Gifted Pelt

Chapter 61

A burning sensation flares up against Astrila's side and she lets out a cry of pain. Her hand moves to her side as fast as she can make it do so. It seems to be heavy, moving slowly as if something is pulling her arm back. As her fingers run over her stomach, they stumble into something jutting out. Her side flares up with more pain and she gasps, tugging the thing away from her. It feels strange as it slides out of her flesh, leaving coldness in its wake.

Something both warm and cool comes flooding in after it, causing her side to burn and burn. She tries to flinch away from the pain, but her body doesn't move at all. Her eyes are open, at least she thinks they are, but she can't see anything. She tries to open them, maybe her eyes are shut? Nothing happens. Panic fills her and she tries again, desperate to see what's happening.

"Stop."

She stills for a moment at her magic's words, but then she starts up again.

"Astrila, stop. Now!"

This time the words don't affect her, her panic has taken over completely. Her magic grumbles angrily and flares up, taking over her body. It hauls her back, back, back to the corner of her mind it had shoved her into so long ago and she bucks, her mental body struggling as hard as it can. Her magic pins her down and holds her still.

"Stop! Astrila, calm down! It's alright!"

It continues murmuring to her, quietening her, until she stills at last. Her magic releases its grip but doesn't pull away. She sags down, curling over her knees. Her eyes are still wide with panic and fear.

"What's happening?"

Her magic's voice is still soothing, doing its best to keep her calm. "You were injured, They put you in a healing pool."

"Who's they?"

"Your Siqiniq and Tonraq."

"Kōri?"

"Yes."

Her trembling stills, but she remains curled over herself. "How long?"

Her magic doesn't need to ask to know what she means. "The healing is almost done. Then I'll release you."

She nods and her magic eases away, leaving her to herself. Even then, she can see it keeping an eye on her just in case she tries to regain control. She still can't see what's happening around her, nor can she hear it. All that there is seems to be just the quiet, soothing darkness of her mind. Something changes and the world lightens, sound returns. Her magic sinks back inside and returns her to her body.

She can feel her body drifting in . . . water? It feels thicker than water, softer against her skin. She blinks and sees gray above her. The roof of a cave. Warm hands reach down and grasp her, tugging her out of the water and onto cold stone. She flinches away from it and the stone warms beneath her. Astrila blinks again and Kōri's face appears above her. It's full of concern and relief, the two warring with each other.

"Are you alright, Astrila?"

She nods, not trusting her voice just yet. When she does speak, her words are croaking. "What happening?"

She is helped into a sitting position before anyone speaks. Tonraq steps in front of her, he had been the one to help her up. "You were stabbed in the side and you had gone into shock at the very least, possibly blood loss. Who stabbed you?"

"The man in gray."

Tonraq and Kōri both speak at the same time. "What happened to the other man?"

"Astrila, where's your pelt?"

She answers Tonraq's question first. "I think he was impaled on the wall in the gold room. Blood was pooling beneath him, so I think he's dead."

Tonraq gapes at her for a moment and Kōri takes the opportunity to repeat his question.

"Where's your pelt, Astrila?"

"Safe."

He raises an eyebrow, unamused. She sighs and reaches out an arm to touch the stone wall. It opens up beneath her hand and she reaches into the pocket, grasping hold of her pelt's soft folds. She draws it out carefully, letting it pool on her lap.

"I told you it was safe."

Kōri sags in relief, exhaling slowly. "For a moment I was worried . . ."

Astrila remembered what he'd told her about what happened to their pelts when they died. "You were worried that I was dead?"

"Yes, and then that they took it."

She stretches out a hand toward him and he takes it. She squeezes gently. "Well, I'm alright."

Kōri bursts into tears and a few seconds pass before Tonraq interrupts the moment. "You very nearly weren't."

His voice carries a stern note to it, but Astrila can see the overwhelming relief on his face when she looks up at him. She gives him a weak smile and Tonraq smiles back.
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What do you think about this? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.