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Aware the fire on the stick would burn down quickly, I stepped between the trees, each movement careful and deliberate. Behind me, the horse snuffled with unease, clearly not liking the fire held in my hand.
We walked for several minutes before the tiger moved. She made her way around us, toward the fallen horse. A moment later, several minds followed. Three, maybe four cubs, hunger uppermost in their thoughts.
A twig cracked under Wesley's boot and we all froze, including the tiger.
"Sorry," the bard whispered loudly.
I nodded and resumed walking. The tiger did the same, but her mind became more and more distant.
I exhaled, soft and long, as she passed out of range.
Latika let out a squeak of fear.
Shit.I jumped and tossed the stick aside as the fire flared, threatening to burn my hand. It hit the ground and went out, leaving us in darkness. It only lasted a moment before a soft glow lit the trees.
It was too early for dawn, and sunrise usually wasn't green.
Green?
Like the power in a dragon's scales. I reached out and found no dragon. No paranormals either, apart from Kerina.
Latika groaned. "Vermin."
At the same time, Kerina whispered, "That music is back."
In front of me, the child appeared, clearer than I ever saw her before.
I blinked. Not a child, a woman. How had I not seen that before? I shook my head, it didn't matter.
"Who are you?" I asked. "What do you want?"
She spoke, or at least her mouth moved. No sound came out.
I shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you."
The glow intensified.
Latika screamed, but the sound was short lived.
The small woman gestured toward the south. Pointed. Her finger turned toward me. She spoke again and this time I understood, even if I couldn't hear.
'You must hurry.'
The horse jerked back and the reins almost slipped free of my hand. I held them tightly.
"What about the others?" I jerked my head behind me.
The woman peered around. She gestured to Kerina and Latika and nodded vigorously. To the others, she frowned and gave an expansive shrug.
"Is this about Comus?" I asked.
She nodded vigorously and again pointed toward the south. She looked as though she might say something more, but her eyes widened and she was gone.
"Please, make them stop." Latika was wide eyed, pressed up against a tree trunk, her face pale in the glow of power which hung in the air in front of her.
"Mother, there's nothing there," Aisha insisted.
I squinted. "To her eyes, there is." In front of Latika stood at least a dozen rats. None were as large as the one in the tavern, or as visible, but they were there, nonetheless.
