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Veera's feet ceased to exist. They had gone past pain. Dull aches turned to sharp pains and burning as she trudged on. Soon her feet just felt numb. The water was a constant stream that Veera loved to watch. It grew and shrank but never dried. It would rush threw roots and glide over rocks. The feeling between her toes was exhilarating.
The orbs Veera had first seen were drifting by them, keeping their pace yet somehow remaining afloat with ease. They drifted in one direction while still maintaining their own orbit. left, right, up, or down didn't matter. When they moved they spun around themselves with wisps coming off in puffs. As Veera stared at them they seemed to grow with depth, she never stopped noticing something new. IF she stared too long she'd stop walking, so after a couple of times dragging behind she learned to watch with glances.
The water seemed to move with a will of its own. Back home the rain that fell collected in pools that her people channeled into fountains. It moved but in a predictable way. Here it was free. Up, over, through, around. It did what it wanted. Veera loved the thought. She wished that she had such a choice.
"So, how far are we?" Cade interrupted the silence that had befallen the flock.
"At least today and tomorrow. I had discussed with Otis the best place to land but with the wind and uncertainty of the trunks there was no accurate way to calculate our landing position." Jun's eyebrows were tensed together as he explained.
"When we arrive will we be able to speak with your leader immediately?" Cade questioned.
Jun paused, "Possibly"
"What do you mean 'possibly'?" Veera hedged. 'We were under the impression they wanted an alliance with us. Why would we have to wait to open negotiations?"
"It's complicated." Jun rubbed his hand through his hair. "Not everyone is on the same page. I was hoping they would send a more experienced group. I doubt the chief will trust you enough to make an alliance."
"Dude, you mean the chief didn't send you? Wow, here I thought you were sent on some official business." Damon remarked.
"I was sent officially, the situation was urgent. We had just discovered the tainted had begun trying to breach the canopy. I had to warn you and seek help. We didn't have time to get the chief fully up to date." Jun said.
"Then how sent you? Surely you didn't go solo?" Kathryn inquired.
"No, I went alone but I was sent. My team leader gave the order. He said he'd give the chief a briefing while I sent for reinforcement."
"Alright, two days then. We can do that." Veera said. "Pop already agreed to send us so the least we can do is try to negotiate."
Jun looked at Veera, his eyes pinching together again in a look Veera had begun to decide was bewilderment. Gratitude mixed with confusion as he nodded in thanks.
As the day flowed by in mindless trudging, dusk settled in around them. The fading of the sun took its warmth with it as it retreated below the knots of roots in the distance. Veera hadn't dressed for the chill that now set in her bones. She might have commented on it but that would mean telling Jun she was ill-prepared. For a stranger she met a mere day ago his opinion of her held more weight than she was comfortable with.
Jun had found a place for them to set up camp, busing himself with collecting kindling. Veera's legs seemed to give out beneath her as she fell to the ground. Her legs were not accustomed to bearing her weight for so long. Her wings held more strength than her legs. Still, it surprised her how fatigued she was after a day of walking. Looking around her friends were in similar shape.
Cane in traditional fashion had not sat down but Veera noticed how he leaned on a nearby trunk to lessen the weight on his legs. Leaning back on her hands and arms Kathryn had her legs stretched out before her to try and loosen the stiff limbs. Unsurprisingly Damon had given up all forms of pretense and was laying on his back legs in the air resting the closest trunk to his landing spot.
Jun seemed unphased as he methodically gathered the twigs and dry leaves together in a pile. Veera's green eyes followed him as he pulled two stones from his sack. He had a tendency to furrow his brows when he was thinking. Veera thought it was an odd habit. She also noticed another pair of eyes tracking his movements.
Brown eyes stared intently at Jun's hands as he stuck the flint. Sparks flew from Jun's hands and Veera swore she saw Damon's eyes flicker with red.
"How do you do that?" Damon asked absorbed with the flickers.
"Did no show you how to start a flame?" Jun paused his labor to examine Jun.
"Flames are too great of a risk for us to handle above the canopy. Not many people have experience handling it." Cade's arms were crossed as he peered at Jun wearily. "Is it a good idea to flight a signal for everyone to know where we are?"
"The flame won't draw too much attention. I'll keep it small enough that anyone from a distance will think it's a whisp. Considering you've never experienced the cold nights below the canopy, the risk is necessary. Judging from your clothes none of you are accustomed to colder temperatures." Jun answered Cade's accusation with a calm tone, once again resuming his strikes until the kindling was lit.
"Are you not worried about it spreading?" Kathryn had curled in on herself, arms wrapped around he legs as she stared at the small flame.
"No. I'll manage it so that it has nothing to feed on." Jun had placed the kindling under the pile he collected. Veera only now realized he had cleared a circle around the small bundle. "If fire is such a risk why weren't you taught how to manage it?"
"We were taught some basics but never got the opportunity to handle it hands-on." Damon piped in, leaning closer to the flame.
"How ignorant." Jun's voice twisted with his lips in a sneer. "You're leaders leave a lot to be desired if this is how they prepared you. How can you handle a threat if you've not been properly trained."
"Hey, watch wha-"
"Your out of line." Cade interrupted Veera pushing off from the trunk of the tree.
"I'd have to be wrong to be out of line." Jun meet Cade's cold gaze with a stony one of his own.
"I can show you your error if you want," Cade said pushing up his sleeves.
"Really? Like how you handled the tainted right? Oh, wait. I did." Jun retorted, standing to his feet.
"That's too much Jun." Kathryn's face was taught with hurt.
"Yeah, there's no reason to fight. We're on the same side." Damon chimed in, the tension tugging on his nerves as he rocked from foot to foot.
"No reason? This grounder just insulted the Commander. I'd say that's the reason." Cade's voice was cold and hard, chipping off in shards of ice.
"I see that questioning bad practices is an insult in your culture."
"That's enough." Veera's voice cut through the tension and both boys finally broke eye contact to look at her. "You don't get to question the practices of someone you want to help you. Keep your observations to yourself. Cade, a good warrior is loyal to his leadership, but a smart one knows how to control his emotions. We're not at home and Jun is not your family. Do not let words from someone who doesn't know you get under your skin." Veera stared down at the two boys.
"Sure." Cade nodded pulling away from Jun to lay out his bed roll.
"You are right, in that I sought your help. I also was sent to help you and warn you. You can not deny that you were unprepared for the tainted. Something has to change. However, I would have responded similarly had it been toward my leader. I will be careful with my words." Jun's words fell on the group slowly and considerate. Tention slackened as Veera heard Kathryn sigh.
"Well, that was awkward." Damon's stuttered laugh hovered over the group. "Jun wanna teach this unlearned simpleton the power of fire?" Damon offered up. Veera watched as Cade relaxed back into the tree, trailing Jun through the corner of his vision.
"I'll teach you, though simpleton you are not," Jun replied. "We'll have to set up a night watch of some sort. I'm not sure how much experience any of you have with it so tonight I'll stay up during the darkest hours."
With that, the group started preparing for the night. Cade and Kathyrn had set up their bed rolls and were discussing something off to the side of the camp. Jun was showing Damon which materials were best for kindling and what would start a spark.
I should check in with Damon later. Veera thought. He seems normal but surely he's just as stressed as the rest of us.
With the fire came cooking. Jun had caught small prey throughout the day and after cleaning them had put them on spikes to roast. Veera wondered at the life he led to acquire such a wide range of skills. Despite their earlier altercation, Cade was vocal in his thanks as Jun passed him a small rabbit.
Their adrenaline gone; the group was ready to rest. Little was said as they nestled into their bed rolls. Veera was grateful for the fire as the chill fully set into her body. Shakes had started to overcome her body by the time he had covered up.
Jun was making the rounds to each member, explaining the watch hours and how to maintain the fire. Veera watched as he and Cade exchanged a few words. Jun's face was pinched with a look that Veera had come to learn was consideration. She was used to her father making decisions quickly and with little input. Jun's readiness to concede and thought into his words was a novelty to Veera. She found she liked this look. If only because she felt he would listen.
Jun's voice was still stoney, still solid as a rock when he nodded in seemingly agreement with whatever Cade said. Veera couldn't make out their words but she did see when Cade offered his hard to Jun. Surprise washed over her as Cade pulled Jun into a hug of comradery, grasping his forearm and swinging his other hand across his shoulders to pat his back. His shoulders went stiff as Jun tried to mimic the action.
Clearly, Jun doesn't like physical touch. Veera thought as Jun pulled away and started toward her.
"You have the last watch. Will you be able to travel tomorrow with an earlier start?" JUn said healing down to where she sat on her roll.
"Yes, I think so." Veera hoped her feet would be better by the morning. She didn't know if the extra time would make the walk worse or not.
"Are your feet hurt?" Jun gestured to where Veera was absentmindedly rubbing her feet.
"Uhm, yeah. They're fine. Sorry, I'm just not used to walking for so long. We use our wings to travel more than we use our legs. I'll be fine." Her words were rushed and pushed together from her embarrassment. She didn't like looking vulnerable, especially in front of Jun who was so capable. Heat flooded her cheeks as Veera avoided the grey eyes that saw too much.
"Here." Jun knelt down and softly touched Veera's feet. Relief seeped into her as her pain was pulled away. A soft light grew in his eyes before he pulled away.
"How did you do that?" Veera asked. Her pain was completely gone. She'd seen a lot of gifts but not one that could heal like she'd seen him do now. Thinking back he did the same with Kathryn.
"Maybe I'll tell you later." Jun got up from where he was crouched. "There is no shame in pain. No one can be completely free of it."
"Thanks." Veera watched as he walked away to explain the watch to Kaythrn. She thought there was a slight limp to his step, but that made no sense.
Sleep came to her fitfully. A twisted smile haunted her dreams as the wind's whispered words ran together. The fear of the previous day came anew but this time the tainted reached her. It whispered her fears in her ears. Fears she had never told anyone. Fears she refused to acknowledge in herself. She ran and ran with no end. Her legs were tired and she fell, tripping over a stone. It pulsed and glew with a familiar grey light. Oddly enough it comforted her. It seemed similar but she couldn't remember where she'd seen it. On the tip of her tongue, Veera was about to recall when she was shaken awake.
"Wake up" A whispered shout ordered the fog out of her mind.
"Is it my time to take watch?" She asked Jun.
"No, I need you awake right now. We're being watched." Jun's voice was honed sharp, urging her fully awake.
Alerted to the peering eyes, Veera felt their twisted presence. A familiar dark and twisted smile gleamed in the darkness as the fire sputtered out.173Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmBJ05ckow
