by Stacy Lee
****
Xavier wakes me when the sun is low in the sky. In the hours of dusk very little is visible and I have to strain to see if Axel has returned. He hasn’t. After a brief discussion on how he will find us I come up with a plan. Gathering a minute amount of power within me I form a very small ball in my hand to emit light while we fly. It wasn’t enough to draw the attention of the Ranoy from this distance but enough Axel would see it verses flying by us. Holding some power inside to fuel the ball, yet not enough to make my body glow, we take off tentatively to make sure it will sustain the distance from the grass. To my relief it does.
We fly silently through the darkening night towards the Ranoy encampment, both of us to set on our own thoughts to talk. In my head I keep seeing small things Xavier has done over the last few days, touches, smiles, comments, looks, and then there are his emotions. Emotions I have never felt from anyone towards me before. Considering I can’t remember my life I guess that’s not so unusual. However there is a feeling inside me, an instinct maybe, which says no one has ever felt towards me the way I have felt him feel. That one emotion he recoils from every time it comes up, that one he keeps from me, I want that emotion from him. I want him to let me see it because I finally think I know what it is. Something he doesn’t want me to know till I make up my mind, even though I already have, he just doesn’t know it yet. Love.
It may be selfish of me because I cannot say without a doubt I love him, but I care deeply for him. Maybe with some more time or after the bonding is complete I can give him that emotion back. For now though I will revel in the fact that he does have feelings for me. This bond won’t be for nothing, he does care. That’s all I can hope for at the moment and even hoping for it seems silly right this minute knowing we might not live through the night.
A sharp whistle drags me from my morbid thoughts. Xavier slows then stops in mid-air, his head whipping back and forth searching. He lets out a long slow whistle of his own then waits. Axel glides towards us out of the darkness with a grin on his face.
“Nicely done.” He nods towards my hand. “I would have passed you up if I hadn’t seen it.” I nod and extinguish the light leaving us bathed in the full moons glow.
“What did you find out?” Xavier asks.
“Two grassy areas. One in front slightly to the left and one to the right but neither are exceptionally close. The King is in a wooden building between two dunes guarded by four Ranoy at the moment.”
“Which side, right or left?” I ask.
“Right. About two hundred yards from the grass.” I nod.
“Xavier did you make it two hundred yards?” I look up to him to see his brow furrowed.
“Roughly, maybe a little further.” He shrugs a bit but doesn’t look to confident.
“Xavier sit me down so Axel can take me from here and I can explain the plan while we fly.” He mumbles something but does as I ask. Once the transfer is made we once again head towards the dunes with Axel leading the way to the right grassy area.
“What plan?” Axel asks once distance is between us and Xavier.
“I figured something out while you were gone. I can make a bubble for you to walk in that will keep you shielded all except for the whole in the back that will serve as an entrance and exit. I will create a distraction then build your bubble. While you fetch the King we will keep them busy, hopefully causing them to come after us leaving you few to deal with. The only problem is the bubble will glow so you will have to move fast. If the walls flicker get out as quick as you can. I don’t know what it will do if you are inside and it implodes.”
“Okay. And what about the Blood Moon? Have you figured out that obstacle?” I sigh, no I hadn’t.
“You will have to move quickly. Once I see the bubble return to the grass I’ll give you a moment to get out of it so you can come help us. Leave the King in it. I’ll seal the whole to protect him once you leave. If I yell at you that it’s time it will be up to you to protect us while the bond does its thing. Can you do that?” As far as plans go, it sucked but it was all I had.
“I promise you that if I can’t, I’ll die trying.” That so did not make me feel better. “We’re here.” He lands lithely on the grass with Xavier right behind us. I take a deep breath and turn to Xavier. Seeing his glasses tucked in his waist band I grab them and put them on my face instead. Hopefully it will keep Raider and I from meeting gazes accidently. He gives me a funny look but doesn’t say anything.
“Okay boys, I’ll make a small disturbance first to get their attention, switch quickly to make the bubble then change back to continue my distraction. This will be fast but hopefully they will be focused on the distraction and not the glow from your shield. Xavier, once he is covered he will run and we will head towards the distraction.” They both nod. Straddling the grass and sand I stand with a foot on each surface then take a calming breath. I search the sky, unfortunately finding the blood moon rising over the dunes. Only a small sliver can be seen but the fact it was there and already rising fast was a horrible reminder we were on a schedule.
Without any more hesitation I go to work. Focusing on the area in front of the entrance to the dunes I pull the rage infested power inside me as quickly as I can stand it. Fire courses through my veins igniting every cell in my body. Focusing everything I have to the one area I imagine three orbs forming there. At first nothing happens then slowly three flickers of red begin to glow. I push more power out towards them, as fast as I can draw it in, I send it out. I stifle the cry of pain as it burns through my system and try to keep my focus on the spheres that are now the size of basketballs.
Roars begin to ring out through the compound in front of us, shadows emerge heading towards the lights, growls rise as they grow closer. “Be ready Axel.” I grind out through gritted teeth. If he responds I don’t hear him as I try to control the rage consuming me. When the shadows are less than ten feet from the orbs I release them. The explosion knocks the Ranoy backwards, disintegrating the first row. I quickly shove the power into the ground and draw in the calming blue with a sigh. Visualizing my objective I make the bubble to guard Axel integrating the defense technique I used on the building before I disengage from it.
“Be quick Axel.” I warn as I look up to the now fully visible Blood Moon. “Time to protect my back, Xavier.” With a determined set to my jaw I lead Xavier into battle.
