Mayne

30. Gone

                          Reynolds stepped to the edge of the cliff and looked down at the water. Ardor and Rime were down on the rocks below fighting V alone. She didn't look but she knew Mayne had awakened and must be behind her healing those that V had hurt. A sudden shift made Reynolds feel the urge to end this. V had Ardor and Rime in choke holds with tendrils of ice that extended from the water like the kraken. "Who's dying now" V laughed as she kept herself at a safe distance. "Let's see, with you two gone that makes how many I've killed today?" She smirked

  

                     "I've had enough" Reynolds leapt off the cliff letting the air catch her like a skateboard. Carefully she slid down to block the boys from V's line of sight.

                      V growled at her with only a look in her eyes as she approached "Back off Reynolds, this isn't your fight anymore."

                     From the cliff behind her Reynolds could hear Mayne crying. "Wrong, this fight started with me." She raised her hands making the air thicken around V "It ends with me too" she focused on the air around V and shook it slightly causing her to lose her grip on Ardor and Rime. Quickly they scattered "Get over to Mayne, she needs your help."

                    The boys started scurrying up the cliff "If you need us we are here." They got to the top and fell into Mayne's arms who frantically healed their wounds while keeping an eye on V. "Are you okay now?" The boys asked her as she glanced at Reynolds, the tears flowing down her cheeks from mental and emotional exhaustion. She nodded and let them help her back to the tree line. The fight was intense, V sent a barrage at Reynolds who intensified the gravity in the air disrupting the path of the attacks redirecting them back to V.

                       V tumbled into the waves and lay there, face up, eyes closed but still breathing. Reynolds headed to the cliffs and helped get everyone to the trees where they were protected. "Stay here." She turned to see Ethan, Ardor and Rime at the cliff looking at the water, Mayne was just a few feet behind them calming the storm.

                    Mayne took a breath as the storm stilled. She caught herself on a tree stump smiling as she admired the view of her boys "sometimes the hero isn't the one in the front of the pack. It takes more strength and focus to know when you're not needed for anything but a cheerleader and be okay with that, then it does to fight a battle that's not yours." The voice couched

                     "Is there room for one more?" Reynolds smiled through the streaks of blood on her face.

                     Mayne welcomed her with a hug allowing her healing to do what it needed to for Reynolds "Some advice?" Mayne took careful breaths, her body was still hurt and her ability was too busy healing others to heal itself.

                  "I never say no to advice." Reynolds smiled

                 "Think of everything you overcame." She looked towards the boys and pointed out at the waves "The roughest water is nearly impossible to tread. But if the waves ease just a bit it can be difficult to keep yourself down."

                "My healing isn't done, but I've got this." Reynolds translated her cryptic analogy. "Just a little effort versus trying to overpower her."