A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 27 - Hope Is A Fleeting Thing

Zemira did not like this idea.

In truth, it wasn't a bad one—it was simply reckless. Normally, Zemira didn't waste time in agreeing to an arguably idiotic idea, however she knew when to pick and chose her timings and this plan of Honey's could end in a number of predictable and unforeseeable ways—most bad.

But Honey was insistent, and so Zemira stayed close to her friend as they darted through the hallways silently. Or as silent as they could be in scavenger's boots.

Zemira missed her Agility shoes, internally grumbling that she'd better have them returned.

Honey paused as the hallway met a junction of hallways.

There's two people to the left. Zemira heard her think.

The two had agreed to use as minimal words as they could, and so Honey attempted to project her thoughts loudly in her mind, the feeling unfamiliar. Zemira tapped her shoulder twice in acknowledgement of their words as Honey waited for the traces of Ether to trail further and further away. When they turned a corner, she waited for a beat, before motioning Zemira forwards and taking a right.

That was how the two made their way through the ship. They were unfamiliar with the layout, using Honey's ability to sense the direction of Aedis and Chip to guide them. Any time that Honey felt someone's Ether the two paused, waiting.

By the time they'd reached the bow of the ship, over half an hour had passed. The bow's walls were tighter as they moved through the hallway, and Honey motioned to a door.

'I think they're through there but-" Her thoughts cut off but the images and concepts that filled her mind were easy enough for Zemira to pick apart: Someone else was with them.

Unsure what to do, it came to both of them as a surprise when the door they both had their eyes on swung open and Chip's gaze landed on them.

"You're okay!" He whispered in relief, pulling both of them into the room. Before Honey could take in her surroundings, she'd been pulled into a hug with Chip, the action catching her off guard. Zemira was held tightly against Aedis, and she sank into her arms.

"You two had us worried!" Zemira complained as she pulled away to swat him over the head.

It was only when Aedis had finished hugging Honey as well that she noticed the fifth person in the room.

Anatui sat on a stool in their small wooden cabin, her hair onyx in the orange candle light.

So, that was who the Ether was coming from.

Anatui shot them a shy smile, and Honey looked at Aedis questioningly. There was something about the look that seemed to strike something within Aedis. Her eyes weren't full of the open curiosity she'd displayed in the past. Instead her gaze was more wary. Not afraid, but simply distrustful.

"Anatui was curious about Chip and I's Ether." Aedis explained encouragingly.

Honey nodded, seemingly thinking on his words.

"What about you?" Honey asked, "You're an Ethnarch?" Honey asked, unsure of the term.

She'd been told a couple of things about Ethnarchs, and she knew they were a type of Consiced who could manipulate the Ether of one substance. She also knew that Zemira's brother had been an Ethnarch, however that was as far as her knowledge extended.

"I am an Ethnarch, yes." Anatui replied, however her words were hesitant, as though she wasn't sure of herself.

"Chip and I agreed to tell her a bit more about ourselves in exchange for some answers." Aedis said, tuning back to the girl.