Phantom Thunder

Chapter 31

We walked for three hours. The sun had risen high above the horizon when we finally stopped. Claice had mapped out a route that took us mainly on old or abandoned roads, and occasionally through forests to reach the Thunder with minimal wasted time. Walking through populated areas was much longer and would bring trouble, let alone unwanted attention.

We'd been on this particular road for almost an hour. Grass was slowly taking over the gravel. A few shoot managed to persevere and were colonizing their new territory.

We stopped and people dropped their packs on the ground. A few of them nibbled on snacks, but the food needed to be rationed.

I knew there was water around. I could hear the running of a stream somewhere in the forest that lined the road we were currently on.

Knives strolled casually over to where I stood. "Hey," she said.

I blinked, realizing that I'd zoned out. "Hi," I replied.

"A couple of us are going to go find the stream and fill up our water."

"Okay," I said. "We aren't stopping here for too long, so be quick. And be careful."

We'd been lucky. We hadn't seen and phantoms yet, but all it took was one variation or weak spot in the fabric of reality. A group this large with this much energy could easily rip through even a tiny weak spot.

Knives nodded and walked back to her pack. She grabbed her bottle and along with a group of about five others they started off into the woods towards the sound of the water.

Spark wandered over to me. "You should sit down and get some rest," he told me.

"We shouldn't have stopped," I responded. "We aren't going to stay here for long."

"We're making good time," he reminded me.

I nodded but didn't respond. He unscrewed the lid of his water bottle and offered it to me. I hesitated, then took a small sip.

"Thanks," I said, handing it back.

"Don't make me give you the 'relax' speech again," he warned and offered me the bottle again.

I took three long sips. The cool water filled my body with refreshing life. I looked down at the bottle. It was almost empty.

"I'll go fill it up," I told him.

"Don't go alone," he said. "I'll come."

"We gotta be quick."

He nodded and together we slipped into the woods and jogged through the trees across the uneven forest floor.

The sound of running water slowly became louder and louder until we could hear the voices of our friends over the sound of the stream. It took a few more seconds before we could see them through the trees.

The creek was a small flow of fresh, clean water laughing its way through the forest. Despite the peaceful setting, I could feel tension running along my skin, making the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

I bent down next to the water to fill up Spark's bottle.

"Hey Ghost," Knives said. She was lying flat on her belly on the bank while reaching into the stream to fill up the bottle. Once full she pulled it out of the creek and passed it to Titan and was given another empty one to fill up.

"Hey," I said shortly.

"Long time no see."

I knew she was just trying to lighten the mood, and I appreciated that.