Take Back the Light

Chapter 35

The moment Alana opened her eyes that morning, she knew something was wrong.

Pale yellow Lumino light drifted into her room from her window. Her slugs were scattered around her room, all still asleep. It looked completely peaceful, but Alana felt cold despite the three blankets she was buried under.

It was close to what she'd felt like when the failed fusion shorted out her energy, but she didn't feel exhausted. She felt... blank. Like her own light was retreating, and just leaving behind a hollow void. A million thoughts were running through her head - was this just a normal thing that would happen when she got really sick? Had she been hit by a certain kind of ghoul? How long would this last? And would it get worse?

Then she saw Ash, and all worries about her own wellbeing faded away.

He was curled up on her pillow like usual, but he was paler than usual and his eyes were half open. Alana quickly bolted upwards and scooped him up in her hands, ignoring the painful head rush that followed the rapid movement. The Infurnus, usually rather warm to the touch, felt cool. His normally energetic red eyes were now drowsy and dull, but Alana could still feel him breathing, and her shoulders sagged with relief. Being so far from Mage was difficult, but losing Ash was unthinkable.

"Is anyone else sick?" she wondered out loud, and she winced when she heard her voice, shaky and hoarse.

Her slugs began to stir around her, looking up at their slinger with concern. None of them looked like they were ill. Whatever was happening, it was just affecting her and Ash.

"Do you know what's going on?" Alana asked Ash as she forced herself to stand up, shivering and swaying on her feet. She steadied herself on her nightstand and looked down at Ash. The Infurnus shook his head, laying down in Alana's hand and coughing weakly. Alana's heart sank at the sight of her signature slug so weak and ill.

She could feel Ash's energy flickering like a flame in the wind. And just as the thought crossed her mind that she should try to get herself around to see if any of the other slugs were sick, Alana heard voices from downstairs.

"Never seen one sick..."

Alana glanced down at Ash worriedly. It couldn't be a coincidence that she and Ash were sick, too, and it sounded like it was another slug that had fallen ill.

With a shaky breath, Alana slowly made her way across her room. Her other slugs, now awake and watching their slinger warily, followed after her, chirping encouragements along the way that she couldn't understand but still appreciated.

By the time she swung open the door and grabbed onto the railing that lined the second floor, Alana felt like she'd run across the cavern. Still shivering, she looked over the rail to the first floor, where the rest of the Shane Gang was gathered around a pillow on the coffee table. Burpy was laid down on it, looking just like Ash- sickly, pale, and fading. It broke Alana's heart to see yet another slug so ill.

"But none of us have any idea what to do," Kord was saying to Eli, who was staring down at Burpy. The Shane's eyes were wide with obvious fear for his slug.

"What about Alana?" Trixie asked hopefully. "If she can feel the slugs' energies, maybe she could tell us what's wrong with him."

Alana sighed, a sad smile on her face as she rested her arms on the rail. "I wouldn't count on it."

The rest of the gang looked up, and all of their shoulders sagged when they saw Alana.

"Guardian slugs, Alana, what happened?" Trixie asked. Alana shrugged, shivering as a chill ran down her spine.

"I don't know, but it's the same thing that's affecting Burpy. And Ash," she added, nodding down to her hand. Ash's white markings made him look even more pale compared to Burpy. "Our energies are really weak. It's like a fire that's slowly going out, and I don't know how to fix it."