The Icy Quest

Chapter 19

After briefly explaining to Pozhar what had sent them scurrying back to the shipping container, Tilepátheia and Pagoniá sank down to the ground with sighs of relief. Yet again, they had managed to avoid being discovered. Pagoniá's heart was pounding in her chest, and she was grateful for a chance to catch her breath.

"You know what surprises me?" Tilepátheia randomly asked, looking no longer bothered at all by the fact that they had almost been discovered.

"No, I don't," Pagoniá responded, confused and still a little alarmed by their recent adventure. "What?"

"The only other person I've met with a photographic memory bragged about it all the time, and yet Pozhar hasn't mentioned his ability even once," Tilepátheia observed matter-of-factly.

"Wait! How did you know I have a photographic memory?" Pozhar demanded with a frown.

"I am a mind reader, duh. It is blindingly obvious to me based on the thoughts that go through your head when you are remembering something," Tilepátheia explained with a wave of her hand.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Pagoniá inquired of Pozhar.

"It just never came up," Pozhar replied with a shrug. "I never felt like I needed to mention it."

Suddenly, they heard a loud commotion on the deck. "Iceberg!" someone yelled. "Gather everyone!" another voice commanded. "This ship cost more than a million dollars to manufacture. We're not letting it sink!"

"I need to watch!" Pagoniá exclaimed. "The queen's team is going to have to use their powers to deal with the iceberg, and I need to see how they do it. Maybe I could learn something from them."

"They'll be distracted anyways," Tilepátheia acknowledged. "It's probably safe enough with a decent crowd to hide in."

"Come on!" Pagoniá urged, quietly pushing the door open, her earlier scare completely forgotten as the excitement of the moment took over. "Act normal and try to blend in." She strolled out of the shipping container with Tilepátheia and Pozhar right behind her. They all nonchalantly ambled through the crowd until they found a spot with a good view of the action. The members of the queen's team were gathered together, discussing the problem. Pagoniá watched as they collaborated on a plan to move the iceberg.

"Push!" someone shouted as the team focused their powers toward the iceberg. Arms extended in front of them, they created icy blasts that appeared to be released directly from their fingers. The blasts knocked the iceberg off its collision course. Within moments, it was on a safe trajectory away from the ship. As the crowd began to clear, Pagoniá realized that it would be impossible to slip back into the shipping containers without anyone noticing. Thinking quickly, she created four simultaneous ice bombs at the back of the ship.

The crowd gravitated towards the sound of the bangs, leaving Pozhar, Pagoniá, and Tilepátheia an opening to get back to the shipping containers unseen. Once they were safely inside, Pagoniá let loose.

"That was so cool! I need to learn how to do that!" she burst out, her whole body seeming to shake.

"Well, you have just about forever to practice. I'm sure you could figure it out eventually," Tilepátheia said, slumping against the wall. "That outing didn't last nearly long enough."

---

So, Pozhar has a photographic memory. Comment and vote!