By noon, they were over the ridge and on the path down to the cove.

Going down was easier at first.

Then it wasn't.

Sophie's legs began to shake at the steep bits. Wind's shoulder hurt where the strap had rubbed it before.

“I'm tired of this mountain,” Sophie said.

Wind nodded.

“All of it.”

He nodded again.

“Want me to take your pack?”

Sophie was still tired. Her mouth was dry, but she could see that her friend was struggling too.

“No. We've only got a little bit left.”

She pulled at one of the straps.

“Next time I'm bringing something lighter than this tired blue pack of Dad's. We should ditch it right here, if you ask me.”

Wind looked at her.

She pulled the pack higher on her shoulders and kept walking.

“It heard you,” Wind laughed, and they kept walking down.