A/N: Argh. I can't seem to write long chapters anymore. I hope you still like my mini chapters. :)
No answers came, just an immeasurable feeling of sadness. Bo watched as dusk turned the trees to shadows. It was completely dark when she felt Tamsin behind her.
"Bo, do you need something?"
The gentle distance in the ranger's voice felt all too symbolic. "Thank you, Tamsin. I'm fine." Bo turned to see that Tamsin had placed oil lamps around the room. The quiet beauty of the now lit-up cabin eased some of her heartache. If only Usne were here. She could help Bo work out what to do about Tamsin. Not to mention, the imminent issue of the Binding.
In Bo's longing for her mentor, she felt a stirring of hope. Twelve years she trained with Usne Dur. Twelves years, and it couldn't be all for nought. Bo smiled. There was something she could do. "Tamsin, could you boil some water while I prepare a dreaming tea?"
Tamsin squinted at this, but agreed. "Sure."
"I want talk to Usne," Bo said, matter-of-fact.
"Okaaay." Tamsin's now raised eyebrows spoke volumes.
Bo, ignoring the ranger's skepticism, explained, "We have a practice that involves lucid dreaming. I'll make a mugwort tea blend and will try to reach the elemental form of Usne that lives inside of me."
"Right. I'll just get started then," Tamsin said, walking towards the stove.
"Thanks." Bo looked at her ranger. She could tell that Tamsin was thrown by her plan.
Tamsin put the kettle on the wood stove as Bo mixed herbs. While the water cooked, Bo knew Tamsin was watching her. Not allowing herself to lose focus, she placed the mesh bag full of herbs in a mug. Then very slowly Bo removed a piece of purple fabric from her bag and took it to the bed. As she unrolled it on top of a pillow, she whispered the words that summoned sleep and visions.
Tamsin eyes were again on her as she drank her tea in bed, causing a new frustration to rise inside of Bo. "Tamsin, you look on me, but you will never say what your eyes tell me," Bo said, exasperated.
The ranger broke eye contact and inhaled sharply. No words followed and Bo wasn't surprised by it.
When a drowsy openness began to take hold, Bo laid down on the purple fabric. She could feel her mind already start to expand.
"Is there anything else you'll need, Bo?" Tamsin asked, finally breaking the silence.
Looking up at Tamsin, Bo felt their cord stronger than ever, as if their energies were merging. It would have overwhelmed her if she wasn't fading into vision sleep. "Even if you hear me scream, don't wake me up," Bo murmured, as she slipped into unconsciousness.
"Land and sea will always be," Tamsin replied. But Bo was already gone.