by Dreagen
“You stole it?” EeNox said with a look of surprise.
“It was that or we walk out of here with nothing, or worse yet, arousing suspicion—something you both would have probably succeeded at doing had I not stepped in and saved us all.”
“Okay, okay,” EeNox, conceded. “You’re right. Thank you for saving us.”
“That’s more like it, and you’re welcome.”
“How are AnaSaya and ShinGaru?” Rex asked.
“Still waiting for us on the outskirts of town,” she replied, glancing back at the entrance. “I just hope no one sees them. I can’t imagine what people will say if they get a look at ShinGaru. Come to think of it, Rex, has anyone said anything about you?”
“Thankfully, no,” he said, taking a quick look at the counter where the merchant was now filling the traveling sacks with the various items. “But those two over there are making me more than a little uncomfortable.”
LyCora looked behind him to the far wall, where the VeVora and CeraVora were eyeing them warily while conversing between themselves.
“You think they suspect something?”
“Don’t know, but it’s like you said, how many DyVorians like me do you see walking around here, or anywhere for that matter?”
“I know,” she said uneasily, risking another look at the two. “Let’s just get what we came for and get out of here quickly. Even if their suspicions are roused, there won’t be much they can hopefully do if we move on before they can get any sort of word out.”
“I hope you’re right,” EeNox said. “Especially with word from KaNar that we’re on the run already having reached here.”
“What?” she asked in surprise, her feathers standing on end.
“Oh, we didn’t mention that?”
“You seem to have left out that crucial little piece of information! How long ago?”
“Two days,” Rex said.
“Was it by CyTorian?”
EeNox nodded. “One of ours, no doubt.”
“And they said they’re looking for SaVarians or DyVorians?”
“Both, from what he made it sound like.”
LyCora slumped her shoulders. “Well, this just got more complicated.” She stood in silence for a moment, working over everything she had learned in her mind. “Something’s not right.”
“What do you mean?” Rex asked.
“If CyTorians brought word that five teenage DyVorians were on the run, then why wouldn’t they have given them a detailed description?”
“Well, they would have, I’m assuming. What’s your point?”
“If that’s the case, don’t you find it odd that bells didn’t sound off in their heads when you two walked in? Especially you, Rex! There’s no mistaking you for anyone else, to be sure.” A sting of panic suddenly shot through them as they glanced back at the merchant behind the counter.
“You think he knows?” asked EeNox.
“Count on it,” Rex replied. “We’ve been tricked.”
“What do you mean?”
“He means word was probably sent out that we’ve been spotted the moment you stepped through that door, and that merchant has been stalling you all this time.”
“That explains those two over there,” Rex said, motioning to the two DyVorians still keeping a close eye on them from the opposite end of the room.
“We need to get out of here right away,” she professed.
“But what about the supplies?” EeNox protested.
“Forget them,” Rex said. “VayRonx and the others could be almost here! If we don’t get out of here now we may not get another chance!”
“But if we try to leave without taking what we’ve traded for, then they’ll know we’re on to them,” said EeNox.
Rex looked at the counter and saw that the merchant had everything pretty much together, then back at LyCora, who shook her head, as if she knew what he was thinking. Knowing her, Rex thought, she probably did. “Follow my lead,” he said and headed towards the counter.
“Damn it,” LyCora growled.
The three of them approached the merchant, who looked up as he saw them coming. Rex was not sure exactly how this was going to play out, but he did not relish losing the fire stones for nothing. Suddenly, he heard a voice he had not heard for some time in his head.
Rex, said EliCia. You must not chance this. Run now while you have the chance! Please, I implore you!
You sure picked a fine time to chime back in, Rex replied back in his head.
I’m sorry if you felt as if I had abandoned you. I assure you that was never the case, but there were circumstances that prevented me from reaching you.
Whatever. Now’s not the time to get into this, anyway.
While commendable it may be, you trying to help your friends, you will only do them a great disservice if you are caught now!
Ignoring her, Rex stepped up to the counter and greeted the merchant. “Hello, again. How are things coming along here with the items we’ve asked for?”
“Just fine,” the merchant replied kindly. “However, there was the matter of me being out of stock of one of the items you requested, so I sent word to have it retrieved from my storehouse. It should not take much time; however, by the time it arrives and things get settled here, it will be rather late in the day, leaving you only a few hours of light for you and your convoy to travel. I would recommend you take lodging here for the night. I can send word to your convoy, which you can regroup with in the morning.
“That is very kind of you sir,” said LyCora. “But we really must be on our way. You see, there is much work to be done, and we would not want to push our duties on others. Still, we thank you for your gracious offer, just the same.”
“Yes, thank you,” echoed EeNox.
“Whatever item it is you are short on I’m sure we can do just fine without it,” said Rex.
“Nonsense,” said the merchant. “I would hate to send you on your way short of anything, especially after having been traded something as important as fire stones. Please, I really must insist.”
“As do I,” Rex said, placing a hand on one of the pouches filled with goods. It was at that moment that the mood in the air changed, for any illusion of propriety was quickly crumbling. Rex, EeNox, and LyCora knew they had to leave but did not know to what lengths their hosts would go to keep them there. Tensions were mounting, and Rex knew there was only one way to test the shopkeeper’s measure. “We’ll be going now,” he said, taking the pouch in his claws and stepping away with it. In the process, he caught a look of surprise or anger from the merchant. As if triggered by some silent signal, the other two DyVorians behind began walking towards them, but it was not the slow and cautious approach as before. No, this time they were clearing the space between them at a brisk pace, with all manner of intent. Following his lead, EeNox and LyCora grabbed the rest of the bags and turned from the counter just in time to come face to face with the VeVora and CeraVora.
“Excuse us,” LyCora said testily.
The CeraVora shook his head. “Afraid not, young one.”
“You would dare to imprison us?” she asked furiously. “Weary travelers who’ve made honest trade? Wait until the alpha of our tribe hears of this!”
“Well, that would be the idea, would it not, LyCora?” replied the VeVora.
“H…how do you know my name?”
“We know all your names. Mine is KyStov and this is ManaTy. We are here on behalf of Alpha TorMarr.”
“So, let me guess, you were sent here in case we showed up?” EeNox asked.
“Indeed,” replied KyStov. “But not just here. TorMarr has dispatched people all over the MoraDay tribal lands to seek you out.”
“Fantastic,” EeNox replied sarcastically.
“We had a hunch you would turn up here first, seeing as how it was the first real settlement directly west of KaNar,” explained ManaTy. “I am only relieved that we found you before something happened to you all. The wild lands are no place f
or five as young as yourselves to be running around alone. You should consider yourselves fortunate to have made it this far.”
“We can handle ourselves out there just fine,” EeNox said.
The two of them turned in his direction. “Based on the description given to us by the messenger from your tribe, we know you must be EeNox,” ManaTy said, glancing over at the boy. “And you,” he added, his gaze shifting over and stopping on the red-eyed youth who seemed to regard them both with an encroaching glare, “you must be Rex. My word. I had scarcely believed it when they described you: a silver plume DyVorian with red eyes. Very reminiscent of something else, but of course you could not be…could you?”
Rex was growing tired of this sort of attention. Was the only way for him to get everyone to stop gawking at him like some sort of freak to stitch his eyes shut and seal his flame away like DiNiya? he wondered. Leaning in close, ManaTy asked, “Show me your flame, Rex.”
Rex looked up and locked eyes with him. “Okay.” ManaTy’s eyes widened as it became clear to him that he’d asked for more than he wanted. “Rex, no!” EeNox and LyCora shouted, but just as they uttered the words, they were blown back across the room by a sudden and massive outburst of power.
Outside, AnaSaya and ShinGaru, along with the people in the streets, watched the large red fireball rise into the sky. “This can’t be good,” ShinGaru said. Then out of the smoke and dust, Rex, EeNox, and LyCora emerged, running with looks of panic.
“Something’s wrong,” AnaSaya finally said.
“Yes, I’m inclined to agree,” he replied, regarding the ominous remnant of red glow in the sky.
Rex had realized that he had probably not handled the situation in the best way by destroying the trading hut. Even now, guilt crept into his mind, but it did little to get in his way, for once someone managed to crawl beneath his skin, a peaceful resolution was almost never an option. Still, as he and the other two now darted through the streets, he feared that he might have inadvertently made things worse for all of them.
“We need to get back to the others,” EeNox shouted, “and get as far from here as quickly as we can!”
“Easier said than done,” LyCora fired back. “They’ll be hunting us now for sure!” She shot a flicker of flame at Rex, who snarled in return.
“What the hell was I supposed to do?” he countered. “They already knew who we were!”
Suddenly they heard the sound of pursuers, and they glanced back quickly to see ManaTy and KyStov charging after them.
“That didn’t take long,” LyCora said. “So much for that little stunt of yours earning us enough time to escape!”
“You got any better ideas, feel free to share!” Rex said, rounding a corner.
With that, LyCora pushed off the ground, spun her body around in midair, and unleashed a torrent of flame into the soil. Suddenly, all the plants began releasing the raw energy of their own flames into the air. The two pursuers stopped dead in their tracks as they watched the air around them start to glow.
“What are you doing?” Rex shouted.
“Showing you that there’s more than one way to stop someone than by blowing them up,” she replied as the vaporous airborne flames turned blue and suddenly closed in on the other two DyVorians.
“What is this?” KyStov roared in protest. “I can’t move!”
“Nor can I,” ManaTy echoed.
“Hmmm,” she muttered sounding pleased with herself. “That should hold them long enough.”
Rex stared at the two in curiosity, for their bodies were like that of living statues, frozen in place and surrounded by a faint blue glow. “What did you do to them?” he asked, cocking his head to one side.
“I’ll explain later,” she said, nipping at his neck to make him focus. “Right now we need to get out of here!”
Rex snorted red flame from his nostrils and turned, running away with the others, where they met up with AnaSaya and ShinGaru. Together they proceeded west as fast as their legs and flames could take them, hoping to put enough distance between them and any would-be pursuers from DonGahl. They moved without hardly speaking, being told by Rex periodically that they did not have time to stop and talk yet, and that they had to put more ground between them before they could rest. Soon two hours had passed and everyone could feel their muscles burning. Even with the help of their flames, they could no longer sustain the grueling pace they had been traveling.
AnaSaya could feel her body sag while ShinGaru, who normally loped in long fluid strides, now dragged his tail across the ground like a dead limb. The other three were no better off, for EeNox was foaming badly at the mouth and LyCora now walked awkwardly from a sharp pain in her left leg. Only Rex seemed to be still moving with any sense of fierce determination, putting one foot in front of the other in defiance of the terrible fatigue afflicting every muscle in his body. At last, though, he too began to falter, tumbling to the ground after stepping in an unseen burrow. Rather than get back up, he lay there, breathing in a short, raspy rhythmic pattern. It was clear to the others he had not been doing as well as he would have them believe. Rather, he had just done a better job of hiding it. Working together, they all tried to hoist him back on his feet, but feeling the weight of their own tired bodies, they quickly succumbed to fatigue and collapsed on the ground.
They lay there for a time, not speaking, all of them just trying to steady their own breathing as the beating of their hearts finally began to slow to a point where they no longer felt as if they would explode in their chests. At last EeNox, steadying himself on his haunches, spoke, “So, this is a bit of a setback.”
“Not really,” LyCora said in a tone that revealed she was still exhausted. “We knew this would probably happen sooner than later.”
“So you were recognized?” ShinGaru asked.
She nodded. “Apparently VayRonx sent word out to all the settlements between KaNar and the western coast.”
“That means we must have been found out much sooner than we thought.”
“Looks like it,” she said, collapsing on her side with what almost sounded like defeat.
“We still have to keep going, though, right?” AnaSaya asked insistently. “I mean, we can’t stop now!”
“She’s right,” EeNox said, shakily rising to his feet.
“Easy,” ShinGaru said, moving beside him just in time to catch him from falling. “You need to regain some of your strength first. We all do.”
“No time,” EeNox replied, pushing himself off him. “DiNiya needs us, and we can’t waste any more time just lying around!”
“Oh, come off it, already, EeNox,” LyCora managed to say with what little energy she had left. “Your flame’s power has been exhausted. You can’t even keep your legs from shaking when you stand, let alone go off and slay DraGons.”
Feeling the truth of her words push down on him, EeNox crumpled back down, defeated, his pride mortally wounded.
“I’m sorry,” AnaSaya said, lowering her head. “I just…I was afraid everyone was giving up.”
“Your heart is in the right place,” ShinGaru said, placing a hand on her back.
“A lot of good that does anyone,” Rex said at last, having remained silent this entire time.
“What do you mean?” ShinGaru asked.
“Having the best intentions never helped anybody. In fact, it’s been my experience that they often make things worse.”
“How so?”
“What do you mean, ‘how so’?” Rex roared as he spun around and fixed ShinGaru with a look of rage before it subsided to one of sadness. “How many people did I hurt back there?”
“I’m sorry,” ShinGaru said. “But I don’t think I understand…”
“Back in DonGahl, how many people got caught up in the blast? The one I was responsible for?”
“Rex, you didn’t know what would happen,” EeNox said in an effort to try to console his friend. “None of us did. Besides, it’s not like you killed anyone back there.”
“So, I got lucky, but what about next time? What if next time it’s just a little bit more, and that little bit is what crosses the line…is what kills someone?”
No one responded. They all sat for a time in silence. The reality of their newfound powers was finally sinking in, as well as the responsibility that came with them. Each one seemed lost in their own thoughts, trying to discern whether their DyVorian natures were truly something to be happy about or fear. Each one now found themselves consorting with the voices in their heads.
DiNiya had been subjected to an almost continuous psychological assault from DayKar over the past three days. At first she had been able to resist his relentless barrage of taunts, but soon they turned into something altogether different. Mean-spirited teasing evolved into sinister prying of such an invasive nature that it would leave her feeling sullied and unclean. His voice was like warm water, slowly cascading down into the unseen crevices of her mind, soothing at first, but then scolding, stirring parts of her she had long since forgotten. Still, despite his almost hypnotic abilities, she was very much aware of his primary objective. How could I not be? she thought. His every word seemed to touch only the most sensitive of places, like a perverse form of lover’s talk, but with the full intention of prying free by force what he wanted from her. Little by little, she felt her defenses begin slipping away, allowing him closer and closer to that memory, that object of fear that was both the key and the barrier for him achieving what he wanted, and deep down what she knew she did as well.
She sat two meters from the edge, her knees tucked up under her chin and her eyes forward, taking in the great sea beyond. Despite the magnificent vista before her, she felt detached from everything. Her mind was filled with images and memories going as far back as the one of her gazing up into her father’s eyes as he cradled her in his arms as a baby, all the way up to the morning she saw Rex open his eyes for the first time. In between was a parade of all that had constituted her life, yet for some reason those two specific memories served as bookends for everything else. Then, just as it always had been this time of day, she was engulfed in a huge dark shadow that, when in it, felt as if it was swallowing up the whole world.