I’d never sensed that from a magnetic storm before, but I did now.But there was also something more within the storm… something overwhelming as it drew me onward.
I couldn’t resist its pull and trusted it to take me where I belonged.Flying debris and tumbling branches became a constant threat I had to dodge.Trees split as lightning pierced straight through them.
I worried about those I’d left behind, but they were safer than those ahead.They’d built the tree houses with magnetic storms in mind; if Ryker couldn’t find someplace to shelter, they’d all be in danger.
The amsirah at the encampment had already weathered a magnetic storm.Yes, the number of amsirah and tree houses had grown since then, but the homes were all built the same.I had to trust they’d remain safe.
After walking for at least another mile, I reached a large hilltop.The rain was coming down so hard, it poured like a stream down the hill.It washed away everything in its path as it swept toward a river overflowing its banks.
Anxiety dug its nails deep and formed a pit in my stomach.I was being drawn forward, but I couldn’t go down here, and if Ryker tried to bring them through this way, the raging water would sweep them away.
Retreating from the hilltop, I studied the bending trees and plotted my next move.I couldn’t go down; that would end badly, but I couldn’t stay here.
With no other option, I turned left and battled my way forward, hoping to find another way down the hill.Or maybe, if I was lucky, the land would level out somewhere away from the river.
The electricity in the air crackled against my skin and raised the hair on my arms as a bolt struck the earth only inches away from me.The lightning’s impact and nearness would have thrown anyone else through the air; my power surged toward it as it sought to break free.
Forging on, I suppressed my ability as I battled the elements and flying debris.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-SIX
Ryker
We weren’t goingto make it to the encampment.The children didn’t have that in them, and the wind threatened to blow some of them away.
Ianto carried one under each arm while trying to shelter the others.I’d created a barrier with my lightning to protect everyone from the bolts hammering the ground as we huddled together.
While they were safe, I didn’t know how long that would last as sparks flew, trees shattered, and branches crashed.When a tree exploded next to us, the women and children cried out as chunks of wood flew.Some slipped through my barrier to pelt us.
Water poured down my face, blurring my vision and pulling my hair into my eyes.I wiped it away, but more replaced it as soon as I did.
“We have to find somewhere to shelter!”I shouted over the storm.
“We can’t keep going this way!”Tucker yelled.“We can’t go near the river.It’s probably already flooding.”
He was right, but I didn’t know where else to go.We stopped to look around, but it was almost impossible to see more than ten feet ahead of us, even with some of the amsirah holding the wind and rain at bay.
When lightning hit another nearby tree, I started forward again.We couldn’t go near the river, but we couldn’t stay here.
I didn’t know how much further we traversed before someone shouted behind me.When I glanced back, I discovered one of the women pointing toward the right as she yelled something I couldn’t understand.
From where I stood, I couldn’t see what she was pointing toward, but when I retreated to stand beside her, a hole in the side of the hill came into view.It was impossible to tell how deep it went or if it would offer us protection.
“Can you climb up there?”I shouted at Callan.
The nimble musician nodded, and a few seconds later, he started scaling the small hillside toward the opening at the top.He slipped a few times, and more than once, he skidded back down the hill before grasping something to stop his descent.After a couple of minutes, he made it to the hole.
He scrambled into the opening and vanished before returning a few seconds later.“It’s an alcove!It will be a tight….”The storm tore his words away.“Should… fit!”
“Do you think it’s secure enough to hold up against the storm?”Tucker yelled.
“Tree roots… interwoven… I think… it… up!”
Filling in the blanks told me that he believed it would be safe.
“We don’t have a choice!”Ianto bellowed.
We didn’t, but getting everyone up the hill was going to be a bitch.
