Shownotes
Facing incursions from beyond reality, two rabbits learn not all conflicts are against the supernatural. Some come from the closest of bonds.
Today’s story is “Gemini Lunae” by Aelius, who has had work published in FurPlanet’s Inhuman Acts and ROAR volume 8 anthologies, with further works found at both FurAffinity and SoFurry.
Read by Rhythm Bastard, Swole Raccoon Punk.
thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts
If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.
https://thevoice.dog/episode/gemini-lunae-by-aelius
Transcripts
You’re
listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:This
Speaker:is
Speaker:Rob
Speaker:MacWolf,
Speaker:your
Speaker:fellow
Speaker:traveler,
Speaker:and
Speaker:Today’s
Speaker:story
Speaker:is “Gemini
Speaker:Lunae” by Aelius,
Speaker:who
Speaker:has
Speaker:had
Speaker:work
Speaker:published
Speaker:in
Speaker:FurPlanet’s
Speaker:Inhuman
Speaker:Acts
Speaker:and ROAR
Speaker:volume 8
Speaker:anthologies,
Speaker:with
Speaker:further works
Speaker:found
Speaker:at
Speaker:both FurAffinity and SoFurry.
Read by Rhythm Bastard, Swole Raccoon Punk.
Please enjoy
“Gemini
Lunae”
Speaker:by
Speaker:Aelius
Four
of
Speaker:them.
The
three
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:ones
Speaker:shouldn’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:too
Speaker:difficult
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:down.
Speaker:The
Speaker:larger
Speaker:one,
Speaker:just
Speaker:big
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:swallow
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:adults
Speaker:at
Speaker:once,
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:challenge.
Glimmering
green
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:peered
Speaker:out
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:fronds
Speaker:of
Speaker:an
Speaker:enormous
Speaker:fern.
Speaker:The
Speaker:hunter
Speaker:gazed
Speaker:down
Speaker:a
Speaker:mossy
Speaker:slope
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:larger of
Speaker:four
Speaker:beasts
Speaker:lumbering
Speaker:through
Speaker:sunbeams
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:denser
Speaker:vegetation
Speaker:below.
White dapples
lined
Speaker:its
Speaker:sickly
Speaker:yellowish
Speaker:skin,
Speaker:seeming
Speaker:to
Speaker:undulate as
Speaker:it
Speaker:plodded
Speaker:on
Speaker:six
Speaker:thick
Speaker:legs.
Speaker:Its
Speaker:toadlike
Speaker:head
Speaker:was
Speaker:expressionless.
Speaker:Its
Speaker:eyes,
Speaker:two per
Speaker:eyelid,
Speaker:darted
Speaker:about
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:trudged
Speaker:through.
Speaker:Three
Speaker:smaller,
Speaker:identical
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:trailed
Speaker:behind
Speaker:past
Speaker:its
Speaker:flanks.
Speaker:Duplicates,
Speaker:not
Speaker:spawns.
Speaker:All
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:demons.
Sever
smiled
Speaker:in
Speaker:anticipation.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:some
Speaker:excitement!
She
unhooked
Speaker:a
Speaker:chakram
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:belt.
Speaker:Green
Speaker:runes
Speaker:blazed
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:razor-edged
Speaker:metal
Speaker:ring.
The
hunter
Speaker:darted
Speaker:under
Speaker:thick
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:into
Speaker:position,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sunbeams
Speaker:projecting
Speaker:bright
Speaker:splotches
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:golden
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:Tall
Speaker:ears,
Speaker:angled
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:clear
Speaker:the
Speaker:undergrowth
Speaker:but
Speaker:flared
Speaker:out
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:her
Speaker:senses
Speaker:keen,
Speaker:showed
Speaker:her
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:form.
Speaker:A
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:swords
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:at her
Speaker:back
Speaker:and a
Speaker:lasso
Speaker:dangling
Speaker:from her
Speaker:belt
Speaker:showed
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:ready
Speaker:for
Speaker:anything.
Her
ears
Speaker:perked
Speaker:at
Speaker:a
Speaker:particular
Speaker:chirp—a
Speaker:signal
Speaker:that
Speaker:to
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:else
Speaker:would
Speaker:sound
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:bird
Speaker:call.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:twin
Speaker:brother
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:had
Speaker:called
Speaker:from
Speaker:nearby,
Speaker:flanking
Speaker:and
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:sight,
Speaker:waiting
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:make
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:move.
Sever
whistled
Speaker:back,
Speaker:her
Speaker:prominent
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:incisors
Speaker:perfectly
Speaker:shaping
Speaker:the
Speaker:pitched
Speaker:noise
Speaker:as
Speaker:another
Speaker:mock
Speaker:birdcall
Speaker:for
Speaker:an
Speaker:acknowledgement.
Speaker:She
Speaker:came
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:she
Speaker:assumed
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:preys’
Speaker:sightline,
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:and
Speaker:behind
Speaker:them.
Green
runes
Speaker:subtly
Speaker:glowed
Speaker:along
Speaker:Sever’s
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:arm
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:focused
Speaker:her
Speaker:aim.
Speaker:More
Speaker:runes
Speaker:flashed
Speaker:along
Speaker:her
Speaker:upper
Speaker:cheeks
Speaker:as
Speaker:guiding
Speaker:marks
Speaker:appeared
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:vision.
Speaker:Just
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:more
Speaker:steps…
The
larger
Speaker:creature
Speaker:stopped,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:its
Speaker:four
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:flicking
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:catching
Speaker:Sever.
It
whipped
Speaker:around
Speaker:and
Speaker:roared
Speaker:while
Speaker:its
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:counterparts darted
Speaker:toward
Speaker:her.
Sever
gasped
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:out, flinging her
Speaker:chakram
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:closest
Speaker:rushing
Speaker:demon.
Speaker:The
Speaker:bladed
Speaker:ring
Speaker:sliced
Speaker:along
Speaker:its
Speaker:flanks,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:kept
Speaker:charging.
Sever unsheathed her
swords
Speaker:and
Speaker:slashed
Speaker:as it
Speaker:reared
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:her.
Speaker:Sparks
Speaker:flew
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:blades
Speaker:struck
Speaker:its hardened
Speaker:footpads
Speaker:and
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:dodge
Speaker:the
Speaker:beast
Speaker:slamming
Speaker:its
Speaker:feet
Speaker:down
Speaker:where
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:stood.
“Zephyr,
anytime
Speaker:now!”
Speaker:she
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:dense
Speaker:wilderness.
The
chakram
Speaker:curved
Speaker:around
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:and,
Speaker:runes
Speaker:lit,
Speaker:arced
Speaker:back
Speaker:toward
Speaker:Sever.
The
rabbit
Speaker:stabbed
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:swords
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:beast’s
Speaker:leg
Speaker:and
Speaker:caught
Speaker:the
Speaker:ring,
Speaker:then
Speaker:twisted
Speaker:and
Speaker:flung
Speaker:it
Speaker:back
Speaker:out
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:creature
Speaker:moving
Speaker:to
Speaker:flank her.
“Zephyr!!”
A
voice
Speaker:called
Speaker:out
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:demons’
Speaker:bellows, “Already
Speaker:busy
Speaker:over
Speaker:here!”
The
rabbit
Speaker:grumbled
Speaker:and
Speaker:backed
Speaker:away,
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:the
Speaker:sword
Speaker:she’d
Speaker:stabbed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:beast
Speaker:not
Speaker:slowing
Speaker:it
Speaker:down.
Speaker:Nearby,
Speaker:she
Speaker:saw
Speaker:her
Speaker:chakram
Speaker:had
Speaker:gone
Speaker:wide
Speaker:and
Speaker:embedded
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:tree.
Sever
grinned at
Speaker:a
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:idea.
Speaker:She
Speaker:dodged
Speaker:another
Speaker:swipe
Speaker:and jabbed her
Speaker:other
Speaker:sword
Speaker:under
Speaker:her
Speaker:prey’s
Speaker:chin,
Speaker:then
Speaker:broke
Speaker:away
Speaker:and
Speaker:dashed
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:creature.
Speaker:As
Speaker:it
Speaker:moved
Speaker:to
Speaker:swing
Speaker:at
Speaker:her,
Speaker:she
Speaker:skidded
Speaker:under
Speaker:its
Speaker:legs
Speaker:while
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm’s
Speaker:runes
Speaker:lit
Speaker:up
Speaker:again.
Speaker:She
Speaker:flung
Speaker:out
Speaker:her
Speaker:palm
Speaker:toward
Speaker:its
Speaker:stomach
Speaker:and
Speaker:summoned her
Speaker:chakram.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ring
Speaker:shot
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature,
Speaker:bursting
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:body
Speaker:and
Speaker:returning
Speaker:to her
Speaker:hand.
Dark
ichor
Speaker:spilled
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:wound,
Speaker:covering
Speaker:Sever’s
Speaker:arm.
Speaker:She
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:away
Speaker:before it
Speaker:toppled
Speaker:onto
Speaker:her,
Speaker:right
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:beast
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:with
Speaker:both
Speaker:swords
Speaker:still
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:in
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Threading
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:ring,
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:one
Speaker:sword
Speaker:and
Speaker:slashed,
Speaker:catching
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:followed
Speaker:through
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:slashing
Speaker:again
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:deadly
Speaker:whirl
Speaker:that
Speaker:sent
Speaker:more
Speaker:ichor
Speaker:splattering
Speaker:around
Speaker:her.
The
beast
Speaker:toppled
Speaker:over
Speaker:and
Speaker:deflated,
Speaker:its
Speaker:flesh
Speaker:pulsating and
Speaker:disintegrating.
Speaker:The
Speaker:ichor
Speaker:steamed
Speaker:away
Speaker:and
Speaker:disappeared.
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:creature
Speaker:also
Speaker:evaporating.
Now
to
Speaker:take
Speaker:out
Speaker:that
Speaker:big
Speaker:one—*CRASH*
Sever whirled
to
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:larger
Speaker:beast
Speaker:falling
Speaker:on
Speaker:its
Speaker:side as
Speaker:Zephyr,
Speaker:covered
Speaker:in
Speaker:shimmering
Speaker:white
Speaker:fur,
Speaker:landed
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:of
Speaker:it
Speaker:and
Speaker:point-blank
Speaker:shot
Speaker:an
Speaker:arrow
Speaker:through
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature’s
Speaker:eyes.
The
beast
Speaker:roared
Speaker:as
Speaker:more
Speaker:ichor
Speaker:sprayed
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:injury,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:continued
Speaker:rolling.
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:flailed
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:off
Speaker:to
Speaker:grab
Speaker:an
Speaker:overhanging
Speaker:branch. “This
Speaker:one’s
Speaker:tough!”
Sever
grunted
Speaker:and
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:in, “Keep
Speaker:your
Speaker:distance,
Speaker:I’ll
Speaker:distract
Speaker:it!”
The
huge
Speaker:demon
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:back
Speaker:onto
Speaker:its
Speaker:feet
Speaker:and saw
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:closing
Speaker:in.
Speaker:It
Speaker:lashed
Speaker:out
Speaker:with
Speaker:its
Speaker:long
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:and
Speaker:snatched
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit’s
Speaker:legs.
Sever
yelped as
Speaker:it
Speaker:yanked
Speaker:her
Speaker:forward.
Speaker:She
Speaker:hit
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:hard
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:wrist,
Speaker:a
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:pain
Speaker:spiking
Speaker:through
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:dragged
Speaker:her
Speaker:toward
Speaker:it.
An
arrow
Speaker:pierced
Speaker:the
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:and
Speaker:pinned
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:place.
Zephyr
pulled
Speaker:more
Speaker:arrows
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:quiver
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:branches.
Speaker:The
Speaker:arrowheads
Speaker:glowed
Speaker:bright
Speaker:blue
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:nocked
Speaker:them
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:bowstring
Speaker:all
Speaker:at
Speaker:once,
Speaker:focusing
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon
Speaker:they
Speaker:would
Speaker:home
Speaker:into.
Sever
brandished
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:swords
Speaker:and
Speaker:slashed
Speaker:the
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:legs,
Speaker:then
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:her
Speaker:chakram
Speaker:and
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:pain.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fall
Speaker:had
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:broken
Speaker:her
Speaker:wrist.
The
creature
Speaker:charged
Speaker:at
Speaker:her,
Speaker:but
Speaker:three
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:arrows
Speaker:shot
Speaker:past,
Speaker:sailing
Speaker:into
Speaker:its
Speaker:roaring
Speaker:maw
Speaker:and
Speaker:piercing
Speaker:through
Speaker:into
Speaker:its
Speaker:skull
Speaker:from
Speaker:within.
It
jolted
Speaker:and
Speaker:collapsed,
Speaker:already
Speaker:dissolving
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:slid
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:to
Speaker:stop
Speaker:right
Speaker:in
Speaker:front
Speaker:of
Speaker:Sever.
Sever
let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:twin. “Nice
Speaker:shot…”
“Nice
distraction,”
Speaker:His
Speaker:grin
Speaker:faded
Speaker:upon
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:her
Speaker:quivering
Speaker:hand. “What’d
Speaker:it
Speaker:do
Speaker:to
Speaker:your
Speaker:throwing
Speaker:arm?”
Sever
forced
Speaker:herself
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:wince. “Nothing
Speaker:serious.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:throw
Speaker:left-handed.”
Zephyr
carefully
Speaker:took
Speaker:her
Speaker:hand
Speaker:in
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:glow
Speaker:formed in
Speaker:his
Speaker:palm. “You
Speaker:should
Speaker:really
Speaker:cast
Speaker:some
Speaker:protective
Speaker:runes
Speaker:before
Speaker:we
Speaker:go
Speaker:out
Speaker:on
Speaker:these
Speaker:hunts.”
Speaker:Ornamental
Speaker:tattoos
Speaker:decorating
Speaker:his
Speaker:tall
Speaker:inner
Speaker:ears
Speaker:glowed
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:power
Speaker:flowed
Speaker:to
Speaker:heal
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:marks
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:body,
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:his
Speaker:iridescent
Speaker:fur
Speaker:unblemished.
Sever
relaxed as
Speaker:Zephyr’s
Speaker:power
Speaker:soothed her
Speaker:pain.
Speaker:With
Speaker:her
Speaker:other
Speaker:hand,
Speaker:she
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:green
Speaker:runes
Speaker:covering
Speaker:most
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:body. “Look
Speaker:around—I
Speaker:only
Speaker:have
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:room
Speaker:here,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:destructive
Speaker:power
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:get.
Speaker:Besides,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:healing,
Speaker:I’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:you,
Speaker:right?”
Zephyr’s
ears
Speaker:cocked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:side
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:her.
Sever
flexed
Speaker:her
Speaker:now-healed
Speaker:hand, “Thank
Speaker:you,
Speaker:once
Speaker:again.
Speaker:We
Speaker:do
Speaker:make
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:team.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:large
Speaker:divots
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon
Speaker:had
Speaker:once
Speaker:been. “You
Speaker:took
Speaker:care
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:small
Speaker:one,
Speaker:right?”
“Of
course.”
Sever
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:stowed
Speaker:her
Speaker:weapons. “Then
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:done.
Speaker:Let’s
Speaker:head
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:report
Speaker:to
Speaker:father.”
Zephyr
kept
Speaker:looking
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:divots. “So
Speaker:soon?
Speaker:Do
Speaker:we
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:go
Speaker:back
Speaker:immediately?”
“Yes,”
said
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister. “The
Speaker:hunt’s
Speaker:over,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:sure
Speaker:father’s
Speaker:worried.”
Zephyr
sighed. “Yeah...”
Speaker:He
Speaker:walked
Speaker:past
Speaker:her
Speaker:without
Speaker:a
Speaker:word.
Sever
stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:him
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment,
Speaker:then
Speaker:followed. “You’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:reluctant
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:at
Speaker:home
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:past
Speaker:two
Speaker:months…
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:didn’t
Speaker:know
Speaker:any
Speaker:better
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:think
Speaker:you
Speaker:were
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:avoid
Speaker:something.
Speaker:Or
Speaker:someone?”
“It’s not
that,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Zephyr,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:ahead. “I’ve
Speaker:just…
Speaker:been
Speaker:thinking
Speaker:of
Speaker:traveling,
Speaker:and
Speaker:um…”
Speaker:His ears
Speaker:flattened
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:away,
Speaker:unable
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:his
Speaker:words. “I’d
Speaker:rather
Speaker:not
Speaker:talk
Speaker:about
Speaker:it.”
Sever
placed
Speaker:a paw on
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder. “I’m
Speaker:not
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:press
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Whenever
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:ready,
Speaker:alright?”
“Thanks,
Sev.”
Sunbeams angled
sharply
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:canopy as
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:rabbits
Speaker:strode
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:home
Speaker:warren.
Speaker:Night
Speaker:would
Speaker:fall
Speaker:before
Speaker:they
Speaker:reached
Speaker:their
Speaker:glade.
Sever
stretched
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms
Speaker:high
Speaker:overhead
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:walked. “It’s
Speaker:too
Speaker:bad
Speaker:that
Speaker:beings
Speaker:from
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:disintegrate
Speaker:when
Speaker:they
Speaker:die
Speaker:here.”
Zephyr
glanced
Speaker:over. “So
Speaker:they’d
Speaker:leave
Speaker:something
Speaker:behind
Speaker:for
Speaker:us
Speaker:to
Speaker:study?”
“Sure,
that,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it’d
Speaker:also
Speaker:be
Speaker:nice
Speaker:to
Speaker:bring
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:trophy.”
“Like
what?
Speaker:A
Speaker:tongue
Speaker:necklace?”
Sever
grinned. “Point
Speaker:taken.”
“You’ve
already
Speaker:got
Speaker:plenty
Speaker:of
Speaker:trophies
Speaker:from
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:wild
Speaker:predators
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:world
Speaker:that’ve
Speaker:threatened
Speaker:our
Speaker:home.
Speaker:And
Speaker:you don’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:wear
Speaker:them
Speaker:anymore.”
Sever
reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:flicked
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:rings
Speaker:decorating
Speaker:her
Speaker:notched
Speaker:ears,
Speaker:from
Speaker:which
Speaker:dangled
Speaker:a
Speaker:prominent
Speaker:fang. “Only
Speaker:the
Speaker:memorable
Speaker:ones.
Speaker:But
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:long
Speaker:since
Speaker:secured
Speaker:our
Speaker:home.
Speaker:All
Speaker:threats are
Speaker:from
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:our
Speaker:reality
Speaker:now,
Speaker:and
Speaker:if
Speaker:it
Speaker:weren’t
Speaker:for
Speaker:our
Speaker:reputation
Speaker:for
Speaker:combat
Speaker:prowess,
Speaker:no
Speaker:one
Speaker:would
Speaker:even
Speaker:know
Speaker:because
Speaker:there’s
Speaker:no
Speaker:evidence
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:kills.”
“It’s
better
Speaker:that
Speaker:way,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Zephyr. “It’s
Speaker:bad
Speaker:enough
Speaker:knowing
Speaker:our
Speaker:world is
Speaker:victim
Speaker:to
Speaker:incursions
Speaker:from
Speaker:another
Speaker:plane
Speaker:of
Speaker:reality
Speaker:we
Speaker:barely
Speaker:even
Speaker:understand.
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:rather
Speaker:not
Speaker:carry
Speaker:around
Speaker:a
Speaker:reminder
Speaker:of
Speaker:that.”
“Zeph,
you
Speaker:existing
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:reminder
Speaker:of
Speaker:that.
Speaker:The
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:blessed
Speaker:you as
Speaker:an
Speaker:arcane
Speaker:wellspring.
Speaker:How
Speaker:could
Speaker:you
Speaker:not
Speaker:think
Speaker:about
Speaker:that
Speaker:every
Speaker:waking
Speaker:moment?”
“Why
would
Speaker:I
Speaker:want
Speaker:to?
Speaker:Having
Speaker:been
Speaker:born
Speaker:under
Speaker:a
Speaker:dual
Speaker:eclipse
Speaker:is
Speaker:stressful
Speaker:enough.”
“I
was
Speaker:born
Speaker:under it,
Speaker:too.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:never
Speaker:bothered
Speaker:me.”
Zephyr
lifted
Speaker:an
Speaker:eyebrow. “Because
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:a
Speaker:fighter.
Speaker:You
Speaker:revel
Speaker:in
Speaker:using
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:power
Speaker:with
Speaker:all
Speaker:those
Speaker:runes.”
Sever
shrugged. “Well,
Speaker:my
Speaker:fur
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:shimmer
Speaker:and
Speaker:shine
Speaker:like
Speaker:our
Speaker:two
Speaker:sacred
Speaker:moons,
Speaker:so
Speaker:runes
Speaker:are
Speaker:the
Speaker:best
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:make
Speaker:do
Speaker:with.”
Zephyr
ran
Speaker:a
Speaker:fuzzy
Speaker:hand
Speaker:across
Speaker:a
Speaker:fern’s
Speaker:fronds
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:passed
Speaker:it. “My
Speaker:power is
Speaker:fascinating,
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:but I’m
Speaker:more
Speaker:curious
Speaker:about
Speaker:what
Speaker:else
Speaker:it
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:besides
Speaker:just
Speaker:destroying
Speaker:demons
Speaker:and
Speaker:healing.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:proof
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:worlds
Speaker:other
Speaker:than
Speaker:our
Speaker:own.
Speaker:Doesn’t
Speaker:that
Speaker:intrigue
Speaker:you?”
Sever’s
ears
Speaker:folded. “So
Speaker:far
Speaker:all
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:seen
Speaker:coming
Speaker:out
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:are
Speaker:malevolent
Speaker:entities
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:basest
Speaker:of
Speaker:intelligence,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:only
Speaker:corrupt
Speaker:and
Speaker:devour.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:her
Speaker:recently
Speaker:healed
Speaker:wrist. “I
Speaker:wish
Speaker:we
Speaker:could
Speaker:figure
Speaker:out
Speaker:what’s drawing
Speaker:these
Speaker:things
Speaker:to our glade
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:sudden...”
Zephyr
looked
Speaker:away,
Speaker:forcing
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:upright
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:nose
Speaker:twitched
Speaker:nervously.
Soon
after
Speaker:night
Speaker:fell,
Speaker:the
Speaker:twins
Speaker:arrived
Speaker:home.
Speaker:The
Speaker:glade
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:welcome
Speaker:sight.
Gigantic
tree
Speaker:trunks
Speaker:the
Speaker:size
Speaker:of
Speaker:buildings
Speaker:towered
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:air
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:mossy
Speaker:ground.
Speaker:Higher
Speaker:still,
Speaker:massive
Speaker:boughs
Speaker:held
Speaker:aloft a
Speaker:dense,
Speaker:leafy
Speaker:canopy
Speaker:where
Speaker:lanterns
Speaker:flickered
Speaker:all
Speaker:about
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:variety
Speaker:of
Speaker:colors
Speaker:amidst
Speaker:the
Speaker:walkways
Speaker:weaving
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:branches.
Glows
pulsed
Speaker:from
Speaker:in-between
Speaker:cracks
Speaker:and
Speaker:knots
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees’
Speaker:bark,
Speaker:giving
Speaker:the
Speaker:misty
Speaker:atmosphere
Speaker:an
Speaker:ethereal
Speaker:haze.
Speaker:Walkways,
Speaker:stairs,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:occasional
Speaker:plaza
Speaker:curved
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees’
Speaker:enormous
Speaker:trunks
Speaker:in
Speaker:multiple
Speaker:levels,
Speaker:where
Speaker:rabbits,
Speaker:squirrels,
Speaker:mice,
Speaker:and
Speaker:other
Speaker:sylvan
Speaker:denizens
Speaker:milled
Speaker:about,
Speaker:preparing
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:eclipse
Speaker:festival.
Zephyr
and
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:sprinted
Speaker:across
Speaker:a
Speaker:walkway
Speaker:halfway
Speaker:up
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:largest
Speaker:trees.
Speaker:Rounding
Speaker:a
Speaker:bend,
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:off,
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:countless
Speaker:vines hanging
Speaker:down,
Speaker:and
Speaker:swung
Speaker:down
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:lower
Speaker:platform.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:brother
Speaker:sailed
Speaker:overhead,
Speaker:held
Speaker:aloft
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:innate
Speaker:Fey-blessed
Speaker:power,
Speaker:and
Speaker:gracefully
Speaker:landed
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:her.
Into
a
Speaker:door
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:built
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:creases
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:tree
Speaker:bark
Speaker:and
Speaker:though
Speaker:a
Speaker:tunnel
Speaker:with
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:orbs
Speaker:protruding
Speaker:from
Speaker:wood
Speaker:fibers,
Speaker:the
Speaker:passage
Speaker:opened
Speaker:up
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:massive
Speaker:hollow,
Speaker:where
Speaker:it
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:as
Speaker:if
Speaker:another
Speaker:tree
Speaker:had
Speaker:grown
Speaker:inside
Speaker:the
Speaker:larger
Speaker:one,
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:enormous
Speaker:core
Speaker:trunk
Speaker:spiraling
Speaker:upward
Speaker:and
Speaker:constructed
Speaker:walkways,
Speaker:platforms,
Speaker:and
Speaker:stairs
Speaker:all
Speaker:connected
Speaker:to
Speaker:it
Speaker:in
Speaker:organized
Speaker:levels.
Speaker:Light
Speaker:came
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:variety
Speaker:of
Speaker:lanterns
Speaker:lit
Speaker:with
Speaker:colorful
Speaker:flames,
Speaker:along
Speaker:with
Speaker:more
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:orbs
Speaker:seemingly
Speaker:grown
Speaker:out
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:wood
Speaker:of
Speaker:both
Speaker:the
Speaker:outer
Speaker:wall
Speaker:and
Speaker:interior
Speaker:trunk.
Speaker:Other
Speaker:folk
Speaker:traversed
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:walkways
Speaker:and
Speaker:congregated
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:suspended
Speaker:forums.
The
twins
Speaker:descended
Speaker:a
Speaker:set
Speaker:of
Speaker:stairs,
Speaker:passing
Speaker:a
Speaker:family
Speaker:of
Speaker:squirrels
Speaker:who
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:single
Speaker:glance at
Speaker:Zephyr’s
Speaker:tattooed
Speaker:ears
Speaker:and
Speaker:bowed
Speaker:in
Speaker:respect
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:went
Speaker:by.
Zephyr’s
ears
Speaker:panned
Speaker:back
Speaker:a
Speaker:little,
Speaker:immediately
Speaker:noticed
Speaker:by
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister.
“Nothing
wrong
Speaker:with a
Speaker:little
Speaker:attention,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said.
“I’m
not
Speaker:a
Speaker:messiah…”
Through
a
Speaker:series
Speaker:of
Speaker:tunnels
Speaker:carved
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:outer
Speaker:trunk,
Speaker:down
Speaker:a
Speaker:set
Speaker:of
Speaker:stairs,
Speaker:and
Speaker:through
Speaker:more
Speaker:cloth-covered
Speaker:doorways,
Speaker:the
Speaker:twins
Speaker:emerged
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:dim
Speaker:chamber.
Speaker:In
Speaker:a
Speaker:haze
Speaker:of
Speaker:incense,
Speaker:a
Speaker:taller,
Speaker:older,
Speaker:ebony-furred
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:kneeled
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:slanted
Speaker:shaft
Speaker:of
Speaker:moonlight
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:skylight
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:leaves
Speaker:high
Speaker:above
Speaker:outside
Speaker:had
Speaker:thinned
Speaker:enough
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky.
Speaker:Before
Speaker:him
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:statue
Speaker:depicting
Speaker:an
Speaker:artistic
Speaker:rendition
Speaker:of
Speaker:what
Speaker:many
Speaker:presumed
Speaker:a
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:might
Speaker:look
Speaker:like.
Speaker:The
Speaker:curvy
Speaker:form
Speaker:sculpted
Speaker:from
Speaker:wood
Speaker:was
Speaker:mostly
Speaker:abstract
Speaker:in
Speaker:detail,
Speaker:though
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:had
Speaker:the
Speaker:shape
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:bipedal
Speaker:creature.
Speaker:Whether
Speaker:the
Speaker:prongs
Speaker:protruding
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:head
Speaker:were
Speaker:horns,
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:ears,
Speaker:or
Speaker:something
Speaker:else
Speaker:entirely
Speaker:was
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:whomever
Speaker:gazed
Speaker:upon
Speaker:its
Speaker:unmoving
Speaker:form.
Sever
incredulously
Speaker:stared
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:it.
The
older
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:straightened,
Speaker:ears
Speaker:panning
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:nose
Speaker:twitching
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:caught
Speaker:his
Speaker:children’s
Speaker:scents
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:incense.
He
stood
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned,
Speaker:regarding
Speaker:them
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:warm
Speaker:smile. “Welcome
Speaker:home.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:spread
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms
Speaker:to
Speaker:receive
Speaker:the
Speaker:approaching
Speaker:twins.
Speaker:His
Speaker:entire
Speaker:left
Speaker:arm
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:prosthetic
Speaker:shaped
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:glossy
Speaker:wood-like
Speaker:material
Speaker:and
Speaker:was
Speaker:tipped
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:three-clawed
Speaker:hand.
Sever and
Zephyr
Speaker:trotted
Speaker:over and
Speaker:embraced
Speaker:him
Speaker:tight,
Speaker:sharing
Speaker:a
Speaker:quick
Speaker:nuzzle.
Father
let
Speaker:go
Speaker:and
Speaker:straightened,
Speaker:clasping
Speaker:his
Speaker:hands
Speaker:behind
Speaker:him. “Report.”
The
twins
Speaker:stood
Speaker:at
Speaker:attention,
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:business.
Zephyr
began, “Four
Speaker:invaders
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:beyond,
Speaker:a
Speaker:prime
Speaker:and
Speaker:three
Speaker:spawns.
Speaker:Basic,
Speaker:bestial
Speaker:intelligence.
Speaker:Inner parts
Speaker:are
Speaker:vaporized
Speaker:by
Speaker:Fey-rune
Speaker:power.
Speaker:Disintegrated
Speaker:completely
Speaker:upon
Speaker:death.”
Father
nodded,
Speaker:easing
Speaker:his
Speaker:stance. “Very
Speaker:good.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed,
Speaker:flexing
Speaker:his
Speaker:prosthetic
Speaker:hand. “Not
Speaker:so
Speaker:good,
Speaker:however,
Speaker:that
Speaker:these
Speaker:incursions
Speaker:are
Speaker:becoming
Speaker:more
Speaker:frequent.
Speaker:And
Speaker:close.”
Zephyr
glanced
Speaker:away,
Speaker:ears
Speaker:folded.
“That’s
why
Speaker:we’re
Speaker:here,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Sever. “This
Speaker:is
Speaker:what
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:trained
Speaker:us for.”
“I did not intend
for you
Speaker:to
Speaker:spend
Speaker:your
Speaker:life
Speaker:fighting,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Father.
Sever
unsheathed
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:swords
Speaker:with a
Speaker:flourish
Speaker:and
Speaker:summoned
Speaker:a
Speaker:thread
Speaker:of
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:power
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:sword’s
Speaker:runes. “Maybe
Speaker:not,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:training’s
Speaker:paid
Speaker:off!
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:have
Speaker:it
Speaker:no
Speaker:other
Speaker:way.”
Father’s
ears
Speaker:flattened. “Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:feel
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:way
Speaker:when
Speaker:these
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:invade
Speaker:our
Speaker:home,
Speaker:Sever?
Speaker:When
Speaker:you
Speaker:see
Speaker:them
Speaker:devouring
Speaker:our
Speaker:loved
Speaker:ones
Speaker:before
Speaker:our
Speaker:eyes?”
Sever’s
expression
Speaker:darkened. “That
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:happen.
Speaker:I
Speaker:won’t
Speaker:let it.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:her
Speaker:sword
Speaker:and
Speaker:placed
Speaker:a paw on
Speaker:her
Speaker:hip. “I
Speaker:know
Speaker:I
Speaker:lack
Speaker:Zephyr’s
Speaker:power,
Speaker:but
Speaker:that
Speaker:doesn’t
Speaker:mean
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:tear
Speaker:these
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:apart
Speaker:with
Speaker:pure
Speaker:skill.”
“I’d
prefer
Speaker:we
Speaker:never
Speaker:use
Speaker:this
Speaker:power,
Speaker:be
Speaker:it
Speaker:innate
Speaker:or
Speaker:cast
Speaker:through
Speaker:runes,
Speaker:in
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:violent
Speaker:manner.
Speaker:The
Speaker:more
Speaker:time
Speaker:spent
Speaker:fighting
Speaker:off
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:we
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:comprehend
Speaker:is
Speaker:time
Speaker:robbed
Speaker:from
Speaker:us
Speaker:in
Speaker:our
Speaker:search
Speaker:to
Speaker:understand
Speaker:the
Speaker:gifts
Speaker:the
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:grant us
Speaker:through
Speaker:their
Speaker:magic.”
“What’s
to
Speaker:understand?
Speaker:Just
Speaker:study
Speaker:Zephyr.
Speaker:He’s
Speaker:got
Speaker:plenty
Speaker:of
Speaker:power,
Speaker:without
Speaker:even
Speaker:having
Speaker:to
Speaker:ask
Speaker:for
Speaker:it!”
Zephyr’s
ears
Speaker:swished
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:held
Speaker:up
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws. “Hey,
Speaker:if
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:apply
Speaker:it in
Speaker:other
Speaker:ways
Speaker:besides
Speaker:fighting
Speaker:I’d
Speaker:be
Speaker:all
Speaker:for
Speaker:it,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:had
Speaker:frustratingly
Speaker:few
Speaker:opportunities
Speaker:to
Speaker:do
Speaker:that.”
“Because
you’re
Speaker:so
Speaker:useful,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smirk.
“Because
we’re
Speaker:constantly
Speaker:on
Speaker:guard,”
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:countered.
Father
stepped
Speaker:forward. “Enough.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath. “Sever,
Speaker:seeing
Speaker:as
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:so
Speaker:eager
Speaker:to
Speaker:cast
Speaker:more
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:magic,
Speaker:why
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:you
Speaker:go
Speaker:patrol
Speaker:the
Speaker:northeast
Speaker:shore
Speaker:before
Speaker:tonight’s eclipse ceremony?”
Sever
nodded
Speaker:and
Speaker:adjusted
Speaker:her
Speaker:equipment
Speaker:belts,
Speaker:tightening
Speaker:the
Speaker:coiled
Speaker:lasso
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:hip, “Yes
Speaker:sir.”
Zephyr
hopped
Speaker:up
Speaker:next
Speaker:to her. “I’ll
Speaker:go
Speaker:too.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:grinned,
Speaker:adding, “Clear
Speaker:night
Speaker:out.
Speaker:Since
Speaker:you
Speaker:seem
Speaker:so
Speaker:obsessed
Speaker:with
Speaker:lunar
Speaker:phenomena,
Speaker:maybe
Speaker:you’ll
Speaker:get
Speaker:a
Speaker:chance
Speaker:to
Speaker:stare
Speaker:at
Speaker:the moons and shout obscenities at the Fey again.”
“I
only
Speaker:did
Speaker:that
Speaker:once…”
Silver
moonlight
Speaker:bathed
Speaker:the
Speaker:lakeshores
Speaker:in
Speaker:soft,
Speaker:cool
Speaker:light.
Speaker:Beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:shadows
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest’s
Speaker:leafy
Speaker:canopies,
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:tree
Speaker:roots
Speaker:stretched
Speaker:far
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:in an
Speaker:intertwined
Speaker:web,
Speaker:covered
Speaker:in
Speaker:plush
Speaker:moss
Speaker:with
Speaker:occasional
Speaker:mushroom
Speaker:clusters
Speaker:among
Speaker:grassy
Speaker:ferns
Speaker:and
Speaker:more
Speaker:tiny
Speaker:plants
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:developed
Speaker:and
Speaker:thrived
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:moss
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:water.
Speaker:The
Speaker:same
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:orbs
Speaker:found
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees
Speaker:further
Speaker:inland
Speaker:were
Speaker:also
Speaker:scattered
Speaker:among
Speaker:the
Speaker:bark
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:roots
Speaker:themselves.
Two
figures
Speaker:rushed
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:root
Speaker:branches
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:water.
Speaker:Soft,
Speaker:fuzzy
Speaker:footpaws
Speaker:muffled
Speaker:their
Speaker:footsteps
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:deftly
Speaker:sprinted,
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:perfect
Speaker:balance
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:ginormous
Speaker:network.
Fey
energy
Speaker:flashed
Speaker:as
Speaker:one
Speaker:whipped
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:rune-powered
Speaker:short
Speaker:swords
Speaker:and
Speaker:spun
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:other,
Speaker:who
Speaker:somersaulted
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:twist
Speaker:overhead
Speaker:and
Speaker:countered
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:blade
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:own.
With
runes
Speaker:igniting,
Speaker:Sever and
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:traded
Speaker:practiced
Speaker:blows
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:sparring
Speaker:match
Speaker:along
Speaker:the
Speaker:massive
Speaker:root
Speaker:system.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:like
Speaker:countless
Speaker:others
Speaker:they had
Speaker:conducted
Speaker:together
Speaker:for
Speaker:years.
Speaker:A
Speaker:dance
Speaker:between
Speaker:two
Speaker:talented
Speaker:performers.
All
the
Speaker:while,
Speaker:two
Speaker:full
Speaker:moons
Speaker:hung
Speaker:high
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:night
Speaker:sky
Speaker:overhead,
Speaker:silent
Speaker:and
Speaker:ever-watching,
Speaker:moving
Speaker:closer
Speaker:together
Speaker:into
Speaker:an
Speaker:eclipse.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:rare
Speaker:night
Speaker:where
Speaker:both
Speaker:lunar
Speaker:bodies
Speaker:would
Speaker:align
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:dual eclipse
Speaker:above
Speaker:the
Speaker:warren—the
Speaker:same
Speaker:lunar
Speaker:event
Speaker:under
Speaker:which
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:and
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:had
Speaker:been
Speaker:born
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:twenty
Speaker:years
Speaker:ago.
Speaker:Their
Speaker:light
Speaker:shifted
Speaker:red
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:both
Speaker:lined
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:planet’s
Speaker:own
Speaker:shadow.
Sever
maneuvered
Speaker:to
Speaker:cut
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:off
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:position
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:roots
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:wet
Speaker:moss.
“Whoa!”
Sever
dropped
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:swords
Speaker:and
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm. “Gotta
Speaker:watch
Speaker:that
Speaker:footwork,”
Speaker:she
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:grin.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:sword
Speaker:bounced
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:root
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:standing
Speaker:on
Speaker:and
Speaker:plunked
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:below.
Zephyr
let her
Speaker:pull
Speaker:him
Speaker:back
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:his
Speaker:sword. “I’m
Speaker:getting
Speaker:better,
Speaker:at
Speaker:least.”
Sever
held
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:rune
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:forearm
Speaker:flashed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sword
Speaker:burst
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:and
Speaker:sailed
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:palm.
Speaker:She
Speaker:grabbed
Speaker:the
Speaker:hilt
Speaker:and
Speaker:swiped
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:blade,
Speaker:then
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:it
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:other
Speaker:sword. “Yeah,
Speaker:albeit
Speaker:slowly.”
“Y’know,
with
Speaker:all
Speaker:the
Speaker:grief
Speaker:you
Speaker:give
Speaker:me
Speaker:about
Speaker:my
Speaker:own
Speaker:power,
Speaker:you
Speaker:sure
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:have
Speaker:any
Speaker:problems
Speaker:with
Speaker:your
Speaker:runes.”
Sever’s
ears
Speaker:splayed. “Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:know
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:a hassle it
Speaker:is
Speaker:trying to paint
Speaker:these every day?
Speaker:Plus
Speaker:I
Speaker:gotta
Speaker:account
Speaker:for
Speaker:what
Speaker:might
Speaker:happen
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:hunt
Speaker:versus
Speaker:how
Speaker:much
Speaker:space
Speaker:is
Speaker:available
Speaker:on
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:safely
Speaker:cast
Speaker:them.
Speaker:It’s
Speaker:a
Speaker:huge
Speaker:guessing
Speaker:game.”
She
let
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:glittering
Speaker:lights
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:home
Speaker:warren
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:shadows
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:tree
Speaker:cover.
Speaker:Moonlight
Speaker:above
Speaker:faded
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:eclipse
Speaker:progressed,
Speaker:darkening
Speaker:the
Speaker:lake
Speaker:and
Speaker:making
Speaker:specks
Speaker:of
Speaker:lamplight
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:eclipse
Speaker:festival
Speaker:more
Speaker:noticeable
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:distant
Speaker:glade.
Sever
looked
Speaker:away. “I
Speaker:just
Speaker:feel
Speaker:like
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:had
Speaker:it
Speaker:easy,
Speaker:compared
Speaker:to
Speaker:me.”
Zephyr’s
ears
Speaker:flattened. “Easy?
Speaker:Sev, you’re
Speaker:the
Speaker:better
Speaker:fighter.
Speaker:You
Speaker:take
Speaker:charge
Speaker:every
Speaker:time
Speaker:we
Speaker:hunt,
Speaker:and
Speaker:you’re
Speaker:competent.
Speaker:Plus,
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:got
Speaker:a
Speaker:better
Speaker:handle
Speaker:on
Speaker:combat
Speaker:magic
Speaker:than
Speaker:anyone
Speaker:else
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:entire
Speaker:warren,
Speaker:even
Speaker:me.
Speaker:What’s
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:envious
Speaker:of?”
Sever
looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:unlit
Speaker:runes
Speaker:decorating
Speaker:her
Speaker:arm. “I
Speaker:should’ve
Speaker:gotten
Speaker:it,
Speaker:too.
Speaker:The
Speaker:power.
Speaker:The
Speaker:blessing.”
Speaker:She
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:at
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:as a
Speaker:dragonfly
Speaker:flitted
Speaker:past. “We
Speaker:were
Speaker:born
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:night,
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:same
Speaker:lunar
Speaker:event.
Speaker:But
Speaker:you
Speaker:got
Speaker:the
Speaker:power.”
“Then
it’s
Speaker:jealousy,”
Speaker:said
Speaker:Zephyr,
Speaker:crossing
Speaker:his
Speaker:arms.
Sever
frowned
Speaker:and
Speaker:flexed
Speaker:her
Speaker:fists. “Why
Speaker:would
Speaker:just
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:get it
Speaker:instead
Speaker:of
Speaker:both?”
“What
does
Speaker:it
Speaker:matter?
Speaker:You
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:need
Speaker:this
Speaker:power.”
“I
could
Speaker:be
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:better!
Speaker:Faster,
Speaker:tougher,
Speaker:without
Speaker:having
Speaker:to
Speaker:plaster
Speaker:these
Speaker:runes
Speaker:all
Speaker:over
Speaker:my
Speaker:body
Speaker:as a
Speaker:way
Speaker:of pleading the Fey
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:fraction
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:they
Speaker:granted
Speaker:you
Speaker:just
Speaker:for
Speaker:being
Speaker:born
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:right
Speaker:moment
Speaker:and
Speaker:place.”
Zephyr’s
ears
Speaker:remained
Speaker:flat
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:nose
Speaker:twitched in
Speaker:frustration. “How
Speaker:am
Speaker:I
Speaker:supposed
Speaker:to
Speaker:know
Speaker:why
Speaker:the
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:gave
Speaker:me
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:have?
Speaker:I
Speaker:never
Speaker:asked
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:born
Speaker:like
Speaker:this!”
Speaker:He
Speaker:sighed
Speaker:and
Speaker:slumped
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulders. “There’s
Speaker:more
Speaker:to
Speaker:this
Speaker:power
Speaker:than
Speaker:combat.
Speaker:There
Speaker:has
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:eclipsing
Speaker:moons
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:disappeared
Speaker:into
Speaker:shadow. “I’ve
Speaker:always
Speaker:believed
Speaker:the
Speaker:lunar
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:speak
Speaker:to
Speaker:us
Speaker:rabbits
Speaker:in
Speaker:more
Speaker:than
Speaker:just
Speaker:arbitrary
Speaker:blessings
Speaker:and
Speaker:rune
Speaker:marks.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:his sister. “I
Speaker:mean,
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:this
Speaker:world.
Speaker:This
Speaker:forest.
Speaker:The
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:are
Speaker:evident
Speaker:in
Speaker:every
Speaker:aspect
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:lives,
Speaker:likely
Speaker:in
Speaker:ways
Speaker:we
Speaker:haven’t
Speaker:even
Speaker:come
Speaker:close
Speaker:to
Speaker:figuring
Speaker:out
Speaker:yet.
Speaker:Like
Speaker:those
Speaker:weird
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:orbs
Speaker:we
Speaker:make
Speaker:rune
Speaker:paints
Speaker:from in
Speaker:the
Speaker:bark
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees.
Speaker:Maybe
Speaker:that’s—”
Speaker:he
Speaker:froze,
Speaker:then
Speaker:stared
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:below,
Speaker:where
Speaker:a
Speaker:glow
Speaker:began
Speaker:forming.
Speaker:Bubbles
Speaker:surged
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:glow.
Zephyr
pulled
Speaker:out
Speaker:his
Speaker:bow
Speaker:and
Speaker:backed
Speaker:away. “No,
Speaker:not
Speaker:here…”
A
shape
Speaker:burst
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface,
Speaker:shattering
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:roots.
Speaker:Its
Speaker:enormous
Speaker:serpentine
Speaker:shape
Speaker:coiled
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:larger
Speaker:branches,
Speaker:covered
Speaker:in
Speaker:spiked,
Speaker:segmented
Speaker:plating
Speaker:that
Speaker:reflected
Speaker:moonlight
Speaker:off
Speaker:its
Speaker:dark
Speaker:surface.
Speaker:Its
Speaker:angular
Speaker:snake-like
Speaker:head
Speaker:reared
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:toward
Speaker:Zephyr,
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:red
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:focusing
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:terrified
Speaker:rabbit.
A
green
Speaker:flash
Speaker:preceded
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:leaping
Speaker:on
Speaker:its
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:stabbing
Speaker:her
Speaker:swords
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:beast’s
Speaker:armored
Speaker:carapace. “Zeph,
Speaker:head
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:game!”
The
blades
Speaker:slid
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:plates,
Speaker:no
Speaker:damage
Speaker:done.
Zephyr
whipped
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:trio
Speaker:of
Speaker:arrows
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:fly,
Speaker:his
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:power
Speaker:charging
Speaker:them into
Speaker:sparking
Speaker:bolts.
The
arrows
Speaker:shattered
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature’s
Speaker:armored
Speaker:hide,
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:scuff
Speaker:marks.
The
beast
Speaker:charged
Speaker:toward
Speaker:Zephyr,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:scurrying
Speaker:away.
“Sev!
Find
Speaker:a
Speaker:weak
Speaker:point!!”
Sever,
struggling
Speaker:to
Speaker:balance
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:serpent’s
Speaker:writhing
Speaker:mass,
Speaker:tied
Speaker:one
Speaker:end
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:lasso
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:sword’s
Speaker:hilt
Speaker:and
Speaker:stabbed
Speaker:down
Speaker:between
Speaker:armor
Speaker:plates.
Speaker:No
Speaker:blood
Speaker:or
Speaker:fluids,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:weapon
Speaker:held.
She
leaped
Speaker:off,
Speaker:pulling the
Speaker:rope
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:went,
Speaker:and
Speaker:swung
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:root.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sudden
Speaker:weight
Speaker:shift
Speaker:yanked
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:fast
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:branch
Speaker:as
Speaker:Sever’s
Speaker:momentum
Speaker:sent
Speaker:her
Speaker:sailing
Speaker:up
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:side.
Speaker:She
Speaker:landed
Speaker:back
Speaker:on
Speaker:top
Speaker:and
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:the
Speaker:lasso
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:hilt
Speaker:anchored
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:plates.
The
demon
Speaker:snarled
Speaker:and
Speaker:bucked,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:free
Speaker:itself
Speaker:as
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:notched
Speaker:another
Speaker:arrow
Speaker:pulsing
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:energy.
“It’s
because
Speaker:of
Speaker:me!”
Speaker:he
Speaker:called
Speaker:out. “The
Speaker:incursions
Speaker:are
Speaker:getting
Speaker:closer
Speaker:because
Speaker:they’re
Speaker:drawn
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:power.”
Sever
forced
Speaker:her
Speaker:weight
Speaker:onto
Speaker:her
Speaker:sword
Speaker:to
Speaker:keep
Speaker:it
Speaker:anchored. “You
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:be
Speaker:certain!”
The
branches
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon
Speaker:broke
Speaker:free,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:splintered
Speaker:pieces,
Speaker:glittering
Speaker:sparks,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit
Speaker:twins
Speaker:flying.
Zephyr
grabbed
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:tattoos
Speaker:lit
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:channeled
Speaker:power
Speaker:to
Speaker:shift
Speaker:them
Speaker:back
Speaker:to
Speaker:branches
Speaker:still
Speaker:intact.
Speaker:The
Speaker:demon
Speaker:lunged,
Speaker:but the rabbits sailed out of reach. It landed
Speaker:on
Speaker:broken
Speaker:edges
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:root
Speaker:system
Speaker:and
Speaker:everything
Speaker:shattered
Speaker:under
Speaker:it,
Speaker:plunging
Speaker:it
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:water.
Zephyr
and
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:landed
Speaker:on
Speaker:mossy
Speaker:branches
Speaker:and
Speaker:whirled,
Speaker:looking
Speaker:all
Speaker:around
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:where
Speaker:the
Speaker:beast
Speaker:might
Speaker:spring
Speaker:up
Speaker:next.
Zephyr
held
Speaker:out
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:bow
Speaker:sailed
Speaker:into
Speaker:his
Speaker:palm. “I-I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:sense
Speaker:it…”
Speaker:Nose
Speaker:feverishly
Speaker:twitching,
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:all
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:water’s surface. “I
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave.
Speaker:I’m
Speaker:the
Speaker:entire
Speaker:reason
Speaker:these
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:are
Speaker:invading.”
Sever,
drawing
Speaker:her
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:sword,
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:back
Speaker:at
Speaker:him. “Don’t
Speaker:say
Speaker:that.
Speaker:You
Speaker:don’t
Speaker:know—”
“Yes
I
Speaker:do!”
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:cried. “Father
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:studying
Speaker:the
Speaker:incursions
Speaker:for
Speaker:over
Speaker:a
Speaker:year.
Speaker:Every
Speaker:journey
Speaker:we’ve
Speaker:made,
Speaker:every
Speaker:time
Speaker:an
Speaker:invasion
Speaker:happens,
Speaker:it’s
Speaker:within
Speaker:miles
Speaker:of
Speaker:where
Speaker:I
Speaker:am.
Speaker:And
Speaker:they’re
Speaker:closing
Speaker:in
Speaker:every
Speaker:time.”
Speaker:He
Speaker:looked
Speaker:up
Speaker:at
Speaker:her,
Speaker:wide-eyed. “Father
Speaker:lost
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm.
Speaker:We
Speaker:lost
Speaker:our
Speaker:mother
Speaker:to
Speaker:these
Speaker:creatures,
Speaker:and
Speaker:now
Speaker:they’ve
Speaker:found
Speaker:our
Speaker:home.
Speaker:Because
Speaker:this ‘blessing’
Speaker:led
Speaker:them
Speaker:here.”
Sever
stared
Speaker:back,
Speaker:ears
Speaker:drifting
Speaker:down
Speaker:behind
Speaker:her
Speaker:head. “Is
Speaker:that
Speaker:why
Speaker:you’ve
Speaker:been
Speaker:so
Speaker:reluctant
Speaker:to
Speaker:return
Speaker:home
Speaker:when
Speaker:we
Speaker:go
Speaker:hunting?
Speaker:Why
Speaker:you
Speaker:take
Speaker:any
Speaker:opportunity
Speaker:to
Speaker:leave
Speaker:the
Speaker:warren?”
Zephyr
nodded. “These
Speaker:beings
Speaker:are
Speaker:drawn
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:I
Speaker:emanate,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I
Speaker:can’t
Speaker:endanger
Speaker:our
Speaker:people
Speaker:because
Speaker:of
Speaker:it.”
Sever glanced
down, noticing
Speaker:a
Speaker:patch
Speaker:of
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:fluids
Speaker:leaking
Speaker:from
Speaker:a
Speaker:cracked orb
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:splintered
Speaker:root
Speaker:bark.
Speaker:Movement
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:water
Speaker:caught
Speaker:her
Speaker:attention. “There!”
Zephyr’s
bow
Speaker:pulsed
Speaker:energy
Speaker:through
Speaker:an arrow. An ear flicked at a splash. He
Speaker:whirled
Speaker:and
Speaker:shot
Speaker:the
Speaker:enormous
Speaker:shape
Speaker:bursting
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:surface.
Speaker:The
Speaker:charged
Speaker:arrow
Speaker:ricocheted
Speaker:off
Speaker:daggerlike
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:before
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:splintered
Speaker:the
Speaker:branch
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbits
Speaker:stood
Speaker:on.
The
twins
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:away,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Zephyr
Speaker:slipped
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:moss
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:to
Speaker:his
Speaker:knees.
Sever spun
and
Speaker:charged her
Speaker:sword’s runes,
Speaker:then
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon’s
Speaker:face.
The
demon
Speaker:knocked
Speaker:her
Speaker:skyward
Speaker:with
Speaker:its
Speaker:muzzle
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:its
Speaker:jaws
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:rabbit’s
Speaker:legs.
Speaker:Sever
Speaker:screamed,
Speaker:dropping
Speaker:her
Speaker:sword.
Zephyr
stared
Speaker:in
Speaker:horror
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:creature
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister,
Speaker:then
Speaker:flung
Speaker:her
Speaker:away
Speaker:before
Speaker:focusing
Speaker:on
Speaker:him.
Sever
hit
Speaker:a
Speaker:nearby
Speaker:branch
Speaker:and
Speaker:grunted,
Speaker:wrapping
Speaker:her
Speaker:arms
Speaker:around
Speaker:it
Speaker:before
Speaker:falling.
Speaker:She
Speaker:tried
Speaker:to
Speaker:climb
Speaker:up,
Speaker:but
Speaker:only
Speaker:felt
Speaker:dead
Speaker:weight.
Speaker:No
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:legs.
She
wheezed,
Speaker:trying
Speaker:to
Speaker:maintain
Speaker:grip
Speaker:and
Speaker:helpless
Speaker:but
Speaker:to
Speaker:watch
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon
Speaker:charge
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:brother.
Zephyr
fell
Speaker:onto
Speaker:his
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:Fey
Speaker:power
Speaker:surged,
Speaker:forming
Speaker:a
Speaker:barrier
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:the
Speaker:demon’s
Speaker:jaws
Speaker:mere
Speaker:inches
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:outstretched
Speaker:paws
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:bore
Speaker:its
Speaker:weight
Speaker:down
Speaker:against
Speaker:him.
Sever
struggled
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:conscious.
Speaker:She
Speaker:was
Speaker:losing
Speaker:blood.
Speaker:Clutching
Speaker:the
Speaker:root
Speaker:bark
Speaker:for
Speaker:support,
Speaker:she
Speaker:reached
Speaker:down to
Speaker:her
Speaker:belt
Speaker:and
Speaker:unclasped
Speaker:her
Speaker:chakram.
If
its Fey runes
Speaker:could
Speaker:make
Speaker:the
Speaker:weapon
Speaker:return
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:paw,
Speaker:then
Speaker:the
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:should
Speaker:be
Speaker:true
Speaker:with
Speaker:proper
Speaker:focus…
Sever
lifted
Speaker:the
Speaker:razor-edged
Speaker:ring
Speaker:and
Speaker:aimed
Speaker:a
Speaker:trembling
Speaker:paw
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:only
Speaker:soft spot
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
see:the
see:inside
see:of
see:the
see:beast’s
see:mouth.
see:Its
see:teeth
see:began
see:piercing
see:Zepyr’s
see:barrier.
see:Sweat
see:seeped
see:from
see:Zephyr’s
see:fur
see:as
see:he
see:struggled
see:to
see:maintain
see:the
see:power.
Sever’s
fingers
see:opened
see:up
see:and
see:the
see:chakram
see:hovered
see:in
see:front
see:of
see:her
see:palm,
see:green
see:runes
see:intensely
see:blazing.
A bright
flash,
see:and
see:the
see:ring
see:shot
see:right
see:into
see:the
see:demon’s maw and
see:ricocheted
see:inside.
see:The
see:demon
see:jolted,
see:then
see:went
see:limp
see:as
see:cracks
see:appeared
see:all
see:over
see:its
see:armor
see:plates,
see:emanating
see:red
see:energy
see:before
see:crumbling
see:to
see:dust
see:with
see:the
see:rest
see:of
see:the
see:serpent’s
see:dissolving
see:form.
Sever
smiled
see:weakly. “Ha… got’cha…”
Zephyr
let
see:out
see:a
see:breath
see:and
see:leaned
see:up,
see:then
see:turned
see:and
see:gasped
see:at
see:the
see:grim
see:sight
see:of
see:his
see:sister
see:barely
see:hanging
see:on.
see:He
see:scrambled
see:over, “No,
see:no
see:no
see:not
see:now!”
He
grabbed
see:Sever’s
see:arms
see:and
see:pulled
see:her
see:up
see:onto
see:the
see:branch,
see:then
see:stared
see:in
see:shock
see:at
see:her
see:legs,
see:completely
see:drenched
see:in
see:blood.
see:He
see:swallowed
see:and
see:held
see:his
see:paws
see:out
see:over
see:them.
see:Fey
see:energy
see:glowed
see:under
see:his
see:palms,
see:but
see:in
see:the
see:light,
see:he
see:saw
see:deep
see:gashes
see:that
see:continued
see:to
see:bleed.
Tears
welled in Zephyr’s eyes. “Sev, I… I don’t
see:know
see:if
see:I
see:can
see:stop
see:the
see:bleeding…”
Sever
winced,
see:clutching
see:one
see:of
see:his
see:arms. “I
see:kept
see:you
see:safe.
see:That’s
see:what
see:matters.
see:Tell
see:father—”
“Don’t
say
see:that!”
see:Zephyr
see:tried
see:to
see:still
see:his
see:breathing
see:while
see:his
see:mind
see:raced. “I’m
see:not
see:losing
see:you,
see:too.
see:After
see:all
see:that
see:talk,
see:you
see:can’t
see:be
see:the
see:one
see:to
see:give
see:up.”
“You’ve
done
see:your
see:best.”
see:Sever’s
see:head
see:bobbed. “Don’t
see:live
see:the
see:rest
see:of
see:your
see:life
see:blaming
see:yourself.”
Zephyr
stared
see:down
see:at
see:Sever’s
see:wounds.
see:His
see:ears
see:flattened
see:and
see:brow
see:wrinkled.
see:He
see:looked
see:over
see:at
see:one
see:of
see:the
see:cracked orbs
see:in
see:the
see:root
see:bark
see:leaking
see:glowing
see:fluid
see:and
see:punched
see:his
see:paw
see:through
see:it. “I
see:have
see:an
see:idea…
see:call on
see:your
see:rune
see:knowledge.”
see:He
see:pulled
see:his
see:paw
see:out,
see:covered
see:in
see:the
see:fluid.
Sever
blinked,
see:whiskers
see:twitching in
see:curiosity. “What,
see:like
see:healing
see:runes?
see:I
see:don’t
see:even
see:know
see:if
see:I’m
see:capable
see:of
see:those.
see:And…
see:there’s
see:not
see:enough
see:skin
see:still
see:intact
see:to
see:paint
see:them
see:on.”
“Let
me
see:focus
see:on
see:that
see:part,”
see:said
see:Zephyr,
see:moving
see:his
see:paw
see:to
see:her shredded legs. “Just guide my paws
see:to paint the
see:right
see:designs.
see:We’ll
see:both
see:charge
see:them.”
Sever
grinned
see:wryly. “Wha…
see:What
see:makes
see:you
see:think
see:I
see:would
see:have
see:enough
see:power?
see:Or
see:even
see:the
see:knowledge?
see:I’ve
see:only
see:used
see:runes
see:for
see:combat.”
Zephyr
locked
see:eyes
see:with
see:her. “You
see:were
see:born
see:under
see:a
see:dual
see:eclipse,
see:too,
see:and
see:we’re under
see:one
see:right
see:now.”
Sever
looked
see:up,
see:seeing
see:the
see:moons
see:shrouded
see:in
see:shadow,
see:yet
see:Fey
see:energy
see:now
see:encircled
see:their
see:edges
see:as
see:concentric
see:glowing
see:rings.
Zephyr’s
gaze
see:was
see:firm. “Give
see:what
see:power
see:you
see:can,
see:anything
see:you
see:can remember, and I’ll handle
see:the rest.”
Sever
nodded and
see:weakly
see:shifted
see:Zephyr’s paw as
see:they
see:painted
see:the
see:glowing
see:fluid
see:on
see:her
see:blood-soaked
see:legs.
see:She
see:noticed
see:brief
see:flares
see:as
see:they
see:passed
see:over
see:some
see:of
see:the
see:gashes,
see:closing
see:just
see:enough
see:flesh
see:to
see:keep
see:the
see:rune
see:designs
see:intact.
Moments
later, “That’s
see:all
see:I
see:can
see:remember.
see:I
see:don’t
see:know
see:if it’s
see:enough. I’ve
see:never
see:used…”
see:Sever
see:let
see:out
see:a
see:breath,
see:head
see:still
see:bobbing
see:as
see:she
see:tried
see:to
see:stay
see:awake.
Zephyr
breathed
see:deep
see:and
see:closed
see:his
see:eyes
see:with
see:one
see:paw
see:held
see:out
see:over
see:Sever’s
see:legs
see:and
see:the
see:other
see:clasped
see:in
see:Sever’s
see:own. “Please
see:try…”
see:he
see:muttered.
His
tattoos
see:lit
see:up.
see:Glowing
see:trails
see:flowed
see:across
see:his
see:iridescent
see:fur.
Sever’s
own
see:runes
see:flickered
see:to
see:life,
see:glowing
see:green
see:under
see:her
see:brother’s
see:cool
see:blue.
Sever
shrieked as
see:searing
see:pain
see:shot
see:through
see:her
see:legs.
see:She
see:felt
see:nerves
see:reconnecting,
see:along
see:with
see:their
see:injuries
see:even
see:as
see:they
see:closed.
see:She
see:gritted
see:her
see:teeth,
see:clutching
see:Zephyr’s
see:paw
see:harder
see:before
see:the
see:pain
see:finally
see:subsided
see:into
see:a
see:dullness.
Zephyr
let out a
see:breath
see:and
see:the
see:glows
see:faded.
see:Both
see:rabbits
see:panted
see:hard
see:from
see:the
see:exertion.
Sever
leaned
see:up
see:and
see:stared
see:at
see:her
see:legs.
see:A
see:toe
see:moved.
see:Her
see:ankle
see:shifted.
see:A
see:knee
see:bent.
Sever
smiled
see:through
see:her
see:gasps
see:and
see:a
see:tear
see:ran
see:down
see:her cheek
see:ruffs. “We did it…”
Zephyr smiled,
shuddering. “We
see:did…”
The
siblings leaned in
see:and
see:gently
see:touched
see:foreheads,
see:still
see:panting,
see:still
see:clasping
see:paws,
see:and
see:now
see:relieved.
After
a
see:few
see:moments,
see:Sever
see:muttered, “I
see:meant
see:what
see:I
see:said.”
Zephyr
didn’t
see:move. “About not
see:feeling
see:guilty?”
“Yeah.
You
see:never
see:chose
see:this
see:power,
see:remember?”
“But
the
see:invasions
see:are
see:here
see:now…” His
see:demeanor
see:shifted. “I
see:still
see:can’t
see:stay.”
“So,
all
see:that
see:talk
see:of
see:traveling...
see:Any
see:truth
see:to
see:it?”
Zephyr
paused,
see:then
see:smiled. “Yeah.
see:I’ve
see:got
see:questions
see:about
see:this
see:world
see:to
see:answer.
see:And
see:I
see:need
see:a
see:change
see:of
see:scenery.”
“Then
I’ll
see:go with
see:you. Power or not, I’m still gonna be
see:there
see:to
see:protect
see:you,
see:no
see:matter
see:what.”
Zephyr
glanced
see:up
see:at
see:the
see:twin
see:moons
see:above,
see:rings
see:fading
see:as
see:they
see:drifted
see:apart.
see:He
see:calmly
see:closed
see:his
see:eyes
see:under
see:comfortable
see:lunar
see:radiance
see:as
see:moonlight
see:returned. “Like
see:always.”
This
was “Gemini
see:Lunae”
see:by Aelius,
see:read
see:for you
see:by Rhythm Bastard,
see:Swole
see:Raccoon
see:Punk. You can find
see:more
see:stories
see:on
see:the
see:web
see:at thevoice.dog, or find
see:the
see:show wherever
see:you
see:get
see:your
see:podcasts.
see:Thank
see:you
see:for
see:listening
see:to
see:The
see:Voice
see:of
see:Dog.