Lilau jerked upright, the image of the mountains fading from her dreams and materializing in the waking world.

She blinked, trying to clear the mirage from her eyes. The mountain range stayed solid as it jutted into the setting sun.

It was real. Lilau shook her head. Of course it was real. They’d entered the forest at the edge of the mountains. Even though they’d gone away from it to get to Alakna’s village, the Guardian had chased them right back to where they’d entered. In the moment, she hadn’t thought about it. The way the snowstorm bent and corralled them, changing their escape route. The Guardian wanted her to go back into the mountains.

Her eyes drifted over the mountain terrain. She followed a trail in her mind, one she never walked. It led to the earth’s wound. The compulsion to find the injury welled up inside her, combatting the prickle across her skin and the ache in her shoulder as she thought of going back into the Great Eagle’s domain. Neither she nor Makotae had fully recovered from their last foray into the area. To return felt like suicide.

The compulsion thrummed, drowning out the voice of survival. Whispers brushed past her ears. This is what you are. Don’t you want to know who you are? The words turned to a cackle. She hissed, scrambling back from her spot next to Makotae. “Tirijuki!”

Nothing but empty plains greeted her as the laughing faded away.

“You already know what I am, so why won’t you tell me?” Her yell dissipated along the plains, yet collected in the mountains and echoed back to her.

A startled snort came from beside her as Makotae leaped to his feet. What is it? Did the Guardian return?

Lilau growled and ground her teeth. No, and neither has our meddling friend.

Huh?

Nothing. Lilau sighed as her eyes returned to where she didn’t want to go. Where she had to return to. Burnished oranges and reds spilled across the sky, a bit of purple creeping up from the bottom. Shadows deepened in the crevices of the mountains, dark mouths waiting to swallow her whole. What should have terrified her instead brought a spark of hope. It slithered through her thoughts, a harsh contrast to the idea of facing the giant predator waiting to finish her.

Lilau grasped at the hope. She tried to pin it down and make sense of where it came from. The Great Eagle and its rider had hunted them down with ease. What hope did they have the second time around?

Care to share?

Lilau jerked, her distracting thoughts sizzling out.

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You’ve been glaring at the mountains. I’m pretty sure it’s not because you think the eagle will hunt us across the mountain’s border, so why do I get a feeling I won’t like what you’re planning?

What do you remember about the eagle’s attack?

Makotae snorted. Running for both our lives, falling, the biggest headache I’ve ever had, pain.

Lilau frowned as she replayed the event in her head. She’d seen something which would help them now. What was it?

The Great Eagle in all its huge, golden-brown, terrifying glory materialized in her mind, its massive wings forcing the thin mountain trees to bow. Its eyes had been sharp and clear, no doubt capable of seeing great distances, much like a regular eagle.

“Oh!”

Makotae’s head cocked.

Eagles are day hunters!

Makotae’s hackles stood on end. Doesn’t mean they can’t see us at night.

No. But it’s much harder. If we’re careful, and we stick to the deepest shadows—

We might still get eaten.

Would you rather stay in the grasslands and starve? Or perhaps return to Alakna’s village and hope the mad Guardian doesn’t bury us in snow, or send more of his infected minions to stalk us while we sleep?

Makotae’s expression fell, and Lilau immediately regretted the anger tingeing her words. I’m sorry, Makotae. You’re right. We might get caught. Even if the eagle can’t find us, it has a rider. Where there’s one, there are probably more. Still, I don’t know of a better way. This world is dying. I can feel it. If we don’t keep moving, if we don’t figure out how to stop this, we die with everything else.

But why you? Makotae nuzzled her face, his building sorrow bringing tears to her eyes. All I am is because of you. All I do is for you, to help you, but most importantly, to protect you. I’ll follow you anywhere, but how many times can you run into death’s jaws before it keeps you? Before I can no longer help? Our entire lives we’ve been cast aside. Why must you be the sacrifice for those who don’t want us?

Lilau hugged his neck, letting his emotions pour into her, giving the flood more room to spread before he drowned in it. I don’t know. I wish I did. But surviving is what we do. When everyone else falters, we remain. When everyone else curses us, we find a blessing, and when everyone wants us dead, we find a way to live. Death’s jaws lie open in the mountains, but they are nearly closed, here. It’s time to move, Makotae, because I won’t give up. I don’t want to lose you, either, but if we stay, I will.

The war of Makotae’s emotions raged. He knew she was right. Even if he couldn’t see the Fokla as she could, he could see and feel the pain, disease, death on the wind and in the land. It was an itch he couldn’t scratch, yet grew every day. His head drooped over her shoulder in defeat. Fine. I’ll follow you into the world of spirits if I have to.

Thank you. You are my heart. I won’t put you in anymore danger than I have to.

Incredulousness slipped through Makotae’s sorrow, then dissipated as he shifted his focus to their next destination and stepped away from her. Hungry eagles aside, what’s so important about the mountains?

Lilau relayed the information the mad Guardian had forced on her. Makotae’s internal turmoil continued to writhe, but he stayed stoic, legs locked and head up, as she finished.

I see. And what are you to do once we find this wound?

I’m hoping I’ll figure it out when I get there. Maybe Tirijuki will deign to grace us with its presence and share its wisdom.

Makotae rumbled. I don’t trust the glowing fox.

Lilau shrugged. Neither do I. But every lie starts with a seed of truth. We just have to find it.