6 Groggle Mountain

CHAPTER Six Groggle Mountain Julie stared up. "You mean that was there the whole time?" The mountain was steep and craggy. Its distant peak went through the clouds high above the island. "It's awesome," said Eric. "I bet the white cliff is at the top. That's where Galen is being held prisoner." "If Galen is at the top," Keeah said, "then to the top we're going! Max?" "At once, my princess!" the spider troll replied. Then he began to spin his legs so quickly they seemed to blur.

Moments later, he held a long coil of silky rope.

"Time to climb!" Max said. "Just like gym class," Julie said. Max and Neal leaped upward easily, tying the spider silk to rocks and ledges wherever they could. "Last one up is a rotten bug egg!" Max squeaked, scurrying faster. "Hey!" Neal complained, scrambling after him. Keeah smiled, tightened her belt, grasped the rope, and pulled herself up. "Better hurry." Without wasting a second more, Eric and Julie began their climb. Strong winds battered them as they climbed higher and higher. They reached one ledge after another without stopping. There wasn't time. Soon they lost sight of the beach below. "Careful," Julie said, joining Neal, Max, and Keeah on a narrow ledge. "Remember what the flies said. The groggles are up here. That means the Ninns are close by. They're not exactly going to welcome us." "We're heading into danger," Keeah added. Eric's heart raced. He stopped to catch his breath. "Why are the tiny creatures friendly and the big, powerful ones mean? Answer me that." Neal, clinging to the ledge above, turned. "Size has nothing to do with power," he said.

Keeah smiled. "Let me guess, the flies told you that?" "Nope. I made it up myself," said Neal with a chuckle. "It must be the bug in me talking." Kaww! Kaww! Sudden cries echoed down the mountain. "Groggles!" Keeah shouted. "Take cover!" Everyone huddled under the ledge. Everyone except Eric. He tried to pull himself up to where the others were. "Wait for me!" But the groggles wouldn't wait. With a loud flapping noise, two of the big flying lizards swooped out of the sky, spotted Eric, and dived right for him. "Go away, you ugly creeps!" Julie shouted. They all started pelting the groggles with rocks. Kaww! Kaww! One groggle shrieked, then pulled away. But the second circled around for Eric again. "Leave me alone!" Eric yelled, flailing his arms. "More rocks!" Max cried, tossing handfuls of stones at the beast. But the groggle kept dodging them. Its sharp claws dug and scratched at one end of the ledge Eric was clinging to. The rocks began to break away, tumbling down the mountain to the trees below.

"Oh, man!" Eric groaned. "Get me out of here!" He glanced to his left. The ledge narrowed to nothing only a few feet from him. On his right, the groggle was ripping the mountain away in huge clawfuls. There was nowhere for him to go. His friends kept throwing rocks at the beast. "Hold on, Eric!" Neal shouted to him. But Eric couldn't hold on. There was nothing to hold onto. Kaww! Kaww! The groggle lunged again. The ledge crumbled away. Eric grasped wildly at the air. He fell.