Sun and Stone

IX.

I could feel the light under my skin begin to heat up as Malavy finished speaking. I took deep breaths and tried to gather my thoughts so I wouldn't hurt Gray. I was exhausted, sore, and desperate for time alone to process everything that had happened since last night. My body felt empty and a cold ache had set into my bones. Not only did I not want to journey to wherever this Grove was and see more strange creatures, there was no way I would agree to be carried there acting like a damn flashlight for this stranger who had barged into our lives.

"Hold it right..." I began to shout up at the tall figure but movement to my right stopped my words as Gray stood. A wave of vertigo washed over me as I found myself standing at the feet of giants. Looking up, I could only see the tops of his knees as his form ascended into darkness, but I didn't need to see his face to know he was just as furious as I was. His voice came out too loud and too deep, and I could feel a tremor in my body, either from fear or the depth of the base growl underlying his words.

"You lay a hand on El and I will end you." Malavy froze and their body tensed, taking the challenge in and assessing Gray; no longer an annoyance but a threat. Before they could respond, Gray continued speaking in a quieter but still too loud voice. "We haven't decided to trust you, and we certainly do not have to follow your orders. El has been through hell and she is barely standing on her own feet after whatever is going on with that weird light sucks the life out of her. And you want to use her? Like a damn flashlight?"

I should be annoyed that Gray was speaking for me. I should stand up for myself right now. Gray knew even before recent events that I despised when he swooped in for my sake. But he had taken the words right out of my mind, if exaggerated things so I seemed frailer than I actually was. Rather than annoyance, I felt a deepening sense of dread as I took in Malavy standing across from him. I had tensed when they stood earlier, but they were far enough away that their tall form seemed less terrifying while I stood with Gray sitting close by. As Malavy now took a step forward, I could only see their luminous eyes so very high above. They seemed to glow like a predator who had found delicious prey, and their gaze was locked on my closest friend. Gray may have had a few inches of height on them, but Malavy had an honest to Thor sword at their hip.

Moving to stand between the two angry figures, I tried to summon more light to force them to back up from each other. I could remember the feel of the light coursing through my veins, the warmth and how my heart sped up. But as I looked inward, it felt as if whatever fire had burned previously had cooled to a hunk of charcoal. I was empty, dried up, spent. Looking up to the imposing figures, neither had noticed my movement as they continued their silent struggle for dominance. If I didn't do something soon, this would quickly come to blows, and I didn't think I could move fast enough to get out of the way.

"Excuse me! We have another problem with your plan crazy, Shadow, Fairy person!" I shouted as loud as I could, beginning to feel the first signs of a sore throat developing. I had never before needed to shout every sentence whenever I wished to be heard. After a pause, both giants looked down to me, and Gray began to bend down, concern on his face. I held up a hand to stop him, not wanting to appear weaker than he had already made me seem as I had to admit yet another shortcoming. I turned from him and called up to Malavy "I can't turn on that light at will. It only happens when I'm really upset. I have to be desperate. I tried just now, and I got zilch."

Looking up at an indecipherable blackness above with two sets of legs the size of roman columns to either side of me, the growl of annoyance that floated down sent my knees knocking. Those golden eyes were now solely focused on my miniscule form and I desperately wanted to run for cover. Instead, I stood my ground and tried to hide my true fear behind a mask of similar disdain and annoyance. There was a heavy sigh and then Malavy began to drop down to my level. Deeper black defined their form in the darkness, but as they settled into a crouch that hovered over me, I watched as Malavy clasped their hands and twisted something. Instantly I could make out the texture of their leather pants, and their face became more defined. I could see a few errant strands of hair that had escaped from their tight bun, and the plains of their face became visible. I could make out their slender dark eyebrows, and a small freckle to the left of their sharp nose, a darker spot against their dusky skin. My brow furrowed in confusion, unable to figure out how I could see Gray clearly in my dim light, but the stranger only came into focus occasionally. I was distracted from this confusion as Gray followed Malavys example, placing his hands protectively on either side of me as he dropped to a knee, not touching or reaching, but staking a claim.