Chapter 17: Fish And Drift Block And Blast
Fish’s smile couldn’t get any bigger as she soared through the air on the back of a snow dragon called Ava. This was her moment, her moment to find her mum and make her safe. In the distance, like a smudge of charcoal on white paper, lay a tiny town by the coast. It was still far away but in that moment nothing was out of reach.
“Weeeee!” Fish yelled, raising her arms in the air. “Let’s GET THEM!”
“AVALANCHE,” Ava roared, and the mountain echoed her words. Her great body could not fly but it could certainly run and jump. She sprang down the mountainside in four powerful leaps and each one whipped the air from Fish’s lungs. She loved it.
Drift, however, did not. “Let me off,” he said. His hands gripped Ava’s back and he moaned each time she landed with a wallop. “I’m being shaken so hard I might turn into a team of snowmen.” He ducked his head as they leapt into the air once more.
With every thud of Ava’s giant feet, more of the mountain snow shook itself off and followed behind. By the time they reached the bottom there was a thick flurry rolling behind like an army of white war horses. Clouds of fine white flakes filled the air as the horses snorted and galloped after the rampaging snow dragon. Ava sprang forward, devouring miles with each powerful bound.
Snow exploded, ice cracked, the air howled. Nothing could slow them down. Nothing could stand in their way. It seemed as though only moments had passed before they crossed the winding path of water Florence had sailed down. Then moments after that, Ava jumped over the gaping crevice in which Drift had found Fish. Mile after mile was covered as the raging force of snow made its way to the coast in pursuit of Anna and her captors.
“Now THIS is running,” said Drift, as he finally began to enjoy the chase.
In another dozen or so steps they crossed a vast plain and ploughed through snow which had lain metres deep and covered a million years of secrets. Still their pace did not let up until, quite suddenly, Fish gave a shout. “I see them!”
Fish and Drift saw the Colder Brothers running ahead of them, closing in on the coastal town. And then they saw the town’s wooden buildings, arranged on snowy streets like matchsticks. The sight of the two hill-like snowmen had already drawn a great many people from their homes. Fear drove them. Some were running whilst others were cracking whips to send husky-pulled sleds howling away. Nobody was sticking around to witness the effects of this force of nature headed their way.
Ava took another leap and roared.
“BLOCK,” she bellowed. “BLAST.”
The Colder Brothers slid to a halt and turned. Fish saw Viktor holding Anna upon Block’s wide-ridged back.
“Turn back,” he advised. “Don’t get involved, Ava. This isn’t your concern. You don’t want to hurt the kid’s mum.”
Ava jabbed a clawed foot into the ground. Fish and Drift clutched at her back as she spun around in a full circle. The sudden stop sent a spray of snow hurtling towards Block and Blast whilst behind her, the mile long army of snow slammed into her back. She barely noticed.
“OO THE ECK ARE YOU, LITTLE MAN FING?” she said. “GET YER HANDS OFF THAT LADY.”
“We’re in fer it now, eh Block?” Blast said. “Mum’s here and it’s the end of the road fer us. Tell us, Block. Tell us.” He laughed and laughed.
“Shut up, Blast,” Block said, circling around his enormous mum. “She won’t do a thing. She never did. Never will. That’s right, innit Mum? You’ll let us have our fun like always, won’t you?”
Fish stood and shook a fist, ready to give the brothers a piece of her mind. Drift stuffed her under one arm before she could say a word. “Let’s just stand over here,” he said, sliding down from Ava and sweeping his way clear of her. “For your own good.”
“YER A BAD UN, BLOCK COLDER. BADDER EVEN THAN BLAST. I SHOULDA DONE THIS A LONG TIME AGO.”
“And you’re just full of cold air, mum. Blast her, brother Blast,” Block said.
Ava pulled back her heads and fixed two sets of steely blue eyes on her son. “WHO DO YOU FINK YOU ARE?” she said. And with a screech, the elder snow dragon sent out a barrage of icicles. They hit him hard, knocking him into Block. Viktor and Anna were thrown from Block’s back. “Don’t let her ruin the plan,” Viktor squealed, running to safety and dragging Anna along with him. “We can be KINGS, remember? I can help you take back this land.”
Blast pulled himself up and growled. “Oi,” he said. “That ‘urt. Knock ‘er block off, Block. Knock it off.”
His brother stood beside him. “You know something, Blast? I think I will. It’s been a long time since you could tell us what to do, mummy dear. So here’s some tough love.”
Moving as one, Block and Blast stamped on the ground. The impact sent shockwaves disrupting the snow. They charged.
Drift stepped up to shield Fish. Viktor laughed and pushed Anna to the floor. More of the townspeople scattered through the snow. And Ava…
…turned away.
The snow dragon kept one head trained on the stampeding snowmen and roared.
“BLOCK. BLAST.” She hurled the words at them. “GET IN THE SEA.” And with one perfectly timed sweep of her mighty tail, Ava struck the Colder Brothers with a power only an avalanche can muster.
Fish let out a cheer as first Block and then Blast flew into the air. They soared over the town and fell towards the sea.
The snowmen’s flight didn’t last long. With a Whack! And a Whack! they landed on a large ice shelf floating a short distance out to sea.
“I’ve got you now, young men” Florence told them. “Time you both cooled off.” And away she floated until only the faintest of roars could be heard across the waters.
Fish and Drift hugged. Ava turned her heads to where Viktor stood with Anna.
“WELL WELL, LITTLE MANNY MAN. WHAT YOU GONNA DO NOW? HAND HER OVER. YOU’RE DONE FOR.”
“I’m innocent,” exclaimed Drift. “I didn’t do it. Tell the world!” He danced in the snow. Now all the town would know he’d been on the run for a crime he didn’t commit. He danced and danced, happy to finally be able to stop running.
And then he stopped as Viktor clapped.
As Viktor clapped slowly.
Viktor laughed. “I should thank you,” he said. “I really should. This was unexpected, but not unplanned for.”
“Well that’s quite nice of him,” Drift said. Fish tapped him on the leg and pointed towards an enormous wave rising from the sea.
“Oh,” Drift said.
“OH ‘ECK,” Ava said. “IT’S HER.”
“Who?” Drift asked.
“ME OTHER HALF.”
“This is going to be trickier than I thought,” Fish gulped.
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Illustration © Carl Pugh