A Shifting Land

Chapter 6

"Now what?" She pressed a paw to the water, ice crisping up beneath her foot. She winced, her head pounding. "I can't freeze it like I did to the trees, my head hurts too much."

Kiri strode in, his head held high, "We swim?"

"Bu-" Howls cut her off as she jostled him forward, shoving him beneath the waves, "Is it close?"

Kiri gasped, gagging on seawater, "2, maybe 3... Shoot... They don't think we'll make it that far Swift... It's 2 days by paddle boat, and they have a way to rest. And that's only if the skies are clear..."

Swift sneezed as the first fat raindrop pinged off her nose. She caught Kiri by the scruff, lifting him higher as the waves grew choppy. "Can you shift? Become a fish below the water?"

D'vala stole his shift, forcing him into that form fast, "Not long little cat. Hopefully to ride out the storm."

Swift swallowed, her head sinking below the water, her fur slicking back around her as she struck out for lower. "This way."

"Swift! You need to shift too!" Kiri scolds, "I can't drag you back up like this!"

She spun on her tail, her body moving effortlessly beneath the waves. "I am far safer like this than in any other form Kir." She flipped, shooting off for the lowest rocks below.

His scales flashed as he shot after her, zig zagging after her fleeing black form. "Swift! Come back! Something could eat me down here you know!"

"Like anything would eat your ornery butt!" She came back, nearly invisible beneath the waves as she swam by his side. "Continue or wait the storm out?"

"Continue. We need to make as much distance as we can. Come on." Bladen nudged her forward, "Perhaps Kiri can try sleeping if you can carry him along?"

"Won't help for energy Blade, we need the body awake to hold a shift." D'vala quips.

"When we can safely surface, maybe I can make an ice platform." Swift suggested hopefully. She glanced up, watching the storm snap and flash above. She nudges the fish, shoving him forward as she lets the mindless rhythm of her feet pull her forward.

Waves turned to ripples as minutes passed to hours. They resurfaced, Kiri draping himself across her back, his limbs like lead as they continued to paddle. His muzzle slid low, sinking beneath the waves with every wave.

She spun, catching his scruff between her teeth as she forced her chin up higher. Her mind sparked, ice bubbling beneath her paws as her mind seized. A vise grip latched on, crushing her in blistering pain as she tried to use her abilities. She sank low, Kiri slipping from her grasp.

Agony burned up her limbs, each stroke of a paw pulling her forward. Her muzzle sunk beneath the waves, the faint gasp of her companion her only motivation to force a foot back down. "Bladen, I can't keep going. I really can't. Please, help me. Please." She begged.

Bladen slid up beside her, examining the controls. "Even if I take control it's not going to fix your pain. It's still going to hurt you. I'm sorry. I wish I could."

She turned to him, tears burning behind her eyes, "Is there anything? Anything? I don't think I can keep going."

Bladen winced, gently nudging her aside. "Let me see."

She sunk back on her haunches, her head hanging low as Bladen worked. "Is every day going to hurt like this?"

Bladen froze, one paw raised. He turned back to look at his charge, so beaten down already. Defeated by life before life really began. He shivered, regretting what he was about to do before even doing it. "Swift, go. Take to my memories for a bit. It will help with the pain, hopefully."