Part IV

(Shuute)

It’s a good thing that I can see in the dark, otherwise, we would have to go back to the infested tunnels. I can feel the energy seep through the roof of the cave as we walk deeper inside, we must be getting close. After a while we both can finally see a dim spec in the distance. “There’s an opening!” I whisper to Solias.

The two of us begin to walk faster towards it as the beam grows. It must be daylight by now or something. We finally get to the end of the tunnel and emerge onto the white snow again. Great Solai welcomes us with her warmth and light as we begin to head towards the village. Solai rises further into the sky as we come near to our village Haluen.

Once the gate guards see us they make a noise about it, shouting that we’ve arrived safely and all.

Rakar is quick to hear about it and storms out of the gates towards us. He embraces Solias as if she was that little girl again with his big arms around her slim body.

As the two hold each other tightly my body begins to feel weak again. I should turn back into a ghost now that Solias is safe. Not too long into the depletion on my energy do I feel a suddenly agonizing pulse surge through my body once again. The pain is so great that my knees buckle and I puke onto the snow with my canine ears back.

I feel Solias gently lay a hand on me. “Shuute, are you alright?” Her voice sounds concerned.

I answer her between a few breaths at a time, “Yeah… I’ll be fine… Just need to rest…”

“Well, you should transform back into a spirit then.”

After recuperating some I nod to her and slowly stand up. I try to focus again to be a spirit. Why am I not turning? Why is this so difficult for me all of a sudden? Maybe I should put a little more effort into it.

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The little girl looks up to the man in white with tears in her eyes. “W-who are you?” She says while sniffling.

The man kneels down to her level “My name doesn’t matter little one,” he replies, “Just know that I will always be there to protect you.” He reaches out his hand to her.

She hesitates before putting her tiny hand into his pale one.

“Shuute…” A familiar voice calls to me in the abyss. “Shuute…”

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When my eyes finally open I see Solias standing over me with a worried face.

“Shuute?”

“Uh… Yes Solias?”

“You passed out… Are you sure there’s nothing serious going on?”

Once my mind comprehends what she just told me I sit up and look around the tent to see some of the villagers gathered around me. I look back to Solias and try to calm her nerves. “I’m fine, I just need to rest is all. I guess being a spirit is more work than I thought.” A chuckle passes through my fangs to lighten the mood.

This doesn’t seem to reassure Solias though. “Shuute, you’re really starting to scare me.” She says while trying to hold back her anxiety.

I answer again with a calmer voice, ‘I said I’m fine Solias, I’ll just be resting for a while.”

“As a physical being?”

“Yes, for now. I just have to wait a little longer.”

Another silence fills the tent as everyone continues to stare at me. Eventually they begin to leave one by one, then in groups, and finally Solias and I are the only ones left.

“You should stay here with Father and I until you recover.”

“In that case, you shouldn’t-no one should stand outside of the walls tonight.”

“Shuute-“

“Solias, my job is to protect these people by your side, I can’t do that while I’m stuck on a bed.”

“Then why are you telling me you need rest?”

“I know my limits Solias.”

She glares at me with her gleaming emerald eyes full of concern and frustration. “Shuute… Are you sure this is temporary?”

“It will only be for a few nights, promise.”

A breath comes from her nose as a way to relieve herself. “Alright, you made a promise, no turning back on your word.”

“Have I done such a thing yet?”

A smile forces its way onto her lips. “No, you haven’t.”

Her smile catches me and a grin finds a way onto my face as well. “Besides, you should rest as well, I can’t remember the last time you took a nap during the twin moons’ reign.”

The two of us chuckle before she responds, “Same to you.”

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Something crashes in the night and disturbs my slumber. I jolt up and dash out of Rakar’s tent. In the distance I see Mimi, she’s crying. “Mimi?” I call out to her.

She reaches out to me with her stubby little arms as warm tear stream down her rosy cheeks.

I quickly walk up to her for comfort. "Mimi, why are you out so late? Your parents are probably worried about you." I say while kneeling down.

Mimi puts her hands down and reveals the glowing red eyes in her sockets.

A realization sweeps over me, but it's too late.

She quickly grabs a hold of my wrist with an extremely tight grip and chucks me into another tent close by.

My body refuses to move from the rubble, but am able to move slightly.

She walks up and looks down on me.

My voice is hoarse as I try to get a reply from her, "M-Mimi..."

Her hand snatches my ankle and my vision becomes dazed as I'm thrown into another pavilion.

What's going on?! Is that really Mimi?

The noise of the night guards approach to the scene while my energy is weakened.

As Mimi's imposter comes closer to my defunct body Solias steps in the way with her spear in hand.

A demonic snarl escapes Mimi's lips and she shows her big sharp teeth... That's not Mimi... Her body mutates into a fuune and stands taller than Solias with pale skin as always.

"Solias, get back!" I shout as I try to force my body to get up and stand between them.

The fuune raises his hand with long black claws and swings it at her.

I'm able to get in front of her just in time and take the hit for Solias. My body flings into another tent and my body refuses to do anymore. With a blurred vision I can see Solias fending off the beast herself, but then my strength finally leaves me and I pass out.

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When my consciousness comes back to me I find myself standing on all four limbs and everyone in a circle around me as they begin to back away. I can see the look of fear in their eyes... What happened?

"Sh-Shuute?" Solias is huddled underneath me. She looks almost terrified for sure.

Reacting out of emotion, I quickly raise myself up to stand on only my feet. "I-is everyone alright?" I ask out of habit.

"Everyone is fine." Rakar responds as he cautiously approaches me. "What was that Shuute? It wasn't like you at all."

My canine ears flop back out of discomfort. "I... I'm sorry Rakar... I don't know what you mean..."

No one answers.

"We should get back to our beds..." Solias says as she stands up. She continues to look at me and then turns the other way to walk back into the camp without another word.

Everyone does the same with this awkward silence hovering around.

Did I do something wrong?...