Boundaries in Motion

The sun reached its highest point in the sky as it flickered behind the clump of clouds. 

Rose rested on her hands stretched behind her; a satisfied expression etched across her face. A sphere of water shimmered in the air at her side. She leaned toward it and took a sip.

Kai watched from his side of the barrier. His eyes furrowed as he shoved his last share into his mouth. 

He gagged.

"The taste really doesn't sit well without seasoning after all," he muttered. 

With each bite came a soft meaty crunch.

"I didn't think you'd be the one between the two of us to complain about taste," Rose replied. "Didn't you live in the woods?"

"Sure," he murmured. "But at least we had access to salt."

He leaned toward his own sphere of water floating next to him; drinking in large gulps. He pulled away with an exhale before rising to his feet.

"I am more shocked that you can just down your share."

Kai examined the small shell fragments loosely sprinkled on her robe. She followed his gaze down and brushed them off. Her eyes narrowed at the few sand grains glinting where the shells had fallen.

She glanced at Kai. "Can you really blame me? I've used so much mana and energy the last couple of days."

She gestured with a hand. Her body lifted from the ground until it was straight up. Then with another gesture, each particle lifted off her robe and fell to the ground in a soft grace. She placed her hands in her floating orb of water and motioned them clean before cupping some and lifting it to her face.

"Besides," she flicked the water from her face. "The map didn't show much going forward. We won't know if this is the last time we eat for a while."

Kai lowered his eyes. She was right. At least they were topped up with nutrition for a while. He didn't know where their ultimate destination was, but he knew not to ask. He needed only to trust and protect her. 

He glanced at the scorpions main body, untouched. 

"It will be a shame that we can't bring more of it with us," he said. "It's amazing that we were able to eat most of its pincer." 

Rose gestured, collecting both spheres of water into one and rinsing off the cast-iron. With a controlled flame, she dried it, intentionally avoiding the handle before floating it toward Kai.

He wrapped it in cloth and stored it in his bag, pausing at the sight of his father's book tucked away near the bottom.

The wind hissed outside the barrier, reminding him to look forward, not back.

"I guess we should head out, huh?" He glanced up at Rose. Her fingers held her chin in a stilled focus. 

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm going to try it," she said calmly. "I do feel much better; full strength."

Kai lifted their bags over his shoulder. "Try what exactly?"

"Moving the barrier with us," she stepped toward him, an unruly smirk forming. "We can't have the wind causing us to lose unnecessary energy."

Kai nodded, following her step backward.

Rose tilted her head.

"Why did you back away?" she said. "I wasn't going to bite."

Why did he step away, he thought to himself. He should have been used to this. He noticed something different. His chest hammered under his robes. 

What is this? 

He turned, hiding cherry cheeks partially hidden by his scarf.

"Sounds like a plan." he murmured. "In that case I will try something too."

He flung the bag to his front and pulled out the sleeping cloth. Rose didn't understand what he was going to do. 

Kai quickly went to work, tying the corners with each other until there were two knots.

Rose's brows raised as the realization clicked.

"I'll get us there," she responded. 

She closed her eyes. The barrier around them was fully autonomous, detached from most of her mana control. The only way to have it move with them would be to reattach it, forcing it to once again feed on her mana consumption.

She grimaced. "Too inefficient," she muttered. "That will definitely run me dry before hunger does."

Kai stole a glance at her, noticing things he never noticed before. The smoothness of her hair, her slim frame, her soft lips...

He shook his head aggressively.

What the heck is wrong with me?

Rose paused, eyes still closed. 
Maybe if it followed me specifically?
She thought it was worth the try. What if she became an anchor point rather than a mana supplier?

Her hands began to circle in the air. The barrier briefly hummed before returning to silence.

"Well?" Kai asked. "Did it work?"

Rose opened her eyes.

"Let's see."

She took a step forward.

The barrier shifted with her motion.

"How did you do that?" he asked.

"I basically told it that I had reattached to it, without actually doing it. So now the barrier is treating me as if I am supplying it with mana."

Kai gave a short nod.

"Sort of like your mana hand, but not quite," she continued. "From what I can recall, your mana extends out in the shape of your arm. Then, it follows the orders of your real arm autonomously."

She paused, drifting into her mind.

"Maybe if I condensed it and formed it around me just like Kai does with his arms... A thin body shaped barrier. I would have autonomous protection," she whispered low.

Kai exhaled. He was glad she now had the energy splice magical abilities.

"Shall we," he interrupted.

Rose glanced toward him. Her eyes dimmed to normal.

"Sorry," she said. "I lost myself for a second there."

"It's okay."

Kai turned toward the other pincer. He stepped toward it. Rose followed behind. The barrier mimicked her stride until the edge crashed into the claw. The barrier rippled with golden light; a mixture of the sun's rays and her mana in unity.

"Looks like we can't just let it through," Kai muttered.

"Of course not," she replied. "Barriers are meant to contain after all. Here, let's try this."

She leaned backward. The barrier followed, opening up at the bottom. Kai swiftly grabbed onto the pincer with his mana hand and pulled it into their dome.

Rose straightened, closing off the wind once more.

Kai examined the claw. It was bigger than he remembered.
"I hope this works," he murmured. 

He set the sheet on the sand, flattened it out, then pulled the massive pincer over with a steady grip. It dropped with a dull crash and sent a small wave of sand outward.

"There," he whispered. "Now I just need to wrap it up."

"Stop." 

Rose approached with steady steps and planted herself on the other side of the claw. She glared at him with calm ocean eyes he still hasn't gotten used to. Except now, they didn't reflect tranquil peace, but confusion.

"Kai… what’s the plan here?"

He tilted his head, unsure what she meant.

"How are we supposed to eat all of this?" She glanced at the enormous claw, then back at him. "Think about it. There’s no way we can finish this before it spoils."

He opened his mouth but she continued. "You always rush to solve the immediate problem, and that’s one of the things I trust about you. But we have to think ahead too."

She crouched and patted the giant claw.

"I thought you were going to divide it into a smaller portion at least."

Kai smiled. "I wasn’t planning on carrying it. I was planning on dragging it."

"Exactly why I stopped you," she said gently. "I’m not letting you strain yourself. You’re supposed to be protecting us. You can’t do that if your mana drops because you tried to haul half a monster."

Kai nodded.

He couldn't win against her. 

"Sorry," Rose whispered. "I know you have good intentions. Knowing you, you probably didn't want to see me in that pathetic state of hunger."

"It's okay, though," she glanced at him with determined eyes. "I can feel it. We're close."

Kai circled around the claw and knelt beside her. He thought about placing a hand over hers, then let the impulse fade.

"I told you," he said gently, "I will follow you. I owe you my life."

Kai stood and lifted a hand in the air. The orange glow of mana coiled it, extending his reach. Rose floated back with a slight gesture of a finger. Kai straightened his hand and brought it down hard on the pincer.

A short while later, several clean portions of scorpion meat rested on the fabric. Kai tied the corners into a tight bundle and swung it over his shoulder.

"If it gets too heavy, tell me," Rose murmured. "I can also carry it in the air."

Kai shook his head.

"You are already doing your part, Rose. Besides, between the two of us, we need your power the most."

His smile was small but sincere. 

"Let's go."

They headed north, Rose matching his pace. The barrier pushed the wind aside with a soft hiss. Their footprints trailed behind them, drifting toward the scorpion’s remains until it looked no different from a lump of sand.