Shadows under the Light

Serin raced into camp holding an alarmingly large dead rodent.

He stopped and frowned as Jade put the books away.

“Your powers of observation are frightening.” He kicked dirt over the fire.

“What did you do?”

“Why do you assume this is my fault?” he replied dryly.

Jade started taking down the tent. Laight growled.

“Leave it,” Serin ordered, grabbing both bags.

Jade packed only one sleeping mat.

Laight bared her fangs. She released vicious barks. Her poison burned the air.

Serin grabbed Jade and ran. Laight kept close to their feet.

The ground rumbled.

“They shouldn’t be able to see us inside the gyiars,” Jade said.

“Do you trust our barriers?”

Good question. One week of practice didn’t make them experts. Gyiar was a shield created by power. Jurians wanted to distinguish between physical shields and ones created by Bai Ron.

Serin stopped. He pushed her behind him. The ground shifted. Several small hills grew. They turned into…she didn’t know what to think about them. The human-like things blended in with the dry ground. These underfed toddlers crawled on six limbs that ended in points. Their bulging muscles disfigured their skinny bodies.

Monsters surrounded them.

Finally. Jade had been bored.

She raced around Serin. The monster charged at once. Jade stomped. The ground shook. They stumbled. Jade swept her foot across the dirt. The beasts scattered. Her neck tingled. She jumped right. One fell over her shoulder. She snapped her hand around it.

The things didn’t smell poisonous. They were edible. Why was Serin running from them? She squeezed. The thing’s neck snapped. She tossed it to the side. Laight’s poison spread across the ground. The creatures jumped.

Strong wind rushed from behind her, throwing them back. Serin grabbed her hand. Jade pulled. Serin’s grip tightened. She dug in her heels. They were not running from these weak beings. She was finally the superior one.

Ear shattering shrieks rang through the air. It stole Jade’s thoughts. It clamped around her body with steel arms. She didn’t remember how to move. Serin dragged her away.