North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

the lane that led from the Igiby cottage. Had it been a stream in the forest, they might’ve jumped across with little trouble.
    Janner crept forward and stuck his hand into the rushing water, and it was jerked downstream as if someone had slapped it. There was no way they could wade or swim across without being swept away.
    “What’s holdin’ us up?” Podo asked from behind Nugget.
    Janner turned to answer and saw Fangs descending the steps behind them.
    “Grandpa!” he cried.
    In one fluid motion, Podo drew his sword, spun around, and put an end to the nearest snake man. It took a few moments for the second Fang in line to understand what had happened, but when it did, it snarled and waved its sword at Podo.
    “Hurry!” Podo roared, parrying a blow and kicking the second Fang over the side. Another was close behind.
    “Tink, can you make it?” Janner yelled.
    “Make what?”
    “The jump! It’s our only chance. Can you do it?”
    “But then what? What about Oskar? What about Grandpa?”
    Janner’s temper flared again. “I don’t know! Even if you’re the only one who makes it over, that’s better than all of us being caught! Can you do it?”
    Without another word, Tink backed up, took a deep breath, and jumped. He landed on the other side of the gap and rolled to a crouch.
    “Leeli, can you get Nugget to jump over?” Nia shouted.
    “I think so,” Leeli said. She leaned over and whispered into Nugget’s ear.
    “Here, boy!” Tink called. He clapped his hands and whistled.
    Janner saw Podo struggling with another Fang, this one wielding a spear. Podo danced back from the point of the spear and bumped into Nugget’s rump. Nugget yelped and leapt to the other side of the gap.
    “Good boy, Nugget!” cried Nia.
    “Mama, you’re next,” Janner said. “Go!”
    Nia grabbed Janner’s elbow. “No, son, you should—”
    “Go!” Janner screamed, and Nia went. She was thin and strong, but her feet didn’t reach the other side. Nia landed with her waist at the edge, her hands flailing to find purchase on the rock. Her legs disappeared into the rush of water and whipped her sideways.
    “Mama!” Leeli screamed.
    Tink grabbed her hands and pulled with all his might, but he could feel his mother slipping away. Nia didn’t scream. She clenched her jaw and set her gaze on her son and daughter, her eyes burning into them so that veins stood out at her temples.
    Nugget took a fold of Nia’s blouse in his teeth, lifted her from the rapids, and set her down. She rolled onto her back, gasping.
    Janner wasn’t sure what to do next. He knew he could make the jump, but what of Oskar and Podo? Someone would have to hold off the Fangs to allow the others to escape, and if Nia had barely made the leap, then Oskar was certain to perish.
    Janner drew his sword.
    He wanted to be strong and brave enough to push past Podo and fend off the Fangs so that his grandfather could escape, but he knew he was no match for the Fangs. Though they had shown themselves poor fighters, they were still venomous and strong. Much had happened in the weeks since the Dragon Day Festival—he had helped Podo defeat Commander Gnorm, and he had grown used to the heft of a sword—but he was still only twelve.
    Janner told himself he wasn’t being cowardly—he was being realistic. Gnag wanted the Jewels of Anniera, not Podo or Oskar. Wouldn’t it be right to escape while he could? Wouldn’t Oskar and Podo tell him to do the same?
    He looked back through the mist and saw Tink, Nia, and Leeli watching, none of them sure what to do. Podo raged on, cursing the Fangs amidst the clang of swords and the rumble of the Mighty Blapp. Oskar pressed a hand to his wounded side and sank to the ground.
    Janner stood between those he loved with his sword drawn, wavering between two terrible choices: flee and hope Podo could hold off the Fangs long enough for him and his siblings to make their way across the falls—if indeed there was a way—or throw