“Is there anything you can do to protect Jelly?” she asked.
I took in our surroundings as I considered what to do.
“I have an idea, but I’m going to need you to step away from our furry friend.”
Kayla did as I asked and took a few steps back.
I closed my eyes and called upon the seedlings nearby. Their souls were tiny little lights that sprinkled the soil. They looked like twinkling stars in my mind’s eye.
I called upon them to grow big and strong. To draw energy from the soil surrounding them. Almost immediately, saplings shot up from the ground.Three on each side of the bafilo. I gave the saplings permission to draw even more energy from the earth and I felt the nearby trees lend some of their energy to the young trees.
Kayla gasped as the small trees grew big and strong around Jelly. They would protect the bafilo.
“Jelly is safe now. No beast will be able to slash through these trees.”
Kayla smiled and squeezed between two of the trees to give the animal a hug. It reminded me of the hug she’d given me earlier. I didn’t know how to react when her warm body pressed against mine—it had been so unexpected, like living in a dream for the briefest of moments before she pulled away.
“Thank you Drovo.” She turned her smile to me and in that moment I would have called upon a thousand seedlings to grow to their full height if it would make her happy. Anything to keep that smile on her face.
“Are you two ready yet?” Talia called to us from the top of the slope.
“Coming,” Kayla called back, and we made our way into the kala.
Kayla
I knew Drovo was powerful. I’d seen him in action before, but I was beginning to wonder about the true extent of his abilities. In mere moments, he caused five trees to grow from seeds to towering behemoths. What else could this dryad shifter do?
“Gather around everybody! I’m going to explain the rules!” Gabby shouted over the crowd.
Everyone quieted down and Gabby began, “You can only hit each other on the arms and legs. Once you’re hit on a limb, you can no longer use that limb, meaning if you’re hit on the leg, you have to hop around or drag the injured leg behind you. Once all four limbs have been struck, you’re considered dead and have to leave the field of battle.”
“How are we picking teams?” Taylor shouted.
“Hmm,” Gabby tapped her chin as she pondered this. “Everyone line up and I’ll count you off. Even numbers are on one team and odd numbers are on the other.”
We did as she said and she counted us one-by-one. I couldn’t hold back my grin when Drovo and I ended up on opposing teams. I was going to kick his ass.
“Blue team over here! I have your face paint!” Neelu called out. Everyone on my team received a smear of blue pain on our foreheads, while the opposing team received orange paint on theirs.
“Is everyone ready?” Gabby called out. “Are your flags planted firmly in the ground?”
“We’re ready,” I replied in response.
“We’re ready too!” Drovo shouted and gave me a wicked grin.
“Alright! Let’s battle!”
A war cry rose up from the women on both sides and, although we hadn’t planned it, the women from both teams attacked the men first. The guys all looked like deer in headlights, not having a clue what to do with us.
Brexl was the first to be taken down, and then Axon shortly after.
I caught sight of Drovo and, with a light wack on his leg, took my shot.
“I’m going to get you for that!” He said with a childish gleam in his eye.
“You can certainly try!” I cried out as Drovo hopped toward me on one foot.
I couldn’t contain the peels of laughter that escaped my mouth as I was chased down by a hopping Drovo.
