Chapter 51

The five girls scattered themselves all over the snow, lifting branches, tree trunks, and other debris that was knocked loose during the avalanche. They screamed Maria's name, wondering whether she was still alive. There was no sound, no responding yell, and the longer they searched, the more desperate they felt.

The silence was overwhelming. The only sound was the faint hiss of wind through the bare tree branches, and the light muffled sound of snow being dug through. After the avalanche, it seemed they were wrapped in clouds of silence, and there was a ringing in all of their ears. The mountain was too quiet; they longed to hear any indication that Maria was alive.

Jasmine used her power of fire to melt the snow wherever she could. But as soon as the snow melted in one place, more simply fell into the hole she created. No matter how much she melted, there was always more to take its place.

"There's just so much!" she yelled, frustration coloring his voice. "There's too much!"