How to Forgive

Part 19

Jim POV
We continued our trek onward....

A million things coursing through my head.

Is mom okay?

Will we get there in time?

Was it right to leave Claire behind?

WHAT THE HECK HAS BEEN UP WITH TOBY?!!!

   It had been several days now. I wasn't sure where I was even going. I had a clear picture in my head, but things weren't adding up. I just knew that we were heading in the right direction.

  I hadn't slept in several days, which was normal, now...
But something was different. I was feeling more and more drained with each coming day.
I had tried hard, the night before, to get rest, but it has progressively worsened me.

  I just don't have the time to focus on that.

Line Break

Days later

   I'm visibly weaker, they've noticed too.

  We had swept through marshland and forest, trudging through heat and rain. We looked it too. Steve has lost his shirt sleeve and was now sporting a pair of shorts (there hadn't been previously). Eli's glasses were smudged and cracked. And Toby's pants were caked in mud, ripped and tattered.

   I had lost the scent of our tails a while ago. Claire and him had seemingly disappeared, which worries me. Either something bad happened or he has some tricks up his sleeve.

"Are we there yet?" Steve asked in a monotone voice.

"No," I replied simply.

"Are we there yet?"

"No," I replied now annoyed.

  "Are we there yet?"

   "Steve. I'll let you know when we're there, but for the moment we aren't so, Shut UP!" I growled.

"Fine. Fine. That's cool with me," he said with an edge of fear.

   I mentally rolled my eyes, surprised that I had managed this long.

Line break

  Claire POV

   "And you're sure this will work?" I asked.

  "Positive," James replied.

We waited a moment.

"Nothing's happening," I stated bluntly.

"Nothing's supposed to happen, it just works," he said as a matter of factly.

"Well then how do we know if it's working?" I questioned, annoyed.

"If we're able to follow him more closely?" He said with uncertainty.

"Ugggghhhhhh," I grumbled.

Who does this guy think he is?! Does he know we could've really used this cloaking awhile back? I mentally screamed.

Line break

Unfortunately, the dude had to be right. *whiny voice* Oh I'm the son of a sorcerer who left their family, because no reason. Also I have sick wizardy powers and I expect my son to love me back after I abandoned him 10 years ago. HECK TO THE NO!

We were able to steadily keep pace with them, once we caught up, which was a feat in itself. Similarly, they gradually slowed down over the past few days.

Whenever we ventured close to them, we were always unnerved that he may be able to sense us. And, at this point, I'd rather be down there helping, then gearing him up to drag him away from his mom. WHAT WAS I THINKING! I mentally scolded myself.

"He's you're boyfriend," I muttered softly.

"What was that?" James asked.

"Nothing!" I replied hurriedly.

How was I going to get myself out of this?