Dragonlands(24)

"We have to find Connor before that thing does," Tressa said. She stood up next to Bastian. His sword was drawn, at the ready.

"Then let's go," he said. They both tried to ignore the size of the footprints left by the beast. The indentations were large enough for the two of them to stand in together.





Chapter Sixteen


After hours of searching, Tressa sat down on an old tree trunk. Its roots held it firmly in the ground even though the rest of it had died and fallen countless years ago. She rubbed her calves, trying to massage out the kinks after the hard day's trek. Bastian sat on the ground next to her. He pulled off a boot and shook it over the ground. Pebbles and sticks tumbled out.

"We can't just keep wandering forever," Tressa said. They hadn't found any sign of Connor. No more broken branches on the ground and the screams had stopped hours ago. "We need a plan."

Bastian pulled a whetstone from his pack and ran it along his sword, sharpening it after a long day of using it to cut branches and vines. "Any suggestions?"

Tressa pursed her lips together. She didn't have any idea what to do or where to go. "We can't leave Connor behind. I mean, our goal is to get out of the village alive, find some kind of cure for the plague, and go back and help them. But Connor is our best friend."

"And he's the one who believed in us most. He knew we'd find a way to succeed. He wouldn't want us to waste any time, especially if it means getting back sooner. He was so worried about Hazel and the boys getting sick." Bastian sat back against a rock, sheathing his sword. He rested his hands on his knees and closed his eyes. "I don't know what to do."

"Connor would want us to go on without him. Find a way out." Tressa said it in a whisper. The truth wasn't something she wanted to admit out loud, but it had to be said. She could imagine Connor telling them just that. "But at the same time, he'd never leave one of us behind."

"And that's why we won't stop looking for him." Bastian stared into her eyes.

The purple haze must have been disconcerting. Tressa could only imagine how she looked - possessed, unnatural.

"I'm glad we agree." Relieved, she relaxed a little. The last thing she wanted was to leave Connor behind, but making the decision to put the village at risk while they searched for their friend wasn't an easy one. She and Bastian needed to agree on this and they both knew it. "But how do we find him?"

Bastian pointed at Nerak. "Can she see in the dark like you?"

Tressa looked at the little owl, sleeping soundly on her shoulder. She stroked the feathers, waking her up gently. Her tiny eyelids flipped open and Nerak cocked her head to the side. "Can you help us find our friend Connor? Can you fly through the fog and help us figure out which way to go?"

Scared.

She buried her head in Tressa's shoulder, turning her head to peek at Bastian.

"Please, will you help us?" he asked.

Tressa's eyes grew wide. "Can you hear her too?"

Bastian face scrunched up. "Hear her? No, she's obviously afraid. I can tell by her body language. Can you communicate with her somehow?"

Tressa nodded. It might be odd, but it was the only chance they had. "I can hear words in my mind. Just pieces of thoughts, but she's definitely worried." She stroked Nerak's head, scratching her lightly with dirty fingernails. Tressa could only imagine what the rest of her body looked like based on the filth she'd managed to pick up. Bastian looked the same as he always did - a little messy, sweaty, and tired.

"Hey you," Bastian tapped Nerak lightly on the head. "We need your help to find our friend. The sooner we get him, the sooner we get out of this foggy mess. All I need you to do is fly around a bit. Use your little purple glow to guide yourself."

"How will she find us again?" Tressa asked, worried. She knew it was a good plan, but she didn't want Nerak giving up her life for them either. If she got lost, or never found her way back, Tressa wouldn't forgive herself. It felt like sending a child out to do an adult's job. "Could you fly away and come back to us?"

Nerak tilted her head to the other side. See. Fly. Find. And after a pause, Afraid.

"I know," Tressa cooed, "we're afraid too. You don't have to do this. It's not your battle."

The owl's eyes snapped open even wider, taking up the bulk of her snowy face. War. Coming. Save.

Her wings flitted out and Nerak took off in flight, leaving Tressa and Bastian hidden in the fog again. Tressa ran her hands around her waist, looking for the vine that connected her and Bastian. Hand over hand, she inched closer to him, not wanting to feel so alone in the enveloping mist. Her hand touched his waist and she left it there for only a moment until she slipped her hand into his.