The Plains

Kai’s paws pounded the ground, smashing the grasses and leaving a noticeable trail. His voice a steady rasp as his bulk shuddered, pulsing with energy. Days had blurred since they’d left the safety of Sal Shefa’s walls behind. From dawn to the middle of the night, they pushed on, passing the shades, forcing their way through. Their rests only happened when Kai found some prey to sustain them.

The journey had carried them across the wind swept plains, across the small edge of the desert, across some rivers, and into the savanna. More rivers swelled, slowing their pace. Ahead rose those mountains. It was reminiscent of their flight so long ago. Though, the autumn winds were more appealing than the winter storms that had forced them back. On the other side, further east, lay Father’s forest.

Bard held Sen close, her arms wrapped around his waist, her cheek pressed to his shoulder. As his hand clasped hers, he let his mind wander. For six years they had built Sal Shefa and four years ago started their family. He kept the tears back as his thoughts turned to Zak, his wide eyes and sweet moments filled with laughter. Now the shades were growing. With so many black tokens, and Father’s threatened, Bard prayed they would make it in time.

Kai’s ears flicked as the suns began their descent. Bard took note and shifted to Sen. Without a word, she realized what was going on and began to rummage for her arrows. They would have shades tonight. From the south.

While they climbed across Kai’s back, a river loomed, another crossing for the day. They eased into it, the water rising to Kai’s chest. Sen tightened her grip on Bard as the current tugged at Kai. They felt Kai’s low growl as he pushed through. As Kai got out, he shook his legs to discard the wet weight before pressing on with less of a bound and more of a determined trudge.

Bard kept his eyes peeled, looking for some prey they might catch, but with the shades around, there was hardly any life, making the land a silent plain.

The last rays of sun painted the mountains with golds and oranges. Sen shifted, her voice soft against the wind. “He would have loved this,” she hummed, a melancholic tone pervasive. Zak’s face flashed in Bard’s mind once more. The snuggles by the fire, listening to him sing Father’s tune, and imitating them in combat and music.

“We’ll bring him along someday,” Bard replied, forcing a smile she couldn’t see. His internal doubts gnawed. Somehow, their departure had felt final, as if some force he couldn’t name wouldn’t let them back. Yet, he kept these thoughts to himself, leaving them unspoken so they couldn’t affect the future.

Kai let out a brief howl, picking up on the unseen pursuers. Bard felt a shiver run up his spine, his hand moved to the flute at his side. He refrained from playing yet, not until they closed in. He felt the tokens clinked softly, their melody a whisper now. Kai let out a whine, his head dipping and his pace faltering.

“That many?” Bard mused. Sen shifted behind him, while he patted his friend’s back. “It’ll be fine, Kai. Just keep going. We’ll keep them back.” His words fueled them on, but Bard felt the weight as the glowing red eyes began to appear on the horizon. They were only halfway done, and yet the whole run had seen nightly shades, growing in numbers as they got closer to their destination.

Kai’s ears moved rapidly as the shades surged closer, their eyes haunting as their forms flickered between shadow and flesh. Sen fired off arrows and broke a path forward. Bard put his flute to his lips and played, shifting his weight to keep a steady note. The song drove the shades apart as they plowed in. Kai’s tail shifted as he short quill after quill as the stronger shades that tried to get near. However, the arrows ran out and Sen could no longer keep the hoard from closing in on them.

A shade lunged and Sen threw a dagger at it, forcing it to be incorporeal as it landed on Kai’s flank. Kai shifted away and Bard’s melody faltered at the quick movement. Sen shifted behind Bard, her hands fumbling at her something while he tried to get the song going again. Kai nervously pranced in pace as the shades blocked off all paths.

A sharp crack split the air and a brilliant light flew into the night air. Bard whirled to look at the source of the noise, seeing Sen covering one ear with a different type of riffle in her hand. The shades shrieked and retreated a fair distance, but Bard could tell this new bright light wouldn’t last. His eyes cast out, and he spotted a rock face, large enough to trap their shadows against and keep the shades from getting to them.

“Kai, there!” Bard urged, guiding Kai’s confused motions. Kai lumbered over, sides heaving for air as they reached the rock. They dismounted as the light began to fade. Sen shifted and fired another round, creating two light sources in the air. Bard turned to her, eyes wide as she slung the riffle across her back, the unfamiliar weapon had a bit of mist rising, still warm.

“Why’d you bring that?” he asked, voice sharp with surprise as adrenaline stirred his blood. While he moved to find chips and fuel, her voice was steady as she began to move with him.

“In case of emergency,” her words were firm. “Kai’s worn out. He’s trying to hide it, but I can tell.” Bard glanced at Kai and noticed him ducking his head apologetically, while a low whine conveyed his fatigue. Bard gritted his teeth. Without stopping, and seeing the second light beginning to dim, he exhaled to keep himself calm.

“It’s alright Kai. Sorry I didn’t notice,” he murmured, dropping the fuel in a pile and then moving over to grab their fire sticks. The light was getting too dim now, the shades were pressing too close. Bard grabbed a light stick and threw it as he snapped it, allowing the light to drive them back as he dashed to the pile and lit it with the fire stick. Sen followed suit. Soon, three fires were roaring and driving the shades back. Bard looked at the placement of the shattered moon and realized they had stopped a bit earlier than he would have liked. But his mind wandered to old days on the road, playing through the night and then strapping onto Kai. They could do this again. Though, his muscles screamed in protest at their hard ride, earning a muttering remark that he had gone soft over these years.

The shade’s red eyes glinted on the horizon, the shifting and movements rising as they regrouped.

Bard pulled the tokens from his chest and Sen handed hers over. He then began to move with them as the spun, drawing in the air like old times, though quieter now that so many were dark and silent. A barrier formed between the light and sound. Bard paused and then kept supplies handy while Sen offered to take first shift. Kai hummed as he went to sleep.

Bard followed suit, while Sen stayed alert. When she tapped him in, he could see that she had used up most of the available fuel for the fires, meaning it would be best for Bard to be ready to use up the fire sticks and play until dawn.

The shades danced at the edge of the firelight. The strong ones had vanished, likely taken out by Sen. The tokens hummed at his chest, enforcing the barrier. Bard partially climbed up above Kai so he could see farther, looking for signs of the harbinger or other foes.

Bard noticed the fizzling of the sunstones and climbed down, resorting to using up more of the light sticks. This wouldn’t last if they had to come back without Father tree, but what else could he do. He broke the sticks and set them at the camp’s edges, their glow bolstering the fading light. The shades changed their pattern, their frustration growing beyond the light's reach. Bard played on the flute, a gentle melody that matched with father’s though didn’t belong to him. It was a tune that Bard was beginning to discover, and one that he enjoyed.

As he let it trill, Sen slumbered and Kai slept. The shades circled, their eyes a ring of malice, by the barrier held. Bard’s thought drifted to Zak, to father and the rest of Sal Shefa, and he let the song be shaped by his feelings this time.

Hours stretched before the suns finally rose, he stopped and Sen awoke with Kai, reveling in the fragile reprieve as the shades retreated once more.

Bard helped Sen clean up, and they gathered what they could. Kai was doing better, but Bard felt fatigued. He had Sen tie him on, and he tried to get what sleep he could as they ran through the day.