Dawn Carver (3)

14

Freya

We walk for several minutes through the forest, rounding the perimeter of Dadun. I haven't explored much, there was no point, nor time to do so, but most of the terrain remains the same nearly the entire way. Until we reach a diversion in the ground.

Alaric halts, nodding towards it. I realise what he's indicating.

"No way," I say. "I'm not following a stranger into the earth."

"Stranger?" he comments.

"Would you prefer 'captor'?"

Alaric rolls his eyes and ventures forward anyway, into the hole in the earth, leaving me completely alone in the dark forest. I stand at the edge of the opening, conflicted. My mind urges me to turn back to the village. To go to sleep.

And yet I follow him into the opening in the ground.

In the back of mind, I know that blindly following Alaric is definitely not the smartest idea. My only saving grace is that he needs me. He can't hurt me, can't do anything to jeopardize Hana's plan. And yet, deep down, despite everything, I don't think he wants to hurt me. Regardless of her plan.

The walls press closely on either side of me, and I have to duck to avoid scraping my head against the roof of the tunnel. It leads downwards, deeper into the earth until it flattens out. I can't see a thing; using the walls as my guide, I follow farther into the cave. In the distance, I can hear the dripping of water and, strangely, feel a warmth exuding from the path ahead, so welcome compared to the bitter cold.

"Alaric?" I call, my voice merely a whisper. In response, I bump into what I can only assume is his back. "Sorry," I mumble. "I can't see anything."

In the darkness, a hand finds mine, wrapping around it. I feel the hum of his skin and let him guide me forward, deeper into the cave until we stop. Running water trickles somewhere close by, and the warmth seems to rise from the earth below. I wait several seconds before speaking.

"Uh, where are we?" I ask.

"Sh," he says, voice soft. "You have to speak gently."

"Why?"

He doesn't respond. I'm about to probe him again when I notice a miniscule light above his head, I frown. One by one, the roof gradually lights up above us. I take a shaky breath, entranced by the cave. They aren't like the sun, or stars, more like blue fireflies, but smaller, more delicate. Instinctively I reach towards one, my finger touching the stone above. The area around my finger grows dull and I flinch backwards.

They're like blue scattered embers of a dying fire.

I turn in awe, looking back at Alaric. He's visible now, eyes on my face. Compared to the blue glow above, his eyes seem grey.

"What are they?" I ask.

"Lumin bugs. They come out when they feel safe."

"They're..." I can't find the word to describe it. I let out a shaky breath. "How did you find this place?"

"I feel..." he trails off, "I feel drawn to it. To its energy. Our senses are exquisite, you just have to know how to access them. Kinjri are intrinsically linked to the earth. And lumin bugs to Kinjri are like the Red Moon to shifters."

He meets my gaze, eyes sweeping across my face. "Do you feel it?"

"I feel... warmth."

A smile tugs at his lips. "Close your eyes."

I do as he instructs, letting the warmth flood me from head to toe. The sound of rushing water, my breath, my heart, they immediately cease to exist. Everything feels like a blank sheet of paper.