The first lights of the sun were creeping above the horizon, lighting the dew-covered field wide swipes of color. The stripes shone as far as the trees of the forest where a blue grazer sat with her head hanging low.
Rhoger and his mate Arren were rising when Rain finally began to wake from her comatose state, and they now sat beside her, both with worry—and a fair amount of drowsiness—in their eyes.
“So you’ve not even seen him?” Rhoger’s long horns accentuated the tilting of his head.
“I’ve seen his shadow, which is… all that he is right now,” Rain muttered, idly picking at a stick in her hands. “I know it doesn’t make any sense when I say it, and I’ve never heard of anyone becoming a shadow before... but I have to believe what I’ve seen. I’ve already found five of the seven stones, and they’re exactly where he says they are. I can’t imagine him leading me on like this for nothing.”
“But what can the stones even do?”
“Together, they form some sort of power,” Rain glanced at him. “Something that can turn him back into a living being.”
“That’s what worries me the most out of all of this,” Arren spoke up, her voice an airy contrast to her husband’s bolstering tone. “If it truly can turn him back into a living creature, what else could it do?”
“And how does he seem? Is he nice to you?”
“He is; he may be a little impatient, but he seems trustworthy. He’s been kind, and…” her face flushed warm, “he may want to travel together when he’s well again.”
Arren immediately noticed Rain’s subtle blushing. “You need to be very careful before you start falling...”
“Falling?” Rain appeared taken aback, though the warmth upon her face only grew warmer. She swallowed and idly touched her cheek, unable to answer.
Rhoger nodded, seemingly unaware of the two females’ interchange. “And what is he giving you for all your work—running his errands for him?”
“Well,” Rain’s mouth skewed, “he’s going to show me my mother.”
“Your mother?”
Rain frowned at the stick in her hands. “She died years ago...”
The two horned grazed looked to each other before Rhoger nudged forward. “Rain, that’s impossible!”
“But he’s already shown her to me!” the blue grazer pleaded, “I saw her shadow, and I heard her voice… it was like she was there, but he couldn’t hold her there for long.”
Rhoger sighed as his mate shook her head. “But is that fleeting moment worth putting yourself into danger like this?”
Rain shrugged her arms in exasperation. “I haven’t been in danger this whole time; it was my own method for tricking Perna that backfired on me…”
“How many berries did Perna eat?” Arren asked.
“I had only given her two,” Rain sat back with a frown, “but I had gathered two stalks to keep some for backup, just in case, and she ate all those too…”
“Rain, she may not wake up for days if she ate that many,” Arren’s brows lowered in concern, “You saw how quickly even a part of one took you down.”
“Mama!”
The three were interrupted by one of the children’s cries, and Arren shuffled back to the nest to comfort her.
“All right,” Rhoger continued, though it was clear Arren’s words had struck Rain into an ashamed silence. “So moving past this event, are you sure you want to keep doing this?”
Rain squinted her eyes shut and muttered, “I have to.”
“Because what if these last two stones require you to do something worse? What if a more dangerous trick backfires and you’re injured?”
“I just have to trust Kotah and try to be more careful,” Rain urged. “I don’t know what else to do. I’ve already told him I would; I can’t go back on my word.” She glared at the ground. “It’s only two more, and then I’ll be finished.” She concluded barely above a whisper.
Rhoger let out a long breath. “Just be careful, all right? You saved our kiddos, and I’d like to know you’re still around in case someone else needs help. Like us again.”
“Rhog,” Arren returned at just the right time, tapping his back lightly with her horns and flashing a look only a mate could give.
“What?” His wide eyes blinked at her. “We need all the help we can get!”
Rain finally managed a smile as the couple playfully nudged each other. “I promise I’ll be careful. And I thank you both for your help last night.”
Rhoger bobbed his head. “I said you would always be welcome. I’d just prefer you to be conscious next time.”
“Rhoger!” Arren gaped.
“I deserved that one,” Rain waved her hand.
The stout horned grazer puffed out his chest as Arren sighed and returned to the nest.
Rain nodded and began to gather her things as the sun began peeking over the distant mountains. It was comforting to know at least two others had her back, and their discussion had filled her with the confidence to speak up to Kotah—and to ensure her trust could still be placed in him. After all, if he truly did care about her, he would be more than happy to calm her growing worry.
--
“My goodness!” Kotah’s form quickly rose into its grazer shape as Rain trudged through the entrance of the cave. “What took you so long?” he asked with exasperation clear in his voice.
The blue grazer’s brows lowered; there wasn’t a single ounce of concern in his voice. “Considering I knocked myself out with my own trick, I think I’m lucky I’m even here.” The blue grazer sneered.
“Knocked yourself out—what did you do?”
Rain loosed the armor from her arms and set them down heavily, realizing she wouldn’t be eliciting any sympathy from Kotah. “I fed Perna sleeping berries so I could get past her and get to the stone. I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.”
Kotah was quiet for a moment. “…Did you get the stone?”
The blue grazer kept her eyes narrow. “What do you think?”
“You’re acting differently than usual,” the black figure took a step forward. “I won’t be upset if you didn’t get the stone—if that’s why you feel on edge.”
“Oh, I got your stone,” Rain slipped the bag over her head and dug the stone out with her other hand. “But I need to know a few things before I hand it over.”
Kotah stopped walking. “Rain, you don’t have to—”
“Yes I do,” she commanded, standing straight. “Because if I’m going to keep risking my neck for you, I’d like to be sure you can deliver on your promises.”
The dark form pulsed. “Are you serious??” Kotah balked. “You’re going to start second-guessing me now that we’re only two stones away from completion?”
Rain, however, was unmoved. “And what would happen if I decide to walk away?”
The form began to shift erratically. “That isn’t an option, Rain—we need to find all seven stones!”
“‘We’, yes,” she echoed. “Last I checked I’m the one doing all the work.”
“Are you forgetting all of the knowledge I’ve given to you about how and where to find the stones? All of the hours of work I put in to help you as much as I could?” He almost hissing his words, “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have even been able to find the first stone!”
Rain looked down her nose at the orange stone in her hand. “Is that so…”
“Don’t toy with me, Rain!!”
He thrust his hand forward and at once, the shadow orb in her head began to throb. Rain clutched at her forehead as Kotah’s form arched over her.
“You saw with your own eyes I could produce the shadow of your mother, but only for a brief time. If you get me all the stones, I can offer you all the time you want! I don’t understand why you think any of that has changed!”
Rain’s stance had sunken as Kotah berated her. Rhoger and Arren’s words had initially sparked her thoughts, but she was beginning to regret the words she had spouted.
“And here I thought we were finally making a connection…” His words cut through her like the sharp end of her spear.
Her lips bent into a look of frustrated acceptance and she silently set the gem onto the sand.
“Thank you.” Kotah remained unmoved. “The sixth stone is the Stone of Peace. It is a blue stone kept by one called Shrill. He resides on a raised hill in the middle of a nearby field. He keeps watch there, so it will take some distraction to keep him from noticing you.”
Rain waited without a word, but Kotah did not continue. “Were you going to mention that Shrill is a hunter and therefore could kill me if I trespass onto his territory?”
“No, but I have no doubt you can accomplish it.”
“You may not, but what about my own doubts?”
“You’re a survivor.”
Rain winced. “Stop saying that!”
“But it’s true. You’re smart, crafty, and an excellent tracker. I know it can be done without incident.”
Kotah’s form melted to the floor and Rain stood, alone, in her cave. She waited for any other word from the shadow grazer, but there wasn’t another sound. She took a deep breath and knelt down to put her armor back on.