Aqueous Passage. Krystyna Faroe

swooped through the building walls, over the sleeping bodies that lay in each. Most looked content whilst they slept but others tossed and turned disturbed by their dreams.

      Passing through one building she stopped above a restless child, immediately she passed through her, and as soon as she did Savannah stopped wriggling and laid still in a deep slumber. Willow knew Pine’s daughter missed him terribly, as did Lily whom she now realized was quietly sobbing in her own bed. Her clan were afraid, for the first time since the Devastation they were unsure. They no longer carried the fight to survive; they all feared terrible things were to come and they were already giving in to defeat. She realized that they had known just like she did but she had been too distracted to see it, because she had been caught up in her own feelings of torment. She hadn’t lessened the sadness they were feeling, she had only helped mask it and that made her feel ashamed.

      Tearing upwards she left the building seeking darkness and the dotted skies. Blots of stars were welcome blemishes upon the blackness of night. Moving faster and faster, she travelled quickly toward the place she had left. Dropping in a dive once more she pulled up above her body and hovered. There she waited until she was surrounded by the other particles of light. There were so many that they gave the illusion of daylight in the forest. She could clearly see the twists in the bark of the trees; the textures rising and falling, the different shades of brown intersected with black and grey, patches of green and white lichen following their curves.

      She could sense confusion but wasn’t sure if it was from the others or herself. She had to open herself up to them, she needed to understand but she wasn’t sure how to communicate. She struggled at wondering what she should do until it happened, not through her trying but just from her letting go. So many thoughts bombarded her, so much that it was difficult to understand. Like riding a tidal wave, she wavered, working through the flashes, the bounce of colours and shapes. Slower, slower she replied. When eventually the pictures become clear, the visions horrified her.

      Her first was of Blackthorn bleeding upon the forest floor, she felt his pain, and agony and his hope that Oak at his side would help him.

      The sight was quickly followed by Fern being pulled into a boat her face fearful, her kidnappers gloating. Willow sensed the crude thoughts of Fern’s captors and felt shocked and disgusted.

      The vision leaped to Oak fighting a huge boy before an open door looking out over an evening sky, the airship gently rocking them. The huge Citan’s thoughts became hers. “Kill him, kill him.”

      When Fern appeared in a gold dress Willow was thankful and surprised as she hardly recognized her. Willow was happy to see her looking so beautiful but the mood was momentary as a square shaped man picked Fern up and threw her over the side of the ship. Willow watched her fall, saw her hit the cold water, become submerged and arise gasping for breath. She felt fear for her as Fern swam up and down the side of the ship. Fern turned to see the envillion fish heading toward her.

      The vision jumped back to Blackthorn laid upon the floor with an outstretched hand holding the leg of the large Citan boy as he grappled with Oak. Moving awkwardly Oak and the Citan continue battling, eventually falling toward the open door. Willow was struck with panic at the drop they are heading for as they skid to the opening.

      The image blurs to Fern desperately kicking at the fish as they snap at her tearing her dress, catching hold of her hair. Willow is overwhelmed with terror; screams though she knows she is not. A body falls from the ship; sinks below and surfaces; a boy treading water for a moment staring forlornly into Ferns eyes, mouthing words Willow cannot hear until he plunges deep into the water toward the advancing fish. Willow wanted to shriek in dismay but the vision is gone and now it is Oak and the Citan sliding down the ramp trying to grab a hold of anything that can delay their fall. Finally succeeding they cling to the ridges of the ramp whilst looking down at the darkened land far below.

      She’s back with Fern once more can see her silently screaming as she clings to a rope that is being pulled up out of the water. Watches Fern as she rises and gazes down at the swirling water below, she sees what is left of the boy who dove in to save Fern and is filled with terrible sorrow and horror. The image fades and she sees the ramp door closing as a button is hit, watches Oak and the Citan scramble to their feet in safety standing before other Citans and Aviatilians. The visions become quiet, gone.

      It wasn’t over, she received the last vision with more vividness than the others; it was clear, purposefully given to her at the end and she understood the reason.

      She saw Sequoia hunched over, alone in the dark. She could feel his pain but also horrendous fear and guilt. His face wet as he slowly moves his hand across his cheeks, his eyes are hollow, hopeless, and as sightless as any blinded creature, but she knew he could see everything; it was his will to live that was lost. Now she knew why she had been in a state of despair for an extensive amount of time. Their original leader had been suffering for a long while and she had felt it all along.

      She was about to move down to her body again when another vision blasted before her. It was of another Citan but this one wasn’t on board the airship, this one was moving away from the Citan city. He was leading a band of others; they were armed with axes and knives. They carried nothing else except flasks of water at their belts. Their faces grim, their leader determined, she sensed danger. They carried no bags of food upon them, leaving her to guess that their journey was to be a short one, and she knew exactly where they were heading.

      Immediately she sought her body, rammed into it without further thought and gasped for air as the wind was knocked out of her by her action. She gulped several times, coughing in between, whilst her lungs felt like they had been sliced by a knife. Gasping she tried to stand but staggered forward to a tree. The apparitions lit the way before her, giving her light so she would not stumble into anything. She swallowed as if she had a small potato stuck in her throat. The pain was surprising; her sensations were now tenfold as she fell to her knees again, and collapsing she rolled to her side pulling up her knees as she rocked herself rhythmically concentrating on just her breathing. Releasing her legs she felt her breathing becoming normal. Her tear filled eyes focused once more upon the spectres. They were no longer moving but still.

      Rising slowly to her feet she raised a hand to say she was alright. She doubted she could speak at the moment but that didn’t matter, her communication with them hadn’t been through words. There had been no need for words as she had sensed emotions, anguish, pain, fear, torment and despair. She blinked her eyes when she remembered the distraught face of Sequoia, he would die soon without help but what could she do?

      Walking in what she believed was the direction to the camp she began to move. To her surprise the orbs were no longer in front of her. She turned around and saw they were behind her. Were they not going to help her get back? Striding towards them she almost felt angry, felt they were abandoning her in her time of need, but as soon as she approached them they moved away. Following them she felt a small burst of frustration. They picked up speed until she found she was running to keep up. A smile slowly spread as she realized she had been going the wrong way, they were leading her home.