Crais(3)

Had he been there all along and she’d not noticed?

Fury jumped at the sizzling sound of her eyes leaking and the droplets hitting the ground. They dissolved before they could mark the red dirt with a wet patch. She couldn’t afford to lose fluid while above ground, so she stepped backwards, never tearing her eyes from Dune. Finally the shade encased her and the rocky outside disappeared from view. The flow of eye-water eventually stopped, although she stayed near the water wall, letting her body be replenished.

She was the only one on Crais to ever have the eye droplets. It was very inconvenient that they appeared when she was at her most emotional; it was hard to pretend she was okay.

“You must stop looking for me.”

Fury spun at his words. And before she could stop her feet she’d launched herself straight into his arms. He was hot to touch, not like he would burn her, but like a warm water spring. And he smelt delicious, like woodsy smoke. Which was impossible; there were no trees above ground to burn. She had taken him by surprise but he didn’t drop her. Instead he drew her toward him, and encased her bodily in a full embrace.

“Please don’t leave me again.” The begging words fell from her mouth and, although she meant every one, she was a little mortified.

“The nomads want you, tresorina. You must not let them know where you are. I have protected your mother’s secret for twenty sun years. I will not let them have you now.” Dune spoke into her shoulder, where he’d buried his head.

Suddenly he set her down and stepped away.

Although it was always hot on Crais, Fury felt a chill from his absence.

“I don’t understand.” She didn’t step toward him again, but it took all her will-power. “You knew my mother?”

“She asked me to hide you away. And I have made sure that her last wish was fulfilled.”

“Why do the nomads want me?” Were there enough of them left to pose a threat?

“Just stay in the caves, Fury. You will be safe. And do not use your powers. The fire is a beacon for our kind,” Dune said, his voice low.

And then with one last look he turned and was gone from the caves, from her life, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.



“Fury!”

Later that day an exasperated exclamation drew her from a daydream. She was sitting at the long stone bench which served her small tribe as a dining table, the remains of dinner scattered around. Small whole cooked lizards were the first to be eaten; all that was left were their tiny frail bones. But she’d barely touched the second course, leafy stew.

“Can I finish your greens?” Her closest friend Luiz asked.

He was one of those people who just never seemed to be full. And he particularly loved the green stew made from the plant life in the underground grotto. The nutrients were so important for their health. And since there was a strict no-wasting rule, and all foods were tightly rationed, Luiz lived for the days when Fury wasn’t hungry.

“Yeah, sure. Go ahead.” She pushed the stone bowl toward him.

He grabbed it and bent his head to slurp at the contents.

Fury smiled and returned to her thoughts. She couldn’t stop thinking about Dune’s words. While the attraction she felt to him was unnatural, it was the powers he had mentioned that really had her wondering. How did he even know about them? She’d used them just once – and had no idea how or why – and had never tried again.

It had happened during an altercation with a girl from another tribe, when they’d all met up for the annual travels to the healing spring. Luckily no one had been standing close by, because for a split second Fury had burst into flames, her entire body encased in a blue fire which burned hotter than any she’d known.

And then it was gone, and she had not one mark on her.

Since that day she had tempered herself and her moods, always afraid her anger would bring a return of the flames.

And now Dune was telling her these powers were a fire signal for the crazy nomads. Great.

She was distracted as her tribe started to stir. She watched them move around the darkened hall. While Fury had a creamy red skin and long white hair, courtesy of her mixed nomad heritage, the tribespeople were hairless with a skin so black she often lost sight of them as they moved amongst the shadows of the cavern.

She envied them their camouflage and protection against the suns.

She stood too, knowing there would be no after-meal entertainment tonight. In six sun hours from then they would all set out on the annual journey to the big springs. Fury couldn’t believe it was time again. But it was an important occasion for barter and exchange, and to bathe in the rejuvenating springs. Her reluctance to attend this year could only be because of Dune. She hated the thought that every step she took was leading her further away from him. Away from the very person who might have answers about her mother, her powers and how Fury came to be the very first half-breed on Crais.