Between The Crystals

Ch 91 Hitting the Limits

I'd never been so happy to see an airship. The reddish Saursune stepped to the side as Jasper trotted ahead. He disappeared inside with the big cushion still dangling from his jaws.

Citrine followed him, ducking her head as she went through the doorway. She went directly to our regular cushion and set me down, promptly circling behind me and curling up. I breathed a sigh of relief. As much as I didn't like the method, we had made it back.

Jasper closed the door, and for once, I had zero objections. Despite how much I wanted to lean back against Citrine, I'd probably fall asleep, so I sat upright as exhaustion tugged at me. Jasper disappeared into the control room, only to come out shortly after.

He set the small woven airship and three pieces of paper in front of me. I blinked at the magazine-like pictures. One showed Orange Flower with at least thirty people from Keywa Village planting gardens, the second showed the Beyond The Marsh crystal with Merryl, Roxanne, Andre, Ariel, and some of my group. The third picture showed the Olive Hill crystal with no one there.

The details were so clear it was as if I was looking right at them. I could easily identify each individual. It was no wonder the Saursunes were able to tell us apart even if they hadn't seen us before.

Jasper placed the pictures in a row and held the woven airship out to me. It took me a second to realize he was asking me to pick where I wanted to go. The porters would bounce if an airship landed nearby, and even if they didn't, I didn't want them to see me coming out of it in this state. There was only one choice.

I took the airship, set it on the Olive Hill picture, and bowed my head, saying, "Thank you."

He nodded, collected the items, and disappeared back into the control room. The door closed behind him, and moments later, the walls outside the window began moving as the airship backed out.

Sunlight shone through the window, and as our airship turned away, I could see the side of the one we had visited. I gawked at it—it was massive! I couldn't see the top or bottom; it was much taller than the cliffs in our home village. Perhaps it was a good thing I hadn't seen it when we first flew inside...

Our view continued turning as we rose up, and soon, all I could see was sky. I gazed at the lovely blue shade, appreciating it far more than before I went inside that big airship.

Today's trip had made one thing abundantly clear: if the Saursunes said they would take me back, they'd make sure I got there, even if one of them had to carry me.

~

A firm nudge against my shoulder made me blink groggily. I'd almost drifted to sleep. Citrine stood up as Jasper opened the door and went outside. The crystal was visible from where I sat, only about ten paces away.

Citrine tilted her head as she watched me, possibly debating if I could walk that far on my own. Not much time had passed since we left, so I wasn't sure of the answer either. After a brief stretch, I shifted to my knees, then stood up.

I wouldn't be able to run, but I had rested long enough to stumble that far. Citrine offered her shoulder, and I leaned on her as I shuffled out the door.

Jasper busily ferried the trade items over to the crystal before I got that far. I examined the sacks and tools, my mind automatically working out the best way to transport everything in one trip. Thankfully, he placed it all beside the crystal.

My legs were getting notably shaky as I tucked the three shells of healing salve into my belt pouch. I pulled the two sack handles together so I could grab them with one hand and balanced the axes on top. Reaching for the five spears was harder than I expected while the Saursunes were watching me. My fingers shook, and I really hoped this wasn't a test or a trap.