died.

I know I shouldn't be nervous. I had done this fine the first time, and the only reason Aurelie fell was because of the dragon disturbing her focus.

I jump when I feel Liam's hand come to rest on the small of my back. "You good?" He asks lightly.

I clench my jaw. "Yeah," I mutter. "Fine." Liam goes first, and I hold my breath until he makes it to the top. After a moment, I backpedal a few steps to get a running start and begin my ascent up the staircase.

My heart pounds, and each time my foot lands on a new log, my mind flashes to Aurelie's scream, her fingers reaching for Violets, her body plastered against the rocky cliff base.

And then my foot slips.

A scream has barely ripped itself from my throat before Liam is there, his fingers grasping my wrist tightly, my only anchor as my feet dangle into open air. My stomach presses into the last log, my eyes wide, and breath coming in quick, desperate pants.

Liam hauls me up, and I stand there, shaking. I almost died. If Liam hadn't been there, if I'd been alone, if he hadn't been fast enough, if he'd let go instead... no. I won't dwell on what could have happened. "Thank you," I murmur.

"Bare minimum for being a good friend, honestly, saving their life," Liam says quietly back. I let out a shaky laugh, and he helps me along the rest of the course. By the time we've reached the last obstacle, my spirits have been returned to normal, all thoughts of my potential death erased. Well, sort of. But I guess something like that doesn't just go away.

I go first jumping up the ramp, hauling myself up without much issues. Liam follows quickly behind me, and I wrap my fingers around his forearm to help him up, although I doubt he needed it.

"All good?" I ask.

"All good," he replies, grinning. I can't help but grin back.

.  .  .

Finally, a little more Liam/Wisteria time!! What do you guys think of this chapter and their interactions?

I feel like they should have a theme song honestly (mine for them would be Half of Forever by Henrik)