“The sun didn’t rise,” he said as he looked toward the sky and stared at the twinkling stars visible through the trees.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”
He shifted his gaze toward her, his emerald eyes sparkling against the firelight. “The sun. It never rose. The sky should be turning blue right now.”
She had no idea what he was talking about. Why would the sun not rise? It was obviously still evening.
“Roya told me what happened,” he started before she could say anything. “And before you lay it on me,I know, and I’m sorry, Seda.”
She didn’t care if he didn’t want to hear it again. She had things to say regardless. “You have to trust us, Cahir. You have to trustme. We’re a team, and we’re strongtogether.”
He moved his eyes away from hers and looked at the crackling wood. “I…” He hesitated. “I know.”
Silence fell between them, and Seda got to her feet, irritation flooding her. She could understand his reasoning, but he needed to trust that she was more than the meek woman he knew in Joro. She had power racing through her bones, and she knew how to use it. He didn’t have to protect her at his own expense like that.
She looked around for the others, but they weren’t near the campsite. She turned around toward the roses, and an opening was visible through the bushes, as if they had parted for them.
“What—” Seda began.
“They parted for us. Apparently, they were blocking the path intentionally, moving as we walked and taking us further into the woods.”
Seda remembered how they had shifted their roots and snagged themselves around the Lobison. Why were they leading them deeper into the forest, and why had they now parted for them?
She left Cahir behind and walked closer to the flowers, watching as each rose’s eye stared back at her.
Whatever, she thought in irritation.At least it’s open now.
She walked through the opening and spotted Elco with Roya and Suza on the other side. “Elco!” she yelled, running up to him. His injuries had healed, and he was basking in a large patch of moonlight that glittered against his red scales.
“My moon-flutter. You’re finally awake.” He purred against her.
She hugged him close and sighed as his warmth seeped into her chilled bones. “I’m so happy you’re okay.”
“I always am,” he replied with a huff.
“I had a dream with you in it. I know you mentioned you don’t recall much from before the Camp, but I have a persistent feeling that this occurred. Can you tell me if you remember this?” she asked, starting to feel a bit foolish and nervous at what he might reveal.
“I can try,” he said as he continued to purr under her touch.
She told him of the dream with the tree and the small flying kittens, and his purrs slowly stopped. He looked at her.
“I do vaguely recall that. That was the day you wished for Somnium back,” he said.
Confusion swirled inside her, causing her to pull away from him and nervously fidget with her fingers. “How did you not know Kalon was Somnium when we traveled to the Wisps? How did you know it was me in the Camp?”
He huffed again, and smoke billowed from his nostrils. “I didn’t know it was you at first. Only had a suspicion. And I had never seen Somnium without his mask. He was elusive toward me.”
“But his voice?” she asked.
“It was so very long ago. I had been trapped in that dungeon for far too long. However, I do remember my kin—those tiny flying felines you mentioned. In the end, I did everything I could to protect them after you left.”
“What happened to them?” Seda asked as she sat down beside him and picked at a blade of grass.
“I don’t know,” he whispered, staring up at the sky. He sighed deeply and warmly through his nostrils. “Did you know the sun didn’t crest the horizon this morning?”
Seda looked up at the moon once more. Cahir had pointed out the same thing. Why would the sun not rise? If the sun were missing, how would the moon still be ablaze?
“I don’t understand,” she said.
