by A D Lombardo
The Gemidi village was very similar to the mainland. The one thing that became evident, however, was nearly everyone they saw here was a Beastmaster. The Beastmasters switch forms fluidly from human to beast and back again—eagles, wolves, and black leopards. Blue was the predominant crystal color.
Weathervanes were the second most frequent. They worked with the Stonekings on windmills and structural repairs, while the few Kodama tended gardens. Kai and his group kept a quick pace behind Liam, who led the way to his family home. “We will need to resupply and ask around. Someone had to see Lucca. Since we have no idea where he is going, we need to ask questions. We can spend the night with my family before we head out at first light.”
Kai hated the delay, but he had to listen to his friend. While he wanted to continue his search for Lucca, they needed information and more food. Not to mention, there was no use trying to glean his grandfather’s location—they were chasing a Lumen. Each time Kai tried he saw nothing. The man hid his light very well. On land, Kai hoped they could make better progress. With Ryker’s ability to transform into a shuk, they could catch their scent and chase them down.
Liam’s family were very welcoming, although Kai got a distinct impression, they were disappointed their youngest was not a Beastmaster. Sonja, Liam’s mother, quietly inquired about his progress, “How are your lessons going, my son?”
“Fine, Mother.” Liam tucked his hands in his pockets and curved his shoulders inward.
Darden, Liam’s father, patted his son on the back. “Don’t worry, boy, there is plenty for you to do around here besides protect our lands. Besides, I have your brothers.”
All three brothers teased Liam’s gift. “Well, he always did enjoy playing in the dirt as a boy,” one brother joked.
“Right, I remember that. He’d come back home covered in mud,” the second brother mocked.
“Wait, didn’t he used to eat dirt too?” the third one questioned.
The boys laughed. Each one bumped into Liam as they ran ahead on the path. Their swift change into beast form surprised Kai. Rayna squeezed his hand; her expression portrayed her concern.
“Don’t worry,” Kai assured her, “they’re just having a little fun. Ignore them, Liam. They will get bored eventually.”
Three giant pure white wolves trotted ahead of them. Their thick fur bounced as they walked. They were not as large as a shuk, but they were larger than an average wolf. Kai wondered if they were as large as Smoke. He missed his companion.
The boys circled around the small group and came up behind them. Ryker nudged one off the path with his shoulder. The others charged, ramming Liam. They knocked him to the ground. Liam dusted himself off and stood up. Sonja led Kai, Rayna, Yulia, and Ryker up the spiral staircase into their home. When they reached the main pod, Kai noticed a large window overlooking everything. The narrow terrace wrapped around the entire home and connected to the next home over.
Liam stood below, talking with his father. His three brothers stood together in a tight huddle. Their devious expressions made Kai worry about what they were planning. Darden waved his hands as if dismissing Liam. Kai tried not to stare. “Beautiful view,” Rayna whispered. “When we have our own home, I want a large window like this. The ones in Matoku are way too small.”
Kai smiled at her comment. “As you wish, my dear.” Her talk of the future lightened his mood.
Growls from below drew his attention back down to the boisterous nature of the three older brothers. He could tell Liam tried to ignore them until he could take their torments no longer. They had knocked him down one too many times. His brothers roamed around the family tree. Each wolf stood tall blocking the entrance to the home.
Kai watched from the balcony. Rayna gasped as two circled again and charged. Liam dodged the first but was struck by the second. “Stop them, they are going to hurt Liam!” she begged.
“He must stand up for himself or they will never respect him,” Ryker interjected.
“Ryker is right, there is nothing I can do,” Kai said, watching from above.
Liam patiently waited on the ground where his brothers had put him once again. Knee down, he clenched his fists. The wolves circled and charged. Liam’s knuckles turned white under the strain of his grip. His brothers were nearly on top of him. He faced them without hesitation.
At the last second, Liam pounded both fists into the ground. A large rock burst through the dirt. The wolves could not stop in time. They crashed into the stone wall, landing in a heap. Liam pushed his fingers through the soil and curled them upward. Stone claws sprang from the soil. A stone cage surrounded the three helpless wolves.
Surprised by Liam’s trap, they dropped their beast forms and begged for release. Liam laughed, “Now play in my dirt, big brothers. I’ll think about letting you out.”
Astonished, Liam’s father emerged from the house. “I am proud of you son. You held your ground. Seems we all misjudged your ability. I am sorry. Let your brothers stew in their stone cage. Serves them right for taunting you.” Darden offered Liam the lead. “It is good to have you home, son. Now, introduce me to your friends.”
Father and son climbed the spiral staircase around the tree to join the others. Liam motioned to the group. “You know Yulia. This is Rayna and Ryker from the Matoku tribe, and this is Kai, grandson to Chief Lucca of the Hiowind, son of Mariana.” Liam sighed. “Long story short, when a storm kicked up off the Kahoma mainland, we were…separated. We would like to catch Lucca, but if we knew where the manta rays migrate, well, we could meet Lucca in the right place.”
Liam deftly omitted the facts about Basil abandoning Kai and his group on the river, Weathervanes creating a storm delaying their departure, and Lucca burning a hole in the side of his skimmer. He could only imagine his friend did not want to worry his parents or admit they were really chasing a tribal elder.
“I would greatly appreciate any information you could provide.” Kai lowered his head in respect. “It was most unfortunate that we were separated from my grandfather. It is my wish to join him in hopes of saving my mother.”
Darden squinted and tapped his chin. “Sorry, son, I don’t know much about manta rays. There is a woman on the far side of town, let me see if I can find her.” Liam’s dad stepped toward the stairs. “She may know something, or know someone who does. I will be back.”
Chapter 26
Island Hopping
Come morning, Darden had news. “Chief Lucca was seen island hopping this morning. He came through here around dawn. Seems he is bound for the outer rim of our islands. He was inquiring about the migration of manta rays, same as you.”
Kai perked up. This was good news. “Where do they migrate?” he asked.
Rayna placed a calming hand on Kai’s hand. “Darden, do you know where they migrate?”
“I do not. Nor did the woman I spoke with. She suggested there was a man on Muley Island who might know. She directed your grandfather to seek the same person.”
“Muley?” Liam responded with a bit of concern. “An island overrun with dragons. What crazy person lives there?”
A sense of urgency blossomed with Kai. “Time to go. Autumn is upon us and Lucca knows now is the time to find my mother.”
Ryker stood and gathered their newly supplied packs. “Thank you for the supplies, Darden. We owe you for your hospitality.”
The two men shook hands. Liam kissed his mother goodbye and they departed.
◆◆◆
What Kai was learning about the Katori was enlightening. The Gemidi were wilder than any tribe he had met. And they were quickly becoming his favorite. Free spirits that loved to take everything to the extreme. Today would involve one such pastime that Kai had to admit sounded fun, if only it were under better circumstances. They were going to hop islands.
The possibility that you could leap into the air and let an updraft sweep you over to the next island was too tempting not to try. Kai figured it might be the closest thing to flying in human
form. It was a four-mile hike to the jump point. His stomach churned with anticipation. If Lucca was only a few hours ahead—maybe he still had a chance to catch him.
The path ahead split in two directions: the thick foliage dropped away to reveal the edge of the island. Their panoramic view of blue sky and the neighboring island was breathtaking. From where they stood, they could see two distinct islands. The enormous gap between was a bit unnerving. Kai and Rayna stood near the edge and peered down into the barely visible water below. Liam spoke with a man lying in a hammock. He offered the man a satchel of food and motioned. “This way. We are going to that island.” Liam pointed straight ahead.
“Why not there? Let’s go to that island.” Kai pointed left and Rayna followed him down the path.
“No!” Liam ran over to stop them from walking any further. “See that marker?” Liam pointed to a stone pedestal.
The angled surface bore the mark of a red flame; a crystal inset into the rock. Kai touched the gem, and it shined red. Clearly the Lumens had empowered the stone to glow as some kind of warning. “What does the flame mean?”
“Dragons live there. They prefer to be left alone and we respect their boundaries. Plus, there is no guarantee anyone lives over there to send us to the next island.”
Through the island foliage, Rayna saw two yellow eyes staring back at her. “Did you see that? Something was watching me. Big amber eyes.”
Everyone looked but did not see anything.
“Well, it’s gone now, but it was there. I saw it,” she insisted.
Kai squinted at the thick vegetation. “How many islands belong to the dragons?”
“Four of the fourteen islands solely belong to the dragons.” Liam responded. “We give them their space and they respect ours. We do not mingle the way we did in the past.”
Ryker leaned into the conversation. “But didn’t you say Muley Island has dragons?”
Liam rolled his eyes. “It does—but Muley has hornless dragons, they tend to be less aggressive. It would be safer if we travel around this way.”
Liam pushed them back up the path. “We hop to that one. There is a day’s travel to the next jump point over a wide gorge, a third jump to another island and one final hop to reach Muley Island.” Liam pointed in various directions like they should know where he was taking them. “Might take us two or three days, but if we catch a boat, we can raft the river to make up time.”
Kai nodded. “I have to trust you know where you’re going.”
The gap was nearly thirty feet wide. Unsure, Rayna insisted Liam jump first. The tall gangly man swung out of his hammock. His awkwardly large hunched stature towered over Kai. Faster and faster he rubbed his hands in a circle. The man’s hands cupped and ballooned outward. His movement resembled someone stretching and kneading dough. He rolled the wad of air around his hands and tossed it over the edge like an unwanted ball.
The man glanced at Rayna while he worked up another air ball with his hands. “Don’t worry, I’ve never dropped anyone. Not yet anyway,” he jested.
Wind whipped aggressively around the island’s edge. Liam peered close to the edge; his dark hair whipped straight up. He ran back into the trees. “Get ready, Liam. Your ride is coming back up!” the man shouted, scooping down and up.
Kai’s stomach felt tight. His eyes drifted from the Weathervane to Liam, who shook his hands and bounced on his toes to pump himself up. He bent slightly and waited.
“GO!” the tall man shouted.
Liam took off running. Faster and faster he went. When he neared the edge, he jumped into the air. The updraft lifted him high into the sky. He sailed over the distance and his feet bounded down on the other island. A small dirt funnel swirled at his feet and blew away.
Exhilarated, Kai got into position. The sound of his own heart pounded in his ears. He looked to Rayna. “You’re next,” he laughed.
The man repeated his movements, waited, and shouted, “GO!”
Kai sprinted toward the edge at full speed. The wind whipped around him as he neared the edge. He leaped into the air. A sphere of wind engulfed him. He felt the air lift him into the sky. “Woohoo!” he bellowed. His arms and legs remained in the motion of running, like that would somehow help him cross.
When he landed on the other side, the wind balloon dispersed. He turned to see Ryker up next. He landed with ease and Yulia took her place, making the jump like an expert. Rayna paced. She took a few extra steps back into the trees. “Come on!” Liam shouted as if she could even hear his words. “She cannot hesitate when she reaches the edge, she must jump,” Liam warned.
“She can do it. I know she can,” Kai assured him. “You can do it Rayna!” he shouted, even though there was no way she could hear him.
The gangly man motioned to the edge. His frustration with Rayna was evident by his erratic, insistent gestures. Finally, Rayna took her place. His arms flailed and stirred the air. One foot out in front, she bent over her knee. Kai watched with anticipation. “Come on Rayna, you can do this,” he whispered under his breath.
Suddenly Rayna took off running. Her legs went faster and faster. She leaped into the air as she neared the edge. The wind blew her long hair straight up. Her arms and legs continued to try and run. The cushion of air lifted her across the gap, and she landed softly on the other side. “Holy Alenga, that was amazing!” She grabbed at her heart. “I don’t know why I was so terrified,” she laughed.
Liam laughed. “Now who’s the thrill seeker?”
Elated, she offered a wave across the breach. The tall man waved and returned to his hammock. Together they ventured through the woods. Ryker transformed into a shuk and sniffed the ground. His beastly head shook in Kai’s direction. Lucca and Basil were here. He spoke to Kai.
“What was that, Kai?” Liam asked, his expression revealing his confusion.
“I can understand animals now,” Kai responded. “The ones that try to speak to me, anyway. Katori Beastmasters make the most sense, though, because they tend to speak in clear complete sentences.”
“How interesting,” he responded.
Everyone followed Ryker in shuk-form through the woods. He kept a fast pace, but with their Katori speed, none struggled to keep up. Through the trees the sounds of rushing river water confirmed their assumptions—Lucca was taking the same path to Muley. Three boats with men lay in wait. Liam paid them with food and wine, and they were underway.
The river moved fast. Short shallow rapids bumped their boat along. Although Yulia aided their vessel with a little wind magic, it still took the better part of a day to reach the next jump. The entire trip Kai was a mix of emotions—bouncing between anger over Lucca’s betrayal and his excitement over his mother’s recovery. He felt so close to the realization of his dream to save his mother. He would restore the missing part of his heart.
Around the next bend in the river, their raft slowed and ran ashore. Everyone climbed up the embankment and followed Ryker’s shuk form through the woods. When he led them to the gorge, he changed back, ready to jump. “We are still on Lucca’s trail.”
Liam nodded in agreement and approached three women standing near the edge. While he negotiated their transportation, everyone eyed their next jump. To their astonishment, the gorge was more of a canyon to nowhere. Ryker leaned between Kai and Yulia. “Nope. I don’t know about you, but this looks like a long drop to the ocean below. There is no way one of their little wind gusts will reach the other side.”
Kai couldn’t help but agree. Before he could protest, Yulia motioned. “There goes Lucca and Basil. If they can do this, so can you.”
Out over the vast hole, two bodies flew on a pocket of air. Halfway across their arch they began to drop, and a second gust pushed them back up. Kai watched them sail out of sight. “How? Not possible.” Rayna’s mouth fell open.
Four men walked in their direction. The round beefy man asked, “You people ready?” His jovial grin lit up his face. “We are calling it a day after you lot. To
o dangerous to fly at night. Can’t say we’ve ever dropped anyone, but I am not about to press my luck.”
The skinny man lit a torch set inside a metal box on a stone pillar. Kai watched the man spin the metal box. As it went around, the torchlight flashed again and again. The one open side created a signal. With a few minutes, three checkpoints along the arch of the canyon flashed in return.
“Look,” Liam leaned into the group huddle. “I know this bit looks intense, but if we don’t go now, we must wait until dawn. We are practically on top of them. I have not paid the men, it is still your call.”
“We’re going,” Yulia blurted out before Kai had the chance. “I’ve never done anything like this, but if that old man can do it, so can we.”
She had echoed Kai’s sentiment, but he did not want to push. It looked dangerous, no doubt. “Rayna, are you sure you want to go? I won’t think any less if you want to stay behind, or if we must find another way.”
The gulp of air she swallowed showed her nervousness, but her actions showed dedication. “I’ll go first,” Rayna stepped up. “I’m guessing those other signals were from other Weathervanes meant to keep me afloat.”
“You are correct. Like I said, we’ve never dropped anyone, and I’ve been doing this for over a decade.”
Everyone else stepped in line. Liam dropped them his entire pack as payment. This was a costly jump but as far as Kai was concerned, he could spend a lifetime walking back if he needed to. Saving his mother was all that mattered.
Watching the others run and dive over the edge was terrifying. Now he knew why Rayna wanted to get it over with. Waiting was agony. He watched her run and dive. As the wind carried her, he held his breath. Each bounce along the way kept her afloat until she dropped out of sight onto the other side.
Ryker went next.
Liam nudged Kai. “You’re up after Yulia.”
When it came to his turn, Kai bounced on his heels to pump up his adrenaline, then as fast as he could, Kai sprinted down the dirt path toward the edge. Arms outstretched, he dove into the emptiness. A rush of air propelled him skyward. He could feel the different gusts lifting and pushing him along. From his viewpoint, he could almost see over the mountains. The sky was turning orange and blood red as the sun sank from view, blocked by the islands.