SPIRIT ANIMALS FANS MUST READ!!! I created a idea for Spirit Animals series #3

Chapter Four: Abeke

A comet's Tail

Abeke's brown eye's fluttered open. She lay on a long stripe of beach, beside her Conor lay unconscious, his breathing steady and quiet. Behind her was a large, dark, pine forest that glowed in the sunset.

"You're awake." Said a voice behind her. Turning the girl saw Worthy, his cat mask was split down the middle, blood streaming over his face from a wound. The boy sat propped up against a stone, his red cloak wrapped around his feet.

"Worthy!" She shrieked. "Your face!"

A loud sigh came from him as he reached up to wipe blood from his eye's. "On the ship one of those creatures attacked me. Racked its sharp claws across my mask." He said. 

Abeke froze and looked around. "Where are the others?" She asked. Worthy's tail lashed back and forth as he searched the beach. "When we jumped they must have got carried away." He declared. 

Suddenly a shadow fell across Abeke as Conor stood up, dusting fine sand off himself. "What happened?" The boy asked swaying. Abeke stood up and helped him catch his balance, placing a sturdy hand on his shoulder. Their eyes caught for a moment before Abeke turned away and glanced at the churning sea. "We were separated from Meilin, Rollan, and Tomar in the attack. The current swept the three of us here." She told Conor.

Abeke put out her hand and saw that Uraza's tattoo was a faded gray tone. Her skin tingled as she placed a hand over the mark. "I guess you all had the same dream?" She asked.

Conor nodded. "Yes, Briggan told me that when we are Kaein that spirit animals can't be summoned."

Worthy leaned forward, pain flashing in his face. Abeke guessed that he didn't have a dream and was clueless about their situation. "Let's just say that we are going to face some trouble while we are here." She announced.

Suddenly Worthy stood still and looked back where the forest was. "Did you hear that?" He asked. 

Abeke listened for a moment, but she only heard the sound of crashing waves. "I don't hear anything." She told him turning to Conor who just shrugged. Worthy managed to stand up, his eye's glimmering with agony. Walking over to the woodland he lashed his tail behind him and yelled, "Come on out! We know you're there!"

The Greencloak watched as a girl, a few years older than herself, stepped out of the shadows with a spear in her hand. She took a stance and raised the weapon. "Who are you? Kar?" The girl said threateningly. 

Worthy lifted his hands. "We come in peace."

"Really how do I know you are telling the truth?" She uttered.

"If we were going to hurt you, we would have already done it."

"So you aren't a member of the Kar?"

"No."

The girl lowered the  spear and nodded, her dark blond hair waving behind her. She wore a black tunic with red sashes tied across her chest, a dark gray cloak, and pouches around her waist.

Abeke looked over at Conor who was looking at the girl. "Who are you?" He asked.

"I am Rain, member of the Outcasts." She told him, her light blue eye's sparkling for a few second until she glanced at Worthy. "Your face!" She yowled. "Did a Raptor do this?"

"Raptor?" The Redcloak said.

"Those reptile creatures with white scales."

"Yes, they attacked our ship and forced us to flee. We got separated from our friends in the chaos."

Rain sighed and opened one of her pouches, taking out a large jar that contained a giant wet leaf. She placed the plant over his eye and held it until it hardened, covering the wound. Then she removed the cracked white masked and layed it beside him. "This will help, leave the mask off for now." She told him and closed the pouch. "The rest of you have wounds that will heal themselves. In the morning I will lead you to the Outcast camp where the boy can get real help."

Abeke thanked Rain and followed Conor down the beach where they sat and watched the sunset. "I hope Meilin, Rollan, and Tomar are safe where they are at." He said. She nodded and closed her eyes, taking in Kaein. The forest was coming to life with strange sounds that Abeke hopped would stay in the woods. The sea crashed and turned. Birds above chirped loudly. Opening her eyes she saw that Conor had fallen asleep and night had risen. Down the beach Worthy and Rain were asleep, both lay far apart from each other. 

"NO!" Yelled Conor. Abeke turned, her heart racing, but then she noticed that he was dreaming. "Don't hurt him!- Stop!- Rollan!- No!" Sweat streamed down his face as the dream ended and he grew quiet.

Abeke suddenly felt nervous, chills running down her spine. Above a star shot across the sky, leaving a fiery trail. A comet's tail! A tranquil feeling settled over the fear and she thought back to the old legend her mother once spoke of. It was a time before she began to wither away from her sickness, the little light left in her eyes sparkling as she told the tale to her daughter.

... "Once there was a brave Niloan hunter," her mother said soothingly. "She was looking for a new land for her village that would save them from an unending drought. After many long days and nights she finally found a land full of prey and rivers, a safe place to move her people. The gods seemed to be on her side until the time called to return back to the village and she found nothing except for ash left from the fire that had purged with the heat. The woman, tired and sickened, gave up and retired to a nearby hillside to watch the moon rise and claim the night sky. Silently asking for help, she looked up to the stars; and suddenly a streaking trail of fire lit the sky. She watched in fear as it disappeared into darkness. Then voices called from above as her people appeared from the heavens to give her blessings and a power to move forwards. They held her hand, leading her into the new land and promised to stay by her side." 

 Abeke looked up at her mother with interest and held out her hand. "What if I see a comet? Will I be able to talk with our ancestors?" She squeaked. The woman smiled, "Of course, young one; they are always willing to help."

"What if you die?"

Her mother stopped. "Who said I was going to die?"

"Father told Soama and she told me."

 She pulled Abeke close and held her tightly, whispering into her ear. "Don't listen to them, I may be weak, however I am not going anywhere. Can't take me from my family that easy."

"But what happens if you do?"

"Then I will stay by your side and follow you into whatever places you go. Good or bad. I am your mother and guardian."...

Abeke placed a hand on Conor's and opened her mouth. "Mother if you are listening, protect my friends when I can't, and bring us all back together in the end."

The fire tail disappeared in a flash of light and the sky became dark, leaving Abeke looking out across the water hoping that the words would be heard because the fate of everyone might depend on it.