Legacy: Timeless (Book 2)

Chapter 36: Mystic Light

Chapter 36: Mystic Light

Sounds rushed in and receded on tremulous waves. A constant elevation and lowering of incessant babble that flowed at inconsistent rhythms that could not possibly be pinpointed. The world rushed similarly; dark and cold to bright and warm swaying in breath-taking rushes.

No sights were seen, but they were heard. Too overpowering to bare the naked eye at, but not so bright that the ear bled. "Wake up, wake up now." The voice hummed like an inking black stain across the glorious chaos she was experiencing.

"Come on, Scorch. Wake up now." The sound of her name was the key and it all fell away.

Mumbling incoherently, Scorch tried to stand up only to find she was already standing. Wasn't I lying on the ground? Wasn't I? She shivered as she remembered. Nightwing's brown eyes, a gray sky, white snow... red snow. Did she die?

She struggled with her eyes to open and the addition of sight off balanced her and she stumbled around like a kit first trying out its legs. The colors gradually sank in and she retained her balance. Standing before her was a familiar fluffy white and ginger face.

"Sonya," she sighed, shoulders relaxing at the sight of her friend. But her tail twitched nervously. She had not forgotten what Song had told her.

"Scorch, it is good to see you again. Though I wish the circumstances were different." Sonya stepped forward and Scorch looked around. They were standing just off from the clearing where the horrific deed had been done.

Starlight illuminated it now, turning everything it touched pearly white. But the shadows retained a fierce hold on the pine forest and drenched the surroundings in utter darkness. Only one thing was not white or black. A pool of red- frozen on the snow- stained the world with the memory of the murder.

Scorch turned and looked at it. She didn't know what to think. "Am I dead?" she thought she remembered dying, but then she'd fallen into the rush of the world.

"For all intents and purposes; you are dead." Scorch turned to look at Sonya, her breath catching and tears secreting.

"Why did this happen to me?" Her breath was coming short and even though she retained a calm demeanor toward Sonya she feared that she was panicking on the inside.

"I don't know. But it did happen," Sonya admitted and Scorch lifted her face to meet Sonya's sympathetic eyes.

"Your eyes are dark green again," Scorch mewed wondrously.

"Yes, and your eyes are bright green again. We are both in spirit form," Sonya explained. "I would not be able to talk to you any other way."

Scorch looked at her paws. Was she a ghost? There were no wounds on her paws or lower forelegs. And no ache emanated from her, the deadly wound she'd suffered on her neck was nonexistent. She stared down at her paws miserably, trying to keep the tears from flying. "I really am dead."

"Yes, about as dead as I am," Sonya mewed.

Scorch jerked her head up, "You died too?" she cried out.

Sonya flicked her tail, amusement flashing upon her face. "Remember a few nights ago when we spied on Crowpelt and Nightwing?"

Scorch remembered, but she didn't understand what that had to do with this.

"I essentially did something similar to that. The difference is that because of the powerful fear you were feeling when you were on the verge of death two things are different for you," Sonya mewed seriously.

"Yes?" Scorch was still confused, but it was calming her down.

"You will be able to remain in this state indefinitely, even when I return to my body- and as long as you are also in this state I can return to it whenever I wish. And two, you will be able to traverse the sky as well as the world in this state."