Faded Scars Trilogy

Chapter thirteen: Relief and Angst

Looking Back

        Thank you, Mandisa said.  Who was Ellende?  I asked.  I tried to rescue him from prison, but in the attempt, he died, if Marshall died, it would be too terrible.  Ellende was so much like Marshall; Mandisa trailed off, her voice pained.  Oh, I said, feeling guilty for asking.  Again I recalled Mandisa’s bloody hands in the moonlight.

        Marshall looked perplexed and I realized he couldn’t understand Varen nor hear my conversation with Mandisa.  I stroked Varen absent-mindedly.  “I will, but not quite yet,” I told her.  Only after seeing Marshall’s more puzzled expression did I realize I had spoken in wolf.  “Don’t worry yourself, you’re not still dreaming,” I told him with a laugh.  Varen licked my hand and put her head between her enormous brown paws.  I explained to Marshall what had happened since his capture at the summit.  Comprehension dawned on his face as he took it all in.  He stopped looking at the wolves apprehensively, but with respect which pleased both the wolves and me.  I finished with him waking up.  I didn’t tell him what Varen said, feeling it to be unnecessary.  “Sleep, I’ll be fine,” he said when I had finished.  I did not protest this time.  I curled against Varen’s soft, warm body.  For the first time since prison, I slept soundly. 

        I had a strange dream.  I was back on the summit.  Before me, stood a humanoid figure that seemed to be made of the very fabric of the night sky.  It was as tall as me, but its feet seemed to hover just above the ground.  Its image flickered like a candle if I looked at it too hard.  The outline of the shape was blurred, indefinite.  It was like a living shadow.  Another being appeared, its body white and shifting, like snow or even a blizzard.  The first shape spoke in a female voice, rich and elegant.  Between its fingers was a silver ajikku blossom.  “Mandisa,” it began.  “You have proven yourself worthy to consume the ajikku blossom.  You were able to, but chose not to in order to save your friend.  The ajikku blossom itself is worthless for more than its beauty.  It is us, the wild spirits that give it power,” the midnight spirit said.  “We would grant your wish, but we know that you no longer truly want it,” the snow spirit continued.  “But, you are worthy of some boon.  For your feat, we give you this.  Whenever it rains, you will have yourself back, but you will still be here,” the midnight spirit explained.  “Not even our magic can return you home,” the snow spirit admitted.  To think, I would have myself back, if only for a little!  “I thank you,” I said, bowing.  “It is well earned, Rain,” the midnight spirit answered.  With that the spirits disappeared, and I awoke.  My name, Rain, still echoed in my head. 

        Varen bent around and licked my face with her large pink tongue.  “You slept well?” she asked.  “Yes,” I said, hiding a small smile.  Even if the dream was really just a dream it was definitely a nice one.  I had come to believe my dreams more ever since I had arrived in this other world.  Now that Marshall had sufficiently recovered, I felt ravenous.  I wolfed down strips of dried meat.  It tasted like it had fallen from heaven rather than sat in a cave for at least a month or two.  I still didn’t know how long I had been in prison.  I needed to get more food, Marshall would probably stay with me for a while, or so I hoped.  Thinking of Marshall, I cast about for him.  I crawled out of the room and into the cave.  “He’s at the spring,” Nuvola said as I emerged.  “Oh, thanks,” I said, relieved.  Whenever Marshall disappeared, it tended to be bad.  I entered the daylight and saw Marshall drinking from the spring with cupped hands.  He turned when he heard me approach.  “How are you feeling?” I asked him.  He shrugged.  “You look better,” I observed.  “I am,” he said.  He smiled at me.  I could tell something was troubling him still though.  “What’s wrong?” I asked, getting straight to the point.  “Nothing,” he answered.  Marshall was a terrible liar.  “You’re a horrible liar,” I replied.  Marshall looked down at his feet, like a child caught stealing candy.  “Let me guess, you won’t tell me right now,” I said.  He nodded.  Why did he have to be so vague?  I let it drop.  Embarrassed, Marshall went back to the cave.  “Thanks,” he whispered as he passed.