Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 9

Kira closed her eyes, vines picking up anyone in the forest and placing them back down outside. A wall of thick vines sprouted around the forest, curling into a dome over the forest, leaving only the space above the treehouse open. "Th-There...a...a b-barrier..." she murmured, breathing heavily. Now Nathan couldn't get in.

Luke put one arm around her, for comfort for both of them, and to express his thanks.

"Thanks Kira, good thinking," he complimented tiredly.

Kira shivered, leaning against Luke, her eyes drifting shut, before she snapped them over again. "D-Don't...l-let me fall a-asleep..."

Nathan frowned. "And why's that Paul?" his mood still influence by the darkness.

"I will," Luke promised, looking at the barrier around the forest.

"You think I couldn't feel that raw power?," he asked, narrowing his eyes, "Just bout gone and depressed the entire village with that Flow of yours."

Nathan's own eyes narrowed. "You think I was in control of that...?"

"Implying you weren't in control, what makes you think it would be a good idea to hang around here?" Paul raised an eyebrow. He now had two important problems on his plate and he wasn't even the damn leader! Witha sigh, he said, "Heidi, take Adeline home or something. I'll handle this for now."

Heidi nodded slightly, letting Ade lean on her as she started walking towards her friend's house.

---

Kira nodded slightly, rubbing her eyes. She needed to stay awake so the barrier could react if Nathan came to attack them.

"I'll come with you," Sage said, not really wanting to be involved by what might happen.

Jamie just stood there with folded arms. Should thee boy raise his gun, she would throw a knife into both shoulders. And maybe his forearms if she was lucky.

"Do I look like I'm not in control?" Nathan almost spat at Paul aggressively. "You should know... after all you fought me back then."

"Back then you weren't nearly this strong," Paul pointed out calmly, "Now you're more than triple that, I'd say." Paul frowned. "If you're having troubles, Nathan, it would be best if you sort them out away from the people who respect and like you, lest someone gets hurt."

"It's fine." Nathan responded with a scowl. "I don't know if Joey told you what happened to Delmer... but I have his ability now... I just needed some time to put a block on the darkness..."

Paul blinked. "Better to get rid of something like that," he said, "Lest the wolf's chain breaks and it eats all your chickens."

"I just need time to get control over it..." Nathan responded with clenched teeth. Darkness was probably his strongest ability... without it he was nothing. "And someone who's strong enough to spar with me when the darkness is in full control... but that'll have to wait a couple of months... I've got a trip to go on."

"Well, try not to kill anyone along the way," Paul shook his head.

"Too late." Nathan transmitted the thought into Paul's head rather than say it aloud. He didn't want Jamie to find out.

Paul's frown deepened. "What's the girl's story?"

"Her village got wiped out and everyone but her was killed by a monster with a darkness related ability." Nathan said calmly his eyes looking at Paul carefully. "She's Zackary's sister..."

Jamie scowled at Paul. "I do have a name."

Hearing Nathan, Jamie scowled at him. "That was not my village."

"Well then speak up," Paul told Jamie, then to Nathan, "Alright, you intend to leave her here?"

"Jamie Wolfen," the weapon summoner said, folding her arms.

"Yeah..." Nathan answered. "She'll be safe... although... Zackary's coming with me tomorrow."

"Welp, leave her here and we'll take care of her," Paul told him, "you get back to your village and try to explain to them what happened."

Jamie snorted. "What did you say? You'll take care of me? Do I look like a fucking damsel in distress?" she asked, summoning a dagger out of the air to spin around.