{"id":1172,"date":"2012-04-09T00:00:46","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T04:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1172"},"modified":"2012-04-09T10:44:49","modified_gmt":"2012-04-09T14:44:49","slug":"autumn-chapter-6-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1172","title":{"rendered":"Autumn &#8211; Chapter 6 &#8211; 12"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I yelled, starting to go after him.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">J.T. caught my arm and jerked me back.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cStay on this side,\u201d he shouted as the screams began; the Greys had started to throw themselves at the ward-lines again.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou cross that now and they\u2019ll tear you apart.\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cBut Phelan\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cYou can\u2019t help him now!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThere must be a thousand of them,\u201d I murmured.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The voice I heard was not my own, the skin I wore was unfamiliar and yet familiar all at once.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Silver trinkets woven to my dark, reddish hair clinked softly against each other as I shook my head slowly, hand tightening around the haft of my great boar-spear.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cIt\u2019s too many.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThere\u2019s no choice,\u201d a voice whispered at my elbow.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My brother\u2019s voice, I knew by instinct, though he didn\u2019t sound like Matthew.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A wave of irritation washed through me.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI know there\u2019s no choice,\u201d I snapped, then glared down at him, eyes narrowing.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The figure wrapped in brown was solid, though leaner than I, and green-blue eyes filmed over by white gleamed from the depths of a hood.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My voice dropped.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cHead for the back, Ciar.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\u2019s too dangerous and I have already lost you once.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I will not stand to lose you again, brother.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His chin lifted for a moment, as if those blind-seeming eyes were searching my face, until he finally nodded.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cGods walk with you, my sister, my chieftain.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He touched my face gently before he turned and withdrew.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A shaggy hound\u2014more wolf than dog\u2014detached from my side and trotted after him.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The men behind us parted to let them pass.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I stepped forward, clear of the line of warriors.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was a ragged force of perhaps a hundred or a hundred and fifty, warriors and hunters, two dozen bowmen\u2014that was all I had to face the host before us, waiting for us to come sweeping down from the high, wooded place where we had camped and waited for them.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Five-score against a thousand.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Five-score and Phelan\u2019s men, and Finn\u2019s, should they arrive in time.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>I took a deep breath and lifted my spear.<\/em><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh fola agus t\u00edr<em>!\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh imbolg<\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">!\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My men roared the battle cry back at me.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My heart began to beat faster, my voice rising.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh fola agus t\u00edr<em>!\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh imbolg<\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">!\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Spears rattled, men shouted.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A few voices yelled different oaths; one reached my ears, one rarely heard that left me heartened and shaken all at once.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Le haghaidh an taoiseach, do bhean Brighid<em>! <\/em>\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh imbolg<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>!\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>I swallowed.\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the chieftain.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For Brighid.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>me.<\/em><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I lifted the spear one last time.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Haghaidh imbolg<\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">!\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Somewhere to my left, I heard a faint echo of our cry.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I grinned a Death\u2019s head grin.<\/span><\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Perhaps we\u2019ll win the day after all.<em><\/em><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I whirled and ran toward the thousand.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My army poured after me, crying for the blood of our enemies and the honor of our people.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our day would not end until the grass was stained red with blood.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Calibri;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My vision cleared.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">J.T. was still gripping my arm.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The vision couldn\u2019t have lasted more than a few seconds.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I looked past the curtain of Greys toward where Vammatar had been standing, ready to shake off J.T.\u2019s grip and run to help Phelan if he needed it.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Vammatar was gone.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">So was Phelan.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWhat the\u2014where did they go?\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I clawed at J.T.\u2019s arm.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cJay, they\u2019re <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">gone<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He startled, too, and his gaze swept over the ground beyond the lines.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He shook his head.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThey must have backed over the edge.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">His muscles bunched beneath my fingers.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cLook sharp,\u201d he said, jerking his chin toward the ward-lines.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThey\u2019re pressing.\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The invisible barrier that was the lines was starting to warp and bow.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>Shit.<\/em><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A cry went up to our left, coupled with a snapping sound I felt more than heard.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I darted past J.T., running toward the sound, toward the point where the Greys were pouring through a gap in the line.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was Drew and Rory\u2019s section, and I could hear them shouting amidst the howls of the Greys.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A litany of curses ran non-stop through my brain as I laid about wildly with a staff I barely knew how to use.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cDrew!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I shouted over the din.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cRory!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A Grey plowed into my side and bounced off.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Frost rimed my jeans and my arm felt like it had been engulfed in frigid fire.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My fingers convulsed.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I didn\u2019t drop the staff.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A strange, deadly calm washed through me as I pivoted on the leg that wasn\u2019t half-numbed from the impact.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The staff moved like it was an extension of my body, of me, and it sluiced sideways, quicker than I ever thought I was capable of moving.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I caught the Grey over where its ear should have been.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Its skull caved in like a rotten piece of fruit.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Part of me felt like I should be puking on the corpse.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The other part urged me to <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">keep moving damn it all<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I listened to the latter, plunging through the narrow tide of Greys washing into camp.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cMarin!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I reached Rory first.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He pointed to a spot on the line.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThey managed to knock it out of true!<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Can<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">you fix it?\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If I try, I\u2019ll be vulnerable to attack every second I\u2019m working on it.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No idea how long it could take, if it worked at all.<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe need to hold them here!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cEasier said than done,\u201d Rory snapped, his staff coming down on the head of another Grey, which stumbled back but didn\u2019t go down.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I dropped low and cut its legs out from under it, then whipped the tip of my staff at its head.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Grey went still.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I wasn\u2019t even breaking a sweat.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That terrified me.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I didn\u2019t feel anything except for a terrible, terrible calm.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rory glanced at me as he tripped up another Grey.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cNo,\u201d I whispered, though he couldn\u2019t hear it.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cNo, I\u2019m not okay.\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I threw myself toward a knot of Greys anyhow, catching a glimpse of Drew at the heart of the melee in this section.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Settle down, settle down.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Trust your instincts.<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even if you don\u2019t know where they\u2019re coming from.<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But I did.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was the woman I\u2019d seen in the vision\u2014the woman I\u2019d <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">been<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in the vision.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Touching J.T. must have had a strange effect on me.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I\u2019d never really seen anything like that before.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I hoped I wouldn\u2019t again.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the middle of a fight wasn\u2019t the best time to start believing in past lives.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Well, not your <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">own<\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> past lives.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cDrew!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I made a path for myself through the mob.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A few more Greys went down before they began to scatter before me.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Drew bettered one before it got a few steps deeper into camp, but two more ducked past, headed for our secondary lines.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Oh god.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Please be ready for them.<\/span><\/em><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thom had insisted on being on the second line.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There had been no dissuading him.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I prayed he knew what he was getting into.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d Drew called to me.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI\u2019ve got this, it\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cObviously not.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I knocked a Grey sprawling only to have another pop up in its place.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe need to hold the line!\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cSealing it would be better!<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where\u2019s Phelan?\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Words stuck in my throat and I choked on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d I managed to say, closing in on him.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cI think we\u2019re on our own.\u201d<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The idea frightened me, though not as badly as the prospect of Phelan\u2019s death.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">He could already be dead or dying down there in the ravine, locked in mortal combat with Vammatar.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was nothing I could do about that now, though.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I set my stance and held my ground.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">All we could do was keep holding on until this was over\u2014however it ended.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I yelled, starting to go after him.\u00a0 J.T. caught my arm and jerked me back. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStay on this side,\u201d he shouted as the screams began; the Greys had started to throw themselves at the ward-lines again.\u00a0 \u201cYou cross &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1172\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,44,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-6-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-iU","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1172"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1174,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172\/revisions\/1174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}