"You need to eat."
"Im not hungry."
"You're healing. Eat something."
"I'm fine."
"Godammit Ryia. You nearly died. Just eat something please."
"When you were unconcious in that inn..."
"What?"
"When you were unconcious...You saw her didn't you."
"Saw who?"
"Krea."
"Oh...yeah I did. Why?"
"And you didn't think to tell anyone?"
"She didn't do anything to me."
"Yes. She did."
"No. She didn't."
"There's a shadow inside you."
"Is that even possible?"
"Very."
"And how would you know?"
"Because I've seen it. And I felt it. It tried to kill you....It's slowly killing you."
"I'm not in pain. So how is it killing me?"
"...The shadow is what makes you a werewolf."
"That's bull."
"Haven't you felt the bloodlust? When you transform do you have control? There's darkness in that form Carac. Don't let it consume you."
..........
They stayed at the camp for a couple more days. Carac and Bor agreed to find Ayleth while the rest of the group stayed behind. They began training to use their powers properly.
..........
"How is she?"
"She won't eat. She barely talks. Im starting to think she wants out."
"Out?"
"Like...you know."
"If thats the case, we hold her down and make her eat something."
"She's stronger than you."
"Pretty sure I'm the strongest one here."
"Physically yes. But if she wanted she could crush you into pulp."
"What is her power?"
"Heh...why don't you see for yourself."
..........
"Teamwork. We need to work together to stop these shadows from killing us all. And we need to do it together. We were given these gifts for a reason. We may as well use them."
..........
"Ryia?"
"What?"
"Can you show Jarin your power?"
A force pushes Jarin and Carac to the ground.
"Thanks."
"She really isn't herself? She seems really sassy."
"Im the sassy one."
"What do you think happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well the day she got shot, I'm pretty sure what I saw coming towards Thea was a shadow. Not Ryia."
"A shadow?"
"Yeah. I thought she had it under control. The next thing I see is Thea screaming for help and holding Ryia on the ground."
"Oh...crap."
"What?"
"Come with me. Get Bor over here now."
..........
They trained each day. Some days were to use melee weapons. Other days were using powers. Each power grew stronger. Thea could now slow time at will instead of needing to focus. Jarin had unlocked his abilities full power, which was flight. Ryia could create a forcefield around the group, protecting them from even the shadows. With each day, their powers grew. With each day, their trust grew. With each day, Krea grew stronger. They could tell. If the forest had a link to Krea, then watching trees that were healthy one day and suddenly old and rotten the next only confirmed that.
..........
"Drop the barrier Ryia."
"No."
"We aren't going to hurt you. Just drop it so we can check your wound."
"It's healing."
"We need to change the dressing."
"Fine."
The barrier fell.
"Grab her."
Jarin and Bor held her by her arms.
"Carac...you know what's going to happen."
"Yes I do. Your going to tell me EXACTLY where Ryia is."
"Hehe...Not here."
"Don't test my patience."
"Soon Krea will have control over you too."
"Well that's just swell."
"And you and your friends will just be an addition to her army."
"Really...huh."
"Now are you going to let me go?"
"Nope."
"Thats a shame. I really don't want to have to kill-...what are you doing?"
"Just a method of torture. Don't worry. It doesn't hurt humans too much. So if you really are Ryia then I guess you won't mind me waving that around."
"Look...just put the torch down. I'll tell you where she is."
"That wasn't so hard now was it?"
"She's in Krea's realm."
"Oh great. How do we get there?"
"You can't. At least not physically."
"Well just get me there so I can bring her back."
"Are you sure? Im going to have to knock you unconcious."
"I've been unconcious for half this goddamn journey. I can handle it again."
"Okay. Just hold still and I'll hit you with something."
..........
Carac and Bor returned with Ayleth. She came willingly after they showed her their abilities. She had been afraid to use hers on the journey back but once she was introduced to the remaining three teenagers she showed them. And they considered it a blessing and an answered prayer.
Ayleth could make the wind blow at such a strength it would flatten a small town.
She could force the plants out of the earth to create a defensive barrier around the group.
She could summon a wave of water to wash any unwanted enemies away.
But most importantly...she could summon a ball of fire in her hand, create firebolts. She could force the earth to scorch itself. She could go up in flames to make herself invincible against the shadows.
And the group of teenagers were overjoyed that they finally had a chance to stop Krea. They just needed one more person.
