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Chapter Six
Recognition
With a loud bang, the dirt exploded in every direction, stripping trees of their bark, leaving a ringing in Arng's ears. Then, a bright light brighter than the sun, rose out of the grave, causing Miff to cover his eyes to protect them from the light. Even with his eyes shut tightly, he could still tell when the light subsided. He heard a whoosh of breath leaving a person's lungs and raised his head to see Ranga and Yarye lying limply on the ground. What had just occurred, Miff had no idea.
"Ranga!" he screamed as he dismounted and stumbled to her side and touched her hand. It twitched, but Miff didn't pay any attention. "Ranga?" he repeated, getting more frantic. "Can you hear me? Wake up, Ranga!"
Then her hand began to quiver and shake. Then her arm, then her hand, until he entire body was convulsing wildly. A wordless scream of agony escaped Ranga's lips as she writhed and convulsed on the ground. Miff covered his ears and groaned. The force of the cry was piercing and it left his ears ringing long after it died.
He looked over to Yarye to see that she, too, had covered her ears to protect herself from Ranga's impossibly loud and shrill cry of agony. Then she was silent.
Yarye and Miff both moved to sit by her side. They found that she was still conscious, but biting her lip so hard that red liquid was running down his chin. It took Miff a moment to realize that the red liquid was blood. After what seemed like ages, Ranga eased whimpering and opened her eyes.
"Mmmmh," she moaned. "Go away. You're too bright! YOU'RE TOO BRIGHT!" She was screaming now, and pushing Yarye away.
Comprehension and understanding flooded Yarye, though her expression remained incredulous. "I'm hurting her?" she asked, horrified.
"Leave! You're too bright!" Ranga was shrieking now.
"Just back away," Miff advised. "Just get away from her. It must be an after affect of… whatever just happened." Reluctantly, Yarye backed away. Ranga seemed to be in less pain with the distance between them, but she was still clamping her eyes shut as hard as she could.
Eventually, Ranga's breathing became slower, less raged. Yarye took a step closer and saw that Ranga seemed to be in no pain. She returned to her friend's side and found that she was, once again, unconscious. Yarye sighed, sorry to see her friend, once so strong, now so weak, lying limply on the ground in front of her.
For the first time, Yarye actually looked at Miff. Rage tore through her mind and pure hatred filled her eyes.
"You," she snarled, quietly but fiercely. Miff felt a moment of pure fear as his stomach twisted into a tight knot.
Yarye continued to glare t him with a lethal glare that rivaled Ranga's. He hung his head.
"Me," he whispered back, ashamed.
