by C. A. Farlow
Ice was on her paws immediately. “Make it stop!”
Lauren silenced the alarm and noted the rising barometric pressure. Making her way out the entrance tunnel, she stiffened in preparation of getting smacked by the wind as she turned the last corner. But there was no wind. Their drift—as they called it—reached towering heights just outside the entrance, and Lauren had to tilt her head back to see the top. Stepping carefully out from the entrance, the silence was deafening. A beautiful landscape of peach, pink, and ochre tipped snowdrifts was all Lauren saw all around her. The sun was just setting behind the mountain, and the low-angle sunlight created a magical landscape.
The next thing Lauren noted was the cold. She knew with clear skies, it would be colder still, at night.
“It is too cold to travel safely.”
Lauren gasped. “How many times do I have to tell you to stop sneaking up on me? One of these days you’ll stop my heart from the shock.”
“Shock is not the way I have been thinking of stopping your heart,” Alex said so quietly, that Lauren barely heard her. Speaking louder Alex continued, “I am sorry for startling you.”
Lauren could tell by the smug look on Alex’s face that she wasn’t sorry at all. “Right.”
Clouds of condensation rose around them as they stood marveling at the winter scene. “I agree it is too cold to travel. Or to be standing out here admiring the view.”
“I think the view is amazing,” Alex stated emphatically. But Lauren noticed she wasn’t looking at the storm-sculpted scenery. Her gaze was locked on Lauren.
“I can feel you looking.” Lauren laughed.
“Good, then I can just look openly and stop seeking opportunities to do so when you are unaware that I am.”
Turning fully around at this comment, Lauren moved into Alex’s warm one-armed embrace. “But it is an amazing landscape.”
Walking back into the cavern together, Lauren held on to Alex. “When can I get this bandage off my arm and shoulder? I cannot properly hug you with only one arm.”
“You’re doing a great job with one arm, Dearest. And I’m not comfortable releasing that arm. You don’t have much of a clavicle left, and that bone is what supports a lot of the weight of your arm. So, sorry—you’ll just have to make do with one arm.”
“Yes, Doctor.” Alex waved her free hand across her right shoulder. “But can you take it off while I bathe tonight? I would like to soak the shoulder, and I cannot with all this.”
“All right. We’ll see what we can do.”
“Good. I will enjoy tonight’s bath. And then we can plan the rest of our journey to Fuar Ćala. We are within fifty kilometers of the Keep. We should be able to make that distance in no more than a day and a half.”
“Don’t you have a way to contact the Keep?” Lauren had been wondering about that for a while.
“I do and can communicate with the Keep using mindspeech, but the companions and I have agreed that it is too great a risk. We are worried that the Comin would detect a spike in psi-energy if we tried. Also, there are factions within the Council that would use my absence against me. Only one person knows I am away.”
“Psi-energy?” Lauren rubbed her head and stepped away from Alex, immediately feeling the distance. “You say things like that, but I haven’t a clue what it means. It’s another thing that reinforces me being out of place.”
“Psi-energy is what we use when we mindspeak to one another. The farther the distance you are trying to reach, the more energy is required. If the amount of energy used is high enough, it can be detected and used to track the speaker’s location. I cannot speak to the Keep, because I would release a huge burst of psi-energy. Our location would be lit up like a flare in the night.”
“Right, so if I can mindspeak to you and the animals, am I using this energy, too?”
“It would seem so. I do not know of another way for us to hear you without using the energy.”
Lauren continued rub her head as her frustration grew, trying to understand another aspect of her new environment. It was giving her a headache. “Where’s this energy come from?”
“A lot of it is generated from within your brain and then channeled through the speech-center. You focus on the individual you wish to speak to and channel your speech-thoughts at them. But if you are speaking across a long distance, your own energy is not enough. Then, you have to gather energy from others around you, or from the earth itself.”
Thinking about brain anatomy, Lauren said, “Broca’s Area is the part of the inferior frontal gyrus of the brain that is involved in speech. Are you saying that this energy comes from there?”
“Well, we call that the psi-centroid. The energy is gathered from the excess energy produced naturally as the neurons fire. We focus that excess neuron-energy through the centroid to mindspeak.”
“Fascinating.” The science amazed her once again.
“There are those within my race who cannot mindspeak and those that lose the ability after a head injury. Merilyn has been most interested in studying these individuals to determine the differences or changes in their brains. We consider mindspeech one of our greatest gifts. I have no idea how anyone can survive without this ability.”
Lauren wondered aloud, “It must be genetic then. Some have it and some don’t. Probably a recessive trait. Is it gender specific?”
“It is a gift that dominates in females. This is especially true in animals. We have yet to find a male animal able to hear our thoughts, except one.” Alex smiled. “One of my Councilors’ can speak with his male horse. It turns out he is one of the best long-distance mindspeakers as well. But no one has as strong a mindvoice as I do. And the connection I share with my companions is unique in its strength and depth.” Alex motioned toward the three furkids cuddled together.
“Yeah, or the males can hear you, but are too lazy to gather the energy needed to reply.” Lauren laughed.
“Perhaps. The women in my family have all been very strong. My mother was able to warn the settlements on the outer planets of our solar system when the Comin attack began. It is said that she could not mindspeak after she sent out that warning.”
“I can’t imagine how much energy it would take to carry her thoughts that far.”
Alex nodded. “Since we left the second cave, you seem more at peace with being here, with us, and with mindspeech. I know at times you are disturbed by something we say or do that appears unknown or foreign to you, but for the most part you are not as stressed now. What happened to allow this?” Lauren recognized this as a dodge. Alex needs some distance from her dark memories.
Lauren leaned back into their blanket nest and gathered her thoughts. “I figured out where I am, and more importantly when I am.”
“When?”
“Yeah.” Lauren smiled, thinking back. “During one of the first direct mind-to-mind talks I had with Ice, she said ‘when you are’ not ‘where you are.’ I missed that comment in the moment when I was distracted by your injuries and freaked out about all the unusual happenings. But Ice was right. When was the most important question to answer.”
“Told you I knew when we were.” Ice preened with the compliment.
“Yes, Ice, you were correct. This once at least.”
Four of the five companions laughed hard, leaving Ice to pout
Lauren thought back to the process of how she tried to locate herself with her technology. “Well, my technology was useless. The instruments—satellite and mobile phones, and GPS locator beacon—use signals from orbiting satellites to triangulate global position. Without the orbiting satellites, I didn’t have a signal. No signal means I couldn’t locate myself.”
“We have satellites in orbit around this planet, but they look outward not inward.”
“Really?” Lauren glanced up, even though they were in a cave.
“Yes, they are passively-searching for any signs that others of our race survived. If they pick up anything, they signal the Keep and our technicians
analyze the information. If it proves valid, we would then send out an active signal telling the survivors we are here.”
“That’s cool. But I wouldn’t want to send out a signal to the wrong people.”
Alex chuckled. “True, our technicians have unique identifiers that cannot be replicated. We would not misidentify an enemy. But tell me how you decided when you were.”
“Oh, right.” Lauren grinned, happy to be the one explaining things for once. “Since all my tech was non-functioning, I used an analogue compass. This works by aligning an iron-needle with the magnetic field of the Earth. But the compass pointed its north needle to what I knew was south.”
Alex nodded. “That is why you kept questioning me about direction. I thought you were just confused.”
“Not confused in the sense I didn’t know north from south or that the sun rises in the east. Anyway, I decided that a polar reversal had occurred. And that combined with knowing that your North Star is Vega and not Polaris, allowed me to determine when.”
Alex gawked at her. “That’s an amazing piece of deduction.”
Lauren shrugged. “Not really, just the application of simple scientific principles. But, I will admit I was plenty freaked about all these unusual events. I feel much more settled because I’ve got an explanation for my observations. I know when I am, and you helped explain where I am.”
“I know you must feel very unsettled by being removed from your reality and thrust into mine. I know I can speak for all of us—we are all very glad you are here.” Alex waved her good arm at the three furry-companions. “When we reach Fuar Ćala, and I have taken care of the Comin risk, I promise I will help you find your home, if that is what you want to do.”
Alex does understand. Lauren smiled. “Had you said that three weeks ago, I would’ve jumped at the chance…now, I’m not so sure.” A feeling of gentle calm settled over Lauren’s soul as Alex reached out with a mental caress. “I still feel displaced, but I don’t feel alone anymore.”
“You are not alone. We are here.”
“Ice, I gotta say, you really do know how to state the obvious.”
“Is that good?”
Lauren rubbed Ice’s head. “Yes, it’s good. Sometimes we miss the obvious, because we’re so caught up in ourselves. So, thank you for pointing out the obvious, and thank you all for taking me in.”
“You are welcome.” Their heartfelt replies warmed Lauren to her core.
Chapter Sixteen
AFTER A HEARTY SUPPER of elk stew with veggies, Lauren and Alex went for their evening soak. Settling into the warm silky water, Lauren released a sigh and closed her eyes. “I’m so going to miss this when we leave tomorrow.”
“I promise the warm baths beneath Fuar Ćala are better than this one. Our architectural technicians sculpted the pools into baths of varying temperatures and water chemistry. They are truly something special. We use the waters to relax, as well as part of a healing program.”
“Hydrotherapy. I’ve loved the times I needed to use water to heal an injury, so much so I had a hydro-tub installed in my loft.” Lauren frowned as she thought of her loft.
Alex drifted closer. “Dearheart, what is bothering you?”
“Nothing really.” Lauren lowered her gaze. “Thinking about my loft in Denver and the sunsets I watched from my balcony, made me think about Jamie, Susan, and Sharon. I miss them a lot, and I worry about them worrying about me. I know they’ll never stop searching for me. And with nothing to find, they won’t be able to stop. Do you think there was anything left behind?”
“I doubt it. It seems you brought all your gear and equipment through the nexus with you. Did you go anywhere besides into the cave?”
“I really don’t remember. I was so cold and so disoriented.” Lauren shivered with the memory. “All I remember is struggling to get out of the blizzard.”
Moving to Lauren’s side, Alex gathered Lauren to her side. “I am sorry you got pulled away from your home.” She placed a tender kiss on Lauren’s head.
Leaning her head on the bare shoulder, Lauren sank deeper into the water. The warm water covered her naked body and provided some solace. But as she snuggled against Alex, she realized that this was where she drew strength—from Alex. Such a comfort. “I realize I don’t miss my loft. I hardly spent any time there. It was just a place. Not a home. Does that make any sense?”
“It does. Make sense, I mean. I have always felt that I am home when I am with my companions, or my cousins, or with Merilyn. It is always a person that gives me a sense of belonging, not a physical place.”
“That is a concept I’m just beginning to understand. It seems I needed to travel to another reality to start to understand myself.” The embrace tightened and another kiss was placed on the top of her head. Lauren smiled. “This is something else I could get used to. You give great hugs. I feel so safe and loved.” Lauren stiffened as she realized she had said that out loud.
“I feel the same way, safe and at peace with you near. And I would agree that I feel love, too.” Lauren looked up into a face flushed from the temperature of the water as well as from a blush that painted Alex’s cheeks. A blush similar to the one she knew covered her face. But it was the smile that stopped Lauren’s heart.
“You are beautiful,” Alex said softly.
“Not as beautiful as you.”
The two moved deeper into their hug and shared a tender kiss.
“Dearheart, you saved me, you healed me, and now you have captured my heart and soul. And so quickly, I didn’t see it happening. It just is.”
“It is you who have captured me.” More words were exchanged without speech, while their kiss deepened. Each seeking to open themselves to the other and share all they were. Slowly pulling back to place butterfly kisses along Alex’s jaw, Lauren slid her hands up Alex’s torso, brushing the sides of her breasts. Resting their foreheads together, Lauren whispered, “Where did you learn to kiss like that? That was the most amazing thing ever.”
“You were an equal participant in making it a truly amazing experience.”
Lost in the deepening blue of Alex’s eyes, Lauren exhaled a sigh and sat back. “I can’t think for wanting you. Alex, I want you so much. But it’s so fast, too fast. I’m overwhelmed by all that’s happening.”
“I agree. It is fast. But it is so right, too. I can feel your want. I cannot breathe without you.” Alex’s smile and slow caresses seemed to calm her racing heart.
Lauren released a slow breath. “Let’s relax and enjoy the moment. Things will happen as they will.” Alex leaned down and kissed her again. The kiss went on for an eternity.
Lauren opened her eyes, blinking in the soft light. She looked up into the ice blue eyes of her love. But something was wrong, different. Alex’s eyes were now streaked, the ice-blue contained flecks of green. Panicking, she struggled to sit up, water splashing over the edge of the pool. “Your eyes, what’s happened to your eyes?”
“Easy. Relax.” Alex smiled and placed gentle fingers on her cheek. “Probably the same thing that has happened to yours. Yours are now streaked with blue.”
“And yours with green.” Lauren tried to relax, but a sharp edge of panic hovered.
“It is the bonding. Our souls merged when we sealed our bond emotionally. We now hold a piece of the other inside.” Alex withdrew her fingers, and Lauren gasped at the sudden pain of their separation.
“Did I hurt you?” Alex reached out to touch her again. Fingers hovering millimeters from her face.
“No, I was just startled. I felt a physical jolt as you pulled away. I felt separation. Pain of loss.”
“I understand. You felt the physical reaction to our bond releasing.” Alex placed a hand over Lauren’s heart and smiled. “Place your hand over my heart.”
Lauren did and felt a surge of energy flash through her being. She was paralyzed, paralyzed with softness, tenderness, love. A cascade of emotions tumbled through her soul. Awed by this physical reaction to a simp
le touch, Lauren closed her eyes. And for the first time in her life she stopped thinking and let emotions take her away.
“Come back, Dearheart.” Lauren heard Alex call from far away. But she was so comfortable floating in the pool of their emotions that she didn’t want to come back. She didn’t want to leave this place. “Come on. Though I would love for us to stay here forever, spiritually inside each other, it would be hard to travel this way.” Lauren smiled and opened her eyes.
“Imp.” Lauren laughed and splashed water at her. Sitting back, Lauren realized she felt whole—complete for the first time in her life. “I guess it’s true what they say. Soul mates do hold the other half of your soul. Nah, you aren’t complete until the two halves are reunited.”
“I agree. I feel it, too.”
Moving to stand up, Lauren grasped her spinning head. “Whoa, dizzy. Too long in hot water.”
Laughing, Alex swam slowly to the pool edge, turning to rest on a shelf. Lauren twined their fingers together beneath the warm water. Pulling Alex’s hand toward her, Lauren placed kisses on her knuckles. A contented smile spread across her face.
That’s how Snow found them several hours later. “If you two are through now, I suggest you get out of the water before you dissolve.”
Opening one eye enough to look at the wolf, Alex growled, “We will get out when we are ready, Snow. Now go away.”
“No, we are not going away, because we wish to use the pool too before tomorrow’s journey.”
“That’s fine, Snow. What’s stopping you?” Lauren joined the conversation. “The water’s terrific.”
“Well, here I come then.” And with a spectacular leap over the women’s heads, Snow landed in the middle of the pool. The backwash swamped them as Snow surfaced. But before they could clear their lungs, Ice landed in the pool and set off a tsunami that completely submerged them. Alex came up first and moved to grab the closest wolf. Lauren wasn’t far behind, and a dunking contest ensued. Tired and wet and relaxed, the four left the warm pool for the last time.
