Thunder: The Shadows Are Stirring (Thunder Stories Book 1) (15 page)

Truban’s eyes widen. “You’ve never been told!”

Everyone now pulls into a circle around us, some of the animals poking their noses through arms, between knees, or over shoulders as necessary.

Jacob answers me. “Well, boys, all the humans in this group are Benders, or the children of Benders.”

“What?” I ask. “Aren’t you way too old to Bend through the layers now?” Not very diplomatic, but I remember very clearly Callie saying once we hit eighteen, we can’t come through any more.

Jacob doesn’t seem fazed or offended. “It’s true that once you’re eighteen, you can’t cross anymore. But what happens to you if you turn eighteen while you’re actually in here? Ever ask yourself that?”

Um, no, I hadn’t. Eighteen’s four years away. It’s never crossed my mind. And how do you know when you’re turning eighteen, anyway? I mean, we’d jumped a couple months when we came through the Barriers. Am I older now?

“I’ll tell you. You are given a choice. Return to the Human Layer, and live your life on the outside, doing what you can. Or, stay here, on this level, never to return to the outside. Stay here and fight to keep the Sliders in check. Stay here and save humanity from the inside. Benders have been opting to live in the Shadows since the beginning. That’s where the human population in these lands originates.”

We end our tour in the tunnels. Down in the dark, with torches lit, Truban leads us to a side chamber. Before we even enter, my heart begins to race. I can hear murmured voices, groans, and pleading. I pick up the tang of iron in the air. Blood. And something else.

I feel Jamie stiffen at my side and his breath comes in a pant. He sounds like he’s going to get sick.

“What is it?”

He says one word. “Pain.”

I don’t know if he’s talking about himself or something else.

“Are you okay?”

“They should’ve brought me here first. Oden knew I could heal.” Anger flares inside his blue eyes and he pushes his way through the knot of figures blocking our path, grabbing onto me and pulling me with him. Ten figures, human and animal, lay on padded tables near the entrance; there are gaps between tables, like some have been removed. I don’t get a chance to pay much attention to the rest of the extensive room; a glance shows me it’s set up like a hospital ward. Empty except for these patients.

“Sam, help me,” Jamie pleads.

I feel sick, like somehow I’m responsible because my story seems to be true after all. But I agree and turn to Maddix. “Why don’t you come with us?”

He hesitates like he wants to say something. Instead, his expression closes and he joins us with resolution embedded in his spine. Everyone else hovers at the entrance. Two women come to meet us from across the room.

In hushed voices, they explain their Healer had been one of the casualties of the wolf skirmish and the new Healer has yet to arrive. In the interim, they’ve done what they can. Like everyone at Gunther’s, members of this camp get a rudimentary medical training, but they don’t have enough knowledge to properly treat the badly wounded.

Rather than watching the speakers, my eyes are glued to Maddix’s face, which is taut with grief. And I understand. Maddix has recently lost someone very close to him. I catch Jamie’s expression and recognize understanding there, too.

Leaning towards him, I whisper under my breath, “He reminded me of you back up on the mountain, at the beginning of it all.” In my regular voice, I say to Maddix, “Come around with us. Jamie could use the help.” I’m trying to connect Maddix to this moment, giving him both a purpose and busy hands. After the car accident, I realized I had to choose to move forward and join the continuity of life; otherwise, I’d just mope. Keeping busy helps.

The patients have been kept clean and as comfortable as possible, but the bites are foul and on some, gaping. My stomach flips over. If Jamie hadn’t known what to do, I would have been even worse off than these people; I’d have died.

As we work, we learn more details. There was a reason for our delayed arrival at this underground hospital-of-sorts. We first had to pass muster with the other Forest Dwellers. Apparently, they agreed that Jamie was the right person to help the wounded. It had been a double pack: Sixteen wolves had snuck up on one of the scouting parties. Because of the dangers in the area, usually five newbies and five lifers travel together on their searches. This time, additional help came from some local Forest Dwellers.

Feeling uncomfortable since we’re the reason the scouts had been out there to begin with, I’m extra careful as I follow Jamie’s directions. He’s not able to sew up any of the wounds because too much time has passed, but the skin will eventually reseal itself. I help to clean the injuries, and follow Jamie’s instructions on the dosing of meds and the packing and re-bandaging of deep gashes. It seems to soothe away their lingering pain.

At last, everyone is comfortable and breathing evenly in their sleep. All will live, and even Maddix half-smiles as he wipes the sweat off his forehead. I can tell he knew his way around; his hands had held steady and his movements had been precise. He slips away before I can ask him about it.

When we finish dinner that evening, a meeting is called. I’d rather skip out on it and crash somewhere for the night. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. But Oden says everyone needs to attend, especially me and Jamie. Before everyone is settled, I pull Maddix aside. I’ve been needing to give him something, and now’s a good chance to do it. Not wanting to intrude, Jamie stays behind, keeping within hearing distance. I haven’t told him about this and I’m sure he’s curious.

“Maddix, when my brother and I arrived here, we found something in the woods.”

Maddix stiffens and I rush on.

“Not at the attack site. Jamie landed on it yesterday, when we arrived. I held onto it because it seemed like something we could use. For some reason, I feel like I’m supposed to show you.” Jamie had given my bag back to me a little while ago. Now I reach into it and pull out the wrapped knife. Turning it grip first, I hold it out to the boy.

Maddix gasps. “That’s my father’s! He’d lost it on a scouting trip. He always kept his supplies with him, in case they ran into trouble.” He reaches for the knife and explains, “This one was his favorite; he made it himself. For some reason, its blade seemed to hurt patients less than other knives if there wasn’t any numbing medicine available.”

“Your father was the Healer who died?”

Giving a short nod, Maddix juts his chin and stands straight. “Yeah, we’re fourth generation Dwellers. In each generation, there has been at least one Healer in our family. I am—was—learning from him. I’d asked for some kind of sign from him. After it happened. I didn’t really expect anything ….”

My skin prickles. This is getting weird. When Jamie comes over, I can tell he’s impressed. But it wasn’t me. I just had a feeling I was supposed to show Maddix, though I didn’t know why.

Oden calls for everyone’s attention and the three of us join the crowd. The huge bear is in a somber mood and his eyes reflect red in the flickering flames of the low torchlight. When we are situated, he clears his throat and starts without preamble.

“It is known Samuel and James must soon continue their journey to find their sister and friend, but I have first a task to put before them.”

There are several nods while quiet words of agreement float through the audience. They all must know what this is about, but I squirm on the bench. I do want to help, but we don’t have an unlimited amount of time; his tone indicates this is more than a little challenge.

“Do not worry, young Samuel. The task may well lead to Olivia and Ethan.”

“Sir?”

“There has come a turning with your arrival. Now that it is known you are all here, the Sliders will increase their attacks and their violence. Anything to stop you from completing your tasks. The master of the Sliders isn’t an actual individual being, per se; it is Pandemonium itself. Chaos and torment. Fear and pain. Destruction and anger. Violence for the sake of violence, et cetera, et cetera. Though it is vast, it can form itself into something of a structured entity if necessary for its own purposes. All the Sliders stem from it. Your sister can seal away this darkness, make it harder for its manifestations, the Sliders, to penetrate the higher layers. She is our hope. You know all of this already.

“We have many camps throughout the regions in the Shadows. For scouting, yes, but also for defending and attacking. It is time to unite these forces into focused armies. Many Dwellers will want to join; some would rather blend in and not ruffle any feathers, fearing for themselves or their loved ones; others still will want to oppose us.” Oden breathes out a long sigh and rubs his snout with his paw. We all sit expectantly.

“Samuel. You’re needed to convince the Dwellers that now is the time to band together. That this is a risk that needs to be taken. We have some willing troops, but the support of more will be necessary.”

I jump up “But, sir? How can I—”

“You are new to the Shadows, which means you have no preconceived ideas on what
has been
and are able to see what
could be
. You can see potential. You are not tainted by past actions or inactions of certain Dwellers. Yet, in your world, you have seen and heard of the dangers and evils that are created with the excess of darkness permeating the layers. You understand the consequences of not stepping forward now. And your sister will need assistance as she attempts to close the rift. The Sliders will be holding an army in reserve in case they fail to stop her, at which point they will attack in full force.”

“Why don’t they go for a full attack right now? Why wait?” I ask.

“Because with great evil and devastation, comes great goodness and healing. People stand together in support of one another and give light to the world. The Sliders do not wish to risk so much light if there is no need for it. If they can cause Olivia to fail, there is no need. The rift will remain open until another Seeker is born and reaches an age to accomplish the task, and the Sliders will have plenty of time to cause the damage they desire. They will reserve a final battle until the point when there is no other choice. At that point, they will launch an attack so thorough and devastating, it will sway the balance in such a manner that it will not matter if light tries to shine again.

“This is why we need more support. And, Samuel, you have a good read on character; you can work spontaneously; you are protective and caring. You will be able to connect with these Dwellers in an innocent and whole-hearted manner, which would be impossible for one of us. We have too much history.”

“How does this help us with finding Liv and Ethan?” Jamie questions.

“You will be heading in the direction they were last thought to be traveling.”

“Wait, what?! You know where they are and you didn’t tell us?” I am livid. I feel like we’re being manipulated and that doesn’t sit well with me. Withholding information is the same as lying in my book, and my esteem for Oden is taking a quick dive.

“We do not know where they are.” Oden throws me a penetrating gaze filled with such reproach that I immediately become contrite. There’s more to the story. Of course.

I sit back as he continues. “They arrived in mid-August and were found in the Fieldings, where they stayed for roughly two weeks. It is now the beginning of fall. By all accounts they were planning to head north. Trying to find a town called New Hope, where there have lately been many disturbances. But they have not followed a known path, and no outpost has been able to trace them conclusively since they left. Whether or not they have made it to their destination, or continued on, or changed their plans altogether, we do not know.”

Jamie seems like he’s having a hard time catching a breath, but I ask, snapping out each syllable, “Why? Why would the outposts lose track of them? Why wouldn’t Livs try to contact anyone?”

Oden grimly considers the two of us. “There is one reason I can think of. They have deemed it unsafe to do so.”

“Unsafe? Why would it be unsafe?”

“Either they face a Slider menace too great, or they have knowledge of a traitor at one of our posts. At the very least, it suggests the Sliders are gaining an upper hand, and fear and confusion are spreading. We must hurry.”

“Fine,” I state, tersely. “We leave in the morning.”

“You have to let your body heal, Sam. Tomorrow’s too soon. It’d set us back even more if you reopened or infected something.”

I am not pleased with Jamie’s words.

“Hey,” he adds, “I don’t like it any more than you, but it doesn’t change the facts. We’ve got to wait. You know it as well as I do.”

Yeah, but the knowledge doesn’t make me any happier.

Maddix scrabbles to his feet. “Can I go with you? The Shadows are my home. I know the land and the people; I can help you get around. Besides, I’m too young to have any of the tainted history Oden mentioned.” His face lights with possibility. I’m guessing he needs a break from all the reminders of his dad. Sometimes, people need to run from grief so they can put it into perspective.

I ask Jamie by raising an eyebrow. He agrees with an enthusiastic smile. This is good for us; having a Dweller who knows the place will be beneficial. The departure date settled, Oden delves into specifics about what needs to be accomplished.

There are three Dweller groups who need to be convinced to join us as our allies. If we don’t get to them, they could easily become powerful enemies. Without them on our side, Oden feels we wouldn’t stand much of a chance in winning any type of war. We are supposed to find the People of the Hills, a huge clan of shepherds who haven’t been heard from in quite some time, though rumors have been circulating; the People of the Lake, who are fickle in their interactions with the other Dwellers and are now angry over some perceived slight or insolence; and the People of the Wind, who are normally far removed from the happenings on the ground, though their actions often either benefit or harm the Dwellers of the land.

Oden purposely leaves out details because he doesn’t want to “taint” us with his own ideas. He stresses that each group would add greatly to our numbers, if we can manage to sway them before Olivia attempts to seal the rift. It all comes down to a matter of timing, the gathering of supporters and the searching for Livs and Ethan. Which seems problematic to me; timing obviously doesn’t mean much here.