Earth(9)

Blood dripped down the flames surrounding us, turning them more red than orange.

"Now!" the scream came from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I had to make the decision.





* * *





My eyes flew open, heart pounding from the nightmare. I blinked, calming my body, as the morning sun peeked out above the trees. My arm was numb from Bee's large head laying on it all night. I was sore and stiff from a day of rowing, and I was covered in bug bites. If every morning started like this, I was not going to be a happy camper.

"Alugh," I mumbled. No one in the boat stirred. I cleared my throat and licked my cracked lips. "Alex!"

"Huh?" a sleepy voice sounded out from the back of the canoe.

"Are the water bottles back there?" I looked up just in time to see one being lobbed in my general direction. It landed on the bench. "You could've hit Bee."

"Mommy?" Bee asked, stretching her limbs in the small space she had. I sipped water, watching her run through the usual morning routine. A frown while her eyes searched new surroundings; rarely would she wake up in the same location two days in a row. Then reaching out with her hand, feeling for a reassuring warm body. Finally she would turn her face up to the sky. Even if the trees weren't what she remembered before going to sleep, the sky would always be there, hovering over her. She really didn't do well indoors any longer.

Next would be her first word of the day. Generally, it would be a word repeated throughout the morning ad nauseum. This morning's word was, "Itchy."

I leaned over, peering at her face a little closer. Bug bites covered her, too. One was still feasting at her hairline.

"Get away you bastard." I swatted at the mosquito.

Bee smiled. "Bashterd."

Why is it always the bad words they pick up?

Behind us, Alex moaned and sat up.

"It was a fine spot you chose to pull over," I told him.

"Bashterd!" Bee chimed in.

Alex looked at me. "And you are a fine source of vocabulary, Katie."

I rolled my eyes. "We need to find some netting. I got eaten alive last night, as did you."

Alex peered over the boat at his own reflection in the water. "I can't see anything in this muck."

"Susan awake yet?" I asked.

"Susan." Alex shook a lump next to him. "Susan."

The lump stirred. "Five more minutes."

"Nope – up and at 'em. You're rowing today."

That got her moving. "What? But I'm…freaking Pocahontas! The navigator – remember?"

"Yeah but another day of this and I won't be able to move my arms. At all," I said, rolling out my shoulders.

Alex nodded. "Me too. We switch every day. Besides, we all need to learn how to steer the canoe. Your turn to learn, Susan. Katie’s up front."

"Fine," Susan said, sitting up and pulling back her hair.

I gasped. "Susan – your face!"

"What?" She ran a panicked hand over her smooth skin.

"It's…it's…perfect."

"Huh?"

"You have no bites."

Susan peered at me and Bee, then looked at Alex. "You guys look terrible."

"Bashterd," said Bee.

Susan glared at me.

Alex sighed, "Come on, ladies. We need to find a mosquito net today."

After a small breakfast of canned peaches and beans, we lifted anchor – or battery – and began rowing. That day we reached the tip of Bluestone Lake, then made our way up New River. Paddling upstream, I was thankful that it wasn't me with an oar.

An hour passed on New River when I felt a trickle of energy behind me. I turned and glared at Susan. "I thought you said no magic."

Her shirt was drenched in sweat. "Believe me, I'd be the first to do it if I thought it was safe."

"If it isn't you, who is it?" I looked behind the canoe, toward Bluestone Lake. "Do you think someone is following us?"

"I don't feel anything," said Susan.

I furrowed my eyebrows, glancing down at Bee. She hadn't had an incident since her fire at the Chakra. Granted, we were very careful not to get her too excited, since that was how the fireball had appeared. At the moment, she sat with her back to me, decorating her leg with the Band-Aids out of one of several first aid kits. She wasn't excited, or anxious, or mad – none of the tell-tale emotions that sent my powers out of whack.

I turned back to the water, guiding Alex through a tame set of rapids. By the time we were through, the energy was gone.

I'll have to pay more attention to Bee.

Further upriver, homemade filtering systems dotted the bank on one side.

"Should we check it out?" I asked Alex.

He eyed them. "Those only filter enough water for ten people or so, and that's if they don't use it for growing food."