“Leika!”
Leika’s eyes opened and she hissed in pain as the bright light flooded her senses. Somewhere nearby, Cherin was already on his feet, calling to her. She felt him stumble over her legs and she made a strangled cry of pain.
“There you are,” Cherin said, falling to her side. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“I’m fine,” she grumbled.
“Well, I wouldn’t be fine if you were still in Kaldernon,” Cherin said rubbing his eyes. They were both apparently having trouble adjusting to the light. Having their bodies torn apart and put back together so intensely had taken a toll on each of them. “You’d never forgive me if I stole your mission.”
“Well, good thing we’re both here then,” Leika said, slapping him on the shoulder and then using it to help her get to her feet. “We don’t have much time. We should get moving.”
“Well yeah, but…”
“But what?” she asked, raising her eyebrow at him. Cherin clamped his mouth shut and hurried to his feet, immediately holding an arm out to steady himself and rubbing his head with his free hand.
“I just thought it would help to get our bearings first.”
“You know this area isn’t safe,” Leika said. Everywhere on this planet is unsafe, but especially here. This is where you can see Kaldernon.”
She looked up to demonstrate her point and gasped. In the sky there was nothing but white fluffy clouds.
“This can’t be right,” Cherin sighed, squinting into the sky. “Lopu must have harnessed enough power to send us to a safer place.”
“Well, how are we going to know where to go, then?” Leika asked, her tired purple eyes filling with frustrated tears.
“Don’t worry,” Cherin said, gripping her shoulder and smiling. He dug through his bag and pulled out a knife. “We’ll make a trail.”
He cut an “L” into the tree behind Leika and winked. “No problem.”
Leika seemed instantly placated and took charge once again.
“You’ll be in charge of making the trail markers then,” she said, her voice no longer wavering. She had always been more comfortable being in control. It was maddening when they were kids but she had grown into her bossiness. It was almost sexy.
“Right,” Cherin said, his eyes twinkling as he followed her through the forest trail. “Lead the way, boss.”
Leika smiled to herself. It was nice when he was accommodating. But that’s why they were friends. Both of them liked being in charge, and both of them didn’t mind listening to the other. It wasn’t a power game with them. It was equal.
“I’m going to have to use some magic first,” Leika said. “To see if I can sense survivors. I know a charm to help.”
“Of course. Do you need space?”
“Just keep watch. I might be a little out of body for a while.”
“Sure.”
Leika made a circle in the dirt.
“Don’t cross this, all right? Or it will interrupt the ritual. Only if it’s an emergency.”
“Got it,” Cherin said.
Soon, Leika was deep in a trance. The world appeared to her behind her eyes just as it did with her eyes closed, but with one big difference. Everything was transparent except for the hearts of the descendants of Kaldernon. She cried out in surprise when her ears picked up a drumming of several heartbeats at once. They were clustered far away from where they were. Probably far further than what three days would allow them. But that was all they had. Otherwise the power of her cloak would be waning and it would be another case of lost Loni and shifter souls being stuck on Earth.
Suddenly, she picked up on another heartbeat; a strong, fierce one coming from the direct opposite direction of the cluster to the north. She would have to make a choice which one to follow, and it wouldn’t be a difficult one. Although it was risky, she had to try her best to help those most in need. Even though it was more practical to save one descendant of Kaldernon, her mission had been to help as many as possible. She couldn’t help both at the same time, but she would at least be able to try to get the largest group together possible.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun had moved far in the sky and she had the sudden presentiment that there wasn’t enough time in the world. Cherin was perched on a tree stump not far from her circle, munching absently on a handful of berries from his rations.
“We have to go,” Leika said. “Now.”
Immediately Cherin got to his feet and soon, he was following her north.