Confused, the Guardians shared glances between them. Momentarily defeated, they stumbled around and helped their wounded. Kai collected his silver stars and nodded apologetically. He watched them collect severed limbs. He had done this, hurt these people, and for what? The Guardians departed and disappear back into the forest, shrouded in ere-fog.
Kai surveyed his friends. Sabastian and Ryker were both bloody with a few deep gashes, but neither were critically hurt. Smoke had three gashes across his snout. The alpha had a bite mark on his hind leg. On the ground next to them lay one of the younger wolves, covered in blood. Rayna knelt beside the beast and tears ran down her face. She stroked its fur. The other young wolf was also severely wounded and sat slumped next to its sibling.
The other wolves surrounded the fallen wolf and began to howl. Kai’s heart ached for the pack. The wolves had saved him, but at a steep cost. The second young wolf did not look good. Kai stooped down to run his hands over the animal. It whimpered under his touch. He rested his hand on Rayna’s shoulder. “Can you help?”
She shook her head, tears falling. “This is beyond me. Saving you was different. You weren’t bloody and broken, only infected with a poison that I could burn out. Even now, you still have unhealed welts. I… I am sorry.” She sobbed.
Devastated, Kai looked at the welts on his hands, now covered in claw marks. His lungs still burned from the poison, which remained in his system. He felt better, but not perfect. “It will be alright, Rayna. You tried.” He tried to comfort her, but his voice lacked the strength to be convincing.
Ryker whistled into the trees. Fog once again rolled into the area. Two women stepped through the ferns. If they had not been moving, they would have blended into the background. Ivy twisted around their bodies. Their skin was covered in a delicate moss. As they came close, the moss and ivy faded to reveal porcelain white skin and flowy green clothing. The hoods they wore partly obscured their faces.
Behind them, Kai spotted a tall man in black. His arms were across his chest, there was a glowing purple crystal secured to his wrist, like the one Yulia wore. This man must be a Weathervane, he thought. The man held his ground, but his clamped jaw told Kai he was still on guard.
The women came close. Smoke and the alpha growled. Kai touched his companion to calm him. Ryker stroked the alpha, soothing him. The older woman ran her hands down Ryker’s wounds. Kai watched in amazement as each gash closed before his eyes. Before she could finish, Ryker stayed her hand. “I did not call you for myself, Niahm.” He motioned to Rayna and the wolf.
The two women stooped beside the dead wolf. “We cannot bring life back,” Niahm said. “Only Alenga can give life. We are sorry.”
“Who are you?” Kai asked.
“We are Kodama. Tree spirits. Healers. We are friends of Ryker, and we came to heal him if needed. We do not interfere with how the elders wield their Guardians.”
“If you are healers, help us save this wolf,” Rayna begged. “Or teach me how to save him.”
Niahm shook her head. “This is not our fight. Katori may be vast, but your imminent arrival has spread like fire across our country. I want no part of why Lucca blocks your entry.” She turned to leave, pulling the other girl with her.
“Please,” Rayna called, “this is not about sides. These animals are sacred—life without blame. Alenga gave you the gift of healing, would she not wish you to use it on an enemy if you could save a life?”
Both women stopped. Niahm spoke, “Would you give your life to save this creature?”
“I would,” Rayna replied.
They turned back and approached the other wolf. Slumped on its side, its breathing was slow. Slender fingers ran tenderly through the bloodied gray fur. Niahm reached for Rayna’s hand and pulled it to the surviving wolf. “I admire your sacrifice. I will help, and you can assist me. Maybe only a little, but I feel the seeds of power within you.”
Rayna let the woman guide her. Their fingers intermingled. From head to hindquarters, they moved. “The most common mistake for a young Kodama is to use her own essence. But nature, Alenga, will not allow you to sacrifice your life for another. Instead, you must mend the body with its own internal lifeforce.”
The younger woman lowered her hood and locked eyes with Rayna. The two women stared at one another. Kai glanced between them. The similarity was astonishing. If he didn’t know better, he would swear they were sisters.
Niahm took Rayna’s hands and bade her to focus. “There is life in your surroundings. Never draw life from one to save another. Borrow from the air around us or from the ground. A tiny amount from each living thing will not upset the balance.” She raised her arms into the air and swept downward, while the younger woman pushed one hand into the soil and let the other hand rest on the wolf.
“Breathe in the essence of life floating around you,” Niahm spoke softly. “Fill your lungs with it. Pull it into your core. Feel the pressure build within you. Hold it there, let it flourish with your own. Sense the power emanating down on you from the sun. Use the sunshine around us. Even the grasses can give a little.”
Eyes closed, Rayna placed one hand in the soil and one on the wolf, as the other girl had done. Her face lifted to the sun. She breathed in deep. Her chest rose and fell slowly.
The other two women closed their eyes. “Use what you’ve collected and nurtured,” Niahm continued. “Give
