Page 76 of Trivium

A current within her blood surged, and the bear screamed. Its massive body suddenly crashed into the water as blood poured from its ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. The baby bears took off into the forest without their mother, now motionless in the river.

The crack that had opened within her moments ago closed just as quickly, and her blood settled, making her whole body feel heavy. It was an odd sensation, one she’d never felt before.

Lennox’s face shifted slowly, his furrowed brows arching and his eyes widening as they both stood in confusion, processing what had just happened.

“Is it dead?”

Lennox nodded. If she wasn’t mistaken, she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. He didn’t ask her if she was okay, what happened, or how the bear died. He simply examined her, as if checking to make sure every part of her was still intact.

“Our reports said they were well out of the area!” Professor Kaplana screamed to Professor Barrow as they came sprinting down the side of the riverbank. “Ahmina, Lennox, are you okay?”

“We’re fine, Professor,” Lennox said calmly, as if they didn’t just have a Blood Bear inches away from them.

“Great job at taking out the mother,” Kaplana praised Lennox.

“I didn’t⁠—"

“Ahmina, why did you follow fresh tracks? You should have notified us immediately. It's a basic strategy; you should know that,” Kaplana said, scolding her like a child.

“Ahmina, you look shaken up. I’ll take you back to the Academy,” Barrow suggested, nudging Ahmina along. Lennox let out a rough ugh in response.

“I’m coming with,” Lennox said quickly.

“No. Kaplana needs you. Stay,” Barrow directed, and Lennox hung back. Ahmina’s mind was too loud to think straight so she allowed herself to be guided out of the water and back through the forest, Barrow leading the way.

“Blood bears affect your organs,” Ahmina said, repeating the encyclopedia facts to herself.

“The mothers have evolved,” Barrow said, butting in as if she had been speaking to him. “We’ve found Blood Bears who now have mind magic; they use empathy to protect their children from harm.”

“E-e-e-mmmpathy?” She shook from the damp cold clinging to her bones.

“Here, you’re freezing. Take my jacket,” Barrow said, wrapping his black leather jacket around her.

That’s why she had felt so sorry for the bears. Was Lennox also influenced by them? Is that why he was so concerned about her? “Can they make you em-path-eticccc…” Her teeth chattered as the words came out. “Tow-ard any-thing? Or just-just-them?”

“Just them,” Barrow confirmed. “As far as we know. There’s no reason for them to make you empathetic to anything else.”

Ahmina’s mind spun as they made the long journey back to the castle, trying to connect the day’s events.

By the time she got back to the Academy, had a hot shower, and pulled on her sweats, the rest of the students had returned.

Starving, she made her way down to the mess hall for dinner to find it packed with students in furious discussion. Several sets of eyes turned toward her. As she passed each table, voices lowered, and her stomach turned.

She clutched her elbows, holding back hot tears, but her eyes betrayed her.

52

ZEINA

An empty castle was almost as good as having the Moon Festival all to herself.

Zeina watched as the students and faculty went beyond the wall for one reason or another. The first years were off to complete shadows, and the remaining second and third years went to train, both accompanied by graduate Defenders and a professor or two.

She should use this opportunity to enjoy the empty castle. Only the cooks remained, and they were unlikely to care about the occasional student floating by. Instead, she climbed up to the Hydra perch. It wasn’t often she got to sit up here in broad daylight.

Junie spotted her first and honked noisily at her. The other two Hydra lay comfortably beside Junie, basking in the late morning sun.

“Sorry, I don’t have any treats today.” Zeina shrugged. Junie sat, her head slightly turned to the side. At this angle, Zeina could clearly see her golden eyes. They weren’t that dissimilar to hers, she thought. It made sense; Zeina often felt more like a creature than a human. With a soft, relaxed face, Junie peered up at her, waiting.