Chapter 16: A Human Sending
Author's note: Ok guys, two years have passed since Alex entered into EQ, she's forgotten completely about the booksand is now part of the story. Everyone now knows who she is. Strongbow and her get along like old friends and the human children are older and taller too. Ember and Suntop have been born and Rayek is actually still there. But after Ember and Suntop were born he's thinking about leaving. Anyway I don't want to give away the whole story but let's continue, shall we? (and you must also remember that Jayra and Cori are humans so they cant speak elven or send. But Savah has found a way to help that.)
Two years have passed since the wolfriders had come to the Sunfolk. The wolf chief and the healer have settled down and have had themselves two beautiful cubs named Suntop and Ember.
Jayra has grown to be a beautiful young lady of 8. And Cori is a handsome young man of 10. They have been raised well so far these last two years. Jayra can make almost as beautiful clothes as Moonshade. And Cori can hit a bull's eye almost as good as Strongbow.
Suntop and Ember are two years old and the wolfriders love them. Cori and Jayra love to play with them almost as much as they love to do things with their mother.
"Mom, can we go hunting tonight with everyone?" Cori asked.
"I don't know Cori, I'll have to ask the chief." Alex said. Cori was now to Alex's shoulders and she knew that they would grow to be taller than the elves. But she didn't care. She loved taking care of the children.
"Mommy! Can I go help Moonshade make some new clothes for Suntop and Ember?" Jayra asked. "Yes you can, Jayra. But remember to be careful your not quite as professional as Moonshade yet." Alex smiled.
Jayra blushed slightly but ran off to help Moonshade. "Cori don't you have a daily lesson with Dart you're missing right now?" Alex asked looking at Cori.
"Oh no! I forgot! Thanks. Bye mom." Cori said running off toward the bridge of destiny.
"Geez, humans have bad memories." Alex said smiling.
She went to the healer's hut and knocked on the side of the window. There was no answer. So she knocked again. She waited a minute and someone came to the door. It was Cutter.
"Sorry did I disturb you?" Alex asked. "No, Leetah is just healing one of the Sunfolk. What do you need?" Cutter asked.
"Cori wants to know if he can go hunting with us tonight." Alex said. Cutter looked toward the bridge of destiny. "If he can handle it, I don't mind." Cutter smirked.
"Uncle Cutter! Uncle Cutter! Look! Look!" Jayra yelled running toward them.
Cutter looked at her surprised. "Jayra, what are you so happy about?" "Look, we made Suntop and Ember's clothes for you." Jayra said with a big smile.
"Thank you, Jayra." Leetah said coming out of the hut with the elf she was healing. "Be more careful next time." She told him.
"Do you want to see your cousins?" Leetah asked Jayra, who nodded. "Cutter what's wrong?" Alex asked when Leetah went back inside with Jayra.
"I'm a little worried, Alex. What if the children grow up and turn on us?" Cutter asked as they walked to the bridge.
"MOM!"
Alex froze. She knew she heard what she thought she heard but she wasn't sure. "Alex, what's wrong?" Cutter asked. "Didn't you hear it?" Alex asked looking at her brother.
"Hear what?" Cutter asked.
"WOLFRIDERS HELP! MOTHER! HELP!"
Cutter looked at Alex. "I heard that! But who was it from?" "CORI!" Alex said and ran toward the bridge. The wolfriders all came out looking for who called for them. They all went to Cutter looking for answers. Then Jayra ran out of the hut.
"Cori?" She half whispered. The wolfriders looked at her. "CORI?" Jayra yelled and started to cry. Cutter went to her and hugged her.
"Jayra, what's going on?" Treestump asked. "My brother and Dart! I think they're in trouble." Jayra said looking at Skywise. "Mommy went after them.she's in trouble too." Jayra said letting go of Cutter and running after Alex.
"Wolfriders let's go." Cutter said and they all went after Jayra.
"Cutter, who sent?" Skywise sent to Cutter after a minute. "I don't know, but Alex yelled out Cori's name." Cutter sent.
They made it to the bridge and found Dart lying on the ground badly wounded. Cori on his wolfriend also badly wounded. Alex was in front of them holding up her bow and aarow. Jayra was behind her looking at the creature who hurt her brother from behind Alex.
"Jayra go help your brother! Get Dart and Cori to Leetah!" Alex said not taking her eyes off the creature.
"But-" Jayra protested. "GO!" Alex said not moving her eyes from the creatures evil gaze.
Jayra ran to help her brother and Dart. Moonshade went to help her son and Strongbow went to stand next to Alex and was very angry. Jayra, Moonshade and Dewshine took the boys to Leetah while everyone else was staring at the creature.
"You're not welcome here! You belong with your maker! And she wanted me dead remember! What does she want my family dead now too?" Alex asked.
"Alex who is this?" Strongbow sent. "He belongs to the one person my tribe should hate, Strongbow!" Alex sent angrily.
"Your mistress stole my life as an elf, and gave me the stinking life of a human! What does she want? For me to return to that life?" Alex said.
"No, she wants you to leave this village." Tyldak said.
"Why?" Alex asked. "She doesn't want to endanger more elves than she has to. And she want those humans dead." Tyldak said.
"Cori's dying." Moonshade sent weakly. "WHAT?! NO!" Alex yelled.
"Alex, let me take care of this bird elf. You go take care of Cori." Someone sent to her.
Alex turned to see Rayek. "Let me take care of him." He said. "But I-" Alex started to say something then something screamed in her mind.
"MOMMY!"
She slowly placed her arrow back in its quiver and put her bow on her back with out taking her eyes off Tyldak. "Tell your mistress, if my son dies she will pay dearly." Alex said through clenched teeth and ran off to Leetah's hut.
"Bird elf! You will pay if my son dies!" Strongbow said. "Do not worry. I did not harm him enough to kill him. The human is the one I wanted dead." Tyldak said with a smirk.
"So, you must be Tyldak. Alex has told me a few stories about you." Rayek said when Alex and a few of the wolfriders had left.
"Yes, I am. You must be a gliders cub if you can fly like that. But you are dark like some of these others so I must be wrong." Tyldak said.
"I am one of the only elves that can use magic in this village like this, yes. But why come here to kill those children, bird elf?" Rayek asked.
"It is Lady Winnowil's wish." Tyldak said.
While Rayek and Tyldak were talking the rest of the wolfriders decided to go check on Cori and Dart. Everyone stood outside of Leetah's hut and when Dart came out, they were all thrilled. Alex was leaning against the side of the hut waiting. Waiting to here word of Cori's life.
"Child? Did you feel it?" Savah sent to her.
"Feel what Savah? All I felt was pain when Cori was attacked by that monster." Alex sent. "No, child. The sending. Did you feel it? The human sent to you." Savah sent.
"What? But how?" Alex asked out loud. When she spoke Dart looked at her and bent down. "Alex? I am sorry I could not protect him well enough. I thought I could." Dart said.
"No, Dart. Don't blame yourself. You did your best." Alex said and smiled slightly.
"Child, I have figured it out." Savah sent to her. "What out?" Alex replied. "I have figured out how Jayra and Cori can send." Savah sent.
"How?" Alex asked. "Depending on how extreme their emotions are..And if they are truly in need. Their thoughts, whether happy, sad, or scared are sent to the one person who they need the most. YOU." Savah said.
"So only I can hear them?" Alex asked. "No, child. When their thought are focused around you then they are sent to you but when their thoughts are focused around others as well then they are sent to whomever the children need at the time." Savah said.
"Mommy, I'm scared." Alex heard faintly in her mind. "Cori?" Alex said standing up. "Mommy, am I going to die?" Alex heard even more faintly.
"No, Cori. Stay awake. You'll be ok. I promise. Just talk to me." Alex sent to the young boy.
"Jayra, where is Jayra?" Cori thought. "Right here, Cori. She's right here." Alex sent. "Mommy? Is Cori ok?" Jayra asked looking up at Alex.
"I don't know, Jayra. Just hush for a while ok." Alex said looking at her. And Jayra put her arms around Alex and closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks.
"Cori, What happened? How did you get hurt? What did that bird elf do to you?" Alex sent.
"He attacked me.mommy. Dart got in the way and got thrown into the rock. Then the bird elf came flying toward me with his claws pointed at me.MOMMY HELP ME!!" Cori thought getting scared when the images of Tyldak played over and over in his mind.
Alex fell to her knees. "AAAHHH!" She screamed out. "Mommy? What's wrong?" Jayra asked bending down beside her.
"Jayra, little one, come with me. Your mother needs the chief right now." Moonshade said taking Jayra's arm.
"Mommy.?" Jayra thought. Alex looked up at Jayra and smiled. "I'll be alright, little one. Go with Moonshade." Alex sent.
Cutter and Skywise came to Alex and helped her up. "Alex what's wrong?" Cutter asked. "Cori is in danger. Please Cutter you have to get Leetah to heal him or Winnowil will find his thoughts. And kill his mind." Alex whispered.
Cutter looked at her surprised and went into Leetah's hut. "Mommy.I see that lady. The one Jayra and I saw two years ago. She's calling to me.mommy. What should I do?" Cori thought.
"NO!" Alex yelled out. Skywise and the others jumped with surprise. "No, Cori don't go near her." Alex sent.
"But she's calling me. Mommy, help me. She's pulling me toward her." Cori thought weakly.
"Winnowil! Stay away from him! He is not yours to play with!" Alex sent angrily. "Child, let me take care of her. Just keep Cori talking to you." Savah sent.
Alex nodded and looked through the window at Leetah and Cutter. They were hovering over Cori's sweating bloody body. Leetah was working her hardest to heal him and Cutter was talking to her and keeping her strength up.
"Cori, you must stay with me. I don't want to lose you or your sister. You are both my treasured children. I will take care of you for as long as I live. Please help me keep that promise to you and your sister. Don't die on me, Cori." Alex sent sadly.
"Mommy.you're crying.I want to help you mommy. I want to help take care of Jayra and the others. I want to help with Suntop and Ember. I want to live mommy. Please make that bad lady go away. She wants me dead mommy. I don't want to die. Not yet.I want to live my life and take care of everyone." Cori thought.
Alex looked up for a moment surprised. Then she looked through the window and saw Cori wasn't moving. She froze. She looked at him, terrified. "CORI!!!!" Alex sent.
There was no answer. Alex fell to the ground and leaned against the wall of the hut. "Cori." She whispered.
Everyone froze around her. They looked down at her and saw that she was pale. Treestump went to her and lifted her up. "Child, it's alright." Treestump sent holding her. She leaned against him crying more than she ever cried before.
She suddenly looked toward the cave that Moonshade had taken Jayra too. Jayra was crying too. She could faintly hear the thoughts that Jayra was thinking. Poor thing didn't even know she was sending them out.
"Cori, please come back. I can't live here by myself. I need you, Cori. Mommy needs you." Jayra thought.
Alex looked at the ground and then put her head on her uncle's shoulder. She listened to Jayra's thought and wished that they would come true.
"Moons and stars could never keep me and you apart Cori. Not even those mean humans that killed daddy a long time ago. Live, for me, for mommy, so that she wont get hurt like our daddy did. Come back to us, Cori. Come back to me and protect me like you promised you would when we were kicked out of our home those few years ago. You promised you'd be there for me and protect me forever." Jayra thought quietly.
Alex's eyes widened. "Humans kill humans? Humans killed Jayra and Cori's father?! Why?" Alex thought listening to the faint thoughts of the little girl.
"Cori, please come back." Jayra thought and a tear fell down her cheek.
There was a long pause after Jayra had finished with her thoughts. Everyone was sad because of Cori's death. Then Alex listened. She could hear something in the distance somewhere in the back of her mind. It sounded like a faint heartbeat. It got louder and louder and then she heard a scream. She saw a vision of a human family being attacked. She looked closely and saw that the two children looked like Cori and Jayra. Then she thought that the older human woman and man must have been their parents.
She watched as two men broke down the door to the strange hut that the humans lived in. The two men looked like they were wearing some kind of high authority uniforms. One man pulled out his sword and stabbed the children's father to death. She could hear them speaking as though she was actually there.
"Pay up Woman! Or you and your children will be separated! When we return you better be ready to pay!" One of the men said.
The woman started crying. She fell to her knees and cried on her lifemate's still body. Then she looked up at her children and screamed something that Alex couldn't make out. The children ran out of the house crying and ran into the woods.
The vision stopped when the children ran into the woods and Alex could hear someone talking to her. "Child? What do you want to do?" Treestump asked.
Alex looked up at Treestump. "Treestump, don't burry him. . . not yet." Alex said and Treestump nodded and held her tight.
Alex hugged Treestump and a single tear ran down her face. She closed her eyes. She heard a scream in the caves. It was Moonshade. She ran out of the caves and looked terrified. "Alex! Alex! Jayra, she. . . she, changed." Moonshade said running to Alex.
Alex jerked her head up and let go of Treestump. "Changed? How?" Alex sent.
"She grew! She looks like one of those te-en age humans now. She started to cry and then suddenly the tears from her eyes surrounded her. . . in blood. She then looked at me and started to grow. She said 'Welcome back! Thank you for keeping your promise.' and smiled as though talking to Cori." Moonshade sent to Alex, only.
"What?!" Alex said running to the caves. "Strongbow, keep everyone near the hut, please." Alex sent.
Before Alex had reached the caves she stopped. She saw a figure in the darkness of the cave. A human, almost a full-grown woman, stood crying and looking at Alex. Alex stared. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Jayra?" Alex said softly. "Mother, Cori is home." Jayra said smiling. Alex looked at her surprised. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"He is alive. He has come back among the living, to fulfill his promise to me." Jayra said.
"How did you---grow?" Alex asked. "Mother, we told you that we were magical. This just proves it. Let's not worry about it and talk about it later. We must welcome Cori home." Jayra said and a tear fell down her cheek as she ran to hug her mother.
Alex looked at her even more surprised. She could now look into Jayra's beautiful human eyes. They were eye level. Which meant if Jayra was right, and Cori was alive then would he be the same height or taller?
Jayra hugged her mother and said, "Look, Leetah and Cutter are coming out of the hut."
Alex looked and saw Leetah and Cutter. Behind them was someone she almost didn't recognize. Her eyes widened. "Cori.."
"Mother." Cori said smiling and Alex just stood there.
"How?" Alex asked as Cori went to her. Everyone in the village stared wide- eyed at the young man. He had grown, too. And was more handsome than when he was a little 10 year old. Same as Jayra, she looked more beautiful than she did when she was 8.
Alex just looked at the "children" in amazement.
"Mother? Are you alright?" Cori sent. "No, you just died! And now you're standing here in front of me. Would you be alright!" Alex said.
Cori and Jayra smiled at her. She couldn't hold herself back any longer. She jumped into Cori's arms and held him tight.
"NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!" She yelled. "Yes, mother." Cori said hugging her tightly and smiling at Jayra.
Author's note: Ok guys, two years have passed since Alex entered into EQ, she's forgotten completely about the booksand is now part of the story. Everyone now knows who she is. Strongbow and her get along like old friends and the human children are older and taller too. Ember and Suntop have been born and Rayek is actually still there. But after Ember and Suntop were born he's thinking about leaving. Anyway I don't want to give away the whole story but let's continue, shall we? (and you must also remember that Jayra and Cori are humans so they cant speak elven or send. But Savah has found a way to help that.)
Two years have passed since the wolfriders had come to the Sunfolk. The wolf chief and the healer have settled down and have had themselves two beautiful cubs named Suntop and Ember.
Jayra has grown to be a beautiful young lady of 8. And Cori is a handsome young man of 10. They have been raised well so far these last two years. Jayra can make almost as beautiful clothes as Moonshade. And Cori can hit a bull's eye almost as good as Strongbow.
Suntop and Ember are two years old and the wolfriders love them. Cori and Jayra love to play with them almost as much as they love to do things with their mother.
"Mom, can we go hunting tonight with everyone?" Cori asked.
"I don't know Cori, I'll have to ask the chief." Alex said. Cori was now to Alex's shoulders and she knew that they would grow to be taller than the elves. But she didn't care. She loved taking care of the children.
"Mommy! Can I go help Moonshade make some new clothes for Suntop and Ember?" Jayra asked. "Yes you can, Jayra. But remember to be careful your not quite as professional as Moonshade yet." Alex smiled.
Jayra blushed slightly but ran off to help Moonshade. "Cori don't you have a daily lesson with Dart you're missing right now?" Alex asked looking at Cori.
"Oh no! I forgot! Thanks. Bye mom." Cori said running off toward the bridge of destiny.
"Geez, humans have bad memories." Alex said smiling.
She went to the healer's hut and knocked on the side of the window. There was no answer. So she knocked again. She waited a minute and someone came to the door. It was Cutter.
"Sorry did I disturb you?" Alex asked. "No, Leetah is just healing one of the Sunfolk. What do you need?" Cutter asked.
"Cori wants to know if he can go hunting with us tonight." Alex said. Cutter looked toward the bridge of destiny. "If he can handle it, I don't mind." Cutter smirked.
"Uncle Cutter! Uncle Cutter! Look! Look!" Jayra yelled running toward them.
Cutter looked at her surprised. "Jayra, what are you so happy about?" "Look, we made Suntop and Ember's clothes for you." Jayra said with a big smile.
"Thank you, Jayra." Leetah said coming out of the hut with the elf she was healing. "Be more careful next time." She told him.
"Do you want to see your cousins?" Leetah asked Jayra, who nodded. "Cutter what's wrong?" Alex asked when Leetah went back inside with Jayra.
"I'm a little worried, Alex. What if the children grow up and turn on us?" Cutter asked as they walked to the bridge.
"MOM!"
Alex froze. She knew she heard what she thought she heard but she wasn't sure. "Alex, what's wrong?" Cutter asked. "Didn't you hear it?" Alex asked looking at her brother.
"Hear what?" Cutter asked.
"WOLFRIDERS HELP! MOTHER! HELP!"
Cutter looked at Alex. "I heard that! But who was it from?" "CORI!" Alex said and ran toward the bridge. The wolfriders all came out looking for who called for them. They all went to Cutter looking for answers. Then Jayra ran out of the hut.
"Cori?" She half whispered. The wolfriders looked at her. "CORI?" Jayra yelled and started to cry. Cutter went to her and hugged her.
"Jayra, what's going on?" Treestump asked. "My brother and Dart! I think they're in trouble." Jayra said looking at Skywise. "Mommy went after them.she's in trouble too." Jayra said letting go of Cutter and running after Alex.
"Wolfriders let's go." Cutter said and they all went after Jayra.
"Cutter, who sent?" Skywise sent to Cutter after a minute. "I don't know, but Alex yelled out Cori's name." Cutter sent.
They made it to the bridge and found Dart lying on the ground badly wounded. Cori on his wolfriend also badly wounded. Alex was in front of them holding up her bow and aarow. Jayra was behind her looking at the creature who hurt her brother from behind Alex.
"Jayra go help your brother! Get Dart and Cori to Leetah!" Alex said not taking her eyes off the creature.
"But-" Jayra protested. "GO!" Alex said not moving her eyes from the creatures evil gaze.
Jayra ran to help her brother and Dart. Moonshade went to help her son and Strongbow went to stand next to Alex and was very angry. Jayra, Moonshade and Dewshine took the boys to Leetah while everyone else was staring at the creature.
"You're not welcome here! You belong with your maker! And she wanted me dead remember! What does she want my family dead now too?" Alex asked.
"Alex who is this?" Strongbow sent. "He belongs to the one person my tribe should hate, Strongbow!" Alex sent angrily.
"Your mistress stole my life as an elf, and gave me the stinking life of a human! What does she want? For me to return to that life?" Alex said.
"No, she wants you to leave this village." Tyldak said.
"Why?" Alex asked. "She doesn't want to endanger more elves than she has to. And she want those humans dead." Tyldak said.
"Cori's dying." Moonshade sent weakly. "WHAT?! NO!" Alex yelled.
"Alex, let me take care of this bird elf. You go take care of Cori." Someone sent to her.
Alex turned to see Rayek. "Let me take care of him." He said. "But I-" Alex started to say something then something screamed in her mind.
"MOMMY!"
She slowly placed her arrow back in its quiver and put her bow on her back with out taking her eyes off Tyldak. "Tell your mistress, if my son dies she will pay dearly." Alex said through clenched teeth and ran off to Leetah's hut.
"Bird elf! You will pay if my son dies!" Strongbow said. "Do not worry. I did not harm him enough to kill him. The human is the one I wanted dead." Tyldak said with a smirk.
"So, you must be Tyldak. Alex has told me a few stories about you." Rayek said when Alex and a few of the wolfriders had left.
"Yes, I am. You must be a gliders cub if you can fly like that. But you are dark like some of these others so I must be wrong." Tyldak said.
"I am one of the only elves that can use magic in this village like this, yes. But why come here to kill those children, bird elf?" Rayek asked.
"It is Lady Winnowil's wish." Tyldak said.
While Rayek and Tyldak were talking the rest of the wolfriders decided to go check on Cori and Dart. Everyone stood outside of Leetah's hut and when Dart came out, they were all thrilled. Alex was leaning against the side of the hut waiting. Waiting to here word of Cori's life.
"Child? Did you feel it?" Savah sent to her.
"Feel what Savah? All I felt was pain when Cori was attacked by that monster." Alex sent. "No, child. The sending. Did you feel it? The human sent to you." Savah sent.
"What? But how?" Alex asked out loud. When she spoke Dart looked at her and bent down. "Alex? I am sorry I could not protect him well enough. I thought I could." Dart said.
"No, Dart. Don't blame yourself. You did your best." Alex said and smiled slightly.
"Child, I have figured it out." Savah sent to her. "What out?" Alex replied. "I have figured out how Jayra and Cori can send." Savah sent.
"How?" Alex asked. "Depending on how extreme their emotions are..And if they are truly in need. Their thoughts, whether happy, sad, or scared are sent to the one person who they need the most. YOU." Savah said.
"So only I can hear them?" Alex asked. "No, child. When their thought are focused around you then they are sent to you but when their thoughts are focused around others as well then they are sent to whomever the children need at the time." Savah said.
"Mommy, I'm scared." Alex heard faintly in her mind. "Cori?" Alex said standing up. "Mommy, am I going to die?" Alex heard even more faintly.
"No, Cori. Stay awake. You'll be ok. I promise. Just talk to me." Alex sent to the young boy.
"Jayra, where is Jayra?" Cori thought. "Right here, Cori. She's right here." Alex sent. "Mommy? Is Cori ok?" Jayra asked looking up at Alex.
"I don't know, Jayra. Just hush for a while ok." Alex said looking at her. And Jayra put her arms around Alex and closed her eyes to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks.
"Cori, What happened? How did you get hurt? What did that bird elf do to you?" Alex sent.
"He attacked me.mommy. Dart got in the way and got thrown into the rock. Then the bird elf came flying toward me with his claws pointed at me.MOMMY HELP ME!!" Cori thought getting scared when the images of Tyldak played over and over in his mind.
Alex fell to her knees. "AAAHHH!" She screamed out. "Mommy? What's wrong?" Jayra asked bending down beside her.
"Jayra, little one, come with me. Your mother needs the chief right now." Moonshade said taking Jayra's arm.
"Mommy.?" Jayra thought. Alex looked up at Jayra and smiled. "I'll be alright, little one. Go with Moonshade." Alex sent.
Cutter and Skywise came to Alex and helped her up. "Alex what's wrong?" Cutter asked. "Cori is in danger. Please Cutter you have to get Leetah to heal him or Winnowil will find his thoughts. And kill his mind." Alex whispered.
Cutter looked at her surprised and went into Leetah's hut. "Mommy.I see that lady. The one Jayra and I saw two years ago. She's calling to me.mommy. What should I do?" Cori thought.
"NO!" Alex yelled out. Skywise and the others jumped with surprise. "No, Cori don't go near her." Alex sent.
"But she's calling me. Mommy, help me. She's pulling me toward her." Cori thought weakly.
"Winnowil! Stay away from him! He is not yours to play with!" Alex sent angrily. "Child, let me take care of her. Just keep Cori talking to you." Savah sent.
Alex nodded and looked through the window at Leetah and Cutter. They were hovering over Cori's sweating bloody body. Leetah was working her hardest to heal him and Cutter was talking to her and keeping her strength up.
"Cori, you must stay with me. I don't want to lose you or your sister. You are both my treasured children. I will take care of you for as long as I live. Please help me keep that promise to you and your sister. Don't die on me, Cori." Alex sent sadly.
"Mommy.you're crying.I want to help you mommy. I want to help take care of Jayra and the others. I want to help with Suntop and Ember. I want to live mommy. Please make that bad lady go away. She wants me dead mommy. I don't want to die. Not yet.I want to live my life and take care of everyone." Cori thought.
Alex looked up for a moment surprised. Then she looked through the window and saw Cori wasn't moving. She froze. She looked at him, terrified. "CORI!!!!" Alex sent.
There was no answer. Alex fell to the ground and leaned against the wall of the hut. "Cori." She whispered.
Everyone froze around her. They looked down at her and saw that she was pale. Treestump went to her and lifted her up. "Child, it's alright." Treestump sent holding her. She leaned against him crying more than she ever cried before.
She suddenly looked toward the cave that Moonshade had taken Jayra too. Jayra was crying too. She could faintly hear the thoughts that Jayra was thinking. Poor thing didn't even know she was sending them out.
"Cori, please come back. I can't live here by myself. I need you, Cori. Mommy needs you." Jayra thought.
Alex looked at the ground and then put her head on her uncle's shoulder. She listened to Jayra's thought and wished that they would come true.
"Moons and stars could never keep me and you apart Cori. Not even those mean humans that killed daddy a long time ago. Live, for me, for mommy, so that she wont get hurt like our daddy did. Come back to us, Cori. Come back to me and protect me like you promised you would when we were kicked out of our home those few years ago. You promised you'd be there for me and protect me forever." Jayra thought quietly.
Alex's eyes widened. "Humans kill humans? Humans killed Jayra and Cori's father?! Why?" Alex thought listening to the faint thoughts of the little girl.
"Cori, please come back." Jayra thought and a tear fell down her cheek.
There was a long pause after Jayra had finished with her thoughts. Everyone was sad because of Cori's death. Then Alex listened. She could hear something in the distance somewhere in the back of her mind. It sounded like a faint heartbeat. It got louder and louder and then she heard a scream. She saw a vision of a human family being attacked. She looked closely and saw that the two children looked like Cori and Jayra. Then she thought that the older human woman and man must have been their parents.
She watched as two men broke down the door to the strange hut that the humans lived in. The two men looked like they were wearing some kind of high authority uniforms. One man pulled out his sword and stabbed the children's father to death. She could hear them speaking as though she was actually there.
"Pay up Woman! Or you and your children will be separated! When we return you better be ready to pay!" One of the men said.
The woman started crying. She fell to her knees and cried on her lifemate's still body. Then she looked up at her children and screamed something that Alex couldn't make out. The children ran out of the house crying and ran into the woods.
The vision stopped when the children ran into the woods and Alex could hear someone talking to her. "Child? What do you want to do?" Treestump asked.
Alex looked up at Treestump. "Treestump, don't burry him. . . not yet." Alex said and Treestump nodded and held her tight.
Alex hugged Treestump and a single tear ran down her face. She closed her eyes. She heard a scream in the caves. It was Moonshade. She ran out of the caves and looked terrified. "Alex! Alex! Jayra, she. . . she, changed." Moonshade said running to Alex.
Alex jerked her head up and let go of Treestump. "Changed? How?" Alex sent.
"She grew! She looks like one of those te-en age humans now. She started to cry and then suddenly the tears from her eyes surrounded her. . . in blood. She then looked at me and started to grow. She said 'Welcome back! Thank you for keeping your promise.' and smiled as though talking to Cori." Moonshade sent to Alex, only.
"What?!" Alex said running to the caves. "Strongbow, keep everyone near the hut, please." Alex sent.
Before Alex had reached the caves she stopped. She saw a figure in the darkness of the cave. A human, almost a full-grown woman, stood crying and looking at Alex. Alex stared. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Jayra?" Alex said softly. "Mother, Cori is home." Jayra said smiling. Alex looked at her surprised. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"He is alive. He has come back among the living, to fulfill his promise to me." Jayra said.
"How did you---grow?" Alex asked. "Mother, we told you that we were magical. This just proves it. Let's not worry about it and talk about it later. We must welcome Cori home." Jayra said and a tear fell down her cheek as she ran to hug her mother.
Alex looked at her even more surprised. She could now look into Jayra's beautiful human eyes. They were eye level. Which meant if Jayra was right, and Cori was alive then would he be the same height or taller?
Jayra hugged her mother and said, "Look, Leetah and Cutter are coming out of the hut."
Alex looked and saw Leetah and Cutter. Behind them was someone she almost didn't recognize. Her eyes widened. "Cori.."
"Mother." Cori said smiling and Alex just stood there.
"How?" Alex asked as Cori went to her. Everyone in the village stared wide- eyed at the young man. He had grown, too. And was more handsome than when he was a little 10 year old. Same as Jayra, she looked more beautiful than she did when she was 8.
Alex just looked at the "children" in amazement.
"Mother? Are you alright?" Cori sent. "No, you just died! And now you're standing here in front of me. Would you be alright!" Alex said.
Cori and Jayra smiled at her. She couldn't hold herself back any longer. She jumped into Cori's arms and held him tight.
"NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!" She yelled. "Yes, mother." Cori said hugging her tightly and smiling at Jayra.