by Willan Ellis
Teanne stirred when she felt the water, and parted her lips savouring the taste of the cool liquid. Opening her eyes, she slowly focussed on the face above her, Hazel. The realisation hit quickly and she pushed Hazel away viciously.
'Relax, she was only giving you water,' Lin tried to hold Teanne still.
'Get her away from.' Teanne screamed and watched as the thin line of water retracted into Hazels wrist. Hazel stood and moved away, while Lin tried to settle her friend down.
'It was my idea, Teanne.'
'What?’
'Hazel offered to help and I said yes.' Teanne angrily glared at Lin and then rose to her feet, stumbling a little.
'I don't care Lin. Why would you allow her to put that thing anywhere near me?'
Lin ran her hands through her hair exasperated. 'It's done and you are awake.' Teanne flinched at Lin's tone, 'do you know why you collapsed like that?'
Teanne had her suspicions but was not about to discuss it with Hazel there. She looked at Lin and hoped she would read her thoughts; Lin looked at Teanne's wrist and then back to her friend who nodded.
'I'm sorry Teanne.'
'What?' Teanne responded angrily at Hazel who had taken a step closer,
'I'm sorry for using my Wara on you. I knew it would revive you. The water came straight from the trees, it has healing effects.' Teanne looked at Hazel and for the first time felt a tinge of guilt. This girl had just helped her and she was dismissing her simple act of kindness. Could she move past the fact Hazel was Mesi? Would she move past it? To the surprise of Lin and Hazel, and even herself she softly replied,
'I am grateful Hazel, Thank you.'
'Well I never thought I would hear those words from your lips' Lin sarcastically said and Hazel smiled,
'Lin, could I speak with you in private please?' Teanne walked back down the trail from where they came and waited until Lin joined her.
Teanne clenched her wrist and watched as the Estrus’ glow elongated and stretch up the length of her arm. Lin looked on in awe.
‘Any ideas?’ Teanne asked Lin, hoping she could offer an explanation.
‘None.’ Lin said looking at her friend apologetically.
‘It has to do with us crossing into Aelia, surely?’ Teanne offered. Lin started to chew on the end of her fingernail, and then began pacing up and down the path. She stopped and looked at Hazel and then back at Teanne. Taking Teanne’s arm she led them back toward Hazel and the invisible border.
‘Hazel, we are going to go on ahead. Teanne is going to catch her breath and join us shortly.’ Hazel nodded and moved to cross the border. Lin and Teanne both held their breath as she stepped into Aelia. Nothing happened.
‘When we are out of sight, phase to just over the border near those trees’
‘Are you sure?’ Teanne asked looking as Hazel disappearing behind the trees. Lin nodded.
‘That stone took you back in time, do you really think an invisible line on a map is really going to stop it. But to be safe I think it better you don’t physically cross it.’ Lin waited until Teanne nodded and then she hurried after Hazel, pausing and cautiously taking a step into Aelia, and then turned back smiling cheekily at Teanne.
Teanne closed her eyes and exhaled.
Aelia -Night - Now