1.
Day's light started to die down, leaving them in a dull and slow twilight. Heather took flight, following the footsteps left by Merriam.
The air grew still, dropping her to the point where she could no longer fly. Her bare toes touched earth. She hopped up, gliding for only a moment before dropping to her knees. Her shoulders were already sagging. She moved on with her arms crossed, contemplating nothing. There was no thought, only function. Basic instinct.
The tracks moved in a straight line for what looked to be a long time, By the looks of it fatigue had gotten the best of the oracle.
Heather picked up the pace, slowly rising the largest and rockiest of cliff faces.
It was well into the night when she made it past halfway. The sand had long turned to rock, which became more labyrinthine the deeper she went.
The track ended but she kept walking. So basic her instinct she didn't notice the path disappear.
Her balance flipped as she crashed back into reality. Heather turned but her feet fell away from her before she could jump leaving her flailing like a maniac. She spread her wings, beating the air, using them to push her back. It wasn't enough to keep her from falling, but not dropping. She caught the edge with both hands. The sword had been let go but, by grace, she'd caught it between her feet. It took a moment before her heart stopped drumming against her ribs. She trembled but it was as a laugh. She laughed out loud, dragging herself up.
"Why didn't you fly?" Heather heard Merriam say from above her.
She looked up, Merriam was airborne already, fist raised, rock in hand, Heather's mind, still racing from her near fall, froze, caught unaware.
She didn't stand a chance.