Journey of Phantasia: The Dream-Weaver

Part 7: Slumber For Good

The four grabbed their belongings, counted their losses and decided to follow the slow-gathering army at a distance unseen. They left the town without telling the folks there where they were off to, else they might attract a crowd, and thus the attention of Firus. They weren't sure where Firus was, but didn't want to wait around the swamps to find out. Besides, following the sleeping herd might give them an idea of where the Dreamweaver would go next.

They set up a camp where the herd was last seen, on the fields outside of town, near another village. The footsteps were fresh in the fields, and they shivered when they saw another small band of people leave the village, trailing right after them. Albedo tried to make fire appear out of his hands, to make a campfire. But nothing happened. His hands only itched. It frustrated him.
"Let me handle that, old man." Vuraria said. She used her fire-breath on it effortlessly. "You were the one that taught me, anyway." Albedo said nothing, but he avoided looking at her. He could do nothing now. He felt void, ashamed. He gave Lousine a quick look, while she helped Ayan set up the tents. Was this how she felt as well?

None were much in the mood for conversation after they set up their camp. Ayan was making a plan by drawing lines in the sand. "We'll follow the tracks in the ground again tomorrow. We begin at dawn. I want to lose as little time as possible if we are to get that damn wizard."
"And then we can strangle the life out of that pale bastard! Give him AND his eyes the same colour for once!" Vuraria rolled her fists against each other, to replicate what she would do to Firus when they'd find him again. "Rher-tam agirr!"

Lousine only chuckled, because she knew what it meant. She wondered how much time Vuraria had spent with the fauns before making a few final notes and heading off to sleep.

"I'll take first watch." Ayan said. "Then Vuraria, then-"

"I will do it." Albedo hummed. "I've had enough sleep before you got me. I will keep watch for the night. You three go and rest."

"Albedo-" Ayan began, worried about his friend, worried about what the Dreamweaver might've done to him. But Albedo interrupted him once more.
"Trust me, Ayan. Other than the removal of my magic he's done naught to me. You three will need your rest. Go."
He hushed their concerns and waved them away, and watched as they got into their tents while he stared at the last red bits of sunlight at the bottom of the sky. Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, rubbing his hands against each other. They prickled.

He held his hands open in front of him like a beggar would, half-staring at the locks on his hands and half-staring at the coming night. "There really is nothing, then?... I truly am stuck like this?"

"It wasn't my fault. It was a reflex, I swear." Said a voice behind him. Albedo turned around, because he could no longer see what it was by using his mind. But he could hear it.

There was a bright, ginger fox behind him.

"She was in the way. She would end up the same as her mother had. I had to-..."

Albedo frowned, then snarled. "Who were you aiming for?" Even though he didn't know for certain, he was at least somewhat sure that this fox before him was Firus. He stood up and clenched his hands, gritting his teeth. "Who were you AIMING for, you son of a bitch?"

The fox darted off as Albedo took his first steps towards it. Magical or not, Albedo still looked dangerous and threatening to pretty much anyone else.

"Dear, listen." Said the same voice behind him, as he felt a force toppling him to the ground. "I still mean what I said, I have no ill intent toward you or your friends. I just-" But the fox's breath hitched as Albedo fell onto his back, and saw how he held out his hands to defend himself before clenching them into fists once more.