Chapter Sixteen
The Storm
Katani's instincts took over. The winds shifted, the ocean roared, and the sky rolled. "It's a storm. We have to get to the others!" Without a backwards glance she dove to the slow moving dots below.
HIEI! Her mind screamed. A STORM IS COMING! A THUNDERSTORM!
STOP YELLING YOU STUPID WOMAN!
Katani's head spun from the force of Hiei's return. Once she had regained her senses she quickly explained that the winds had shifted and were against them now. The storm that approached was a thunderstorm of the worst kind, a supercell thunderstorm. With winds over a hundred miles per hour and dangerous downdrafts they could easily die. Hiei listened calmly and then explained to the others. As Katani flew nearer she noticed Yoko flew at her side. Seeing him look so strong and determined made her heart race but she knew not why. Her face flushed as he caught her gaze.
He smirked. "What?"
Katani's mind went blank. She couldn't remember what made her look at him. "I… I really don't know."
"I promise, you will soon." With a flap he was ahead of her.
The strength of his words slowed her. What was he talking about? No time for that now, she thought, and plunged ahead.
"Katani, what is going on?" Yusuke and Botan pulled up in front of her.
"How far to the island?"
Botan glanced at the map. "Half an hour, maybe forty five minutes."
Katani swore. That was not enough time. "This storm is deadly. The winds will reach over a hundred miles per hour soon. We need to fly faster then ever if we are to even stand a chance."
Near the back of the cluster Ty sagged. This flying stuff was harder then it looked. He felt as if his new wings were going to break off and now she was telling them they needed to fly faster? Easy for her to say. Looking at her now he envied the smooth curve of her golden wings. Each feather molded into the next, they were as sleek as any air craft. Near the joint her saw strong muscle that had been toned after many hours in the sky. No wonder she didn't look exhausted.
He glanced at his own white wings. The feathers were just as sleek but the muscle was soft and without strength. Still there was no doubting the fact that there was indeed a storm on the way. Below the sea rose and crashed in on itself. It continued this folding and grew higher with the seconds. For a while it seemed as if the sea would rise to meet them. The clouds had gathered overhead. So dark and ominous they were that the air took on a chill and the once warm day felt like the dead of night.
"Kitty, there is no way we'll make it to the island in time."
"I hate to agree with bishie over there," Yusuke jerked a thumb at Ty, "but he's right. Even if the boy wasn't about to drop dead-"
"Which he is." Hiei bluntly pointed out.
"-it would still be too far to fly."
"You're right Yusuke. We'll just sit here and let the storm toss us about. Brilliant idea." Botan sarcastically said.
The group bickered about what to do until Yoko made his presence known. "We can swim under the storm. Underneath the waves will be strong currents but we'll be safer down there then up here. Katani can perform a spell that will encase each of use in an air bubble. Using that we can continue to fly against the waves to the island."
Katani snapped her fingers. "Right! I can do that. Sounds like a plan." She glanced at Yusuke for his approval.
The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. A tooth that eerily resembled a fang poked out. "Sounds stupid and dangerous." His smile grew. "Let's do it."
Katani went around to each group and called on the wind to encase and protect them. After Feer and his mounts along with Ty were encased she felt exhausted.
"I'm sorry but I don't know if I can do this three more times." Her breath came short and fast. The constant flapping of her wings ceased momentarily and she nearly fell into the raging ocean. By now the wind had increased and lighting flashed in streaks across the sky accompanied by the clarion call of thunder.
Yusuke looked seriously concerned. The others had already dived beneath the waves and out of the temptress' wrath. "Can you do it or not?"
Yoko offered her a hand which she took without hesitation. Seeing her exhaustion Botan pushed Yusuke so that he was only hanging onto the oar by his hands. He swore at her.
"What was that for?" He yelled.
"Sit, Katani." She pat the empty spot on the oar.
As Yusuke struggled to maintain his grip in the wind Katani caught her breath. It was amazingly easy to sit on the oar. It was almost as if some invisible force cushioned it.
"Will you be able to perform the spell again?" Yoko asked. His voice rose to be heard over the whistling wind.
"I think if I push myself I'll be able to do it twice. But that's not enough."
"Why? Can't you and Kurama share a bubble?" Yusuke clung for dear life.
Katani shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The spell caster needs one bubble so she can maintain the spell. I would put you three in one but I wouldn't be able to fit in enough air and you would die."
"Great. Well while you're thinking about it I think I'll just hang out here."
Katani's mind raced for a way to escape this. Botan flimsy stick would not survive this storm and as strong as Yoko was, his plant wings would be torn like a cheap kite.
"I can do it. All I needed was a quick rest. I can do all three now." She hovered over the oar as Yusuke climbed back on.
"Lokalo demiair wratha yay solistacedea" By adding a few syllables of serenity she was able to make it so that the sphere did not shred the occupants to shreds. In seconds she did the same to Yoko. They waited patiently for Katani to do the same to herself. She merely smiled at them.
Yoko realized at once what she meant to do and pounded at the walls of his sphere.
"Please don't! If you break it without the right charm the suction created will tear you to pieces!"
Yoko stopped.
Yusuke glared at her. "You idiot!"
"People say that a lot. I'm starting to wonder if it might be true…" Katani pondered for a moment, completely ignoring Yusuke's rants. "Calm down. I'll be fine. Take care of Feer, k?" She smiled and with a flick of her finger sent them beneath the dark waves. Now all alone the weight of her situation hit. Here she was alone in this storm. Since going below was unavailable she would resort to going up. There had been a TV show she saw where a pilot was caught in a deadly storm. The only way he had managed to escape the squall was by flying above the clouds and out of harms way. For a split second she doubted it was possible. Her wings were heavy and the storm strong. Flying above the clouds could be a death sentence. Also that high up the air would be dangerously thin. Well, no turning back now.
It took one strong stroke and she was flying. Hovering for so long required constant motion, never ceasing. But now, flying as up as she could, it was possible to go with the wind and ease her wings. The only problem was that the currents of cool air were dropping and the wind pressed down. She was in a constant struggle to keep lifting. The main problem would be when she reached the clouds. Getting electrocuted was a possibility and in order to avoid that her best bet would be to find a gap in the clouds. Yet all around her was black sky.
Fly hard and fast. Don't worry, my song will guide you. A different voice, soft and kind, spoke.
The soothing voice filled her mind and limbs with new strength. Her wings expanded and pumped her higher and higher till she could feel the charge in the air.
From far off she heard a strong voice begin to sing. It was a man's voice but sang strong and true. Katani instantly recognized the words. They were the same as the song she remembered from her childhood. The same one she had sun for Tithe after his death. Feeling the call, she began to sing with the voice. The wind howled as her song entwined with the storm. The man's voice was far greater then her own and helped hers to grow. Slowly the wind began to ebb. She called out to the voice as the wind began to fade but there was no answer. Finally the sky became clear and the surface of the as undisturbed as a koi pond.
Looking around she discovered she had no idea where any of the others were. She had no idea where she was or even where the island was. Who knows how far she had flown in her attempts to fly over the storm.
Her wings twitched weakly. It was all she could do to glide on the thermal of warm air that started to rise. It occurred to her that if her song quelled the storm, someone else's must have started it. This could be no natural storm. It had come on to quickly, without warning, and the singing of a song could stop no normal weather pattern. Maybe someone from the island had sensed their presence and had summoned the storm in an attempt to stop them before they got there. If so then their foes were much more powerful then she had anticipated.
Katani realized she had glided dangerously close to the water. Had she reached with her wingtips she could have touched the shimmering surface. With a painful stroke she lifted herself another fifty feet. Around her she could see nothing of the others. Not even a black speck on the horizon could be seen. What a mess she had gotten herself into. How Hiei would love pointing out that she was the only one to get lost.
The scar on her back twitched. Her wings had been exposed for hours, longer then ever before. The scar throbbed and burned before pulling the gold wings back inside her.
Katani couldn't help but scream as she fell towards the ocean. In an attempt to save herself she extended her arms so she would enter the water at a dive. The impact was so great she nearly passed out. It was all she could do to try and swim back to the surface. Katani's heart raced. She hated deep water like this. You couldn't see anything and even if you did there was very little you could do about it. Her mind recalled a documentary where it showed Japan had the largest amount of shark attacks in the world. At that second she thought she felt something graze her calf. She let out a scream, which underwater only resulted in the loss of all her air.
Feeling like a fool she kicked and paddled as hard as she could. Stars began to shine before her eyes when at last she broke the surface. Air had never tasted sweeter.
She floated on top of the water in a panicked state. This is how I'm going to die.
Hiei. Her mind reached over the waves. Hiei? Are you there? No response. Yusuke? Botan? Ty? Kurama? Even Kuwabara for crying out loud! Where are you? She pushed her mind as far as it would go. Training daily with Hiei on her psychic abilities had strengthened her mind greatly, but even that was not enough. No one called back to her over the waves.
The scene beneath the waves was in such contrast to the sky above that it was as if they had been in a bright room until someone shut off every lamp and light. Yusuke tried to stay steady on Botan's sad excuse for a flight device. The bubble they floated in was translucent green in color. It matched the water and they could see perfectly well from within its protective barrier.
Yusuke worried about Katani. With all the things that were being hurled at them they would be exhausted before they even reached the island. Botan was clearly worn out from all this excitement. It would have been better if she had stayed home. But when she set her mind to something only death could drag her back out. Bags were forming underneath her brilliant blue eyes.
Yusuke could feel the strain as well. He had been keeping his sprit energy brimming near the surface in the likelihood of an attack but he was powerless against this kind of foe. The strain of holding his energy near was heavy. Now under the sea and out of harm's way he let his rei sink back into his body. A few minutes rest wouldn't hurt.
The spirit detective looked over his team. Feer was beginning to wane, having flown steady with twice the weight he was accustomed to. Despite his skirmishes with Katani's cow he worried for the beast. Almost as if the horse could feel his eyes Feer flicked his ears and held his neck high. The creature's spirit puzzled Yusuke. Maybe he and Katani weren't the only stupidly stubborn things in the world. Feer's gold coat glistened even in darkness. The horse kept his powerful wings constantly moving in slow strokes. Up, down. Up, down. With this repetitive motion he kept himself aloft.
Part of Feer's success came from his headstrong mount, Hiei. He had become accustomed to riding it. Yusuke believed he did it to make himself look taller. True, it did give him quite a few feet. Now others had to look up at him. Maybe he had mastered the horse with his Jagan Eye. Or maybe he just had a thing with animals. Though Yusuke knew should Katani wish it, that horse would throw him off and never look back. Such loyalty was a gift in animals and Feer had it.
Kuwabara sat behind Hiei on Feer. A thin layer of sweat adorned his brow. He couldn't swim. Easy to see why he would be nervous. For a moment Yusuke thought to tease him but held back. Tensions were high enough. No one seemed in the mood for a joke right now.
Ty was struggling. He had been given his own private bubble, as Yoko had. Yusuke had no trouble guessing why. Even now the two occasionally glanced at each other with utter loathing. What was going on with those three? It seemed like there was a love triangle or something between them and Katani. Evers since the day of the Tsunami, Yusuke had always guessed Kurama would seek out Katani. He got that look in his eyes that he got in battle, serious and deadest on his goal. Though if Kurama's romance mimicked his battles this would be a dragged out affair. In a fight Kurama never made a move without fully understanding his opponent. Should Yuskue tell him he could live another thousand years and still never understand women? Knowing the fox he had probably done something by now.
No denying what Yusuke happened upon that day he was sent to take some files to the couple as they "deciphered" the map. From the looks of things they had finished their homework early and had some free time.
But if Katani did… you know, like Kurama, why was she so against him? Yuskue had seen the embarrassment and fury in her face when he found them. He knew if he had said something about it he would never been able to have children. And he wanted children.
Katani was being very difficult. But lately when Kurama spoke to her his words seemed to go right through her, as if they never registered. He had seen the look before. It was exactly the same look he wore whenever he was forced to enter a classroom. Before last week whenever Kurama spoke to her she seemed on the edge of her seat, waiting for more. They loved talking to each other and anyone could see that. When they started talking in that language that no one can understand her eyes had lit up.
Kurama too had enjoyed the speech. He was happier then Yusuke had seen him in a long time. Sure Kurama was always smiling and the voice of reason in the group, but he always seemed to carry a weight about him. Whenever he was with Katani that weight vanished. He even fought fiercer. When Ty had been possessed they all had been bound to the ground. Yusuke had tried with his all to break the chains but couldn't. Yoko did. The detective was reminded of when he fought in the Dark Tournament. Knowing a person he cared about was in danger brought his fighting to a whole new level. It appeared the same was true for Kurama.
What did the stable boy have to do with any of this? He fawned over Katani like a child with a new puppy. Calling her Kitten and such were only a few of the things he did. It was almost funny to see the anger in his eyes when Kurama stood near Katani. Her wrist must be black and blue from the number of times they had grabbed her by it.
If what Hiei said was true and someone really was robbing Katani of her memories then why did she remember them? It must have been a specific set of memories. Yusuke thought for a moment. Yoko was floating effortlessly in midair. Without flapping his wings he managed to stay aloft. He floated with arms crossed and face set. Yusuke put two and two together. Katani didn't smile at him any more. Her blue eyes didn't shimmer when they spoke. If anything she seemed annoyed when he engaged her. This person was taking away Katani's memories of Kurama. But still this didn't make any sense. Why would they care if she fell in love with him? If anything they seemed a good match. Kurama must know.
Yusuke suddenly felt sorry for him. If he had discovered that Keiko's memories of him were being snatched away (though some memories wouldn't be such a bad idea to erase) he would hunt the man down and kill him. Yoko had that look now. How different yet similar Yoko and Kurama were. Both were deadly fighters and master tacticians. But only Yoko had untapped fury. Yusuke had seen Kurama mad and that was enough to let him know never to cross the red fox. Yoko was another matter entirely. He always fought as if enraged. Every movement was calculated and planned but delivered with anger.
Yoko was much more forward then Kurama. Which explains why he had found him on Katani first. There was a lust for a good fight Yusuke sensed in him. Kurama didn't have that. Could he balance the two sides while with Katani? Did one love her more then the other? Did Katani love them both?
Yusuke shook his head. He was reading way too much into this. They were the same person. It was just who he once was. Almost like an old video game you pulled out to give you a moment of nostalgia.
"Yusuke?" Botan asked.
"Huh?" He had been so deep in thought (which was very rare for Yusuke) he didn't hear what she had said.
"I asked you if you think Katani will be okay. The storm looks really bad. I'm worried about her."
"She's too stubborn to die."
This hardly satisfied Botan. "Kurama!" She waved the fox over. "Can you tell if Katani is alright? She told me you could sense these things about her."
Yoko looked surprised. Clearly he didn't think Katani told Botan about him. "When did she mention this?"
"A couple weeks ago."
"Well that time has long since passed. I can feel nothing of her present state. I would break from here right now if I could and go get her. But she fastened a charm on my bubble that is too strong to undo."
"Listen Kurama, I don't know what's going on with you two, or you three," he glanced at Ty. "but I know how she feels."
Kurama nodded slightly. Ty came over and invited himself into the conversation. "How can you guys be so cool about this? You're teammate is up there dying and you're sitting here chatting? I'm not going to stand for it. And you, stay away from her. She's shed too many tears for you already. I swear if you keep coming around her I'll take you down myself."
"Watch your tongue, dirty human, I just might cut it out." Yoko's gold eyes gleamed. "You keep testing my patience. Watch your back, Katani won't always protect you."
Ty glared. "Well at least I'm trying to protect her! The next time you see Katani, it'll be in my arms. I'll make her mine and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Yusuke was angry now. "Watch it Ty. She's a member of this team and you are not. I have no problem shooting a hole in your wings and leaving you here to swim back alone. Talk about her like that again and I'll let the sharks have you."
Ty seemed to ignore him. He twisted his index and pinky finger twice before his scythe materialized. With one slice he cut through his bubble. A flap and he was gone and in the storm. Yusuke swore.
"If he can cut his way through then maybe Katani isn't holding up the spell." Botan said.
"Which can mean two things, either she'd exhausted or dead." Yoko pulled a seed from his pocket. A flash and the seed ate away at the bubble. Air rushed to the surface of the water, Yoko with it. Hiei and Yusuke glanced at each other. Feer whinnied and flew to the surface, once there Hiei popped the bubble.
Yusuke used his Rei Gun to destroy the barrier, which Botan yelled at him saying he should have waited till they reached the surface. The sky was black and winds forced them all to stay in the water. Even Feer couldn't manage to stay aloft. Rain poured and drove into them like shards of glass. From the corner of his eye Yusuke saw Yoko create a shield from another seed. The plant floated on the water and protected them all from the rain. It looked like a giant mushroom. Pure energy kept the winds from knocking the plant over.
"Why did we decide to do this?" Kuwabara yelled over wind.
"Why do you ever do any thing like this?" Botan kept both hands firmly on the oar.
Hiei was silent, his mind picked up an unusual current of energy. One by one the others felt it too. Yusuke asked what it was.
"Katani." Yoko called.
"Listen." Hiei could barely be heard. To the south a sweet song filled the air. Louder and louder it grew till it seemed to fill them. The notes were sad and mournful as if the singer itself were dying. The song changed to an uplifting melody. Yusuke thought of playing I Never in the attic and throwing Katani in a river. It was as if the song was telling a story. The joyous thread of song was short lived as the notes changed to a stream of confusing and brittle tunes. The clouds rolled apart and a beam of light struck the area where the song came from.
Ty was already swimming towards it. He knew it was Katani.
Finally the storm died off and the song faded. The sky grew clear and the sea calm. Yoko's plant withered and died. Feer took wing and Botan pulled up. The only sound was the slap of water as they all flew south.
Katani was starting to grow anxious. Breath came in short gasps as her mind created scenarios of vicious sharks tearing her limb from limb. It took all her self-control not to flail about in the water. Only the knowledge that the sharks would be drawn to this kept her strokes smooth.
Come, you're almost home. This way. A cool voice spoke to her. Katani closed her eyes and let the unseen person guide her. When next she opened them an island lay in front of her. The current did the work as she floated towards shore. In minutes she lay on white sand. She didn't care that it stuck to every part of her body. Every muscle ached. Had someone come from the forest then her life would have ended for she had no strength to fight.
Waves lapped against her feet and she pushed herself off the sand an hour later. On her hands and knees she crawled a few more feet before collapsing again. The scar burned and sent her body in convulsions. Waves of pain washed over her, each one more powerful then the last. Finally she could hold it in no longer. Enemy territory or not, she screamed.
Something soft pressed against her neck. The thing pushed harder but couldn't move her. With a grunt the beast nudged her shoulder. Katani groaned tried to move but the song had taken everything from her. The animal pushed again and flipped Katani onto her back. Only then did she open her eyes and look at the visitor.
A horse white as the sand gazed at her. Its mane and tail were flaming red. In the wind they looked like tongues of flame. The horse's ears were pricked as Katani pushed herself away.
The horse made a noise deep in its throat, was it laughing?
"Sina Mithril. Kalia funiao etta na, iof." The horse whickered. Katani recognized the tongue and heard the horse speak her true name.
She replied in the same speech. "I am from across the sea. Who are you? Have you seen my companions? Where am I?"
The mare sank to the sand and placed her muzzle across Katani's lap. The touch gave her strength and she stroked the mare's forelock.
"Thou art in the land of my fathers. Call me Ama. Thy name is well known. Be of sound mind little one, for there are those that seek to do thee harm. Fear not my brethren, we of the herd seek to protect thee and thine stallion. If thee meet others of flame hair fear not, we are allies. As for thy kin my eyes have seen only thee. Doth thou request a search?"
Katani couldn't believe her ears. This horse spoke the most complex grammar of the language. Even she took a moment to understand it. When she replied she tried to make her speech equal to the mares.
"If thine deems it, I would be most grateful. My herd flies on the west wind. We seek the Island of those with blood of gold. Have thou heard of such folk?"
"Indeed, they be on the island. I am one of the mares of the king here. Please do not be afraid, my kin and I wish not to be in the service of such beasts. Legend tells of thee and the gold one who fled this place long ago with thine brother. Never has such a brazen act been committed here since. If thee be who I think then thee may save us. Be still, drink not the water from the sea despite thine thirst. I shall bring thee drink and food." The mare rose and whistled. Two colts, one small bay with white socks and the other a large pied pinto. "Be swift Giam and Rook, tread like the heron in still water. Search for the ones on this child's mind." Ama sent them the image of Katani's friends. "Away with thee!" She nipped at their flanks.
To Katani's amazement the horses ran across the water as easily as if it were grass. Her gaze lingered on them as they grew smaller on the ocean.
"Come, young one. There is little time. As strong as thee is, thou is nothing to our leader. It will take all the strength of thine's companions to destroy the Swift One. Come, climb." Ama's neck lowered as she motioned for Katani to ride.
"I do not mean insult Great One, but I cannot follow thee on such short standings. I just meet thee, and know not where thine loyalties lie. Forgive me, one must be cautious. Show me a sign so that I may put my faith in thee."
"Tis just as well. We would not seek thee if thou defenses be so low. Thee do well to keep thine mind safe. Thee ask for a sign, and a sign I shall present." Ama closed her almond eyes as the wind buffeted her mane of fire. The mare entered Katani's mind only as far as her defenses would allow. She opened her mind to Katani and presented her the story of her life from birth. Katani saw the tiny filly struggle to find her footing as a strong gray mare nudged her. A stable boy helped Ama rise and walk for the first time. Ama raced through the fields of the island, her captors always watching for escape. As the mare's life progressed Katani saw what had to have been herself. A young girl riding a gold colt and carrying a sword ran past the guards near the shore. Tithe held tightly to his sister's hips as Feer raced across the water. From the beach angry shouts commanded her to return. She never looked back. Ama whinnied joyfully to her freed brother. The other horses Katani found were not horses at all. Each creature was a Pegasi in its true nature. Katani watched in awe when Ama received her wings at the age of four, the age of adulthood, by bathing in the River Phoenix.
The mare's life continued. Katani saw the cruel treatment her people were given by those of golden blood. Yet not all were cruel, some of the children went against the ways of their clan. These gold-blooded warriors lived in refuge. It was they who had aided Mithril and Sinnark in their escape. They called themselves the Hawks and though they were few in number the Swift One counted them as a threat.
Katani saw Ama make frequent visits with these rogues and she herself acted as a double agent. The other colts she saw were born and raised with the Hawks. They lacked wings because they had no access to the River Phoenix. Yet the gift of Treading Water, as they called it, was given at birth to all Pegasi. Ama pulled herself from Katani's consciousness.
"Doth thou trust me now?"
Katani was speechless. She had learned more about her heritage in two minutes then she had in her whole life, she had seen herself as a child. Finally she spoke in the common tongue. "Yes, Ama. You have my trust. But I do not understand. Why are the Hawks rebellious against this… Swift One?"
"Because the Swift One leads the others of gold blood. The blood in thine veins right now comes from this island. The Swift One leads the Phoenixes, as they are called, as if they were a band of sell swords. He kills for the sheer pleasure of seeing red blood spill. The Hawks rebel against this and wish to over throw the Swift One. I believe that the Swift One has been committing sacrilege in thine new homeland. Be it so?"
"Yes, Ama. In Japan mass murders are being committed. The Spirit World has become involved and sent their own team to find the cause of such slayings. We searched till our effortless led us here. Then I was separated from my friends by a vicious storm. But Ama, if the Swift One wishes to see red blood rain, why did he attack my kin? Why did they kill Tithe?"
"Because, child, the Swift One despises thee. Of record thee and thine brother are the only souls to ever escape. He feared thine involvement with the Hawks. It was his desire for thee to find thine way here on thine own. Had he known the Spirit World became involved thee would already be dead. He fears thee. With thy companions you child could overthrow him. Nay the more pressing reason he hath slain thy brethren was of blood. Thine brother be but a half-breed. Born from the union of Phoenix and Human. This be a horror among out people. Thine must marry only thy own. Else the blood thin and our people vanish. Both thine and mine are linked. Our people be one for the Almighty One created us to live side by side.
"Why doth thou think Feer has been with thee always? Surely though notice he not be like other feral beasts. Feer be a Pegasi and now that thou hast discovered the concentrated form of the river, the Phoenix Down, both Feer and thee have been given wings."
"How do you know all this?"
"I have been gifted from birth with sight. I see things that have been, things that are, and things that yet to come. How doth thou think I knew to find thee here on this day, at this spot? I know thee, child. And thine Feer is my blood brother. I can see through his eyes as easily as my own. Though he hath forgotten me."
"Why did we forget where we came from? How come Feer and I, even Tithe for that matter, remembered nothing of our past?"
"When one leaves this land without permission all memory of it fades. This is one of the spells the Swift One placed on this land."
"But what about your Pegasi? Won't they forget why they're out there?"
"Pegasi are immune to such things. Our magic is far superior to thine. Yet they can only travel a certain distance before they can Tread Water no more."
This mare seemed to have an answer for everything. Reverting back to her golden language she said, "Okay. Well then if you truly forget upon leaving the island then why can I still speak in this tongue?"
"The Language of Gilia is in thy blood. It would take far more then a Phoenix charm to make thine forget the Gilian tongue."
"I have many questions I want to ask thee."
"Thou hast asked many questions already. The time will come, child. Thou must wait for thine herd. I do not like to repeat myself. The rest of thine questions will be answered in time. Be still now. I shall return in moments."
Ama flickered and was gone. The only way Katani knew where she was heading was from the thump of hooves on sand. So she was a Phoenix and Tithe was a half-breed. Her society must be quite racist if the blood cannot thin even for love. If she loved someone, gold or not, she would chase him to the ends of the earth. Her heart thundered inside her chest. Was there someone she loved? A flash of red passed her eyes. Ama had returned. A canteen clenched between her teeth. The fire mare dropped the container into Katani's outstretched hands. The sound of water slapping the sides of metal was the sweetest of sounds.
When the liquid flowed over her tongue she found it was not water at all. The liquid was sweet, like maple syrup without the low viscosity. It renewed her body and mind.
"That is the milk of mares. As good as a weeks rest it is for thee. Ration it well for it is rare. Our mares only foal every twenty years. Come, ride with me. I sense my kin have found thine herd. I imagine thee desires to see them?"
"Very much, Ama. I thank you for your kindness."
"Be not thankful yet, things shall become very hard for thee. Best hold thine tongue till the moon is gone."
Katani climbed onto Ama's high back and wrapped her fingers tightly in the mare's mane.