35 They're Back

I follow Irvin's lead as I go over the alphabet with Daric and Lark as we tread along. Making a fair amount of distance throughout the whole morning because didn't feel the need to rest. We're nearing the afternoon when Lina unknowingly makes her way near me. She must be in deep thought to come within arm's length of me; this is more apparent when she suddenly trips over an exposed root. Without thinking, I reach out to grab her; preventing her from faceplanting the ground. When she comes out of her thoughts and sees it's me holding her, she immediately begins shaking. Giving a shaky smile and she extracts herself and quickly walks off.

Seeing that she isn't completely overwhelmed with terror at the sight of me, lifts my spirits for the remainder of the day. Other than Andri attaching himself to me like a shadow out of fear I would suddenly collapse. The day went relatively smooth, and I even talk to Lark and Daric some before going to sleep.

Thinking about what Irvin said earlier gnaws on my mind making me unable to fully fall asleep. The dim light of the moons gives everything an ethereal glow as I get up to look for Lark knowing he's on watch. I walk a short distance before he locates me first.

"Emma, where are you going this late?" he asks.

"Well, I'm looking for you."

He stares, momentarily before stuttering, "W-w-what a-abo-about?" No doubt is thinking about why a young woman would seek out a young man so late at night.

I couldn't keep myself from rolling my eyes. "What crazy ideas do you have going through that head of yours?" I hesitate, "I heard what Irvin said to you earlier today."

His embarrassed look turns into one of loss, "I can't do anything about him."

"I don't want you to; I want to know if you'll do what he says."

Now it's his turn to roll his eyes, "No matter what anyone says, Emma, you are my friend," I could hear the smile in his voice. "I haven't had one in a very long time, so I'll be very put out to lose the one I just made."

When he makes such a ridiculously happy smile, I feel stupid for bothering to worry about it. Nevertheless, I ask, "You sure? I know your unit would travel to the Dark Realm and back for each other. I don't want to cause friction between you guys."

"You said it yourself; we've been through too much together for this to have us fall apart."

Reassured, I go back. With my mind mostly settled, I quickly start to fall asleep. Just before I go completely under, I vaguely hear the sound of barks in the distance.

____________________

The cloaked figure slips free of the prying eyes. Hiding in the shadows for concealment, waiting. Shortly after, the shadows shift as X reveals himself. They don't bother exchanging pleasantries.

"Her talent level?" X demands.

"I made sure to check thrice. Her talent level is increasing at a frightening rate. It's not yet where we need it to be, but I estimate it will be in another one to two weeks. I cannot explain how its happening. I've never heard of a case where someones talent level increases so drastically in such a short period. It's not slowing either."

X falls silent for a long moment. "This means little to me. As long as her talent level gets high enough so we can use her. If that is all go back. Make sure you regularly monitor her. Let's hope she's ready by the time the moons aline."

____________________

I stare at the glaring morning sun, and after a moment I remember dreaming of a beautiful woman. Most vividly, I remember her face.

She was telling me something. Her lyrical voice that would make birds turn away in jealousy was tight with annoyance, but I can't recall a single thing she said. I feel my eyebrows furrow as I fall into my thoughts. There's a feeling of deja vu every time I wake up. I try to force the memory to come back to no avail. Only managing to give me a headache and pull up the weird mix of feelings the dreams always give me. I furrow my brows, uncertain if they are, in fact, dreams.

The sound of barks draws me out of my thoughts. I look over to see Bao, Kala, and Shaede laying nearby. From where I sit, I lock eyes with Kala. I don't know what the scarlet furred pleo has against me, but I can feel her scorn as she chuffs at me, and turns away sticking her nose in the air.

My eye twitches, /I'm going to kill this little red-headed dog. Then throw her body in the ocean to feed the marine life./

I get up and wake Daric in the process.

She sees me getting up and stalk towards her, so she jumps up and growls at me.

"Look you mangy beast, you better start acting right, or so help me, one day you'll wake up shaved!"

She looks at me with ridicule before turning her back to me with her tail in the air and kicks dirt at me with her back legs.

"You–you–you!" I can feel a vein pulse in my forehead as I look around for something I can chuck at her. I quickly latch onto a thick branch and heave it at her. Halfway to its intended target Boa runs by and snatches it out the air. His black fur streaked with white flowing with every step. He runs at me and comes to a crashing halt directly in front of me. Dropping the branch at my feet, he jumps around playfully. Annoyed, I stare deadpan at the bouncing creature.

/This one is a little bit too simple, isn't he?/

I was going to ignore him until he looked at me with those large light brown eyes, practically begging me to throw it. I caved almost immediately. Unable to deny such a cute face. Once more I throw the stick, he lunges after it, this time rather than bring it back he lays down and starts gnawing on it.

/Oookay. That happened./

Shaede lifts his head, only to chuff in cold indifference and put his head down. Not bothering to summon the energy to deal with the three of us.

Andri comes over, and when Kala sees him her arrogance melts away in a blink of an eye. She cuddles up to him like a bashful maiden and bats her eyelashes at him like she could do no wrong. I gape at her like fish annoyed at her sudden turnaround. I throw my hands in the air and walk away in a huff. I don't go very far – I stay in camp – which takes away from my dramatic exit. I ignore them as we eating then pack. I even manage to get Lina to speak a word or two without losing her mind. Since the pleos came back, our traveling will pick up speed. I, unfortunately, ride on Kala along with Andri and Daric, which is when I notice she has no problem with Daric. Just me, making me scowl at her as Irvin lifts me to her back. Irvin and Scias are on Shaede, while Lark, Lina, and Ryo ride on Boa. We quickly take off, making up for lost time.