Adapt Or Be Crushed (The Exceptional S. Beaufont Book 9)

by Sarah Noffke

Chapter Twenty

  The blades of the thick leaves sliced at Sophia’s face and neck as she sprinted, trying to escape the homicidal birds. Lunis held out his wings as they ran, which created a wall and protected Sophia from attacks. However, as they progressed deeper into the jungle, the vegetation was denser and made it so he had to pull his wings down to slide through the branches. He could have used a compartment spell if he weren’t focused on not being torpedoed.

  When Sophia was moderately certain that they had a lead on the tropical birds, she pointed over her shoulder and threw up a shield barrier. It would cause a huge drain on her magic, but so would death.

  Sophia knew the shield had worked when she heard a pelting sound at her back. She dared to look over her shoulder and briefly saw an image of the dumb birds colliding with the invisible barrier, hitting it like bugs on a windshield.

  The pair came to a halt, but not only because the tropical birds were no longer chasing them. Mostly it was because they’d discovered what the source of the yellow eyes was.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sophia assumed that the little tiny yellow eyes belonged to creatures, probably with sharp teeth and a motivation to murder them. She was wrong.

  Sophia wasn’t sure what she would have preferred. Fighting angry gremlins or the creatures they’d run up on.

  Hundreds of fireflies hovering in front of them, their bodies aglow in the dark forest. However, these weren’t like the enchanting little bugs that fill up the night. A quick study of them told Sophia that they were also murder bugs, much like their bird friends.

  Their wings fluttered and kept them in place like a helicopter. The back of their bodies glowed with a large bulb. And on the front of their body where their heads should have been was a large stinger that buzzed like a bee.

  I’ve got bad news, Lunis said in her head.

  If it’s about the swarm of most likely poisonous bugs, I’m already aware, she replied.

  Oh, well never mind then, he joked.

  The pair stood frozen in the middle of the dark jungle as the mutated fireflies simply hovered, seemingly deciding when to make their collective move.

  Why do I get the impression that when we move the chase will be afoot? Sophia asked.

  I think your impression is accurate, Lunis answered.

  I was afraid of that. Sophia watched the giant stingers buzz in the air, all of them directed at them. What do you think the odds are that we can stay like this for a while?

  I’m willing to stick it out forever on this island, Lunis teased. It’s now my forever home.

  Sophia had to stop herself from laughing.

  Other impressions I have at the moment, Lunis began. I think that much like the tropical jerk birds, if we wipe out these guys, they’ll return.

  Safe assumption, I’d say.

  So I’d blast them with fire but…

  For some reason, I don’t think magical fireflies will be harmed that much by fire, she stated.

  I think this has to be about strategy. Lunis dared to look over his shoulder where the shield still kept the birds at bay. What are the chances you can create another of those shields?

  Low, Sophia answered. And even if I have the magical reserves for such a big spell, then I’m pretty much boxing us in.

  But we will be safe and can make our home here, he joked.

  Something tells me that all the plants are poisonous and the water supply will make us hate each other, Sophia replied.

  So no to living here then.

  I think we have to plan an exit strategy, she imparted.

  Does it involve running like hell like the last time? he questioned.

  Pretty much, unless you have any other ideas.

  Well, we could fly or portal—

  But we need to be on this island, Sophia interrupted. I know it. And taking off under this canopy of trees would be pretty dangerous. I don’t want you to risk it.

  Then we run like hell, he stated with confidence. Which way?

  She tuned into her intuition and listened to the voices of her soul. You’re not going to like this…

  It’s straight ahead, isn’t it?

  Yep, Sophia answered.

  Lunis groaned in her head. All right, we’ll go around them. Let the race begin.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  As Sophia had suspected, as soon as they took off, it triggered the fireflies and made them dart after them. The killing birds were fast, but they had nothing on these guys who sped through the air and made up the distance quicker than Sophia would have thought possible.

  That’s why she had to employ a spell to increase her speed. Lunis sped up too, taking down branches and foliage as they tore through the jungle. It was hard to come up with a strategy while they were running for their lives, but Sophia knew for a fact that there was no way they could outrun the deranged fireflies.

  But facing them wasn’t an option either. That would exhaust their magic, and the creatures would probably reappear once defeated.

  What they needed was a way to escape the swarm.

  As Sophia thought that, they approached a clearing where the rush of water falling was so loud, it could be heard over the buzzing and their thrashing through the jungle.

  The feel of cool mist told Sophia that they were close to a waterfall. She knew they were near the sound she’d heard in her soul. They were approaching the source—the center of the island. Their destination.

  Lunis, I know what we have to do, Sophia said in a rush in her dragon’s head.

  What, he asked urgently as they ran out into the clearing. A large body of water stretched out in front of them with a cliff reaching high above it.

  “Jump!” Sophia yelled.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sophia launched herself forward off the shore around the lagoon and bicycled her legs to propel herself harder—faster. Her hands clawed through the air as she screamed with a guttural force that seemed to pull her into the pristine, shimmering waters.

  Sophia sank into the cool depths, her eyes wide open as she submerged. She hoped that this wasn’t like the Reflective Sea and wouldn’t make her insane with rage. It made sense that it was the same water since all the islands were connected by the Reflective Sea. But her instinct, the voice of her soul had told her to jump. As she looked up at the rippling surface, she saw the angry fireflies pass over.

  Lunis had done as Sophia had ordered and jumped next to her. His size created a huge splash. The current his weight created quickly pushed Sophia to the bottom. She would have been pushed to the far side of the pool as well, but he wrapped his tail around her waist and anchored her to the bottom with him.

  Sophia was relieved to find that the lagoon was big enough for them. She’d had a brief moment where she worried that it was too shallow for Lunis. But it appeared to be deep enough—barely, as if it was all planned this way.

  For a moment, the fireflies hovered above the surface of the water. Their yellow bulbs shone brightly above the two and their angry stinger faces buzzed.

  Sophia held her breath, knowing they couldn’t last long after running through the jungle and nearly exhausting themselves. She’d hardly had a chance to pull in a full breath before she leaped into the water.

  When she looked at Lunis, she saw that the struggle was real for him too. His cheeks were puffed out and little bubbles trailed from the side of his mouth, then rose to the surface.

  The psycho fireflies seemed to know that this was a waiting game as they hung out above the water’s surface. Sophia’s eyes bulged with frustration.

  GO, she yelled at them in her mind.

  However, as she saw the same panic in Lunis’ eyes, she was grateful that she didn’t want to murder him. That was at least something. Apparently, this water was somehow different than the Reflective Sea, but she didn’t know why. Hopefully they would get a chance to figure it out.

  Sophia was grateful that Lunis held her down. Otherwise, the urge to kick to the surface might
be too strong to resist. Her chest convulsed and she opened her mouth, swallowing a sip of water. It burned her lungs and made her insides ache. This was it. She was going to drown. With her dragon.

  Or she would risk getting stung. Those seemed like the only options.

  Then the most remarkable thing happened. The fireflies didn’t leave. That would have been a miracle too. Instead they faded as their bulbs dimmed.

  Sophia blinked at them and wondered if that meant they were more reasonable, not on fire. Before she could check, they buzzed off and zipped back the way they came, leaving Sophia and Lunis at the bottom of the lagoon.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lunis held Sophia under the surface of the water a few seconds longer to be safe before he propelled her up, faster than she could have gotten there on her own. She choked on the water she’d swallowed once in the freedom of the fresh air, trying to breathe in as she coughed.

  Lunis did the same thing beside her. The dragon sputtered water as he thrashed in the lagoon and turned it into a bubbling mess of currents. Sophia struggled to swim through the rapids to the lagoon’s edge. The waves kept pulling her down and lapping over her head.

  Lunis once again wrapped his tail around Sophia and launched her into the air, making her fly over the water and tumble onto the sandy bank. She landed less than gracefully, but thankfully the ground was soft enough to cushion the fall.

  The dragon soon joined her and slumped on the ground as he continued to choke up water. Sophia took a cursory glance around to ensure the mad fireflies were gone before lying back down with her cheek against the cold sand.

  “This place sucks,” Lunis griped when he’d finally caught his breath.

  “No arguments there.” Sophia was grateful to find that the lagoon was fresh water and didn’t have the angry effects like the Reflective Sea. She didn’t know how that worked since the islands all seemed to be connected by the water.

  Figuring that they’d spent enough time resting, Sophia pushed up and studied the area. It was shaded and the water was settling down after their swim. Overhead was a large cliff, and palm trees and other vegetation surrounded the lagoon. The strange part of the otherwise pristine oasis was the rush of water. It was loud, like they were sitting under a waterfall. But there didn’t appear to be anything like that.

  “Lunis, where is that noise coming from?”

  The blue dragon shared her confused expression. He nodded in the direction of the cliff. “It’s right there. Unmistakably. I’m certain of it.”

  She nodded. “That’s what I thought too, but why don’t we see anything?”

  “It’s like it’s invisible,” he reasoned.

  “But there would still be water displacement if it was,” she countered.

  He glanced down at her. “When did you become a physicist?”

  She shrugged. “I know science. But I apparently don’t understand the weird science of this place.”

  “I don’t think anyone understands Buddha’s Temple,” he imparted, then nodded toward a strange set of stones, definitely arranged. “However, I think someone left us a puzzle to help us figure it out.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The smooth stones were arranged in towers with the largest rocks on the bottom and the tops a tiny pebble. There were three towers, and they were all about two feet high. Sophia had seen them marking hiking trails in the Highlands in Scotland and other outdoor areas. They were definitely manmade.

  “Those are cairns,” Lunis offered.

  “What are they for?”

  “They have a few different purposes,” he began. “Sometimes they’re competitive.”

  “Oh, like I built a tower and the next traveler tries to build a bigger one?”

  Lunis nodded. “Exactly. In modern times, I think they’re used for navigational purposes. Back in the day in Scotland, it was tradition to carry a stone up to the top of a hill and place it on top of the stack. They also have history with marking burial grounds.”

  “So what do you think their significance is here? You said you thought this was a puzzle of sorts, right?” Sophia asked.

  “That’s what my instinct says,” Lunis answered. “We’re by the Reflective Sea on an island named Buddha’s Temple. It stands to reason that these aren’t here by accident or for decorative purposes.”

  “And they aren’t marking a trail,” Sophia added.

  “No, and I don’t think they’re marking a burial ground.” Lunis’ eyes narrowed as he studied the space.

  “They might be,” Sophia joked. “Like, I don’t know many who could survive this place.”

  “Although true,” he began tentatively, “I think their purpose is more related to symbolism rather than anything of a practical nature.”

  “And that would be?”

  “Well, one of the most common reasons to make a cairn is to leave your mark,” Lunis explained. “And thinking about where we are and the reason for our visit—”

  “To remove a mark from my soul,” Sophia offered.

  He nodded. “Yes, so therefore, I would suggest that they symbolize something to do with consciousness, which is what makes creatures with a soul unique from those who don’t have one.”

  Sophia nodded and took it all in. “We have awareness.”

  “Yes,” he affirmed. “And in my mind, cairns are connected to the idea of, ‘I exist and therefore I matter.’ Why else build them on your journey unless you want to leave your mark?”

  “So,” Sophia drew the word out. “I need to build one, don’t I?”

  Lunis’ eyes brightened. “I think so. You need to tell Buddha’s Temple, ‘I was here. I have significance.’”

  “Well, that can’t be too hard, right?”

  Lunis groaned. “You have to tempt fate, don’t you?”

  She laughed. “It’s a rock tower. How hard will that be? But what do you think happens when I’m done?”

  He shrugged. “Only one way to find out, but I don’t think I can help you since this is your soul and your quest.”

  Sophia waved him off. “I think I’m good. You take a nap, I’ll make a cairn.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Building the tower wasn’t difficult. Well not in the physical sense. However, as Sophia stacked large rocks followed by progressively smaller ones, the mental strength became more demanding. A seemingly straightforward task was suddenly complex and required all her concentration.

  Her surroundings suddenly blurred around her, but for some reason this didn’t alarm Sophia. She kept her eyes searching for the perfect stone, which needed to be a specific size.

  Not too big and not too small. She looked without seeing, spurred by her instinct rather than her vision.

  Sophia felt like she was working out a complicated math equation. At the same time, it was also like she was working through a complex emotional problem. She felt heavy as a catharsis unfolded in her chest.

  Sweat poured from her forehead and her fingers were pinched under the weight of the flat stone she carried. When she slid it onto the top, her heart thumped like it was about to give out and made her clap her hands to her chest.

  “Sophia!” Lunis exclaimed in the distance. He was close, but she couldn’t see him. Only the stones. The ones on the tower and the ones around for her to fetch. They were like all the memories of her life. The good ones and the bad ones, and they all stacked onto each other, creating….

  “Creating me,” Sophia said aloud.

  “What creates you?” Lunis asked.

  “Memories,” she answered, then mechanically turned and searched for the next stone. It needed to be smaller. Round. It needed to fit into place, while also offering a place for the next stone.

  “That’s how experiences work,” she said mostly to herself.

  “I don’t understand.” There was undeniable worry in her dragon’s voice.

  “We are an accumulation of our experiences…our memories,” she explained. “And they’re all linked, like
stones on a cairn. They stack on top of one another. Nothing about us is separate. It’s all connected to another part of us.”

  “Are you okay?” Lunis was still out of her sight, no matter where she looked.

  “We’re never okay,” she answered at once, not knowing where the response came from. “We’re evolutions. If we’re okay, by definition we’re satisfied. We’re finished. We’re complete. But there is always room for another stone, it just has to fit.”

  “And a particle could fit on the top of a grain of sand,” Lunis offered.

  Sophia nodded as her eyes found the perfect last stone. It was crescent-shaped like Buddha’s Temple.

  Nimbly she picked it up and held her breath. Putting it in place could be tricky. The tower shook like one false move would bring it tumbling down.

  “We are always at risk of crumbling,” she mused. “One experience can put us over the edge.”

  “But they can also make us stronger,” Lunis offered.

  “They inevitably will, even if we crumble,” Sophia stated, then dropped the stone on the top and watched as the cairn wobbled before standing firm.

  Sophia smiled at her work, strangely proud of her accomplishment. She had previously thought it would be easy, but it was quite complicated and enriching. She got a lot more out of the experience than she could have ever imagined.

  Then something else happened that Sophia hadn’t expected, and sent droplets of water all over them.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  At first, the waterfall was a trickle that ran over the side of the high cliff towering above them. Then the rush of water turned into a raging force that joined the already present noise.

  Sophia and Lunis edged away from the splash zone while taking the gentle mist in the face.

  “So that’s where the waterfall was.” Lunis looked up at the torrent that had materialized in a few seconds.