Gifted Pelt

Chapter 35

Astrila groans, burning with heat. Her body throbs and she winces at the sharp pain. Her face stings fiercely, accompanied by the same sensation from her left shoulder and her right calf. Her eyes feel heavy but she forces them open, only to close them again when her vision swims. Astrila waits until the dizziness subsides then opens her eyes once more. Her surroundings come into focus and she realizes that she is in Tonraq's iglu. When did she get here? She doesn't remember anything between being at the lagoon and now. She bolts upright, her eyes wide and her heart thundering. Kōri! Where is he? Is he alright? There is a sound from the doorway of the iglu, crunching snow.

Kōri steps through and Astrila sags in relief, her eyes scanning him for injuries. None. Good. He is carrying a basket that looks to be one of Tonraq's and when his eyes catch hers, he almost drops the basket. His face fills with bone-crushing relief and he hurriedly sets the basket on the floor beside the door. He runs over to her and folds her into a tight hug. She squeaks against the fur of his pelt and a wave of weakness pulses through her. Kōri pulls back and looks at her, his eyes searching her face. His eyes snag on her left cheek and she raises her hand up. He pulls her hand back down.

"Don't."

Astrila starts to frown at him but forces it back when her wound stretches painfully. Her voice is raspy and weak. "What happened?"

Kōri frowns and worry fills his eyes. "I don't really know. What do you remember?"

"Climbing out of the water, nudging you, then nothing. I feel strange Kōri. Dizzy, weak, everything blurs."

His face pales. "Tonraq is going to be back in a moment. He had me gather a basket of snow while he was gathering other supplies. Kayi will be here in a little bit as well."

"What?"

Astrila blinks rapidly, the world around her blurring into splotches of brown and white. A wave of weakness hits her next and she feels her body tilt. Warm hands steady her, she can feel the warmth through the gloves and her clothes.

"Astrila? Stay with me!"

She blinks and shakes her head. The world comes back into focus just in time for her to see Tonraq enter the iglu. His expression is calm, the face of a healer, but she can see the worry in his eyes as he approaches.

"How are you feeling?"

"Strange."

"How so?"

"The world keeps turning blurry, I'm getting hit with waves of weakness, and I feel warm like I have a fever."

"Hmm. Can I see the scratches on your face?"

Astrila nods, bunching her pelt in her lap. Then she stops, confused. Her pelt isn't in coat form. Why? Kōri notices what caught her attention and explains.

"You passed out right after you shifted. You didn't have enough time to shift your pelt back."

Astrila shifts it into coat form now and pulls it over her shoulders, wincing as the movement hurts the wound on her left shoulder. Tonraq cradles her face in his hands as he inspects the slices marring her skin. He touches one and she flinches away. He hums disapprovingly at her and she stills. He carefully prods the scratch again and she feels something leak out of it. Blood? He swipes the liquid away with his finger and pulls his hand away to inspect it. The liquid is clear, with a bluish tint to it.

"What is that?"

His gaze raises to meet her eyes and he frowns. "I don't know. I've never seen it before. It has a sheen to it, strange. Like the black water humans sometimes leave."

Astrila nods. Yes, she knows of the black water. The liquid catches the light and it shimmers. Her magic stirs inside of her and shies away from it. Tonraq's head tilts like he is listening to something. A few silent moments pass before he speaks at last.

"My magic says this is venom. From the magical world, not the human one. What happened to you, Astrila? What attacked you? Those are claw marks."

Just then Astrila's father ducks into the iglu, a confused expression on his face. "What's going on-"

He stops speaking when he catches a glimpse of the slashes across Astrila's face. Fear flashes across his own face and he rushes over. His hands are trembling as he pulls Astrila into a quick hug.

"What happened to you?"

"I was swimming with Kōri and then I saw this thing in the water. I was climbing back out onto the ice when it dragged me back in. I tried to escape, and that was when it clawed my face and my shoulder. My leg was the initial injury."

Kayi's voice is careful, cautious as if he's trying to keep it steady. "What did it look like?"

Astrila's brow crinkles in deep thought. "It was like a swirling mass of darkness, with twin spots of bright blue for eyes. The claws were dark as well."

"What was the lagoon like before you saw it?"

Astrila sways as another wave of weakness hits her and both Kayi and Kōri reach out to steady her. In the moment she takes to muster up her strength. Kōri takes the chance to speak.

"Empty. There was no life there. Absolutely nothing."

Kayi's eyes widen in shock and fear. "I think I might know what it is, but I'll have to double-check. For now, no one should go near the lagoon."
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What do you think the creature is? Do you guys know what the black water they're talking about is? What do you think about the venom? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.