She walked along in the village's silence. The jungle's shadows became smaller as the twin suns rose higher into the sky. The heat and the humidity pressed against her skin. With each step, each breath, the springs called out for her. He said, "the goddess has touched you, and she allows you to bathe in the springs where she dwelled.

"Mighty nice of her." little misaka spoke with a few nods of her head.

"Yea…" Mikoto answered, feeling her breath being stolen by the heat and humidity. "Thinking about…"

"Visiting the springs?" Little misaka quickly answered. There was no hiding her preference. Mikoto understood. Since coming to this world, the springs have been close to paradise. The sound of the waters, birds, and smells of the flowers and bubbling waters. The way the flowers mixed with the scent of the jungle, distant fires of the village, and a hint of sulfur. Not too overwhelming, but there was enough to let you know. And the warm mist and steam provided the perfect hiding spot to nap or just pull her knees to her chest, close her eyes, and remember.

Before she knew it, she walked past the mound of earth, Dohyo. The Tall, long narrow flags rippled in the slight breeze, the brightly colored feathers and dyes lingering and felt not so bright. Villagers were bringing kindling, wood, and heavy logs and stacking them around the mound. Mikoto's eyes glistened. She didn't have the ask.

She had witnessed funeral pyres many times in the funerals of wolves. Bodies wrapped in fine cotton, placed on the top, torches lit and readied. Songs sad and thoughtful, weaving in the night breeze as wolves gathered around. Drinking, laughing, and telling not-so-flattering stories about the wolf. Family members took the torches, walked over, and lit the pyre. The flickering of fire reflected in the eyes of friends and families. A memory of heat on her skin, the fire reaching to the moon, and the drunken laughter of wolves. Mikoto closed her eyes, putting her hand to her chest.

"Good times," little misaka said. "Another dance to barf on a certain asshole brother? Maybe? Please…?"

"I hate you sometimes."

"No," she shook her head, grinning. You don't. You keep trying to convince yourself that.

Oh no, you keep trying to convince yourself… jerk

I know you are, but what am I?

Mikoto chuckled and took a breath. "I guess I should maybe join Aya and the others? Or maybe?

"I think the springs would be nice. Say thanks to the goddess, and maybe…."

She nodded." Yeah… and I can check on a few things."

She stepped out of the brush and into the shimmering glow of twilight. The light of the twin suns buffeted by the thick foliage of the taller trees. Stepping over the beginning of a small meandering stream no wider than a stride. She raised her head, eyeing the surrounding, checking every ripple, every movement of leaves and shadows. And took a deep breath, smelling for trouble. But the smell of floral, cool water and a pinch of sulfur told her everything was fine. Stepping through the soft golden rays that found their way through the low-hanging tree branches. Mikoto slipped into and past the shafts of sunshine, walked across the smooth, wet black rock surface, slowly kneeled, and dipped her finger into the water. Ripples radiated outward and bounced against the rocks, creating counter ripples that connected and changed directions. Small bluish white streaks rushed across the surface and below, chasing the unknown, lighting up the thick mist and steam like a flash of far-off lightning.

"Just checking," she said.

She walked along the outer edges, checking for signs of visitors." I don't think she was here today." Little misaka referred to the young one they'd met and shared a bath. "Little thief… oh, we will get you! My pretty" Little misaka rubbed her hands like a bad villain. Mikoto smirked. "Nothing ventured, nothing gain." She said, stopping and looking down at the empty wooden bowl. She leaned over, picked it up, and sniffed." It's clean.." she said. "Pretty sure it had a few bits of the creamy all-natural hanging from limb stuff left."

Mikoto reached into one of the utility belts and opened a small compartment. Taking out a hotel-sized wrapped bar of soap. Lavender, vanilla, chamomile, and rose scented. Put three of them into the wooden bowl and place it in the same spot.

"An offering to the goddess?" Little misaka quipped. "Usage fee?" She asked. "Well deserved." And inhaled, "and for the future reservation, of course."

"Of course," Mikoto whispered. "Now, let's go to the top." She said, walking away over the black rocks and into the jungle.

She walked along the same path she'd used when finding the gardens. The tall trees, wide as school buses, rose like skyscrapers. Exposed roots as thick as oil drums and larger. She was standing on one, smelling the mosses, the wetness and humidity of the jungle. But it didn't bother her. A small, gentle gust of wind told her she was near. She took a step and dropped to the jungle floor, crouched, eyes thinning, ears twitching, and taking a deep breath. This was something she loved. She is not using her abilities to scan and build sonar and radar images in her mind. Memory and primal urges pushed her forward. The need and want to run wild in the jungle sent chills and goosebumps popping over her skin. Electricity coursed through her blood. Something took wing, and she cocked her head, listening to it flying away from her. A smile slipped out from the corners of her mouth, and the tips of her fangs peeped out.

"Nothing like going old school." Little misaka said. "Like running with the wolves and taking down… boar…. deer…" she shrugged"…. pedophiles…"

"What?" Her face twisted like she'd eaten something bad.

"Oh? Sorry didn't mean… that we did that…" putting her hand on her chest," maybe heard a rumor, seen it on pay-per-view or something about really bad people being offered freedom if they could outrun and outwit wolves and vampires in a game of… predator and prey a real survivor island thing."

"I don't remember? We…" thinned her eyes, trying to remember…" we didn't… what have you done?!"

Little misaka grinned maliciously. "Please…" she feigned something that was really not pity or forgiveness…" besides, they were really bad people."

(Predator and Prey, survivor, wolf, and vampire editions. Seen on pay-per-view and many wolf and vampire channels. Murders, rapists, and pedophiles are given a chance to commute their sentences. They are put into situations where competitors compete for money and prizes. And a head start. A stash of weapons is stored in the forest and or jungles. And they have to find them and make their way to freedom. By any means. A simple premise, only one drawback. Wolves and/ or vampires will be hunting you. It is a big hit in the four kingdoms and Sakura Island. And no, Mikoto Misaka has never competed. "It's a shame," according to little misaka. "I really miss vampire porn though")

"We are going to talk!"

"Yeah, sure,"

Mikoto stepped out of the jungle's edge into tall, shoulder-high grasses. Stepping around and pushing her way through, she saw the steep rock wall she'd run down. Nearly vertical and now looking up, damn high.

"Last time we created a little avalanche," putting her foot on jagged pieces of black stone reminders.

"Taking the easy way?!" Little misaka hoped.

She can use static electricity to induce electrolysis. Using hydrogen and oxygen as fuel, she can create water vapor to make wings. And using airflow manipulation, creating a low-pressure region, allowing high-pressure areas close by to rush in and fill the low pressure for quick takeoffs.

Mikoto nodded and crouched. Her eyes swirled in reddish brown colors, with hints of bright blues, excitedly. Water vapors swirled, glistening like diamonds, and formed. The edges moved like arms and reached for the sky. She flew along the vertical face towards the top of the gardens.

Her gossamer wings fell apart like dew on the leaves as she sat on the edge of the gardens. With her legs over the edge and looked across the treetops' miles of soft dark greens. Then, with a smile, she looked down the descending side of the cliff, down to the bottom. It was nearly vertical, but about the middle, it bowed out into a gradual slope until it reached the bottom.

With it, tall grasses bent with the wind as it made its way up the side of the cliff and over her, carrying the smell of a living garden filled with who knows what, but she could smell the water, and her heart beat a little harder. It had only been a short while since she had sat in this same spot. But now, she knew a little more.

She looked over the hard black rocks. Its surface showed signs of the small changes since she had last been here. But not so much had changed. She heard the distance roar, like a train coming. The wind. Like the images of dust storms tearing through the plains, towns, and cities of the dust bowl eras. She saw a wall of swirling black pushing over the landscape. Felt the hot wind being pushed in front of it, getting faster, warmer, and thicker. Clear, then graying, and finally black. The tops of the jungle bent and struggled. Its thick heavy leaves tossed like thin paper, ripping and tearing, thrown high and disappeared. She felt its heat and fine sand striking her cheeks. Her long hair whipped painfully in its grasp.

Mikoto laid on her back, legs hanging over the edge, and raised her hand.

Heavy, black like the rough belt of a sander, rushed above her. the winds traveled a good three, maybe four feet above the surface. Not striking the surface, but the turbulence it caused was just as destructive. The heat of its speed blistered her palms. She raised up, and the skin tore from her hand by the layers, exposing the white bone underneath. Terrifying and exhilarating, wrapped together closer than the skin of lovers pressed tightly. Loud thunderous cracks and booms from the tops of trees ran through the blender.

She took her hand away as she lay on her back. She ignored the blood dripping on her face as meat, muscle, and tendons reformed. The blood on her skin reabsorbed where it had landed.

As the roar passed, she crossed her arms. She rolled over on her belly and stared along the black rock landscape, seeing smaller debris tumbling out of sight. She thought of the possibility of being rescued. How long it would take? How long the winds would last? Aya had called it a season. Maybe something like fall, winter, summer, or spring. "Maybe three months…" she wondered. Felt the anxiety building in her chest and nausea in her belly. The emptiness in her heart.

Hours passed, and finally, like a train rolling to a stop, it sputtered and slowed. The heat of the twin suns poured down on her as if in revenge.

She sighed a defeated breath, rose and looked beyond her dangling boots. "Drop? Walk…." she slowly grinned, "or fly?" Taking a breath and expanding her chest, she reached underneath her arms, feeling the edge of the fabric where, if she wanted, her wings would slip out and spread. She could fly? She didn't need to use her calculations but to spread her wings, glide over the trees, and drop to the springs. But did she want to show that part of her? If someone saw her, would they even think she was a daughter of a dragon or goddess? Would they fear or revere her? Both turned her stomach. She shut her eyes, shaking her head, "not a chance." she whispered. She imagined what the son of the king would think or do. Was it surprise, or maybe fear the others might feel?

"But…" she smiled. "I have shown them this." Drawing swirls of cool and hot air mixing, she leaned over, and water particle wings dropped, catching the updrafts and glided over the treetops. Seeing the glistening and mist-covered pools, she slipped along the wind currents and touched the smooth, wet black rocks. Her ethereal wings drifted, and dew drops lightly splashed around her boots.

She reached up to her neck, pinched the zipper, and pulled it down. The cool, moist air caressing her skin sent chills over her skin, and she pulled it to her waist and slowly undressed.