The Wastelands

Chapter 29 - 25

It was like a dance of shadow and fire. If the fight weren't so important, Druid would have marvelled at how beautiful this dance was; with how bleak the surroundings were, Druid couldn't have orc.h.e.s.trated it better.

With her side throbbing from a jab to the ribs was a reminder. It was her fault she made a mistake, and Shadow took advantage of it. Any misstep will slowly be her demise.

Druid danced and flowed with the shadows around her, using her teleportation and foresight to stay one step ahead.

Druid couldn't keep this up for long: he was only one step behind. Like a dog yip, yip, yipping at her heels. Annoying, but every so often, he'd get his teeth into a little bit of skin. Scurrying into the shadows, hiding. Waiting for the change to start all other again. Trying to corner her.

It was only a matter of time. Shadow was going to win. His stamina was enormous, and hers was running out. He was snuffing out the flames before she could do anything with them. The need to finish this fight quickly was getting stronger.

As her eyes hardened, she promised it would hurt, and she always delivered on her promises.

Deliberately, Druid tripped on a nearby tree root. Shadow came close enough that she could see his grey eyes brighten in victory.

'Perfect.'

Druid exploded in flames, causing Shadow to flung backwards, disappearing into the forest.

She heard a thumping sound in the distance.

Good, Shadow hit a rock. I hope it hurts, Druid thought. Druid's green eyes gleamed before slumping to the ground, feeling the ash underneath her fingertips.

Druid was running out of steam, and she didn't have enough to go toe to toe with Shadow again. Even if Druid did muster enough strength, she wouldn't be able to win. Despite all that, Druid couldn't help but chuckle in exhausted satisfaction as sweat dripped down her forehead.

Good thing winning wasn't her objective.

"Lilia?"

Druid turned and almost broke down in full-blown laughter. 'Oh no, can't. It hurts too much to laugh.'

Standing several feet away on a pile of dirt was a very soaked and half-drowned Lilia. She didn't look happy. Very understandable, since Druid had to teleport Lilia above the river before Druid met with Shadow. She counted on Lilia being strong enough to swim against the current.

"Don't you dare laugh," Lilia warned, looking upset. "You're the one who dumped me in the river. Geeze my life, what's with me and water today. Had to swim against the current too."

It took a minute for Druid to control herself before she could reply. "It was the only way for you to arrive here undetected."

Druid almost broke down again, but now wasn't the time.

Druid half-limped towards Lilia but stumbled halfway there, so she teleported when that was taking too much time.

"Where's Heather?" Druid asked, taking a stick out of Lilia's hair.

Lilia looked up and pointed. "There." Druid's gaze followed Lilia's pointed finger but didn't see a thing. Which was worrying, because teleporting blind was too dangerous. "Are you sure?"

Lilia pointed to the dirt pile at her feet. "Terran is right here. So, Heather's up there. I could feel them, pushing and pulling at each other." And for added proof, the ground started to shake, and the wind picked up.

"I can see her," added Lilia, her eyes flashing. "I can be your eyes."

Druid smiled, trying to pull off a little bit of flirtation, even in her exhausted state. "Care to give me a boost then, love?"

Lilia's cyan eyes jerked towards Druid's. "It's going to be a bit awkward, you are taller. And well, this." Lilia made a motion with her hands, outlining Druid's body. "I don't know where to touch you without looking, well…."

Lilia was blushing furiously. Druid sighed; if only she had more time. It was rare to see Lilia so unguarded. It took every ounce of willpower not to tease her more.

'Shadow is coming!' Druid reminded herself.

Lilia grabbed a nearby branch. Well, it was more like a log. "Can you balance on this?" she asked while holding it over her head with both hands.

"Pssh, I am a dancer. I can balance on anything." She waved her hand in dismissal. And then she effortlessly jumped to balance on top of the log, holding the log with her hands to brace herself.

"Get ready." Druid felt a jerking her upwards, and at the same time, Druid jumped up. She was in the air; it felt like she was weightless.

Druid still couldn't see Heather; before falling, she teleported a little higher. She needed to get to Heather before she exhausted herself, or Shadow would catch up to her.

"Up a little to the left." Lilia's voice rang out.

Grateful for Lilia's guidance, Druid complied, ignoring the wind whipping around her. If anything goes wrong, Druid hoped that Lilia would catch her if she fell.

Lightning flashed, startling Druid. 'Oh, right, Need to watch out for that too.'

*Now, a little to your right.* Druid complied again. *She should be in your sight now.*

There Heather was. Druid could see her, just hanging there, unconscious. Now Druid only needed to teleport to her with just one jump.

*Watch out! Below you!*

Startled, she looked down to see Shadow's hands reaching out to her. His burnt face didn't look great. "You can't run! Give it to me now!"

Druid teleported a short distance away, but she couldn't escape his grasp. "You mean my Medium?" she shouted over the wind. "Don't have it." She smiled, pointing down towards the ground.

Druid could barely see, but Lilia was there waving Druid's whip in the air. Shadow's eyes widened in shock as Lilia threw Druid's medium into the river.

Shadow screamed in animalistic rage, before disappearing back into his shadow, most likely to chase after the escaping medium.

"Go fetch," Druid whispered.

Then she focused her energies on getting to Heather. 'I can still see her. Good.'

Soon, Druid had her arms encircling the smaller girl. It was a struggle to hold on, the wind almost threw Druid away, tears pouring down her face.

"Good luck," whispered Druid down to Lilia, before she teleported away. Hoping, at their arrival, they had several buckets of water to welcome them because it was going to get hot.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like