Elemental Courage

by M. W. McDonald

  “You did well William,” Khorynn said smiling.

  “Who are you?” William’s voice was distant to his own ears. The woman smiled at him. “I am your aunt.” William was too tired, his eyelids grew very heavy, and he fell forward with a thud and shifting of dust. Khorynn’s energy picked him and brought him to her. “Thank you, William, your mother would be proud.” The walls and ceilings had reached their limit and began to fall into the expansive structure of Owen’s home. A large ceiling chunk of earth broke up and plummeted towards William’s unconscious form.

  “This is my final gift to a sister I have wronged in so many ways.” Her energy glowed brilliantly among the dust and debris. The most substantial section of the roof broke off and fell, smashing into the ground—the glow was gone.

  50

  Owen stood watch in the open air where David had dropped them to retrieve the others from his home. This was where he first saw David after so many years, and where he nearly strangled him to death with his stone grip. Owen was tremendously relieved to see his wife rift back to him with David a few minutes after he was dropped off. He held her tightly and kissed her as if there would be no tomorrow. The blackness around his home in the distance began to dissipate. The black claw that had grasped at the rock dissolved.

  “Great job kid,” Owen said as he kissed his wife once more.

  51

  Alex was in a makeshift chamber of rock. Owen had constructed it to keep the man out of the elements in his currently broken state. He was hurting badly, his body was wracked with sharp pains in numerous areas, and he had a tough time supporting his weight on any joint. Even lying down sent pains through his ribs. Dyaina was trying to tend to his wounds but being of an opposite element to her own, she had to resort to more primitive methods—bandages and splints. His whole torso was broken or fractured, and his ornate tattoos glowed like the embers of an old fire as his frustration grew. A coughing spasm wracked his body, causing blinding pain to jolt him. Dyaina tried to calm him.

  “I’m done,” Alex muttered tiredly.

  “That’s not what I taught you, boy.” Alex recognized the voice instantly, he didn’t see him though. Dyaina also heard the sound and tried to see where it had come from. At the entrance to the chamber, there stood a wispy outline of an older man made of thick red ribbons of energy.

  “Gramps…” The shape of the man nodded.

  “You have done me proud Alex. Never forget that, stay true to your heart and believe in your gut, they will get you through anything. I have a final gift for you.” Alex shook his head. His mind was filled with hatred for Irys. “If you aren’t staying then what can you possibly do for me?” He hadn’t intended to sound that selfish, but even he admitted that was a little childish.

  “Stubborn child.” The shape walked forward, a form of a thin smile crossed his face as he nodded to Dyaina. She nodded back to him and left the chamber. Alex’s grandfather placed his ethereal hand on Alex’s chest. It began to glow a brilliant red and immense heat. Alex’s eyes were pure fire as they flew wide open in pain. His bones began to reknit and his wounds cauterized. His grandfather shared with him every moment. All of the memories they had created together. They were moments that Alex had taken for granted, but to his grandfather, they were priceless memories that he took special care of preserving. Alex’s first spells, his first girlfriend, his acceptance into college, even their talks on the porch of his grandfather’s house in Vermont—all of them were shared with Alex, and he finally felt how vital they were to his gramps. He was filled with the fire of love and family, and it burned away his hatred like a cleansing fire. His grandfather’s love for him repaired his body and filled his soul.

  “She wasn’t to blame Alex.” The form of his grandfather began to fade. “Forgive her Alex. That is my gift to you.” With that, his grandfather was gone.

  52

  Dyaina stood outside Alex’s stone chamber. She leaned against the wall and glanced at her surroundings. Owen and Ren were hugging each other tightly quietly dancing to their own internal music. Irys was sitting off to the side of them about 10 feet muttering to herself with tears in her eyes. Dyaina noticed quickly that Michael wasn’t there and was stabbed in the heart with grief. She had lost one son today, that tore at her terribly as she realized that pain couldn’t compare to what Irys had gone through these many years. Their eyes met, and Dyaina realized that she wasn’t muttering because she was crazy she kept muttering the name “Brian…Brian…” Dyaina walked to her niece quickly and knelt down to sit with her. Dyaina found the courage to smile for Irys’ sake. Her thoughts were drawn back to Michael and William. From the dissipating energies that grasped at Owen’s home, she could tell that either William had beaten the Reaper or the Reaper had absorbed her son, either way, meant she didn’t need to run anymore—there wouldn’t be a point to it. A tear formed from the latter thought, she immediately banished the thought. David had dropped Ren at the small encampment in a blur nearly sending her flying with the momentum of his re-entry into normal space. He did manage to set her down with some care before he bounded back into the same rift he emerged from his limbs were blurred by the speed he beckoned. Dyaina didn’t even have the time to tell him to be careful before he was gone again. Actions first words later—seemed to be a rift wolf motto.

  At this moment David was looking for Brian, and he had been gone longer than a rift wolf should be and Dyaina’s mind pulsed with worry. A rift suddenly opened off to her left, and David burst through the spasming vortex carrying Brian who seemed to be struggling to stay on the massive animal. David’s speed bled off quickly as he approached their basecamp—but not fast enough. David’s broad paws dug into the earth carving it for a few painful feet. The sudden resistance in momentum sent Brian sailing over David’s head.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Brian yelled as he flew through the air and landed in a prickly pile of sagebrush.

  Dyaina raced over to David. “Damn it, David, protect your passengers!” Brian yelled from the bush. David shifted back to his human form; burns and abrasions were all over his chest and arms. Rift burns on a rift wolf.

  “Damn David how fast were you going?” Owen asked, astonished that David had to be moving fast enough that his fur gave him so little protection.

  “Michael would have wanted me to…to…” David stopped speaking afraid of the emotions around the next words.

  “If you are burnt, how is Brian?” Owen asked quickly racing to Brian’s sprawled location.

  “Oh, Brian is just fine.” Brian’s spoke for himself in a richly sarcastic tone. He stood up and put out a smoldering lock of his hair while tugging on a small tumbleweed now tangled in his shirt and hair.

  “Rifting with you should be a first-class ride, so why do you put me in the baggage compartment?” Brian struggled with the thorny bush, finally releasing its death grip on his hair and shirt.

  “David did get me out just in time though, so I shouldn’t complain.” Brian walked through the bushes. David pat Brian’s shoulder. He spoke lowly. “I know what you did for Irys. A lesser man would have taken the path out.” David’s smile was beaming.

  “She was asking about you, you know,” Dyaina added. Her gaze led Brian’s to where Irys sat.

  “Oh…ok.” Brian cleared his throat nervously. Dyaina stopped Brian for a moment by grabbing his arm. “What happened to William?” She asked. Brian closed his eyes and felt for his energy. His face contorted to a frown. He opened his eyes and shook his head. He looked at Dyaina solemnly then continued. “I’m sorry Dy, I can’t feel him.”

  “Then he…he’s…” Her voice faltered not trusting its own foundation.

  “He’s gone?” David asked for her slowly, wrapping his arms around his wife for support.

  “Yes and no.” Brian frowned again in concentration. “He’s gone, but I don’t know where. I can’t feel any of his energy right now. If the shade absorbed him, I would still feel his energy.” Dyaina stared at him blankly. B
rian re-emphasized his point. “I can’t feel him at all, it’s like he vanished.”

  Dyaina looked at her husband. “Take me back there.” David looked away from her, unable to deal with the pain in her eyes. “You can’t go back there. The whole place is coming down. There are no safe places to rift in to. She looked at Brian imploringly, he nodded his head in agreement.

  “I barely got out of there myself Dy. I’m sorry.” Brian said.

  Heart searing pain tore at her. She collapsed to her knees and sobbed heavily. “My son…” David sat down next to her and held his sobbing wife close. Brian stepped away from the grief-stricken parents; he wanted to talk to Irys. He glanced around briefly then saw her.

  Irys stood now as she watched the Reaper’s shadow disperse and the earth implode on itself. Brian walked over to her slowly trying to come up with some sort of scripted conversation that would make him as alluring in her eyes as she was in his. He came up blank. He stopped a few feet from her and cleared his throat.

  “I am glad you are ok.” He said. Irys blushed and nodded.

  “If it hadn’t been for you I’d be dead.” Her voice trailed off.

  “What else was there to do?” He asked honestly amazed that there was any other option than saving her. He never put his life before others that’s what made him a great doctor and an even better friend.

  “You could’ve let me die.” Her voice was a barely audible whisper. “I know what I was, most of it is a haze, but I do remember some things.” Her body chilled at the thought of some of her, or rather the shade’s, actions. “It was like I was some cursed observer to a world of horror.” She wasn’t sobbing, but tears were steadily streaming down her face. By reflex, Brian reached up to try and brush away those tears. She shied away from his hand quickly.

  “I don’t deserve this chance at life…”

  “Who deserves this more than you?” Brian fought her protests and hugged her. “If there is someone more deserving I’ll show you a 3 dollar bill. It wasn’t your fault, it wasn’t your choice to become a shade.”

  She stopped fighting him and cried into his shoulder. Brian stood holding Irys, his heart hurt for her. He leaned back from her and attempted to wipe the tears away again. She didn’t shy away this time.

  “Now this is awkward,” Brian said, his familiar comical tone now coming back out. “I have done all of the conversating in this relationship so far, and I have yet to formally introduce myself. “ He smiled broadly making Irys smile in return. He held out a hand in greeting. “My name is Brian, I’m your hero.” Irys laughed through her tears. She took his hand. “Irys Vrastal, pleased to meet you.” Brian smiled at her kissed her hand and held it tightly. “Let’s get you back to others.” Irys nodded. Brian never let go of her hand.

  53

  It was only a short distance to Owen and Ren’s location, but somehow Irys and Brian had found time to get acquainted. They still held hands as they made their way to their base camp.

  “Curious,” Owen said smiling, loud enough for the two approaching to hear. Renai turned and smiled noticing the mutual affection in the tightly held hands. Brian let her hand go and hugged Ren.

  “Glad to see you in one piece.” He said.

  “Yeah, you too,” Ren replied. “I’m going to borrow your girlfriend a minute.” Ren hooked her arm in Irys’

  “She’s not my—“Brian replied to late as Ren hauled Irys out of earshot.

  “I find that it’s best not to argue with her,” Owen said as he rested a large hand on the man’s shoulder. Owen could read every emotion in Brian’s blood, and he knew without a doubt that he loved that woman at first sight. He smiled to himself but said nothing.

  “Thanks for getting her out Brian.” Owen noticed Ren excitedly talking to Irys and Irys’ nervous glances back towards Brian. “What are you up to woman?” Owen thought to himself.

  “It was more David than me, but you’re welcome.”

  “Any sign of William yet?” Owen asked.

  “None at all and it is confusing the hell out of me.” Brian’s face was thoughtful as he poked the area with his mind for any indication of the boys missing energy. Owen tapped Brian on the shoulder to get his attention.

  “Best look out Brian.” Owen smiled and backed away from the man. Irys and Ren were walking back. Irys led the pair but what scared Brian was the mischievously smiling Ren behind her. The look in Irys’ eyes made his limbs go weak.

  “I didn’t do it I swear,” Brian said quickly unsure of what he was already apologizing for. Further defense was cut off by Irys planting a deep kiss on the man. He struggled for only a moment before hugging her to him and kissing her right back.

  “I asked her if she had thanked you properly yet. She said not really, and I merely gave her suggestions,” Ren said in mock innocence.

  “Yeah right,” Owen said hugging his wife too him as the two kissed. The mood was broken by a tearing of the air as a rift opened in the middle of their encampment. Owen quickly looked at David.

  Everyone gathered around the rift. “Where are you going, David?” Owen asked.

  “It’s not mine,” David said as he stood up. Dyaina stayed on the ground, her sobbing had lessened but the tears still flowed freely.

  “I didn’t make this opening,” David said.

  “Everyone back up.” Owen’s fears of another attack were put to rest as William’s body floated from the swirling vortex as if of its own free will. The vortex closed with a snap. Wisps of energy drifted around his unconscious form as the boy’s body was lowered to the ground. The energy formed into the shape of a woman.

  “Khorynn? Will?” Dyaina was surprised, to say the least. She crawled over to William’s body quickly and searched for a pulse.

  “He will be fine…” Khorynn’s voice was haunting yet beautiful. “He would have made you proud Dy.” The shape of Khorynn turned to see her daughter holding hands with Brian. The mother in her smiled, grateful that her daughter had another chance.

  “How?” Dyaina asked. She had gathered herself and now stood face to face with the collection of energy that belonged to her twin sister.

  “Long story my dearest sister, and sadly I am running out of time. Ask William someday, he really is a good kid.” Khorynn’s ethereal form floated to her daughter. She glanced down at the joined hands and smiled again. The form wrapped its arms around her daughter and hugged her.

  “I love you so much Irys. Live your life, live it well. You have lifetimes ahead of you, share them with someone you love.” Irys looked at Brian, and he blushed a bright crimson.

  “At least he’s cute,” Khorynn said jokingly. Irys smiled, and Khorynn brushed her daughter’s cheek one last time before turning to Owen. Owen nodded to her, a nod of muted respect. “I am sorry Owen…For your brother.” Owen nodded simply not expecting the words. She turned back to her sister.

  “I have wronged our family in so many ways, history will have little choice but to portray me a monster.” Dyaina opened her mouth to correct her, but Khorynn held a hand up to stop her. “And they would be right.” Khorynn smiled a moment as she looked down at William. “If it weren't for William I would still be that monster.” She looked at her sister. “I am so sorry Dy.” The twins hugged. Khorynn’s body began to glow brighter.

  “My time is up,” her once powerful voice now cracked on the verge of sobs. Dyaina and Irys stepped forward and hugged the fading image of Khorynn. “I love you both.” her form exploded in orbs of white pulsing energy. The twin pendants of Irys and Dyaina glowed brightly. A new picture of the three of them; Khorynn, Irys and Dyaina now filled their sapphire faces.

  Epilogue

  “It’s time…” Dyaina said solemnly as she looked towards the center of the clearing where she now stood at its edge.

  They should be celebrating with the destruction of the Reaper, but instead, the weight of their losses hit her squarely in the morale. It was a week ago that they lost Michael. David was now the last of his clan. David h
ad brought them all to a sacred clearing near the Himalayan Mountains that was utterly devoid of the snow, ice, and cold of the surrounding mountains. The lush green grass and flowers in this clearing seemed to fight off the cold- and they were winning. The air here was crisp and clean and warm enough not to require a sweater. The circular clearing was approximately 80 yards in diameter and at its center was a series of rough stone slabs forming rudimentary structures. Those structures seemed to be made of every type of stone that the earth had to offer. Slabs of pitted limestone, basalt, granite were some of the most immediately recognizable of the stones used. They formed a large semi-circle.

  William, Alex, and Dyaina had been dropped at the clearing first. Alex was sitting quietly on the grass, one leg tucked under his body with the other stretched in front of him; his arms braced back to support his torso. Dyaina held her son’s hand and looked at his face as William stared off into the distance. He was different now, she could see it. He carried himself like a battle-hardened veteran, but the loss of his brother still cut her son deeply. She saw the resentment, fear, and the survivor’s guilt in his eyes every day but it was mixed with something else, something far more impressive- love for those around him. She knew he would protect his loved ones with everything he had, or he would die trying. At that moment Dyaina couldn’t be more proud of her son.

  The familiar crackle and tear of a rift snapped her mind back to attention. She turned and saw the magnificent rift wolf form of her husband carrying Bryan and Irys. He slowed from running to a slow walk before kneeling down and letting his passengers disembark. His big ambers eyes glanced towards his wife, heavy with sadness before turning around and vanishing through his still-open rift. It snapped shut and then re-opened a few seconds later as he bore Owen and Renai to their destination. David stopped for a moment to let Owen and Ren off. Owen conjured an open stone hand that rose from the earth and spread flat. His wife stepped off the wolf onto the hand as it slowly lower back to the ground.