Chapter seven
Calm before the Storm

Ogron's POV

I'm debating on weather I should go for a walk or not. The guys usually take it as a sign that I'm angry. Sometimes I am. And that they should leave me alone. Which they should. Walking just helped me blow off steam or think.

I'm about to get up when Duman starts to wake. I immediately abandon the idea of going for a walk. Gantlos is already out and so is Anagan. I may seem cold to my brothers' pain but I am not. I tried to distance myself. They needed a confident leader that was in control. They understood that.

I stand and go sit beside Duman. He opens his eyes. They're dull with pain but focused. I smile.

"Hey. What ya up to?" he asked me.

"Nothing at the moment. How are you?" I'm very concerned with how he's doing. Will he be okay?

"Better. Not good, but definitely better," he gives me a weak smile before looking at the girl. I'm not sure what to make of her. We have all seemed to encounter her but none of us remembers her.

"That's good," I say. His next remark startles me.

"Do...do you remember...Flicker?" his eyes dart up to mine before looking away. I see a sad smile hovering on his lips.

"Yes," I say cautiously, "Why do you ask?" Duman loved Flicker. And I always suspected he still did. At times, I don't understand it. She shattered his heart. How could he still long to be with her?

"I...um...had a uh dream last night. More of a memory really... About her," he stumbles over his words. I'm surprised he is telling me this. He usually goes to Anagan with anything regarding feelings. I wait for him to continue. "She reminds me of her." Duman nods at the sleeping form of Shadow.

I narrow my eyes. "Well that's interesting, now, isn't it?" I ask. Now that he mentions it. Her magic signature does seem faintly like hers. Shadow stirs like she knows we are talking about her. But she is definitely asleep. Her magic is still calm. A minute later I feel her magic spike and she turns over and opens her eyes.

"Well, why don't we ask her about Flicker?" I say under my breath so only Duman hears. Shadow pushes herself up and turns to go. Duman gives a small nod. "Have you ever heard of a fairy named Flicker?" I ask her.

Shadow stiffens at the name but doesn't turn around. "Why do you ask?" her voice just as stiff.

I glance at Duman. He's stiffened as well and is sitting up straighter. "We knew her a long time ago. So have you?" I ask.

She nods, "Yes." Her voice sounds sad and faded. She takes a deep breath. "I Knew her. Spent some time with her."

"How was she?" Duman asks.

Shadow is gripping her upper arms now, like she is cold. She doesn't turn around. "Depressed. She was having a bad month."

"What do you mean?" I ask suspiciously.

"Well, the other fairies were angry with her because of something outside of her control. And she had to leave someone she...loved..." her voice has changed slightly. I look at Duman and see a spark of rage in his eyes.

"Who? Who did she...love?" asks Duman.

I can tell Shadow is holding back a laugh. "Oh, some young man named Duman." Duman frowns deeply at her, but his eyes light up. Shadow half glances back at us with an amused smile, but it was also full of sadness.

"What happened to her? Do you know?" Duman asks.

Shadow turns away again and lowers her head. "She...she disappeared," Shadow's voice shakes a bit and her fingers dig into her arms. Duman's face falls.

"What do you mean she disappeared?" I ask.

"Exactly what I said," she turns to face us. Her expression is neutral. "Flicker disappeared. No one knows where she is or what happened to her. No one's seen her since. She's gone."

I get up. "I'm going for a walk. Stay here with Duman." I may not trust Shadow, but I need to think and I want someone to stay with him. And I don't think she will let anyone within a hundred feet of Duman if they want to hurt him.

Shadow's POV

I walk over and sit down a few feet from Duman. I really have missed him. I long for him everyday but am careful never to show recognition. They came way to close for comfort when they brought up Flicker. Took them less then a day of being near me. I thought the dark magic had completely covered her up.

There is no way I want them to find out exactly who I used to be. That would be a health and safety risk.

"How long were you in the dungeons?" I jump when Duman asks the question. He snickers.

"Oh, I don't know. A year, maybe longer?" I say. He cocks his head to the side. He's about to say something but winces. "Lay down."

He frowns and looks at me warily. "Why?" he asks but is already laying down.

"I want to see how you are. I'm a healer. Remember?" I kneel down beside him and let my hands hover over his body. A blue mist swirles around them. I close my eyes. The magic has stabled considerably. Looks good. I open my eyes and the glowing mist vanishes. "Doing much better, and no other wounds, just a few bruises and scratches. I want to check regularly so I can see how the cure works."

Duman sits up as I lean against the dome, "okay," he says. I smile at him.

Anagan stumbles as he runs up. "Just went out for a run. How are you doing Duman?"

"Fine." He says.

I watch Anagan closely as he walks over and sits a few feet from me on the opposite side as Duman. I notice he limps, but it's very hard to see.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says "why?"

"You're limping" I watch as he shifts nervously.

"It's uh nothing, I'm fine" he says. Duman looks over at him
with a questioning look. "My legs are a bit cut, but it's nothing".

" Can...can I take a look?" I ask nervously, my gaze flicking up to his face then down. He glances at Duman who nods. Anagan roles up his pant legs to his knees.

I get up and walk over to Anagan so I can see the wounds better. I kneel beside him. On his legs are two deep cuts, one on each shin. It looks like a long continuous wound. As if some one sliced them with a sword. His legs have dried blood on them that had run down from the wounds.

"How'd it happen?" I ask.

"Got distracted, one of the warrior fairies had as sword, you get the idea" he replies.

"All right if I fix it up a bit?" I ask and he nods. Though he has a wary look in his eyes, he remains relaxed and calm. I conjure up a sponge and bowl of water mixed with an anti bacteria. I look up at his face, "This will most likely hurt"

I dip the sponge in the liquid and run it gently up his leg getting rid of the dried blood. Then rinse it, "I'll have to reopen the wound slightly to get rid of the dry blood and make sure it's clean so infection doesn't set in. I'm a bit surprised its this clean since, well, you know, you were in the dungeons."

I place the sponge on the cut and add a bit of pressure. Anagan grits his teeth and digs his fingers into the ground. I swallow then start to rub the sponge in small circles on the cut. He let's out a strangled breath and I feel his muscles tense up. I do the same to the other leg then let the air dry them a bit, I can tell it stings.

I make the sponge and bowl, now filled with a slightly reddish liquid, disappear and make a roll of bandages appear. I wrap both legs before getting up and moving back to where I was.

I feel Duman's stare and I look over before quickly looking away again. Anagan lays down and dozes off soon after.

"How come you didn't use magic?" asks Duman.

"It drains me when I use healing magic. His cuts will heal quickly so I won't use magic. It would cause the wounds to leave a lingering pain for about a week," I explain.

We sit there in silence. I gather my courage before I ask, "Did you love her?"

"Who?" He says, stalling.

"Flicker."

"Yes"

"Do...do you miss her?" I ask and he nods. Warmth floods through my body at his answer. Maybe he will still love me...maybe...

Ogron and Gantlos comes into camp. Gantlos goes over and sits between Duman and Anagan. Ogron sits on Anagan's other side. He gives Duman a look.

"He's sleeping, came back from a run," says Duman, "Shadow fixes up his legs," he turns to Gantlos, "you should ask her to take a look at you," Gantlos glares at Duman as he smiles slyly at him, Ogron hides a grin, and I feel like the temperature just shot up twenty degrees, at the way he put the question.

Gantlos doesn't argue though and reluctantly gets to his feet. I watch him closely as I also climb to my feet. Gantlos has his back to the others so he doesn't see Duman's wicked grin.

Gantlos stands in front of me and I narrow my eyes as a notice he doesn't fully straighten. "Take your shirt off," I order. He looks like he's about to argue but thinks better of it when he looks me in the eye. I see the two wizards who are awake trying not to laugh and Ogron nudges Anagan awake, who starts to smile at the scene he's just woken to.

Gantlos pulls his shirt off and I see why he's been unable to straighten fully. A bruise feathers and spreads out from his stomach, around his sides, and over his chest, ranging from black to deep blues and purples. I purse my lips and let out a deep breath. The other guys see the concern on my face and start to get up, I motion for them to stay where they are. I need to concentrate. They stop.

I wave my hand over the bruise while muttering a spell. When I let my hand fall away I'm hit with all the pain he feels, I close my eyes and concentrate. I focus on each party of my body, trying to figure out what's damages. He has the bruise but it goes deep, his lungs are bruised as well. Along with a few collapsed ribs. His breathing is restricted. I'm surprised he can hide how much pain he's in for so long. I must look terrible to them, I can't hide the pain I feel from his wound.

I'm about to end the spell when I feel something more. I weird pain, I can't find the source though. I hate the next spell I'm going to have to use. It uses way too much energy, but will allow me to see what's wrong in fine detail. I open my eyes. I start to chant under my breath, when I say the last word I throw my arms out.

A purply white circle of light forms on the ground around us, I drop my hands to my sides and it starts to move upwards. I fight to stay on my feet as the light passes over his bruise, I squeeze my eyes shut. The light moves past the wound.

And there it is. Oh no, my face falls. The spell ends and a drop to my knees breathing heavily. I curse softly, then struggle to my feet waving away Duman's help. "I'll be right back," I say as I turn and walk away. They don't follow.

I go until they're out of sight. They'll still hear...oh well. I let out an angry yell I've been holding in and hit the wall of ice with my bear fist.

Gantlos's POV

We hear Shadow yell and hurry over to where she is. She didn't go far. She pulls her hand away from the wall. Blood runs down from her knuckles. The ice has deep spiderweb cracks running from where she punched and ice chips are scattered beneath. She throws a few powerful magic spells before she notices us standing here.

When she comes over I notice how drained she looks. "So what's up," Anagan asks. She clenches the muscles in her arms then relaxes. She no longer looks angry like she did a moment before. Now she just looks tired.

Shadow mumbles something under breath before saying angrily, "stupid cracked vertebrae." She takes a deep breath and turns to me, "you cracked a vertebrae. If left it could break and at worst you'll be paralyzed. I'll have to mend it but it takes seriously, strong magic and...I'll have to use white magic. Which means...I'll have to...switch forms so the energy and magic flows easier. It'll have to wait till tomorrow after I've slept, " she turns and walked back to the dome, "don't even think about waking me," she says, with a very dangerous and sharp edge to her voice.

By now my brothers have seen the large bruise covering my stomach, sides, and chest. I pull my shirt on, hiding it. They have concern plain on their faces. I look at Duman wondering how badly he still hurt.

We wait till she's out of earshot before we say anything. "What do you think? You want to let her do it?" Ogron asks me. I shrug.

"Don't have much of a choice. You did hear what she said," Anagan says.

"Yes we all heard exactly what she said," Duman says, "I think we're going to find out what she seems to be wanting to hide. And I don't think we're going to like it."

"At least it explains why I feel like my actions are slower. I have at least enough medical experience to know that she is telling the truth," I say.

"How'd it happen?" Ogron asks me. All three of them look at me.

"I was distracted," I respond, "a stray fire spell from Bloom hit me square in the stomach. I got blasted against some boulders. Hit them hard."

Ogron nods, we all know why I got distracted. Duman looks away. We head back to the dome we've made our camp. It's a useful spell, keeps the cold out and draws on the energy from the environment instead of the person.

Shadow is already asleep. The spells she used were powerful and draining. I wonder why she seemed nervous when she talked about using white magic, but like Duman said I don't think we're going to like it.

Anagan's POV

I wake up and look around. Gantlos and Shadow are still asleep but the other two are already up. I push myself into a sitting position and lean against the dome. We'll have to leave soon. We've been here for two nights now and we have had no food or water.

Duman looks like the sickness he had is still hurting him. He won't be able to use his power for a while yet. This is only the third day. Nabu said it would be at least a week till he stopped hurting. This is going to be a long week.

Ogron's voice pulls me from my thoughts, "how are you feeling?" His question is directed towards me.

I rub my legs, "pretty good," I answer. I look over at the sleeping girl, "How long do you think she'll sleep?"

"Don't know. I guess she needs to regain some of her strength before she heals Gantlos. Hopefully soon."

"Think I'll go for a quick walk," I stand.

"Don't be long" he replies.

I turn away from him and walk out of camp. I mids the green of earth sometimes. Especially here. The entire dimension is ice and rock. Not the ideal place to stay. Hopefully we won't be here much longer.

After about ten minutes I decide to turn back. I debate the chances of the cuts on my legs reopening if I ran. I decide it isn't worth the risk and start back at a walk. By the time I get the Gantlos is a wake and Shadow is just starting to stir. I wonder once again what the shapeshifter is hiding.

Gantlos POV

I sit watching the girl that's going to heal me. Though I have a sinking feeling about who she is. I am a very good tracker and pride myself on recognizing magical signatures. Her's matches Flicker's although it buried beneath layers and layers of a secondary Signature.

Unlike the others I understood why she left, she was running, the look in her eyes was that of someone who was being hunted. She didn't know who we were. She didn't lead them to us. She didn't betray us that day. And she lead them away from us.

If shadow were to reveal that she was Flicker, I would not harm her, or let the others harm her.

Shadow twitches just as Anagan walks back into camp. She quickly stands and stretches. I stand and walk over to stand in front of her. The others notice and stand behind me.

Shadow nervously fidgets before taking a breath and speaking, "the best and most effective way to heal an injury of this scale and sensitiveness is to use white magic" clearly she would have been a good teacher, her voice slipping into that of a lecturer's. "As white magic is a 'clean' and 'pure' magic it allows growth to come easily. Although black magic and raw magic can be used to achieve the same goal or outcome, white magic is easier to manipulate when using a healing spell. The fact that you use dark magic will not effect the healing." She pauses here to make sure we're following. I give a nod that I understand. She continues, "normally I could easily preform a spell using white magic in this form...but we are in the omega dimension, and I have only started using magic again in this last week. So I will have to switch to what is known as the 'light' form of what some of the magic realm call the Ying Yang Fairies."

I ponder that for a minute, Ying Yang's were rare and often treated badly because of their aptitude for using dark magic. This would make sense as to why she seemed to have two signatures, because she had two forms a light and a dark.

Shadow takes a step back and with a quick flash of light Flicker stood in front of them.