Vidia felt the sun on the back of her neck as she crept through the grass, heading towards the giant magnolia tree at the edge of the meadow. She knew she was in enemy territory, so she dared not fly. Careful not to give away her location, she parted the grass. She licked her parched lips. She was tired and hot, but she didn't waver from her mission. She had to get to the tree. Her team was counting on her. A shadow flitted past her, and she sank into the brush, but sighed in relief when she caught sight of a pink petal dress.
"Vidia!" Rosetta called in a loud whisper. "I don't think I can keep her attention."
"You've got to, Ro!" Vidia hissed. "You know she has keen eyes. If she's looking my direction at all, she'll see the moving grass and get suspicious. You're putting us all in danger by just being here."
"There she is!" Rosetta suddenly looked worried. "Oh my goodness! She's got Sil!"
"Ro," Vidia called up to her, but Rosetta's attention was on the approaching attacker. "Ro, you have to go. You have to draw her away. If I can just get to the tree…"
"I know… You're right," Rosetta hurried to say. "Just… hurry." With that Rosetta streaked away, hoping to draw attention away from Vidia.
The fast flyer in the grass resumed her movements, pushing herself faster, even though she could feel sweat beading on her forehead. She wiped it away with a growl. She hated walking.
Vidia finally made it to the magnolia tree and poked her head above the grass to make sure the coast was clear. Then, she sped up the trunk to a spot that looked out over the meadow; particularly one with a view into the giant rosebush. She could see the boundary line clearly from where she sat. If anyone crossed it, she would hear the screams. She gazed back towards the rosebush, looking for any sign that she had been right. She caught sight of a blue dress being prodded into the inner parts of the bush.
"I've got a prisoner!" A male voice said. She couldn't see the owner of the voice or who it was talking to but she had a good feeling. Dropping to a lower branch, she crawled along along it to confirm her suspicion. There! Exactly as she had thought. Fawn was standing with her arms over her chest, looking Silvermist up and down.
"Tried to cross the boundary line, did you, Sil?" Fawn asked. "I thought that was normally Ro's job?"
"Sure, but this time we're doing something a little different," Silvermist answered.
"Oh really?" The male voice said again. This time Vidia could hear him more clearly and she knew who it was. Terence. "What exactly are you doing this time?" Vidia crossed her fingers. Please, don't tell them anything, Sil.
"Oh, wouldn't you like to know!" Silvermist said, proudly not revealing the plan.
"Nice try, Terence," Fawn chuckled. "You can go ahead and rejoin Tink. I'm sure Clank and Bobble are driving her crazy. I'm still not sure how they got put on the other team."
Terence laughed at the idea of Tinker Bell's red face. "Yeah you're right. I'll get back. I sure hope Zarina is almost to the flag."
"Me, too," Fawn wiped some sweat from her forehead. "Do we know who's guarding it?"
"We think maybe Bobble. We haven't seen him. We've just spotted Clank, who somehow mysteriously disappears when we chase him. Iridessa is trailing him. We'll get him soon."
"Well, at the very least, our flag isn't going anywhere. Not while I'm here," Fawn smiled in triumph.
"How can you be sure Vidia won't get it?"
"Well, she always uses the same tactic. Sure, she's really fast, but now we know their plan. We'll know when she's coming because we'll see the huge wave of air trailing behind her."
Vidia raised an eyebrow and smiled at Fawn's confidence. Oh really?
"But didn't they they were doing something different this time?" Terence pointed to Silvermist.
"Oh, right," Fawn mocked, her tone sarcastic. "She's probably coming from the right this time instead of the left." Fawn waved him off. "Psh, don't worry, Terence. I've got this."
"Ok, ok," Terence held his hands up. "I'll get back to Tink."
Vidia thought her girlfriend's confidence was admirable-not to mention very hot-but she was definitely going to be eating humble pie that afternoon.
Vidia slithered down the tree, slowly, carefully. Fawn was right. She had never tried this slow approach. She always used her speed to her advantage, but it had not been working as of late due to Fawn's expecting it. And she really hated losing to Tinker Bell. So Clank and Bobble had suggested the subversive approach and she, Silvermist and Rosetta had agreed. She snuck closer to the rosebush, thankful that she had a slight frame and could tread lightly.
She could make out Fawn's outline. It was gorgeous as ever. She was crouched in front of the flag, ready to pounce the second she saw trouble. Vidia was in position. She only needed to wait for the signal now. Vidia felt the adrenaline rushing through her.
Suddenly she saw a large shadow float across the top of the rosebush. Fawn saw it, too. Her keen eyes darted to the source. A portly fairy with dark hair was headed straight for her.
"Aha!" Clank said loudly. "I've found your flag! I'm going to get it!"
Fawn snorted. "Sorry, Clank, but that's not happening." She shot up into the air to tag him and take him prisoner.
"Oh, you've got me now!" Clank said in a loud, slow voice. Vidia rolled her eyes. Way to give a subtle signal, Clank. It didn't matter. Because for this one second Fawn was away from the flag. Vidia had an opening. This was it. Tinker Bell had better get ready to lose. Vidia pulled back the thorny branches, squeezing between them, and launched herself straight towards the flag.
Fawn heard the strange lilt in Clank's voice. And he wasn't flying away. Why wasn't he flying away? Fawn finally put the pieces together. A diversion! Her eyes darted to the rosebush beneath her where she could see the red color of the flag. Closing in on it, she caught the rush of purple. "Damn!" Completely ignoring Clank, now, she dropped down to the bush in an effort to stop the intruder.
"Get it, Vidia!" Clank hollered.
Vidia heard Fawn's swearing and smiled to herself. She was nearly to the flag, but there was not nearly enough room in this bush to fly quickly. She could see Fawn quickly approaching and she reached out to grab the flag. Her hand caught the red caterpillar hair material. Her heart jumped. She snagged it from the thorn it was hooked on and turned to rush towards the sky, but suddenly something collided with her. She smelled the sassafras and felt the rough hands on her skin. They tumbled through thorns together until they came to a stop with Fawn on top.
She was panting and her chest was heaving up and down. Vidia admired the sheen of sweat glistening across her bronzed, freckled skin. She wore a look of triumph as she loomed over Vidia. "You nearly had the drop on me. New tactic, huh?"
Vidia smiled, wickedly. The look in her grey eyes made Fawn's shiver and she became painfull aware that she was now straddling Vidia's hips and her hands were on her chest. "You got me," Vidia conceded. "I'm your prisoner now."
Fawn caught the tone in her voice and answered with, "Oh, I like the sound of that."
Vidia gazed up at Fawn through hooded eyes, "Maybe a kiss would ease the pain of my defeat?"
Fawn smirked at Vidia's flirtations, but she couldn't resist the idea. She leaned over and placed a peck on Vidia's lips. Vidia grabbed her and began kissing her eagerly. Fawn felt herself fall into the embrace. Suddenly, she felt a movement beneath her as Vidia reached for the flag. It was then that she realized Vidia still had it and Vidia was the enemy. She was being played. She snapped out of the kiss, but Vidia had her clasped tightly. Vidia smiled as she wadded the flag around a small stone.
"Vidia, no fair!" Fawn cried. Vidia simply smiled and then threw everything she had into tossing the flag straight up in the air in an opening in the thorn bush. Fawn followed it's path and saw it fall into the waiting hands of Clank.
"Oh no!" Fawn started to stand up to try to catch Clank or warn her team, but Vidia pulled her back and pressed her face into Fawn's again. Fawn made a weak attempt to push her back, but the strong scent of lavender was filling her nose and she suddenly realized that she really didn't care who won. She returned the kiss and ran her fingers through Vidia's long dark hair. When they finally parted, Fawn whispered, "Vidia, I'm pretty sure seducing the other team's flag guard is cheating."
"Oh, really?" Vidia feigned innocence. "Do you want me to stop? Maybe I should get the referee and turn myself in."
Fawn giggled. "Just don't tell Tinker Bell that I've been influenced by the enemy or she'll never let me play again."
"As long as I get to keep influencing you," Vidia said breathlessly before indulging in Fawn's lips again. Fawn let out a small groan of pleasure at Vidia's forceful kiss and insinuation.
Fawn pushed her back again, "Fine, but next time we play, I'm not falling for your wiles."
Vidia smiled back, "Fair enough. Now, stop talking so I can kiss you!" Fawn smirked at Vidia's insistence and surrendered herself to the ardent affection.
Before they could become too caught up in the intimacy, the strong smell of smoke wafted through the tangles of the bush. It was strong and carried a strange sweet smell with it. Fawn sniffed.
She reluctantly pried her lips from Vidia's. "Vidia… do you smell that?"
Vidia wasn't paying attention and was continuing to trail kisses down Fawn's jaw and neck. "Uhm… the roses?" she asked absentmindedly.
Fawn shivered as Vidia's soft lips grazed over the sensitive skin of her neck and she was tempted to let someone else deal with the smoke, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something might be wrong. She shook Vidia off and said, "No, Vidia, not the roses. The smoke!"
Vidia finally came out of her lustful reverie to sniff the air. She hopped to her feet. "Yeah, that's smoke. It's strong."
They both looked at each other and then flew upwards to the top of the bush. None of their friends were in sight and they remembered that they had been in the middle of an intense game of Fairy Capture the Flag before they had gotten… caught up. But that was all over now, because black smoke was drifting across the small field. That smoke could only be from one thing. Fire.
Vidia pointed to the large dark cloud, "Where is that coming from?"
Fawn looked with her keen eyes to the source of the fire. "Well, I can't be sure, but it looks like it might be coming from Elderberry Bracken."
Tinker Bell, who had seen the smoke from where she'd been chasing down Rosetta, came over. "Guys, what is that?"
"It looks like the hospital may be on fire!" Fawn answered.
Silvermist suddenly appeared with them. She yawned. She had been napping in her makeshift cell near the rosebush until one of her teammates would come save her.
Tinker Bell put a hand on Silvermist and looked to the other girls. "You guys go and see what you can do. I'll round up the group and get some more help."
Fawn, Vidia, and Silvermist nodded and flew somberly towards the cloud of smoke. When they flew over Elderberry Bracken, they could see that flames were leaping out of the hospital bush to tear at the blue sky. Fairies and sparrowmen were fleeing from the immense heat. Water fairies were doing what they could to put out the fire. The irrigation systems that the scouts had put in place around Pixie Hollow had been taken down once Phoenix had been locked away. They were cumbersome and cluttered the landscape, and fires were not very common in Pixie Hollow. Not usually. It was a mystery to Vidia how this has started and gotten so huge so quickly. There weren't enough water talents at the moment. Silvermist went to join them.
Fawn looked to Vidia. "I'm going to get down there to make sure the animals are safe."
Vidia nodded, but grabbed Fawn's hand. "Be careful," Vidia was somber. Fawn met Vidia's urging tone with an assuring smile.
Fawn shot down near the bush, leaving Vidia to watch in horror as coughing, sputtering patients swarmed out-sometimes hobbling, sometimes screaming, and often times being drug out by a rescuer. Her mind raced. What could she do to help? She heard screaming. She glanced around for the source and found, Amara, the nurse that had been so kind to her, yelling for help.
Vidia dove to her. "Amara!" Vidia said putting a hand to the hysterical nurse's shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"There are still patients and nurses trapped on the top floor. Poor girl… Celia. She can't move on her own. Another nurse was trying to help her. They both got trapped. Please…you've saved us before…help them."
Vidia nodded as a lump built in her throat as she looked to the frantic nurse. The words 'you've saved us before' echoed through Vidia's head. Her memory flew back to that moment at the Bluebell Festival when Basil had told her that he didn't know who she was. Then all of the doubts that Phoenix had put in her mind about not being worthy, trying to make her doubt who she was. Now, Amara was gazing at her with eyes full of hope. She was asking Vidia for help. Vidia was the hero she had wanted to be. She had proven herself to at least Amara. Vidia squeezed Amara's hand as an affirmation that she would do what she could and began circling the bush, begging for an opening. She couldn't see anything but tongues of heat lapping air. Finally, after another moment, she found a small room on the north side of the bush that had been shielded from the fire. There was still quite a bit of smoke pouring out of the room's window, but it was better than any of the other ones. She dove into the room, covering her face with her forearm. Though, the thick smoke was nearly blinding, she knew she had the distinct advantage of having just recently been to the top floor-having just seen Celia. Only a few fairies knew where Celia's room was and Vidia was now one of them. It had been only a few weeks since she'd been in there. It felt weird going back now. She set her mind on the image of Celia, lying helpless and rushed to the shaft she knew led upwards. It was a tower of flames, and the hot air burnt her lungs, but she flew quickly enough through them that they only just grazed her skin. She was lucky to be a fast-flying talent in the middle of a fire. She made it to the top floor and she could hear the anguished cries of a nurse. When she got to the doorway, she found the blonde nurse from the week before, laying on Celia's body, guarding her from the flames.
"I'm here to help," Vidia had to scream over the sound of the roaring fire. There were flames all around and she could barely see into the room where the bed was nearly engulfed. She put her hands to her face to shield it from the waves of heat flooding out of the room.
"Get her out of here," the nurse wailed. Vidia just then noticed that the nurse's legs were on fire-both of them completely consumed. She locked eyes with the nurse and she could see the release in them. The nurse had given her life for Celia's and was prepared to die in that fire. Vidia understood and didn't argue. She leapt into the room, feeling the heat pressing in on her. She quickly grabbed Celia from beneath the body of the nurse and hoisted her over her shoulder. The limp weight was difficult, but she knew she could get Celia out. She watched the nurse groan in pain, but she could see in her eyes that she was close to letting go.
Vidia didn't have time to wait. She flew back down the shaft, pulling flames behind her. She found the smoky, but still flameless room, and sped out into the fields. She called for a healing talent to come and see to Celia. Then, with the thought of the agonized face of the nurse, Vidia turned back to try to save her. She was just about to dive back in, when she heard her name called through the panicked clamor of the crowd. "Vidia!" She knew the voice well.
"Fawn," she looked back, her face almost mournful. This wasn't good. She didn't want to have to face her girlfriend right now. What if she lost courage?
"What are you doing?" Fawn looked horrified. She already knew the answer to the question.
"A nurse. She's trapped. I have to do something," Vidia explained quickly. As she saw Fawn's lip quiver, she hurried to say, "I'm fast enough that the flames just graze me. I can get in and out fast enough to save that nurse." Fawn had tears in her eyes and Vidia knew that she was scared. "I'll be ok," Vidia place a quick kiss on Fawn's lips.
When she pulled away, she didn't give Fawn time to say anything. She turned back to the room she had come from. Fawn called after her, "Come back to me…"
The familiar words and tone struck Vidia in a place she thought was buried, bringing up images of a honey-haired girl crying for her to come back, but Vidia didn't have time to think any more about that. She didn't even have time to respond. She found her way back to the smoky room, which was now beginning to catch fire. She flew through the fire-lined hallways, and up the shaft. She could feel the smoke pressing on her lungs and she pushed herself harder. As she rounded the corner of the hall on the top floor, she had to slow down to make the turn. This gave one of the flames enough time to grab hold of the hem of her pant leg. She felt the stinging as the fire licked her skin. She gasped and slapped the pant with her hand until the small flame went out. Sighing heavily, she flew towards the end of the hall. The nurse was nowhere in sight and the room was a hellscape. She cringed. There was nothing she could do now. She could see the intertwined branches above her head that created the ceiling. They were already charred. They creaked, threatening to fall at any moment. She was about to get out of there, when she heard a faint groan from behind her. She felt an ominous prickle down her spine. She turned slowly to face the door. It was covered in flames, and she could hear that the sound was coming from the inside. She blinked, but she kicked open the door, afraid of what she was going to find. Surprisingly, though the room was becoming quickly wreathed in flames, Phoenix himself was untouched. He sprawled on the bed, moaning as the air grew thick and hot. Vidia swallowed hard. There was no way she could save him. He was already surrounded by flames. She was already losing her ability to see through the glaring blaze. There was no way she'd be able to drag his limp bulk out of here. Besides, this was justice. She needed to get back to Fawn. That was more important.
She was about to turn to leave when she saw the pitiful look on his face. He looked so sad. As if every regret he'd ever had was now evident on his face. Vidia knew what regret felt like. She didn't want to give herself any more of it. Suddenly, Vidia made a decision in her own mind. She set her jaw. She flew quickly to Phoenix and put a hand on his arm.
Outside the large inferno of the now destroyed hospital, Fawn hovered near the window Vidia had flown into. She searched the flames, waiting for signs of Vidia. She saw nothing. Minutes dragged by. She felt as if she had been waiting an eternity. Rosetta, Tinker Bell, and Iridessa found her. Silvermist was still helping the water talents try to put out the inferno. They had succeeded in putting out some of the lower levels, but were having trouble getting to the inner workings of the bush to actually squelch the flames inside.
"Fawn! We've been looking for you everywhere!" Iridessa cried as they approached.
"Oh, tiger lily, are you alright?" Rosetta asked, putting a hand to her chest in horror as she gazed at the burning bush.
"Where's Vidia?" Tinker Bell asked, looking around in the crowd for her.
"She… went to save a nurse," Fawn's lip trembled as she spoke. She hadn't realized how shaky she felt. Fawn only needed to point to the flames for them to understand what Vidia had done.
"Oh my gosh!" Iridessa gasped and covered her mouth.
Rosetta put a hand to her cheek. She looked at Tinker Bell mournfully. Tinker Bell shook her head silently. Fawn paid no attention to them as she clasped her hands together in terror. Rosetta put her hand on Fawn's head and brushed back Fawn's scattered hair.
"Vidia's going to be alright," Rosetta said softly, but firmly.
"I'm sure she'll be out any minute," Tinker Bell echoed.
But as time went on and the flames grew higher, she began to fear that they were wrong. She felt a pit of nothingness in her stomach and felt like she was going to be sick. "Vidia…" she whispered.
Suddenly, she caught sight of movements in the blazing room. She couldn't make out who it was, but she knew in her heart that is was Vidia.
Inside, through the roaring of the furnace around her, the fast-flyer could see the daylight outside the window. She could almost make out the shapes of her friends through the gold of the flames. She looked to where she was dragging Phoenix. She couldn't lift him. She had only just managed to get him down the shaft without dropping him. She knew his skin would be burnt and she didn't know if he was going to be alive when he got out-but she was going to get him out. She grabbed his hand and continued dragging him across the floor. Her eyes were set on the window and the sky beyond it. Fawn was close.
A cracking sound met her ears. She glanced up to the source and saw the branches of the ceiling above splintering. They were beginning to sag. The window was just far enough away that she wasn't sure she would make it before it fell on top of them. She stared at Phoenix's face. How was she going to get him out of here? She pulled at him again. His clothes were burning and she could smell that his hair was as well. But he was still breathing. She stopped dragging him and began to roll him across the burning floor. This was slightly easier but it was still slow progress. The breath caught in her throat and she coughed. She struggled against the weariness coming over her and grit her teeth through the pain in her leg where the fire had caught her pant. Just a few more seconds. Then she could rest in Fawn's arms. As she approached the window, she could finally see Fawn's face. Fawn saw her, too.
"Vidia!" Fawn called out. Vidia tried to smile. She was almost home. Suddenly, a loud cracking rang through the room and the branches caved in. Vidia felt the impact of something hard hit her on the head and the room went black.
Fawn watched in horror as Vidia was suddenly buried by flaming branches. "NO! Vidia!"
The girls shrank back from the outburst of heat that billowed out of the impact.
"Oh my god, Oh my god! Someone get Sil," Iridessa screamed.
"Hey, we need help over here!" Rosetta yelled, frantically turning her attention to some of the fairies gathered around.
Without thinking, Fawn plunged towards the pile of embers that had once been a room. She felt a hand grab her arm and when she looked to see who it was, she noticed that her vision was blurry. She blinked and tears fell down her cheeks. As her vision cleared, she saw Tinker Bell grabbing her firmly. "Fawn… You can't go in there." The golden-haired tinker also had tears in her eyes.
"She's not dead!" Fawn cried. "Right, Tink? We can still help her!" Tinker Bell silently let her face fall and Fawn gasped. She shook for a moment as doubt filled her. Then, she looked up and set her jaw. "No. I won't believe that." She turned her attention back to the bush. "Vidia… Vidia, do you hear me? Get out of there! I don't care what you have to do, just get out of there!"
Inside the inferno, Vidia heard Fawn's voice carrying faintly across the roar of the flames. She coughed. The air was even thicker now. The heat was still immense, but the light of the fire was faint through the web of branches that were covering her. She saw Phoenix lying limply beside where she fell, soot trickling over his face from the branches above them. She felt sweat on her forehead and reached to wipe it. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her head. She brought her hand down to see that it was covered in blood. She looked up at the branches. One of them must have hit her harder than she thought. Applying a bit of pressure to the branch directly above her, she felt it move slightly but then stop as it encountered other branches. She peered through the cracks. How deep was she buried exactly? The orange glow of fire was all she could see and it was very dim through the thick tangle around her. She groaned as the smoke scorched her lungs. Her breath came in ragged puffs. How was she going to get out now? She would likely have to dig her way out. She pushed again on the branch, but it didn't budge. She put her foot to it and leaned against the floor. Pushing with the strength of both legs, she felt the branch give way beneath the pressure. She heard a clatter as some of the higher branches on the pile rattled off and fell to the floor. She smiled at the slight dent she had made, but then winced as renewed heat from the fire soared into the now larger cracks.
She pushed again with her feet, but this time she felt as if she was pushing against stone. She tried again. Her knee made a popping noise under the pressure. Her muscles ached. She tried to stop and rest but the lack of oxygen was becoming more and more evident. Her heart was racing. She could see the red, blistered skin across Phoenix's face and arms. She knew she'd also be burning soon. They would both die here if she didn't get them out. A weak cry escaped her lips as she pushed her aching legs against the pile of limbs once more. It didn't work and she sighed heavily as her muscles forced her to stop. This was hopeless. If only the other girls could help her. If only Tinker Bell or Fawn were here. They'd know what to do. They would get her out of here. She felt her eyes beginning to close as sleep threatened to take her. She knew she needed to do something, but, her vision was growing blurry and she just wanted to lay her head down. Just for a minute…
Outside, Fawn was sobbing.
"Where are all the water talents? We have a crisis over here!" Rosetta was screaming.
"Vidia is dead. She's dead," Iridessa was mumbling to herself as tears welled in her eyes.
Tinker Bell held Fawn fast, practically wrestling her away from the window. Fawn pulled against her, wailing Vidia's name.
"I'm here!" Silvermist suddenly came rushing up. She was dragged a large stream of water with her.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Rosetta sighed heavily and realized that she had tears on her cheeks. "You've got to try to put that out." Rosetta pointed.
"Vidia is in there," Iridessa whispered. Silvermist's eyes grew wide, but she obediently poured a steady stream of water over the area. The fire sizzled a bit. The flames went out, leaving glowing embers in it's wake. They girls began to cheer, but then a wind blew and embers ignited into flames once again.
Fawn grew more hysterical. "Vidia!" Finally, she screamed, "Come back to me!"
The sound rang through the room and echoed in Vidia's sleepy mind. She opened her eyes, trying to see through the fog. Tears pricked her eyes as the words began to form meaning. The memory of Meila, crumpled in a pile, calling to Vidia to come back, flitted through her mind. Vidia felt a tear slide down her cheek, bringing further clarity. She would not make the same mistake this time. She would not give up. She felt a pulsing in her that spurred her on. She was not going out like this. She had been the one who was able to corral the bees and keep everyone at the Bluebell Festival safe. She had been the one who had resisted the control of Phoenix's shadow. It had been Vidia, not Tinker Bell, who had forced the shadow back into Phoenix. It had been she that defeated him. The others had said as much. What was it Queen Clarion had said? 'Indomitable will.' Yes, she had proven the strength of her will many times by now. She was going to get herself, and her enemy, out of this alive. She was a rare talent, after all. Not thinking of the repercussions, she gathered her strength and blew a gust of wind outwards from her. It was a huge blast and the branches responded to the pressure. They blew away from her. The flames also followed the path of the wind. At first she rejoiced, but the suction she had created pulled more fire from the inner network of the bush. The flames washed over her and Phoenix like a wave. She ducked down and covered her head as well as Phoenix's. The fire soared over her. She felt the singeing of the clothes on her back and winced as the fire licked her skin.
Fawn heard the clattering from outside the bush and noticed how the fire blazed higher. She felt dread rushing over. The reality of the situation hit her. Vidia had been in there too long. There was no way that she was getting out if she hadn't already. Fawn felt the world around her growing dim. She slipped in the air a bit. The strong arms of Tinker Bell grabbed her arm. She heard Tinker Bell shouting to the others to come help her.
Suddenly, she caught sight of a streak of purple breaking through the wall of flame. Fawn gasped and her mind cleared. Vidia!
"There she is!" Fawn cried. Vidia was just barely keeping herself and her charge in the air. Exhausted, Vidia fell to the grass, dropping her bundle. Fawn dove to the grass and scrambled to her. She threw her arms around her and lifted her up. Vidia was barely conscious and covered in ash and soot. The skin all over her arms, back, neck, and chest was bright red. Her breath came in shallow bursts.
"Is she ok?" Iridessa asked.
"I don't know," Fawn muttered. She was nearly blinded by tears and struggled to stay calm. She felt thick liquid in Vidia's hair. She looked and gasped in horror at the blood oozing through her fingers.
"Someone help! Our friend is hurt," Tinker Bell called.
The nurse, Amara, was standing nearby, attending to Celia. She heard Tinker Bell's cry and ran over.
"Oh no!" Amara whispered as she approached. She knelt beside Vidia and put her hands to her throat. Fawn could see that Vidia's lips were grey.
"Please help her," Fawn sobbed. "Please…"
Amara looked her over. Vidia's breath hitched in her throat and suddenly her chest was still. Silence fell over them. Fawn felt sobs choking her. No. This wasn't happening. The memory of Clark lying grey in her arms ghosted through her mind. She shuddered. She clung tightly to Vidia. She couldn't catch her breath. Fear crept it's way up her spine. The swiftly-growing rock in her stomach pressed on her heart. Her chest struggled to contain the ragged sobs and the suffocating pain.
"Vidia," Fawn suddenly found herself gasping. "You came back! Don't you quit on me now!" Her voice was thick with emotion. "I l-love you…" She fell into sobs again.
Suddenly, a flicker of something caught her eyes. Vidia's finger twitched. Fawn froze. She waited, breathlessly. Then, with a cough and a sputter, Vidia started breathing again. Like the dawn coming over the sky and casting light over all the shadows of the night, Fawn's fear melted away. Fawn's heart leapt inside her, pushing more sobs from her throat. Vidia didn't open her eyes, but she was breathing again and color came back into her face. Fawn cried joyfully, mumbling Vidia's name.
"She'll be ok," Amara smiled at the sight. "We need to get her to the makeshift medical tent they've set up. I'll go get some help."
Fawn looked up for the nurse that Vidia had gone in to save and locked eyes on the limp form of Phoenix. She blinked in shock. Then she looked to Vidia, tears welling in her eyes. "Look at all that light inside you…" she cradled Vidia's head in her hands until a nursing talent forced her away.
