Displaced

Chapter 121

Gabriela's legs blurred, kicking up a kilometers-long dust trail behind them as she shot southeast through the Otharian countryside. As when they'd left Otharia not too long ago, she carried Chitra in her arms, the Batranala's arms wrapped around the Earthling's neck. Every so often, the Ubran would release her grip with her left arm and use it to point in the right direction, correcting Gabriela's course to prevent any circular navigation mishaps from occurring.

They'd made the trip back in just a handful of hours, traveling at well over two hundred and fifty kilometers an hour, the wind howling in their ears so loudly that it drowned out all other sound. Gabriela's chest felt tight with worry. The little chip continued to vibrate in her pocket even now, a constant whine urging her to go faster. She did, the landscape blurring by as she streaked through farmland and along dirt roads.

The landscape was growing familiar even to her. If she was correct, then Wroetin would be visible any moment now. True to her expectations, they flew over the crest of a hill and the Otharian capital did indeed come into view far off in the distance, the city and the land surrounding it as pristine and calm under the cloudless sunny sky as she'd ever seen it.

Her stride faltered and she almost tripped as the urgency bled from her, confusion and anger rushing in to fill the void. They came to a halt and Chitra slipped out onto her own feet while Gabriela searched the landscape for signs of a struggle, an emergency, anything that would justify that man calling her back like this. She found nothing.

"Are you sure you understood the meaning of the message?" Chitra asked.

"I was very clear with him and he agreed. Only 'absolute emergencies'," she responded.

"Mmmm," the Ubran hummed. "Well, emergencies can come in many forms, I suppose."

"Not the kind they would need me for."

"Perhaps. You go on ahead and find out," her partner said, slipping her supplies off of Gabriela's back, making sure to not slice anything on the Sword of Eternity as she did so. "I'll traverse the rest of the way on my own."

"You sure?" Gabriela wondered.

"You're the person they summoned; I was just along for the ride. I'm not very popular in that place, anyway. I'd only be a distraction." Chitra leaned in suddenly and gave Gabriela a quick peck on the cheek, causing her cheeks to flush so hard they felt like they were burning. "Now, go—and perhaps give them a moment to explain before you show them your displeasure, alright?"

"Uh..." Gabby stammered, her thoughts still focused on the feeling of the Scyrian's soft lips on her skin. She had not been ready for their first kiss of sorts to be a surprise attack.

Chitra poked her in the side. "Go on. I'll see you later."

"Alright," Gabby capitulated, adjusting her pack and weapon. With a nod, she kicked off the ground and hurled herself towards Wroetin.

* * *

"Oh, you're already here! Thank goodness!" Sofie greeted Gabriela as she landed on the inside of the outer wall.

What was Sofie doing here? Had she been waiting for her to arrive?

"What's going on?" Gabriela demanded to know.

"Come on," Sofie said, turning away and heading toward the fortress proper. "Do you have to go to the bathroom or anything? I imagine you were running for a while."

"I'm fine." She grabbed Sofie by the wrist, causing the other woman to spin around. Gabriela studied her face for a moment, noting the tightness around her eyes and the way her jaw clenched. "Tell me what's going on."