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

Chapter Twelve: Meilin

True North

Meilin glanced up at the tree line, her eyes scanning the barley visible starry sky. Night had fallen shortly after the group escaped and they had, in a panic, made camp under two fallen twin trees, their branches hanging down to hide the travelers. Clouds drifted over the moon, as a storm approached.

Snores came from the shelter as Tomar slept, his mouth wide open. A few times he uttered words as if he was fighting, then became silent with a grunt. Arai leaned against him, flinching when she fell deep in a dream. Catis flipped his tail over her nose as he slept on the girl's forehead, often rubbing his black ears. Tyler sat beside them, his eyes wide with disbelief at the snoring, but he soon too drifted off. Felen crossed her arms, her head nodding as she tried to stay awake, snapping up with a gasp whenever she closed her eyes.

Meilin got up, dusting the pine needles from her back and stepped outside, a breeze scuffing her hair with greeting. She peeked around, searching for any signs of danger in the surrounding brush that lined the area. A small rodent hissed as it spotted her, dashing away into the shadows and a flock of birds awoke in the distance, their wings flapping in unison.

Quietly, she padded away from the camp, her steps making no noise. It reminded her of the time she had snuck away years ago, when she was young and had just summoned Jhi. Blinded by the will to help Zhong, she had left in the dead of night, not speaking to anyone, in hopes of finding her father and the rest of the army. Instead, Meilin stumbled into a great bamboo maze, losing her way soon after entering. If not for an aid from a elderly woman, she would have been trapped, only the panda to talk to.

This was different, she wasn't going to abandon her friends at a time like this. Not if something came and dragged her cold body away would she quit. This situation was too horrible to handle by herself. She only needed some fresh air and time in the forest by herself to be better. She felt a drop of rain hit her cheek, streaming down, or was it a tear, she couldn't tell. Reaching up and feeling wet eyes, the girl felt a tug at her heart. A sob escaped her, quick as a river, and she began crying into her hands. She felt empty, nothing to hold onto. The people she cared for the most were missing, or maybe... dead. Where are you!? Her mind said. I didn't even get to say goodbye.

"Why would a warrior such as yourself be crying?" Spoke a voice above her.

Meilin flipped her head up and saw Tarik, one of his eyebrows high. She took a jagged breath and stood, shaking off the feeling. She couldn't let him see her like this. Broken and lost.

"I couldn't sleep." She said strongly.

He nodded, raising a hand to clutch her own. Putting pressure on it warmed her, she let the feeling settle on top of her thoughts.

"May I ask something?" Meilin spoke.

He answered. "It is about the reason why I am standing here and not miles below the sand. Right?"

"Yes. How are you alive? We all saw you...ummm...die that day."

"The truth is I don't know what happened. I can hardly recall what happened when searching for the Talismans those many years ago. Things have slowly come back, like who you are and that I am a Greencloak, but I still know things are missing. It is a feeling. Hopefully everything returns and I can answer your question. Even I know what to know how it all happened." He said.

"Sorry. I didn't know. It must be hard with the knowledge of your past just beyond your reach." She uttered. "Maybe in time it will reveal itself?"

"Yes and we will all know the truth I long for."