The river was cold and onflowing. The dark waters added only to the shadows of the grayscale world that death was. The boarder betwen life and death was behind and somewhere foreward was the faint sound of a waterfall.

Chlorr screamed, strglling agienst the force of Kibeth and Saraneth. She walked stiffly towards the waterfall as her legs were being compelled though she fought.

Willow held the bells, ringing them in a careful figure eight movement so the sound was that of a happy jig with compelling force. Willow felt the other's presance behind her, "DO not go over the waterfall, the water will sweep you through beyond where I can help you if you should fall. Follow me exactly for we must seal her beyond the seventh gate. Each gate is more wrought with perils and with each passing the dead grow stronger and more daring. Do not succumb to the water's chill or it will overpower you." She continued stepping foreward, feet firmly finding holds in the slippery water. "Elwyne, would you ring Kibeth please?" she held out the bell to her, still ringing it in its figure eight song.

Dzetz looked at Silver, who nodded, both closed eyes and a small platform, big enough for all to put their feet on, made of solid shadow, rose up and kept to Willow's pace, "Rest your feet Willowharp, "Silver said, "not a drop of water will pass this."he finishes, and Dzetz continues"We are stronger here than many other places, no dead will stop you, nor if you wish, come close."The faintest shadow of a wall flickers into view about the company.
Willow climbed on, marveling at the skill of her two friends, yet not speaking for fear of breaking the bell's spell and be bound herself.

Chlorr slid up to the waterfall's edge held at the black archway that covered the edge of the waterfall that fell away into darkness. Willow held up a hand and spoke the free magic spell and the black curtains parted and the waterfall lessened to reveal steps of stone going down.

Elwyne was feeling much better after leaving the battlefield. There was only Chlorr's pain now that she was here.  And compared to the armies that had been clashing one creature's pain was as nothing. El gently gripped the bell and rang it in time with Willowharp's bell.

Willow could feel the power of Elwyne through the sound of the bell, it made her tasks easier. SHe spared a moment to smile briefly but reassuringly to her beofre turning back to face the edge of the waterfall. "How fast can this thingy go? Its a flat sprint to the next gate and you can't stop for anyhting."

Chlorr hovered precarously on the edge of the waterfall, bound but not silenced. She cursed in a steady stream under her breath.

Willow looked out over to the next gate, the water was relatively calm and almost stagnant, though Willow knew well the trechering allure of the second gate. She could feel a few of the lesser dead blindly moving around, mostly spirits wandering through. Shades of what they once were in life.

"Why dear Willow, as fast as you can make this one fly ahead of us, "Silver says, "Set your pace, and we will match it,"Dzetz continues, "We can keep any pace for weeks in a place like this."Dresh smiles through her words. 

Willow nodded, glad. "Good, then we'll go, follow closely." she willed the platform to speed quickly to the third gate. The spell holding the second gate open ended and the water that was being held back came rushing forward with a tremedous crash, sweeping up the lesser spirits and throwing them into the third gate. Willow spoke the next gate's spell, feeling the free magic spell burn her throat with its untamed power.

The third gate was rough, whirlpools and dips were everywhere along the river. The shadows seemed to thicken around them and the near silence was echoing with the sound of the bells. Willow willed both the platform and Chlorr forward.

Elwyne pressed herself nervously against Willow's leg, though she continued to ring her bell on time.

Willow laid her free hand on Elwyne's shoulder reassuringly. "The worst is almost over Elwyne, when we're done with all of this I promise to bake you some of my special strawberry scones." she said with a smile, adding a feeling of peace to the conflicting emotions she could feel in Elwyne. Chlorr slumped and striggled no more, appearing to have given up for now.

The platform reached the fourth gate and Willow spoke the spell, the gate opened and they proceeded through along the deepening river past shadows and rapids with relative ease. The fifth gate also were passed with no sign of the greater dead. The sixth gate loomed ahead and the sounds of the angry greater dead could be heard fighting and sloshig through the deep water. Willow paused a moment before opening the gate, adding a tinge of an extra sound to the bell she held and the greater dead were bound to silence. There was the sudden roar of water and then silence again. The group neared a space in the water, the greater dead nowhere to be found as they hid in the shadows, watching and hating but not daring attack. Then in the water there opened up a vast whirlpool which ripped several weaker dead into its depths with a silent squelsh of water. Willow bid Chlorr enter the whirlpool. 

"Cheery place this is." Moonrose commented sarcastically. "Reminds me of one of my uncle's hideouts."

"It appears we've reached the end."Silver says pleasently.

Elwyne shivered, "I hope so. I want this all to be over!"

Chlorr fell within the depths of the whirlpool shrieking shrilly but to no avail as once one enters the final gate of the River Death there is no returning. 

Moonrose nodded, "I think that's about finished. Now, unless any other surprises pop up, we just have the clean up to tend to." She sighed, "What I wouldn't give for a herd of hertasi for that."

Willowharp smiled and turned to everyone. "Now we must make our way back to the mouth of the river and back to Mistaya"