Rune slipped again. Yori gasped and squeezed his eyes shut. “This isn’t getting us anywhere,” he rasped. Then Rune startled.

Yori’s eyes flew open as he felt himself rise a few inches. “Rune?”

“Something’s got my ankles,” he said. He was pale and trembling, but he was still holding tightly to Yori. “It’s pulling me up, if I can just hold on…”

“Right,” Yori agreed, tightening his own grip. He bit his lip. Inch by inch, they were drawn up and away from the cliff. Once Yori was safely on solid ground, they parted. Yori danced to one side, summoning his staff as he moved.

Rune rolled over and looked at what had him. “Grappler,” he gasped. Then vines shot out to tangle around his arms as well. “Yori!”

He was safe. Now, Rune was the one in danger. Yori took a deep breath and then flung out his staff. An arc of cutting wind flew through the trees. As it sliced the vines, Rune scrambled back to Yori’s side.

“Go,” Yori said, grabbing Rune by the arm and pulling him upright. Grapplers wouldn’t be disuaded from their meals so easily and they both knew it.