Eclipsis: Water

Chapter 19

"We should collect some water while we're on the ground." Alara announced to the other two, placing one baby-blue hand on the trunk of the tree she was passing.

Kōri stopped walking to show he had heard her. He had seemed to stop being annoyed at her and Cetus' previous laughter at him, but was still not very keen on talking to either of them unless absolutely necessary. He reached into an inside pocket of his cloak, drawing out a silver spile, but Alara stopped him before he could find a large rock to hit it into a tree.

She unsheathed her sword, plunging it into the bark briefly. When she had returned it to its place across her back, she pressed one hand next to the small crack she had just made, focusing on channelling the tree's water to it. In a few seconds, fresh, clear water was streaming out of the gap - Alara retrieved a flask from the bag around Cetus' neck to fill up.

"Did you want some?" Alara asked Cetus, who shook his large head.

I have enough for now, He replied.

Large water creatures like dragons could store water inside them to slowly use, similar to camels.

Alara looked at Kōri, who was focused on the tree with an expression that looked as though he was faintly impressed. "Do you have a flask or bottle to fill up in that cloak of your's?"

"No," The ice-fairy answered, his face resuming to a neutral expression.

"Well, did you want to drink from the tree now? Decide quickly, Cetus needs to close the cut."

Kōri's eyes momentarily flicked down to the flask in Alara's hand, and then back up to the still-trickling water. His response was to walk over to the tree and cup his hands to drink. Alara and Cetus waited for him to finish, and when he was, Cetus closed the gap in the tree and the trio set off again.

"How far would you say Lune is now?" Alara questioned.

"Still a while yet," Kōri answered, briefly looking over his shoulder at her. "We have to go through the ocean."

"The ocean?" Alara repeated, surprised.

"That's what I said, yes."

Alara held back a scoff. "Lune is underwater?"

Kōri let out a half-laugh. "No, uneducated Sun. We just have to go through it to get there."

"What do you mean 'go through it'? The ocean is massive, how will we be able to do that in a short amount of time?"

"Just a section of the ocean. Obviously not the entire thing, don't be stupid."

Alara scowled. "I'm not stupid. I just want this explained to me."

Kōri turned his head to look at her while he walked. He kept his distance, however, as he thought that calling her 'stupid' had lit another homicidal flame inside her that was reflected in her midnight eyes. "There's a sort of portal in the ocean that connects it to Lune. We have to swim a while to find it."

Swimming's no problem, Cetus said from behind them as he stepped over a log. I can get you there faster, and you and the Moon will be able to breathe.

"Yes, Cetus, thank you." Alara responded.

Kōri didn't ask what the dragon had said. "The portal takes you a short way outside of the official Lune territory. After the ocean, we should be there in less than an hour."

Alara was trying to work out how long that would be. It had nearly been 24 hours since Ondine had been kidnapped, and she did not want her sister to have to be in that place for a second longer than necessary.