Hot Wheels Battle Force 5: Ophelia's Reach

Chapter 4

Silver kept shaking her head, eyes squinted shut, face twisted. Her fists hammered the ground, freezing the water wherever they landed – then it began to spread. Like a heartbeat, ice spread in a pulsing movement, creeping to every corner of the room. Vert and Sherman hesitated to step inside, but Zoom immediately hopped into the room past his leader, gingerly stepping around frozen glass to reach her. Ignoring the cold, he knelt down and grabbed her shoulders, shaking vigorously.

"Silver, wake up!" he shouted. "It's just a dream!"

Silver shook her head, resisting reality, and cried out in her sleep. Her tail started to twitch spastically, and her hands shot up, grabbing Zoom's arms.

"Damn that's cold!" he yelped, releasing Silver's shoulders, but Silver wouldn't release him. Her grip was insanely strong. Frost started to crawl from her hands onto Zoom and the scout grimaced. Vert and Sherman jumped to his aid. As the big guy tried to pull Silver off, Vert shouted and shook the girl, trying to get her to awake. Zoom grunted, trying to take the bite creeping up his arms. It felt like his blood was slowing with the cold with a combination of burning, numbing pain.

"Sherman GET HER OFF!" Zoom cried.

"I'M TRYING!"

"What's going on?" Agura anxiously appeared in the doorway with Spinner and Stanford.

"She won't wake up!" Vert shouted. "I think she's having a nightmare!"

"Ya THINK?!" Spinner squealed.

The water in the hallway suddenly sucked back into the room from under their feet, sliding up the walls, turning to ice as it covered more area. Silver started exploding with shrieks of resistance, chest heaving between each one she loosed, face wretched in a mix of anger and pain. The team covered their ears.

"Somebody slap her!" Stanford yelled.

The walls started to grow thin, needlelike spikes. They inched toward the boys like syringes to trapped rats. Agura stepped in and swiped at one, then recoiled, shaking the sting out of her hand. They weren't normal fragile icicles; these were unbreakable.

"Guys get out of there!"

"We're not leaving her!" the scout demanded. "SILVER! C'MON, WAKE UP!" He moved so his knees were on either side of her and put one hand at her sternum and the other grabbed her throat. Levering his weight, he pressed down, keeping her from getting any air in or out. The screaming stopped, along with the needles. Silver's hands instinctively let go of his arms and moved to her neck. She jolted and her eyes shot open in desperation for breath. Zoom released as Silver coughed and gulped in air. Her glowing eyes hazily shifted around the room. She looked exhausted and broken, like something had ripped through her. She felt the ice and saw the faces of her friends around her: a mix relief and intense concern. Her gaze rested on the scout, his face hovering inches above her own. Zoom was kneeling over her, panting, steadying his breath as the adrenaline trickled off. For once, her instinct wasn't to push him off. She noticed the frost on his arms, the blue-tinged skin. Zoom clenched his jaw as his body began to realize the cold sting, and he made a short groan. A lump formed in Silver's throat. She initiated her magic again and gently felt where the frost had crept, revealing a shape of her hands. It instantly melted and warmed to her touch. The scout winced, and then relaxed as the pain began to let up. She let go and he gingerly sat back on the floor.

"Thanks," he sighed, massaging his arms, feeling the blood return to his fingertips. "Are you ok?"

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. Silver's eyes pooled with tears that overflowed and streamed down her cheeks. Still lying on the ground, she covered her face, trying to keep herself from losing it altogether. Vert and Sherman, knowing she normally preferred space, didn't want to initiate something she wouldn't appreciate but their scout didn't hesitate.

"It's ok," Zoom pulled her to sit up and tried to hold her, but she strongly pushed away.

"Stop," her voice quavered as she looked at him. "don't touch me. I'm dangerous… I… I – I can't control my magic as well right now..."

"You're not dangerous, Silver," Vert softened. "You had a nightmare and there was nothing you could've done."

"You must've been reacting to whatever you were dreaming… normally sleep paralysis makes sure we don't do stuff like that – what were you dreaming about?" Sherman asked.

She shook her head and covered her face again. "I – can't… can't risk it… just give me a minute…"

"What do you mean?" Zoom pressed.

"YOU KNOW WHAT," she shrieked at him, shaking her hands out in exasperation. The ice beneath them shattered like glass with her movement, the ice needles sticking out broke and fell with high pitched crashes, and the boys jumped. Silver immediately drew her hands into herself. "I can't risk – risk hurting you… any of you… anymore."

"You're afraid," he scooted up to be closer.

She squinted her eyes shut, pushing the tears from her glowing eyes.

"It's ok, we're here for you,"

"I… made a promise," she managed to say quietly and sniffed.

Agura sidled up, "What promise, Silver? To who?"

"I promised to myself… that – that I'd keep my distance… not get too close to anyone,"

Zoom had never looked so concerned. "Is that why you keep pushing us off? Pushing me off?"

"I'm dangerous, Zoom… you've almost died THREE TIMES,"

"Three? What are you talking about?"

"Tors ten, Vandal, now this," she shakily picked up a piece of glass and stared into it before tossing it across the room. She shuddered, thinking of what could have been happening as they were trying to wake her up.

"You can't blame yourself for that," Agura carefully crouched by her. "stuff happens and it's part of the mission. We adapt and move forward. This time was just an accident and we can help you, but you have to talk to us... what's going on?"

"We can help you figure this out," The scout reached out for her hand, and she nervously leaned away, avoiding his touch. "trust us."

"Stop… please just stop… I need to go home…" Silver squinted her eyes shut.

"Silver," Zoom spoke gently, pushing past the pain of her rejection. "let us help you through whatever this is… you've been alone for so long"

"I can't…"

Zoom recalled when they were on Vandal how she had slept uneasily as he held her. "I know this isn't the first nightmare you've had… there've been others – what are they about?"

"I don't want to talk about it,"

"Why?"

"Why do you care so much?" she murmured.

"Because I DO," he snapped, frustrated. "no one should have to go through what you went through. You're in denial of how you feel – you push EVERYONE away – FOR WHAT?"

Vert shook his head. "Zoom,"

He ignored him and continued, heated and tempered. "What are you hiding alone? WE'RE YOURE FRIENDS – WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?"

"I'M AFRAID OF YOU!" Silver screamed back. "I'M AFRAID OF ALL OF YOU!"

The room was silent as Zoom and Silver caught their breaths. The guardian glared up at him. He could tell she was fighting back sobs, the pain in her chest. He was starting to feel a tight grip over his own…

"Why?"

"I already lost everyone I cared about once… I didn't want to open up and let that happen again…" she choked out. Then Silver chuckled cynically, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Obviously that hasn't been working – you're all too nice… now I'm afraid of losing the only friends I have, and I'm the one who's been putting you at risk."

"Silver," Zoom crouched to her level and looked her in the eye. "you're not going to lose us,"

"We're in a war, Zoom, you can't promise that," she cried, burying her head in her hands. "you just can't… I've seen where this road leads… you can't make promises like that."

"You're right, we can't," Agura sighed. "we can't promise we'll be ok. We can't promise we'll all make it out alive, but we can promise to be there for each other. We don't want to lose you either,"

"We've grown quite fond of you, love," Stanford made a small smile. "some of us more than others."

"Yeah," Spinner chided. "you're one of us now, part of the family."

"We all feel that way," Vert added.

"We have our differences and… difficult… past," Sage stepped in. "but even I have to agree. The connection you built with each person here, though it may be small, is evident."

"I'm not ready…" she whispered through sobs. "I need time to think… I don't know what to do anymore…"

"How about we take you back to Faven – get you back to normal," Vert decided. "it might clear your head and we can continue this later."

"You should go, boys," Agura suggested. "I'll stay here,"

Silver shook her head. "I'd like to be left alone," she said firmly.

They looked at each other, then Sherman, Vert, Zoom, and Agura shuffled out, even if somewhat hesitantly. The scout was the last to leave, and he glanced back at the mermaid, knees tucked into herself on the floor. The ice around was beginning to melt and collect into little pools. The room was like a mirror image of her heart… a broken mess mixed with a rigid cold – an ice layer meant to protect from the sharp edges of the pieces of her past. He turned away. The door closed her inside.

"Alright," Vert took charge. "Stanford, Agura, get your rides ready. We're taking her home and figuring out this transformation ASAP."

"Just you guys?" Zoom questioned. "Why not everybody?"

"Don't want to attract attention – and I think it would be best if you hang back for this one, buddy."

"No offense, Zoom," Agura assured him. He nodded.

The team dispersed solemnly, a sad air around their slow movements. Zoom went back to his room and grabbed the nearest pillow, shoving it into his face. Idiot. Why couldn't he just keep his cool? He needed to go back and talk to her – apologize for how he acted… but right now she wanted to be alone – but if he didn't go now, there wasn't a guarantee he'd get another chance. Maybe in five minutes? Memory of her glowing blue eyes glaring intensely while she screamed at him made his heart crumble. She was just scared… all this time, she was afraid of him. No, not just him, she was afraid of having relationships, people she cared about. It was going to happen whether she wanted it or not, and she was torn and scared because of it.

I don't want her to be afraid... he thought, pacing his room.

How could he understand? How could he help? She didn't want help… she just wanted to be alone. Zoom yelled and chucked the pillow across the room, hitting the wall with a 'fwump.' This was too confusing and crazy and stupid. He felt helpless but he had to do something. He took a breath. He left his room and walked down the hall, stopping at her door. With another deep inhale, he pressed the button. The door slid away, and he stepped in. The ice had all nearly melted and the glass had somehow been pushed all to the side. She was curled up against the wall in a puddle, head down and arms wrapped around her chrome colored tail. Upon his entry, she didn't raise her head. Zoom stood for a couple seconds and she still didn't acknowledge his presence.

"I don't like you right now," she finally said, still without looking up.

"I know you want to be left alone," Zoom started uneasily, rubbing his neck in a nervous fidget. "But I just wanted to say… I'm sorry."

She turned her head and rested it on her tail, glowing eyes peering weakly into his. They looked a little puffy around the edges, and he could almost make out the tear pathways on her skin.

He continued, "I shouldn't have said stuff like that… I know I get pushy… I guess I just want to understand."

"I know, I'm – I'm sorry too…" she breathed quietly. "I shouldn't have been selfish in my emotions… I've been trying to protect myself, but it's been frustrating for you at the same time.

"I can see why you'd be scared," Zoom came and sat in the puddle next to her. His pants were going to get soaked but he didn't care. "… how are you feeling, honestly?"

"Tired – a little dizzy…"

"You probably need water – hold on," he stood and awkwardly shuffled out, highly aware of the large wet mark on his rear end. Thankfully, no one was around as he retrieved the water bottle and he was able to avoid Spin's ridicule, thank god. Silver took a couple slow sips, then swigged down the rest at an alarming rate. She straightened up a little, feeling a bit refreshed, and rested her head back against the wall with an exhausted sigh.

"You meant emotionally, didn't you?" she arched an eyebrow at the ceiling.

"Both – emotional and/or physical,"

She sighed again, "confused… torn, I guess… I don't know… I shouldn't have come on the mission to Vandal. All of this would have been avoided."

"We wouldn't have been able to complete that mission – you literally saved our butts."

"You would have found a way,"

"If that's how you felt, then why did you come?" he queried.

"For information on Krytus,"

"Do you regret it?"

Silver hesitated to answer. "I regret what happened… I was reckless… almost got you killed."

"It was an accident. In the end, you got me out of there and saved me," he said definitively. "you know, even though I got the wind knocked out of me, I wouldn't change any of what happened."

"Why?!" she pulled her head off the wall to look at him in confused shock. "You understand you almost died, right?"

"That's every mission for us," Zoom shrugged. "and after that… it felt like we were friends – not just people on the same side. That's kind of what makes us a team."

Silver settled into the memory. "I made a promise I could never keep," she remarked.

"Yeah I think so," the scout smiled. "… are you still scared? Of us – I mean."

"No…" she relaxed a little, stretching out her tail in front. "but now I just want to know you guys are going to be ok handling Krytus and what's coming… I would offer my help, but I don't think that's a good idea right now… I don't think I can trust myself around you guys for a bit…"

"You mean with the nightmares?" he worried.

"Well yeah, those for one thing… I wonder if they come with this form – I've never been like this for this long before. Maybe I just have to fix this transformation and they'll go away… how'd you know I've had other nightmares?"

Zoom bit his lip and scratched his head, ruffling his black hair. Oh god, how was he going to explain this one? "I uh… well what happened… you – I mean I…" the scout squinted up at the ceiling as he tried to find the right start. "Huh – well, after the mobi went down… you kinda passed out in the water so I caught you and brought you to shore… you didn't sleep too good on the way there… kinda like you didn't sleep good earlier,"

Silver had been watching him to see if he was lying, but now she shifted her stare to her hands in her lap. She blinked a couple times, remembering drifting off to sleep in his arms. "Oh…" was all she said.

"… Do you… remember?" he tilted his head to look at her. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she had no idea why. Embarrassment was her only emotion right now.

She snapped out of her memory. "Oh, uh… yeah – yeah I remember,"

"What?" he chuckled. "what are you smiling at?"

"I'm not smiling," she said definitively, forcing a stern expression as she looked at him.

"Oh my gosh it's like you try not to have fun on purpose," he rolled his eyes and came back to her with a grin. "you can smile – it was embarrassing, but we can at least laugh about it."

Silver shook her head and accepted the invitation, letting her face relax into the expression. "Yeah, that was really embarrassing…"

"Not how I imagined the first time a girl would fall asleep on me, but it was cute, not gonna lie," Zoom's grin changed into a cheeky, teasing nature, and the guardian punched his arm. "Ow!" he exclaimed, half-laughing.

"You're unbelievable," she huffed, still wearing that smile he loved.

"What? Not how you imagined your first time falling asleep on someone either?"

"That wasn't my first time,"

The scout smirked. "Huh – then what was?"

"That is none of your business – you're pushing it again," she warned.

He chuckled and apologized. "But, if you ever need a human pillow again, I gotchu," he smiled. "is that still pushing it?"

"Unbelievable," she repeated. Then, as if the topic was a reminder to her body, she yawned, small and slow.

"You're actually tired," he commented.

"I don't wake up feeling great after the nightmares…"

"I bet – sure you don't want to take me up on my offer?" he teased. Silver resisted another yawn. Her eyes suddenly started to feel heavy and her head wanted to fall forward. She shook off the sleepiness and tried to squint out the feeling from her eyes.

"Depends," she made a small smile. "is there a catch?"

"You can't use my shoulder,"

"Why?"

"Dude, that's insulting to my services as a pillow – like saying you'll only take the pillowcase – that's just weird."

She laughed, a musical, sweet, happy sound. Her eyes seemed to glow brighter, and her smile wasn't resisted. Zoom felt like it put him in a trance as he stared at her.

"You should smile like that every day," the thought slipped out his mouth. Silver bashfully looked down at her scales and combed her fingers through her raven hair. The characteristically silver lock fell in front of her face. Zoom was about to push it behind her ear but snapped out of his trance, stopped half-reach, and withdrew. Instead, he pushed his own hair out of his face with a shy smile. "sorry, personal space – almost forgot,"

"I'm getting used to it," she admitted quietly, looking into his eyes. And just like that, with the softness and airy tune of her voice, the trance fell over him again. Zoom felt a tug on his chest and he scooted closer to her. His eyes never broke their gaze. In this form, she truly looked alien, but he thought he'd never seen something more beautiful. Elegant, mysterious chrome scales trailing down to her feathery tail made it difficult for him to decide whether she was the most innocent little devil or the dirtiest of angels. It felt like time slowed as he leaned in closer to her face, yet it wasn't enough to make sense of the strongest pull he'd ever felt in his life. His eyes flicked down to her lips, slightly parted as breath passed in and out, brushing against his face. He wondered… would they taste salty or sweet?

Just then, the door opened, and Vert appeared. He was surprised to his scout sharing in her company but was secretly happy they seemed to have made up from their little shouting match. On second glance at Zoom's flushed face, it looked like they were about to do a little more than just 'make up.' The scout was scratching his head; a nervous tell that something was up. Smooth, kid, Vert chuckled to himself.

"We're ready to go," he announced. "Silver, you ready?"

"Yeah," she took a shaky breath and nodded, whipping up a glow from the water around her. Her things slid across the floor to her and she was about to shoulder them when Zoom held out his hand.

"I got it," he offered. She smiled and passed them over. The water carried her, following Vert to the hub where the team was waiting. Silver wordlessly slid into Reverb next to Stanford before releasing the water over the edge of the platform.

"We'll get you home in no time, love," the brit encouraged. Sage came up to them and handed something over to Silver. It was a gauntlet like the others had built into their uniforms.

"When you need us, use this - send us a distress signal or a beacon. The connection may be a bit weak, but it should get through. I wish you luck on your mission, Silver Mayali."

Silver accepted it gratefully. "Thank you, Sage."

Then Zoom handed over her satchel and things. "I would come too, but Vert and Sage think it's safer this way. Watch out for Krytus and the vandals – and – be careful, ok?"

"So dramatic," Stanford rolled his eyes and closed the hatch as Zoom stepped away. The scout noticed Sage was looking curiously at his soaked pants.

"We were – uh – sitting on the floor," Zoom quickly explained.

As the team shot out over the desert, Silver clutched her things to her chest. What just happened…

Vert, Agura, and Stanford pulled into the hub. Zoom had intensely been working on Chopper, trying to keep his mind distracted. When the others arrived he stood, watched, and waved them a 'welcome back'. He half expected Silver to hop out of Reverb any second now, cloak draped like a Jedi and sword strapped to her hip, eyes back to their multicolored hue, but she never emerged. The scout returned to his bike. She'll be fine out there, he thought, I'm sure she's fine…

"Any complications?" Sage asked.

Vert handed the key to her. "No, we didn't run into any of Krytus' troops. She finally transformed but said she had some things to take care of on her own,"

Zoom dropped his power wrench and jumped up. "She's back to normal?"

"Yeah,"

"Why didn't you guys bring her back? Krytus will…"

"Zoom," Agura rested a caring hand on his shoulder. "she'll let us know when she's ready. I think she has some stuff to process right now, but Silver can take care of herself,"

The scout shrugged her off. "I'm fine, Agura. I know she can. Still…"

"Hey, aren't you meeting Grace tonight?" Vert poked at him. Normally he didn't encourage the thing those two had going but the scout needed a distraction tonight. Zoom hurriedly pulled his phone out and checked the time.

"Crap, I gotta leave now if I'm going to make it." He grabbed his helmet resting on his workstation and sped out.

Vert turned to Sage with a chuckle. "He really didn't have anything to work on Chopper, did he?"

"No." the sentient shook her head. "Very strange."

"Kids," Stanford snorted.

Silver walked the shoreline of the Tolloa ocean, running the hand through the lavender brush and seed. Home… what a familiar, lonely existence. An ocean trading village called Crotalloa used to stand nearby, where Master Arena would take her to see how important water was for the success of these people. Water fueled their life as a biological necessity, a mode of transportation, an energy, a medium for energy… a life of its own…

The guardian made her way through the foundations of what used to be a successful and lively village. What was left of the ruins was subject to the elements of wind and water, and all the magical relics were broken and buried. Silver fondled her pendant, probably the only magic relic left… except that it wasn't magic, or so she was told.

A core stone, Silver thought, a core of a planet… this makes no sense… mother, can you hear me? Father? Ugh, how did the oracles set up prayer circles again? Silver slumped down onto a mound of dirt and thrush. She wanted to shake off emotions and just become a pillar of salt, eroding away with time and element. Being with people was exhausting. Fun, exciting, and very different from the new life she had started on Faven… alone. She had forgotten how much emotional energy was used in socializing. Was I always this introverted? Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Eyes closed… empty my mind… Silver gradually relaxed. In small pieces at a time, Silver meditated on her time with the team and Sage.

Sage. The animosity that Silver initially felt for the Sentient melted away with the realization that they weren't that different from each other. This didn't change the face that what they had done to her home was unforgiveable, but maybe the universe was giving them a second chance…

Something tickled the edge of the guardian's magic sense… it felt like… a life? Silver opened her eyes and looked around. A manly figure stood at the shoreline. His stance and walking motion looked familiar…

Silver jumped up and ran down. It can't be – how… she slowed to a walk as she drew nearer.

"Hello?" she cautiously sidled up to him. The ocean breeze pushed his blond hair back to reveal his face holding a soft, unwavering gaze toward the horizon. The guardian's heart jumped into her throat, she froze. Her breath caught in her chest. Then there was nothing there. Silver blinked repeatedly, thinking that maybe the coming tears were distorting her vision. But there weren't even footprints in the sand where he had stood. Silver looked around, the dreary reality of loneliness settling into her heart like a bird in its nest. She sunk to the ground, her body breathing against the quiet pain of a broken heart. There was no one… it was just her, alone, not even the creatures came out of hiding. Why do you torture me now? She trembled, wiping her face from the wet pathways that tears left behind. I know I'm not just seeing things…

He was in her dreams almost every night, and now he was real, even if only for a moment. I miss you so badly, Sorren… where are you? Where'd you go?

"Thanks for coming over," Grace walked Zoom to the door. "You sure you have to go?" He pulled on his shoes before turning to smile back at her.

"Thanks for having me. Sorry, but yeah, I think I'm a little too sleep deprived…it's been kinda a long day… if I stay up any later, I might fall asleep behind the helmet." He clicked on his phone as he walked out, noting that it was nearly two in the morning. Nothing sounded better than bed.

"Why don't you stay over, then? It's just me. My parents are out of town for a business trip until Saturday."

"Crash on your couch?" Zoom considered, hesitating to reach for his helmet.

"No," Grace laughed with a mischievous look in her eye, hugging herself in an old sweater cardigan. "with me. You can sleep with me, silly."

Zoom's eyes widened. Oh, this is happening… He opened it to speak but nothing came out.

"And I'm not thinking of a one-night stand… or friends with… you know…" her voice got quieter with her next words. "I like you Zoom… I want you… I have for a while now,"

Shoot, why didn't I think about this sooner… he collected his thoughts and words finally came out of his mouth."Grace, I like you too, I just… "

"Then stay," her brown eyes locked onto him. The scout didn't have to scan her to know her body. It's not that he had stared at her all night, it's just something that you couldn't unsee after one look. She had left little to the imagination: a slim waist, long slender legs, and rounded breasts were all accentuated by the crop top and leggings she wore for the evening, even if she did cover it a little with a sweater. She was beautiful to look at… but Zoom still felt hesitant… something was off.

"You can take me tonight… I know you want to," she stepped closer to the scout. He instinctively stepped back. Grace's face fell instantly. "You… don't feel the same."

"Hold on," he said. "I didn't say that,"

"You didn't have to," she shook her head and walked back into the house.

"Hold on – can we talk about this?"

"Zoom," she turned and leaned against the doorframe, keeping her eyes on the ground and hands in her pockets as she spoke. "if you don't like me like that, don't give me false hope, ok? Drive safe. It's been fun."

The door closed behind her. Zoom hesitated, wondering if he should chase after her, tell her he wanted her too, that he'd take that jump with her. The lights in the house turned off. Zoom turned his bike and drove away. It's safer for her if she doesn't get involved anyway… he thought to himself. But his heart felt torn. Grace was amazing, intelligent, funny, hardworking, and patient with basically everyone. He just didn't know yet if he wanted to go that route. He felt like slapping himself for being so ignorant and clueless as to what had been happening. Vert had warned him before, but he had brushed it all off.

It's not that I don't like her, he reasoned, she's an awesome person, I just didn't want that tonight… not after today. As Zoom thought about it, the drive home seemed shorter than normal. As he descended to the bedroom hall, thoughts about Silver tickled his memory, raising hopes that she had decided to come back, but he pushed them away, refocusing on the dilemma at hand. His mind wouldn't stop pestering him about Grace as he brushed his teeth. It went in circles even after he laid in bed hoping sleep would cure his emotions. He rolled onto his back and put his palms to his face with a groan. Don't give me false hope, she had said. He knew what she wanted, but how should he respond? Would they still be friends if he said 'no' and kept it at that? Did he want to try seriously dating her? There was a reason he had tried to keep the romantic date ideas aside.

What do I want?

The guardian plummeted into slumber, her heart numbed and eyes puffy from crying. Her dreams were troubling and restless, the new normal, even thought the transformation had worked. When she woke up, the shore and water glowed from the light of the moon. The moon… her mother. Silver brought out the stone from beneath her blouse and dangled it in front of her face, hiding the moon in the sky.

"This is your core stone, isn't it?" she sniffed half-heartedly. No answer. Silver grasped the stone, in her hand, feeling the smooth edges. The ocean breeze almost sounded like it was whispering to her thoughts… the voice of Ophelia… you desire but do not ask…

Silver sighed. This was crazy. Waves talking. She squeezed her eyes shut. "Mother, grant me ears to her your voice… just let me hear you… please… I'm confused and alone and I need your help…"

Reach, child.

"How?" Silver instantly let her magic sense fly like an open net around her, hoping to catch any sense of being or entity. "Where?"

Reach.

Silver opened her eyes. She looked down at the stone, then up to the sky.

…Ophelia calls you… the waves sloshed onto the sand, seemingly pushing themselves to reach her. It was almost as if their force was concentrated in her area. The guardian walked curiously to the outstretch of water. With her approach, they leapt forward in strong bounds, rapid and eager. Silver cautiously knelt at the tip of the water's reach. With a final heave, it swept up, latching onto the stone grasped in her palm. Startled, she snatched her hand up, but with another heave the ocean reached for it again, coating itself around her fist. Silver felt a gentle tug from the waves. Confused, she lowered the stone and opened her palm a little. Water swirled around it as droplets sprung up in a joyful dance. Silver remembered something Sorren had taught her when they were young, and he had not yet been given the rank of master…

Masters Arena and Salamandstrom had gone to buy more supplies in Crotalloa. Their party had been traveling for days chasing a band of black magic market traders. After following the coastline, it looked like they would be heading into the Echo Woods some distance West of the Tolloa ocean. Not knowing when they would be near another settlement, the masters left Silver and Sorren at their camp on the beach while they went into town. Sorren had been reciting something he learned from his master.

"The oceans dance and sing her song, the waves they reach for her heart – they long. The stars - her court. The skies – her hall. Up to her throne her children call. And though most never hear response, truly, a bond is what she wants. Bold child of light reach out your hand, for Ophelia will call you where you stand," his voice slowed with the last words of the poem. "apparently it's been passed down generations from a celestial master who used to live around here. Little Silvian, what do you think it means?"

"Do you have to call me that? You know I hate that name," she grunted. "I don't know,"

"You didn't even try to think about it," her friend laughed.

"Well you seem to have an idea so I'd rather you just tell me,"

"Just think about it first."

The young guardian paused and stared at the water, then stabbed her toes into the sand. "I give up. Just tell me."

Sorren sighed. "You really know how to take the fun out of poetic theory," he said glumly. "It's about your mother."

"Well I know that much," Silver rolled her eyes.

"It's about the tide, how at night the ocean pulls up the beach to be closer to the sky where she is. The poet relates it to your domain, her 'children', and kind of how you have been trying to talk to her but don't hear anything back, like it says."

"Yeah, so what?"

"I think the poem is suggesting something you should try,"

"Reach? Sorren, I've already reached out multiple times. She is never there. And the oracles haven't been able to help me either. I don't feel her presence like they do. I don't ever hear her, I'm convinced she doesn't care,"

"She loves you… you're her daughter. But maybe like the tide, you have to reach up to her."

"You mean… literally?"

"Yeah. No more words or magic, just a humble quiet moment of 'I'm here', and somehow she'll call out to you this time instead." His brown eyes centered on her, gold shaggy hair covering the tops of his ears.

Silver paused and thought about it. "That's ridiculous. It can't be that easy,"

Sorren flopped onto his back with a soft thud. "I don't know... was just an idea. You're probably right."

Silver laid back next to him and they both stared up into the sky at the clouds passing slowly. She reached over for his hand and gently wove her fingers into his.

"Hey, Sorren?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you, I appreciate it,"

"Of course, I'm here for you," he looked over and smiled, then gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "always will be,"

… Ophelia calls you…

Waves whispered in her ear. Silver watched the water dance around her palm with the stone.

"reach out your hand," she whispered in realization. "for Ophelia will call you where you stand…" the guardian stood, and in her heart's desperation for answers, for a voice, for anything at all, she reached to the moon, Ophelia.

"Enter my halls, child," An airy voice reached her ear. "and tell me, where have you traveled to? I had not seen you for so long…"

Mother… a tear trickled down Silver's cheek.