Days blurred together as Lilau’s training intensified. After three moons of immersion in the Horse Tribe’s ways of communication with the Spirit Realm, her training was nearing its end.

Today, Feechi had called her back to the spot where her training started, a distance from the water Sentinel’s lake, to reassemble the hawk spirit altar. It was her turn to perform the ritual.

Feechi, Haji and Makotae all stood at a respectful distance as she knelt. Closing her eyes, Lilau dove into herself, connecting with her own spirit in order to power her task. It was an alien method to Wolf Tribe, but something that had become familiar with use.

Everything outside faded, replaced by the sense of warmth, strength and life. Thoughts became feelings, feeling became power. From her core, she reached towards the freedom in the sky, the wild in the wind, the excitement of the hunt and the exultation of a successful kill. Other spirits drew close, resonating with the emotions within. Lilau greeted each, cycling through them until she found the one she sought.

She intertwined with a compatible spirit, their desires merging into one as they launched into the air.

Lilau’s senses came flooding back. Wind whistled across her outstretched wings as they beat out a steady rhythm almost on their own. Her head swiveled, regarding the ground far below with clarity. With no other purpose to guide it, her mind focused on its greatest need—food.

A tiny rustle in the grass caught her roving eye, her sight telescoping in until the young rabbit looked as if it was standing right next to her. It soon would be.

With a slight tilt of her wings, she banked, coming to a point directly over her quarry before she tucked her wings and plummeted. The sound of wind increased tenfold, but her focus didn’t waver as the ground rushed up to meet her.

Crack.

The rabbit’s neck gave way under the power of her strike. Her outstretched talons seized it as she mantled over her prize and waited for the residual energy from the dive to finish reverberating through her body.

She struck the still-warm flesh, her sharp beak tearing through the skin and flesh with ease.

A tingle at the back of her awareness made her jerk upright, seeking a threat, but there was nothing. The tingle came once again, stronger this time, more insistent. It brought with it discordant feelings of grass beneath her knees and cloth under her hands.

Knees? Cloth? These things made no sense to that which desired the meat beneath its talons. Still, another part desired this other reality.

Their minds fractured and Lilau hurtled back towards her body, hitting it with such force that it drove the breath from her chest.

“Easy, now,” Feechi’s voice came from beside her, “the first return is always rough.”

Lilau grimaced, her chest quivering as it tried to recall how to inhale. After a few false starts, her lungs expanded, bringing with it much needed air.

Can’t say I’m fond of that technique, Makotae grumbled from behind. Separating the spirit from the body before death is asking for trouble.

She didn’t disagree, but the ability to see through another animal’s eyes was a boon she couldn’t deny.

Isn’t seeing through mine enough?

The petulance in his mind made her reach over to scratch between his ears, a motion that was much more difficult than she remembered. You are my best friend and helper, Makotae, but surely even you can see the benefit of seeing across vast distances without moving?

He snorted.

“Feeling better?” Feechi asked.

“Yes, I think so. Does one get used to the speed of returning?”

He chuckled. “Somewhat. It can also be slowed if you learn to ease your spirits apart. Such a thing requires a great deal of experience, however, and even then, sometimes it’s out of your control.”

“I see.”

Lilau grabbed the wooden hawk statue and stood up to examine it. She had crafted this one over the last moon under Feechi’s watchful eye, and she prided herself on how it resembled his own, right down to the smooth, black river-stone eyes and barred brown feathers.

Feechi backed off, having learned her desire for space. “So how did it feel to borrow the hawk’s body?”

“Powerful and free, but also anxious and unsure.”

“How so?”

“I’m not sure. The hawk had a successful hunt, yet something nagged at the back of its senses. Something threatening.”

“Hmm, perhaps a larger predator was hunting it, or perhaps the withering weighs it down.”

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Lilau nodded as she worked the statue into one of Makotae’s saddlebags. Over the time of her training, the illness of the animals and land had spread farther. Many acres of grassland lay yellow or brown, and many animals were dead. Fortunately, although many horses had fallen ill, none had yet died. From the last she heard, though, Zulni’s mare wasn’t far from returning to the earth.

“Zulni’s messenger approached me this morning,” Lilau said, tone flat, “he had a few choice words about my role in the horses’ conditions.”

“Ah, yes, I apologize. I thought I had made it clear they were to come to me alone, but I assure you this messenger’s punishment will make any more think twice before ignoring my wishes.”

Lilau sighed. In her experience, such punishments only made things worse in the end. It didn’t matter, she would be gone soon. The pull in her core had shifted, pointing her towards a more specific goal.

“Although their target is misplaced, their fear isn’t wrong,” she told Feechi, “if we don’t find a way to stop this illness, things are going to get a lot worse for all of you.”

“True, which is why I’m pushing you so hard. The quicker you can speak with Guardian Ng’ombe, the better.”

Feechi’s tone was strained as he scratched the back of his neck. The continued deaths had put a great deal of stress on him, contributing to the dark circles under his eyes.

“How long until I can speak with Guardian Ng’ombe?” she asked.

“At the rate you learn? Another month or so. An incredibly fast apprenticeship, let me assure you.” He grinned at her, the pain in his smile blunting the compliment.

“But is that fast enough?”

“It will have to be. This isn’t something we want to rush, Medicine Apprentice Lilau.”

She stiffened at the title. Feechi was only formal when he was reminding her of her position under him. “Of course, Medicine Chief Feechi.” She focused on relaxing her jaw as she spoke, not wanting to give away her irritation. “If it’s alright, I wish to return to my hut for food and a brief rest.”

“Hmm, you are a little wobbly from the ritual still, so that’s a good idea. Return here when the sun has traveled two fingers further down the horizon, alright?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lilau mounted Makotae and set off, knowing she had no intention of returning. The pull in her core grew stronger with each passing moment, bringing her next step into full focus. Regardless of what Feechi wanted, it was time for her to confront the grassland’s Guardian.

Not that she thought Feechi was wrong. She hadn’t finished her training and speaking to a Guardian was a delicate, dangerous affair. Unfortunately, her gut told her the Horse Tribe was running out of time and she was running out of time in their land.

Makotae stayed silent on the way back to their hut, emphasizing the empty and quiet grasslands.

Lilau slid off of him as they arrived, busying herself with gathering up all the ritual items she would need for her invocation, as well as stripping herself and Makotae of the gold ribbons and cloth which signified their apprenticeship. They wouldn’t need them anymore.

For once I think I agree with Feechi, Makotae said. This it too dangerous right now.

Can you not feel it? Our time has run out. I would prefer to finish the training first, but I can’t.

Why? Why must we follow this pull? The anxiety it his mind assured her he was feeling the same as she was.

I know it’s right, Makotae, another month is too long.

*****

The grass turned from pale green to gray under Makotae’s paws as they hurried westward, the waning summer sun casting an eerie glow across the dying plains.

Lilau’s heart pounded. The weight of what she was doing had hit home. She spoke the truth. She didn’t think the Horse Tribe could come back after another month of the illness, and they hadn’t yet hit the dead areas of grass. They needed a reprieve. With the Fokla shunning Feechi, she was the only one in a position to do anything, no matter how dangerous.

The beating of her heart echoed in her ears. Except it wasn’t coming from the inside. Lilau perked up, scanning the horizon for the source of the noise as it grew louder. A hard gust blew past, causing Makotae’s stride to stutter.

What...?

A herd of horses galloped by. Manes and tails whipped in the gale that surrounded them like a living entity. Light danced inside each of their crystalline forms, merging with the sunlight that reflected off of their shining hides.

As a child, Lilau fished a dull rock from a stream that when cracked open held in its belly deep blue crystals. It was beautiful, and she had kept in within her room for many years. Yet these creatures made those crystals look as dull as the rock that had held them.

Look at this, Makotae!

Makotae growled at her image as he stumbled again. I just wish they weren’t trying to blow us over.

One nearest them, its blue-green body accenting its dark blue mane, looked back at Lilau with eyes like stars. Race.

It was less a word and more a gleeful challenge, but the message was clear.

I believe if you want out of their tailwind, you’re going to have to get in front, she told Makotae, her mouth quirking into a smile.

Is that so?

The herd’s pure exhilaration was infectious, and it only grew in strength as Makotae took up their challenge.

Lilau fed him the view of the herd as he coiled and launched towards the left edge. A pink and red horse noticed his tactic and swerved to block his way, an arm of wind reaching out with it. Makotae proved too agile, avoiding the beast with a pivot that landed him in the center of the herd.

Why could these spirits affect them when the cattle spirits could not? Makotae’s alarm cut Lilau’s curiosity short. The herd was closing in on them, the air tearing at Lilau’s hair and blurring her vision.

We have to get out of the herd, she told Makotae.

How? They’ve closed us in!

Lilau squinted at the blood-red form galloping in front of them. If they can affect us, perhaps we can affect them.

She relayed her plan and put it into action before he could object. Using her arms and core, Lilau pulled her legs under her. She balanced on Makotae’s back as she took aim and jumped.

The twisting wind caught her, pushing her off-target as she hurtled towards the spirit’s back. Her hand flew out, finding purchase around the horse’s neck while her body swung out to the side. Lilau’s breath stuck when she realized her feet couldn’t reach the ground.

The spirit horse glared at her, fire in its eyes and insult in its thoughts.

The world slowed as it planted its shimmering hooves mid-stride and stopped.

Wind roared across Lilau’s body, picking her up almost parallel to the ground. Her hands lost their grip on its smooth neck as the continued momentum cast her forward.

I got you!

Lilau hit soft fur and scrabbled to find grip before she slid off that as well. The wind went still, making her glance up in surprise. She had landed on Makotae backwards, giving her an unobstructed view of the crystalline herd receding from sight. They stood tall against the withered backdrop, stomping at the ground as they watched the two of them race on.

I think I upset them, she said, twisting around into a more comfortable riding position.

Makotae’s ears swiveled back. They challenged us. I don’t remember there being any rules, either. If you can’t take losing, don’t compete.