by Jeff Gunzel
Nima threw herself down next to her and began to lightly rub Jade’s knee. “You’re catching on fast, dear. What you’ve managed to accomplish in only a few hours, most take several weeks or longer.”
With the back of her head sunk deep into the soft leaves, Jade gave a subtle nod. Her eyes were closing, and she was beginning to fall asleep. Then, in a sort of delayed reaction, she rolled her head back and looked at Nima, confused. “But you told me you’ve seen students do this on their first day.”
Nima laughed. “I only told you what you needed to hear. Of course it wasn’t true, dear. I was simply trying to motivate you. And it seems to have worked,” she said with a wink. Jade sniffed indignantly, then threw her head back into the leaves. She hated being fooled. Nima grinned, then stretched out beside her. The two of them lay in silence for a time, gazing up at the green canopy of leaves, which quivered in the light breeze, making a light buzzing sound. Every now and then a few broke loose, spinning in circles, fluttering down to the ground. “So how did it feel today?”
“What do you mean?” said Jade sleepily.
“Oh, I think you know what I mean.”
Jade grinned knowingly. “I felt...alive. Everything just seemed clearer to me. My senses were heightened somehow.”
“I’ll bet you’ve never felt anything like that before, have you?” said Nima. Still grinning, Jade rolled her head back and forth in the leaves. “Trust me, you never get used to it, either. The sensation of your own Chi combined with the power of nature as it flows through your body... Well, let’s just say little else compares.” Another few minutes went by before Nima sat up again. “Alright then. Are you ready to continue?”
In a heartbeat, Jade was on her feet, brushing off the clinging bits of leaves and sticks. “I was beginning to think you were going to make me spend the night here,” Jade teased with a return wink.
“Before we’re through here, I’m afraid you will be begging for that deal. Now then, I’m going to show you an exercise our students practice daily. We’re basically going to practice a form of telekinesis. This is a wonderful drill for our students because it accomplishes multiple objectives at once. Now then, do you see that tree right there?” She pointed to a smallish sapling. It looked young and flimsy and had very few branches or leaves.
“Sure I do.”
“Good, now watch.” Nima’s dy-chita began to glow lightly. She held out both hands and leaned forward, as if she were pushing against a wall. Her eyes began to glow green. The sparse leaves on the young tree began to quiver, even though there was no breeze to speak of. She leaned in further. It was an unnaturally deep angle, as if she were being held up by the winds of a hurricane. By all rights she should have tipped over. Slowly, the young tree began to lean away from her. The wood began to pop and crackle in protest while it bowed in the opposite direction. She lowered her hands, stopping the pressure before any permanent damage was done. The green light glimmering in her eyes faded out.
Nima took Jade by the shoulders and guided her over near the tree. “Now it’s your turn. Stand here like so.”
“But I don’t even know what to do first.”
“It will be the same as before, dear. I will guide your Chi the first few times, and then you will do it on your own. This method of training seems to be working quite well for you. Now, the first part you must do on your own. Go ahead and make the link.”
Jade closed her eyes and began to concentrate. Let it come to me. Let it come to me. The easiest way is the correct way. The link formed quickly. Her green gem began to glow.
“Good. It seems you have mastered that part. Now allow me to...” The Palin placed her hands on the back of Jade’s shoulders. “Now you need to feel my energy merge with yours. Just try to maintain the link and I will do the rest.” Jade felt her Chi begin to warp and stretch. It felt as if it were changing shape. Elongating somehow. Then, once again, the tree began to lean away. Nima slowly removed her hands from Jade. “Stay focused. This energy is all coming from you now.”
“I’ve got it,” she said. The tree stayed bent, but began to sway around. Maintaining the balance between her Chi and the constant flow of nature’s essence proved difficult. It was hard to determine how much energy to use, or not to use. She immediately had trouble holding the tree steady.
“Now release,” said Nima.
Without completely understanding how to do that gradually, Jade simply cut herself off. Halting her flow of Chi so suddenly was like blowing out a candle; the flame was instantly gone. The tree snapped back with a whooshing sound. The few remaining leaves went fluttering in all directions, leaving the thin branches completely bare.
Nima giggled. “We will have to work on that. Now, dear, here is the real test. Do it again. From start to finish without my help.”
Jade rubbed her hands together, determined, yet she found she was already beginning to tire. No matter, I have to do this. I will do this. She swiftly established the link. By now she had become quite proficient at this. Her dy-chita began to shine; dimly at first, but then the glow intensified. She held out her hands like before, but it felt as if she were only touching air.
“Keep trying, dear,” came Nima’s voice. “You’re getting closer.”
Jade stood there holding a full link to her Chi, but something was not quite right. Something she couldn’t put her finger on. The shape is wrong, she thought. It doesn’t feel like it did before. She could picture the living block of energy. Although it filled every inch of her, it was not shaped like her. It was more like a square: solid and blocky. In her mind, she began to push and roll it, like preparing a piece of dough for baking. The glowing energy began to stretch, growing longer and thinner as she pulled and twisted. She could feel the cool energy radiating into her fingertips now. That’s it. I’ve got it.
She felt the unseen force move away from her hands, connecting directly with the tree. The young tree rocked back and forth; invisible hands thrust against it in chaotic waves.
“Steady it, dear,” Nima whispered in her ear. “Control the energy, don’t let it control you.”
Suddenly, energy surged through Jade’s hands in a torrent of force. Jade had only meant to try and steady the flow, but had instead released a massive rush of Chi.
The young tree toppled over like it had been torn from the ground by a tornado. Long, thick roots clumped with moist black soil ripped from the ground with a noise like someone was tearing a curtain in half. Jade clasped a hand over her mouth, astonished and embarrassed.
Nima clapped her hands together, laughing. “Now that was impressive.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Jade, still covering her mouth. Mortified, she didn’t even want to look at Nima.
“It’s quite alright. No need to apologize. You were able to make the link on your own, then perform the proper actions, completely unaided by me. And I only guided you through it once! You should be very proud. But I must say,” she looked at the poor tree, mangled and uprooted, “I think we’re going to need to work a bit more on your control.”
Once Jade found the courage to look her in the eye, the two friends shared a laugh.
* * *
“You’ve lost the trail, haven’t you?” Jacob grumbled, swatting at one of the swarming insects that was trying to dine on him. “I’ll bet you don’t even know where we are.”
“Well, I know you have no idea where we are,” said Amoshi, chopping furiously at the endless brush. Sweat trickled down from his temples, dripping off his chin. His back felt clammy and moist beneath his clinging shirt. The thick foliage all around acted as an insulator, keeping them both wrapped in heat and humidity. The air felt thick and smothering; it was nearly too dense to breathe. “As far as the trail goes...” Amoshi’s voice trailed off into an inaudible series of grunts.
Jacob backed away, pointing an accusing finger at the back of Amoshi’s head. “I knew it! The mighty tracker has lost the trail.” He threw up his hands in exasperation. “Remind me again why
Nima insisted you come with me.”
“So you wouldn’t get yourself killed, you idiot! I made a promise to her, and I plan to see it through for her sake—not yours. The truth is, I don’t even care what happens to you or your hairy beast of a woman!” Jacob’s expression went blank; his eyes turned cold and unreadable. Amoshi wilted, immediately shamed by his own words. “I-I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry, Jacob.” He turned away, unable to meet Jacob’s eyes. “It’s this heat. The heat is getting to me. That, and the frustration of not being able to find—”
Jacob’s blank expression didn’t change even as he spoke. “I think our time together has come to an end.” Even his voice was icy and emotionless. “I think it’s best you head back home now.”
Amoshi held out his hands, the machete hanging loosely between his fingers. “Look, I’m sorry for what I said.” Just looking at Jacob was painful. “I didn’t mean any of that.”
“Of course you did. You meant every word.” Amoshi tensed as Jacob approached him slowly and deliberately. Jacob reached out and seized the machete, then began to chop at the thick vines blocking his way.
Amoshi watched while the amateur swiped away in long, looping passes—a sure way to exhaust himself quickly. “All you’re going to do is tire yourself out.” Jacob kept on slashing, ignoring the advice. “Are you listening to me? I said I was sorry.” The swooshing sounds of the blade cutting through vine were his only answer. “You can’t do this without me,” Amoshi insisted, patience fading away like a setting sun. “Damn you, listen to me!”
Jacob whirled about, machete clutched in his hand. He stopped the blade inches before taking Amoshi’s head off. With cool steel pressed against Amoshi’s neck, a trickle of blood began to flow from the small cut. “Yes,” Jacob rasped, his voice dry but still emotionless. “I heard you, but that doesn’t change the fact.”
“What fact is that?” asked Amoshi, voice steady and sure, even with sharp steel pressed against him.
“That I no longer have any use for you.” Jacob sighed, and lowered the machete. “I need you to be completely committed to finding her, and you’ve proven you’re not. You’ve already told me you don’t care what happens to either of us.” Jacob raised his eyebrows. “Apparently I’m just an idiot, and she’s a beast of a woman?”
“You know I didn’t mea—”
Jacob raised the blade just a hair. “Oh, but you did, my friend. What if she hadn’t gone through this change—this curse that was forced upon her? What if she were just another girl; would those spiteful words have ever left your mouth?” Amoshi held his gaze a moment longer, then dropped his eyes to the ground. Jacob just shook his head. “Go home,” he repeated.
There came an explosion of movement. In a flash, Amoshi’s bow was in his hand, arrow notched. He fired at Jacob. It had all happened so fast, Jacob didn’t even have time to blink. The black and yellow projectile blurred past his ear. He heard a blood-curdling shriek from behind. “Get down!” Amoshi shouted, unleashing two more projectiles with lightning speed.
Jacob hit the dirt, then crawled towards Amoshi. The warrior was now standing still, an arrow notched and ready. Jacob rolled to his back and looked, staff in hand. Three large, furry bodies lay in the grass, each with a red-feathered shaft stuck between their eyes. One was still quivering, but clearly posed no threat. He would be dead within a minute or two. But Amoshi didn’t feel like waiting that long. Another arrow zipped into the beast’s face. The quivering stopped.
“By the gods,” Jacob whispered.
“They came up right behind you,” said Amoshi, a little winded from the shock. “I almost didn’t see them in time. Had I waited a heartbeat longer, they would have shredded you.”
“You saved my life,” Jacob said, getting back to his feet. He strode over to one of the beasts to get a good look. The humanoid cats were enormous, just like Amoshi suspected. Their large bodies were covered in black fur, except one who was light brown. Their heads were like that of a jackal, with long snouts filled with sharp teeth. Their ears were extremely large, far too big to be standing up straight the way they were. It looked odd.
Jacob grabbed one of the protruding shafts and wiggled it free with a crackling sound, then spun towards Amoshi, holding out the blood-coated tip. He pointed back at one of the corpses with it, still looking at Amoshi. “She has not become one of these things! Do you hear me? She has not! She is— She is still Athel, and—” Jacob was so rattled he could hardly put a single sentence together. He dropped down to his knees, still clutching the bloody arrow. “It can’t be true,” he whispered weakly.
Amoshi knelt down before him. “Who’s to say what’s truly become of her?” he said softly. “But you and I are going to find out together.” He offered his hand. “The two of us have to keep moving. She is counting on us.” Jacob accepted the offered hand and was hoisted up. Amoshi pointed in the direction where the attack had come from. Much of the obstructing brush had been trampled by the heavy creatures. “That’s the direction they came from, so that’s the way we’re heading. It seems they were kind enough to leave us a path to follow.”
“I doubt that was their intent,” said Jacob, kicking one across the face. He stepped in to kick it once more, then stopped. An unsettling thought occurred to him. “What if these things are more than just mindless beasts? I mean, we have no way of knowing how intelligent or organized they really are.”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at,” said Amoshi, slinging his white composite bow over his shoulder.
“What if they’re more organized than we think? I mean, what if this was a scouting party, not just a random encounter? If so...” He waited for Amoshi to catch on.
“Which means they are aware of when this group left, and are now waiting for them to return,” said Amoshi, suddenly looking rather concerned. He looked Jacob right in the eyes. “This isn’t about you and me anymore. Understand? We must now move faster than ever.” Jacob held his eyes a moment longer, then nodded. “Jacob, we are going to find her.”
“Of course we are,” said Jacob, determined. Gripping his staff, he marched towards the opening made by the creatures. The damage done to the foliage was severe, far more than Amoshi could have ever hoped to do with his machete alone. All the better for them. They now moved easily through the smashed undergrowth of the forest. Trampled vines crunched beneath their feet. Trees to either side of the path were also badly damaged, some completely broken, leaving nothing but a shredded stump. Others were just gashed deeply by claw marks.
“I figured they were stronger than us, but I had no idea,” said Amoshi, running his hand across a slashed tree trunk as he passed. “Best not to engage any more if we can avoid it. Let’s just find Athel and get out.”
The journey went on for some time. Every now and then, the screeching of some sort of wildlife forced them to freeze in place. “It’s just a bird,” seemed to be Amoshi’s answer to every shriek, howl and yelp that they heard.
Jacob grabbed Amoshi by the shoulder, forcing him to stop. “Wait. Listen.” At first they heard nothing. Even Jacob began to wonder if his own paranoia was getting the best of him, making him hear things. Then he heard it again. It sounded like dogs snarling off in the distance, this time followed up by a sharp howl. “Was that also a bird?”
“I think not,” said Amoshi dryly. “Follow me, but step only where I do. We must keep our noise to an absolute minimum. And let us pray Nima’s enchantment is still working. For all we know, they’ve already picked up our scent.”
Amoshi stepped lightly down the premade path, first placing his foot where there was the least amount of vegetation, then allowing his weight to sink into the foothold before stepping again. The skilled tracker was able to move in near silence.
Jacob couldn’t even begin to match his stealth or pace, but did as he was instructed, placing each foot directly in Amoshi’s prints as he moved along. Because of this, sound was minimal due to the grass and shrubbery already being packed down. Whi
le hopping along, Jacob kept his eyes down, more concerned about watching where he stepped than where he was going. Ultimately, he nearly walked into Amoshi’s back.
Amoshi turned on him angrily. He quickly raised a finger to his lips then pointed off past a line of bushes. When Jacob stretched his neck to peek over the top, his eyes nearly fell from their sockets. He stared in disbelief.
Dozens of these catlike creatures walked around what looked like some sort of primitive campsite. A low fire smoldered at the center of the camp, giving off a thick, spiraling cloud of black smoke. The tall creatures walked on their hind legs with their backs slightly hunched. All had similar heads, looking like that of a wild jackal, but their bodies varied greatly. Some had black fur, long and thick. Others had orange fur which was short and fine. Most were large, with sleek muscles twitching beneath their thick hide with each step. But a few were thin and slender. They slinked around timidly, seemingly to avoid the larger ones.
Large golden masses of hay or straw lay piled up around the perimeter. At first they didn’t understand what those could be. Far too flimsy to offer any sort of protection, they were too visible to be used to conceal the camp. What were they being used for? Were they food supplies? Did the creatures eat hay?
One of the piles off to the east side began to shake and quiver. They watched in awe as one of the giant cats emerged from underneath it. The muscular beast brushed off a few clinging pieces before joining the others. But he couldn’t have been hiding there all this time, could he? To the north, they got a good look as one of the other cats bent down and brushed aside some of the hay. He pulled up some sort of trap door, then sank down into a hidden hollow. He descended a little more with each step, like walking down a stairway.
“They live underground,” whispered Amoshi, mesmerized at the sight. “They use the hay to cover the entrances.”
