I did it! I actually did it! I tapped into the regenerative properties of the black diamond. I wonder if I can tap into the other powers as well? However, despite feeling exhilarated by my accomplishment, I feel so drained. When was the last time I had eaten or drunk anything? I can't remember. "Alden, I need food and water."
"Stay here, and I will go find us something," he said before he walked away. I miss his calming presence instantly. The sounds of the bayou seem louder, more intense, more insistent, as if they were providing fanfare for a king.
The creatures' revelry makes me nervous. My eyes dart around in the darkness. Not much is visible under the dense canopy that only allows trickles of moonlight in. I take a breath to calm my frazzled nerves. There is something eerie yet beautiful about how these tiny bits of light reflect off the foliage. Light and darkness dancing in perfect harmony. I wish for such harmony, but I will likely die before I ever attain it.
My thoughts drift back to Mara. She had once hunted me, but Alden stepped in. Mara became one of my trainers after that. She helped me learn to hide the pull of the black diamond, but I could never fuel the spell for very long. I had thought she was killed by another member of the Council. But she returned and helped Alden and me escape. She gave her life for ours, but what happened during her absence? Did the Syndicate use her to find me? I need to quiet my mind before I drive myself insane over answers that I will never have.
Alden
Am I thankful that she healed my shell? Yes, but it came with a huge cost. The amount of magic she used will send out an echo to anyone listening. As much as she needs to rest, we have to keep moving. We have to hide, and hiding will zap me of my powers, forcing me to remain in my snail form.
Obviously, that form has its advantages, but it has many disadvantages too. My snail form can withstand a dragon's fire, even that of Asher himself. I can use my slime to kill or remove toxins. But there are disadvantages too, for example, I couldn't pick up Layla and run or hide behind a magical shield. But problems with sticking to one form plague all shifters. To survive, we must be able to transform.
I can't go back to the shack that we found when we stumbled out of Mara's portal. Mara, I will miss that old hag. I understand why she joined the Council, but I wish she had given it more thought. But many people were irate when Asher disappeared and created the black diamond. He put some of his powers into it and then hid it so that only the Chosen One would find it. That Chosen One wasn't the Fire King; it was Layla.
But she is filled with so much pain and self-doubt. I have tried to heal her and failed countless times. However, I won't stop trying. As I traipse through the bayou, I can sense other shifters. Thankfully, none are threats or linked to the Council and Syndicate. How did they find us back there? Also, Mara's appearance couldn't have been a coincidence. Were they tracking her and stumbled upon Layla? That theory is plausible because the Syndicate has relied on the Council until now.
Something pulled them here, and that something had to be Mara. Layla overheard that they were looking for a group, and I fancy a guess that that group had intel on Mara. We won't ever know now whose side Mara was ever truly on. Such a pity. Well, look at that, a white-tailed deer buck. He will lead me to water and a food source. I don't have to worry about the deer picking up my scent because I am not one of its natural predators.
After quite some time, the deer led me to a small spring. I can use my snail's ability to detoxify the water to make it safe for Layla to drink. I don't want us to have to make a fire to boil it. I found some plants and insects that should suffice until we need to hunt. I soaked my shirt in the spring and took my bounty back to my bestie.
She looked so peaceful. She was curled up in a ball as if protecting something. I decided to let Layla enjoy her beauty sleep while I employed my lava snail ability to dehydrate the water from my drenched shirt. With a flourish, I summoned my shell and tucked the soggy fabric beneath it, allowing my trusty shell to work its magic. As it worked its wonders, I took the opportunity to whip up a delightful salad using the plants and berries I had foraged earlier.
Once my culinary masterpiece was complete, I gently roused Layla from her slumber, ready to share both the meal and the magic of the moment. I crafted some sizable lily leaves into makeshift cups, wishing I had stumbled upon shells or gourds instead, but alas, the leaves would have to do. "Wow, you managed all of that?" Layla exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes, but don't fret—you didn't miss much, Sleeping Beauty," I replied with a grin. We settled onto the forest floor, savoring our leafy salad and refreshing purified water. As we munched, we brainstormed our next steps to stay under the radar, plotting our stealthy survival like seasoned woodland ninjas.
The first light of dawn began to filter through the forest canopy, reminiscent of Moses parting the Red Sea—if Moses had been on a covert mission, that is. It was time for us to make our move. We had to keep advancing while remaining as inconspicuous as a shadow in the night.
Using too much magic was off the table; it leaves traces, and with the Council and Syndicate hot on our heels, we couldn't afford to leave them a trail of breadcrumbs to follow. We were hyper-aware of our surroundings, acutely conscious that danger could be lurking around any corner, like a cat ready to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse.
So, onward we went, tiptoeing through the underbrush, hoping to outsmart our pursuers while keeping our wits—and our magic—about us.