"This is the place, right?" Xephos asks Sjin for the thread time since we arrived at the clearing.
"I think so, but I can't be sure. The memories are hazy."
"I don't doubt that. Your not even suppose to have them." I can't help but chime in. I glance at Xephos with a worried expression. If what Sjin says is true, than a lot of problems are about to magically appear in front of us for no clear reason. Xephos returns my look with one of his own, no more confident than mine.
Sjin walks over and stand in the center of the clearing. He glances around and I can see the uncertainty on his face. Xephos calls out his name in an attempt to grab his attention.
"And your sure that it was today?" it's a good question. One I hope Sjin has an answer for. He dosnt respond for a few minutes and I get the feeling that he is deliberately trying to give Xeph a heart attack.
"No, but the earliest memory I have is of a full moon," he glances up at the moon, full tonight, then looks back at Xephos. "And with something like this, it can't hurt to be careful."
Xephos looks worried but I have to agree with Sjin on this one. This is to big to not check out. Xephos looks to me, his eyes pleading. He hates being out in the open like this, and I can't blame him, but I can't grant his wish to return to base just yet. Not without making sure.
"It won't hurt to wait the night. We'll head back in the morning." Sjin nods and Xeph looks like he's going to pass out. I send them both out to secure the area while I set up camp. I pitch the small tent and decide against a fire. If there are any of them near here a fire would give away our location immediately. I can't risk that. We can deal with a cold night.
Xeph and Sjin both report their area clear, and I bite back the nagging urge to tell them to check again or patrol around myself. I trust them and i'm sure they checked everything, I just… I don't want it to happen again.
I'm about to give the order to check once more when the center of the clearing starts to admit a soft glow. It's nothing at first. I'm suppressed I even notice it. But it grows, and starts to dance around as it molds to the shape of the clearing. It moves around the edge, never breaking the tree line.
Sjin and Xephos are just as entranced by it as I am. Their eyes widen when the brighter light that remained in the center of the clearing starts to brake apart and form shapes that resemble people…and a dinosaur.
It's obvious now that what Sjin said is true and I sigh as the figures gain color and solidify. I skim over the new arrivals as they glance around confused. Everyone is there. They notice us and I'm not surprised when the past Xeph and me freak out over seeing…well them. Past Sjin is gazing up at the moon and doesn't see us.
I dread the long months that are sure to follow. We have to find a way to send them home, and by we I mean me. I sigh, and ignore past me poking at my shoulder. An old saying flouts though my head and I almost laugh at it. I don't think the meant it to be taken this literally.
"The past has come back to haunt me."