Chapter 56

  Co-operative Healing

  Mist steamed from the frost caked entrance of the bowl.

  Sporadic cracking rang out, the ice thawing, stone settling.

  As Dan and Jimmy settled in to cultivate, the others helped George settle in by the cold clear pool.

  They laid him down on the cleanest of the furs they acquired from the river camp, and he started pulling Qi fervently from the reservoir.

  The bleeding slowed to a weep and eventually stilled.

  Belle got some of the dried meat, setting it beside him

  “Your healing does seem pretty amazing George. I thought we might lose you there for a moment..” Jaime handed him a canteen to get a drink, eyes moist.

  “Eh, it's just some cuts. My Restoration will see me through just fine. I might even learn something..”

  George grunted as the Qi knit muscle, sweat beading despite the cold mountain air.

  "Feels like knitting with barbed wire," he muttered, "Like every bit of the natural pain. Just revved up."

  He flexed his fingers, testing.

  Pain shot up his arm with a grimace, but the gash sealed a fraction more.

  "Old dog's got tricks left."

  Annette sat by the camp fire, next to Chris, as he coaxed the coals back to life with a little breath and a flexing of will.

  Chris stared into the flames, hands still shaking.

  "I failed. I should have been by him, got to it faster... I..."

  Annette placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "You didn't. You acted when no one else could. We are all just doing the best that we can, trying to get through this together.

  Annete gave his shoulder a squeeze as her voice hitched slightly.

  “That's not failing, Chris."

  That poor kid…

  Chris huffed, shrugging, unconvinced.

  The fire sputtered.

  Chris struggled to keep it alight, it felt frozen.

  Dead.

  Grunting with one more burst of will, it flared up, burning aggressively.

  No one spoke.

  Breaths stayed tense.

  Chris walked slowly over to his father, head down, backlit by the fire burning merrily behind him.

  He’s so pale..

  I can't believe I almost watched him die..

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  “I’m sorry Dad, I should've been faster, th-”

  “Oh hush would you?… scratch my back, I can't reach it…”

  George glanced at his youngest over his shoulder, face still splattered with blood.

  “You did good kid.”

  You're all making it out of this.

  I swear it.

  “Scratch higher.”

  Kim sat on the edge of the basin, feet dangling just above the waters’ surface.

  One hand tracing the ripples, the other on the resting pooch.

  I used a lot of my reserves..

  It must have been when I was saving Luna…

  The surge had come instinctively.

  But the cost... her channels felt hollow, reserves scraped thin.

  “Worth it!” She gently rubbed her soft fur.

  Luna gave off a little whimper.

  “Oh, you will be okay, just a scuff and a bump.”

  She held her paw in the air.

  Kim sighed, “Poor baby..”

  Her fingers trembled as she traced Luna’s fur.

  It wasn't just her Seed that felt hollow.

  Almost lost her.

  Luna leaned in, giving a small warm lick on Kim’s wrist.

  The spring's mist curled around them, soothing, comforting.

  Still, the spring's Qi whispered promises, refilling drop by drop.

  She exhaled, letting it in.

  Her fingers traced the water, shaking hands disturbing the calm surface.

  Jimmy sat cross legged, back straight, head held towards the night sky.

  This light..

  He felt the shifting motes flickering throughout his body,

  Feels like.. Moonlight..

  The specks were a soft dim light, slowly shifting and moving.

  They cast weak shifting shadows.

  Hallucinations, causing confusion… Illusion.

  With that thought, the motes coalesced neatly into Jimmy's soft glowing seed.

  Dan’s thigh ached, and still bled on the rock he sat on.

  He didn't let it distract him.

  The frost feels so good.

  It wanted to slowly spread and grow out.

  Forcing itself into nooks and crannies.

  It slowed the bleeding to a crawl as the blood coagulated.

  Slow, inexorable, penetrating. So cold.. So slow.

  Dan looked over to Jimmy, who was still sitting, staring at the sky.

  “This was.. Different. This was close.”

  Jimmy kept his focus towards the heavens, “Yup.”

  Dan took in the blood, bodies, and his torn, throbbing leg.

  “We have to get stronger, fast.”

  Moonlight glinted off of Jimmy’s glasses, “Yup.”

  “You figured out some cheat yet?” The bearded man rubbed the back of his head.

  “Nope,” the lean man replied with a smile.

  “Fuck.”

  Dan rubbed his mangled leg, frost creeping further but slowing the bleed.

  "Those things had affinities. Phasing. Illusions. Frost. We're playing catch-up."

  Jimmy nodded, motes shifting under his skin like starlight.

  "Moonlight, definitely. Deceptive. Lies made real."

  I must figure this out quickly.

  We can't repeat this.

  “You talking to me or thinking?”

  Silence.

  Dan snorted.

  "...Couldn’t get a Listening Affinity huh?"

  He mirrored his friend's gaze, up to the stars.

  The stars above watched back.

  Cold, endless.