Thunder: The Shadows Are Stirring (Thunder Stories Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter Seven: Deconstructing

(OLIVIA)

T
HE MORNING OF MY BIRTHDAY,
I wake up and discover a small paper package on my pillow. So much for being alert even while asleep. I open it, and inside is Ethan’s necklace. I can’t believe he’d give me something that means so much to him. When I slip the black cord around my neck, the warm stone lies just below the hollow of my throat. Skimming my fingers over it, I wonder whether it was this smooth when Ethan found it, or if he’d rubbed away any rough edges over the years.

Rushing to get ready for the day, I trip over my satchel, which I’d left in middle of the floor. I windmill my arms trying to find my balance, and I manage to land like a shaky surfboarder, muttering “Tah-dah!” to myself precisely as Sam and Ethan walk past my open doorway. Of course. I proceed with a full bow and a wiggle of my fingers in a girly wave. Ethan snorts and Sam shakes his head.

“She sure is weird sometimes, but she’s always good for a laugh!” Sam says in a pseudo-whisper. I get the last laugh when my slipper beans him in the back of his head with enough force to ricochet against Ethan’s arm. I hear them both snicker as they walk down the hall.

Sam and Jamie ended up keeping the first room we were all in; I moved down a room and now share with Callie, whenever she’s here between her college classes. Every morning, we all go down to the kitchen to help with breakfast. Ethan’s the head chef since his food tastes better than any of our attempts. When we’re in the kitchen, my brothers and I are relegated to the chopping and the wiping. Sometimes even Jamie slips a knife out of my hand and tells me to go sit down somewhere instead; he’d rather his food not be murdered. Hey, I’m good with stabbing. What can I say?

When I make it downstairs, everyone is waiting for me in the kitchen. Since it’s my birthday, I’m chore-free today and the boys have prepared a glorious pancake feast for all of us. I see Callie’s touch in the streamers and party hats. Sweet of them to make this feel like a normal birthday; it’s been a while since we celebrated anything in a traditional manner.

Before we chow down, there are a couple gifts to open. Sam and Jamie built a box, which resembles Gunther’s cabin. Its roof lifts off and inside are little compartments for special treasures, or, knowing me, contraband jelly beans and chocolates. It’s perfect and thoughtful, and I give them each a big hug. From Gunther is a pair of kick-butt soft leather boots. They hit right below my knees, and the soles are flexible yet sturdy. I will be able to run and hike in them without feeling constricted. There’s even a handy strap to hold a small dagger, which I actually receive from Callie. Small and sharp, well-balanced for throwing, meant for stabbing. Owen’s gift is that candy I’d just been thinking about, and I share it around the table for us to eat with breakfast.

I notice Ethan’s eyes light up when he sees the necklace, like maybe he’d been worried I wouldn’t appreciate it. I understand it’s a Big Deal, but he doesn’t say anything. In order to stop myself from doing something soppy, I punch him in the arm.

“Jeez, what’s that for?”

“Thanks,” I say, holding his eyes with mine. He understands because his lips turn up before he calls out, “Let’s eat!”

We attack buttery, syrupy pancakes, maple bacon and brown sugar sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese, grapes and melon, yogurt, and hot chocolate. And some M&Ms. Yum. The boys did quite well, and I’m very happy. We’ve been here just shy of two months, continuing our training. Today, we’ll climb back up to see how far we’ve come. It feels right.

After everyone else cleans up, we double-check our bags, which are the most amazing things ever. We make sure we’ve shown everyone the supplies they might need to be able to access. Like our days in Training, we’ll be responsible for finding food and shelter on our own. I pack plenty of extra food for the times it might be hard to catch something. Since we’ll be attempting to Bend straight from the Training Grounds into the Shadows, we need to have all of our gear and supplies with us.

And I’ll be schnitzeled if I don’t feel nervous. Blast it. I’d been trying to think of it as an extended camping expedition, but despite Callie’s best efforts, I still feel like I don’t have the slightest idea of what I’m doing. How can I lead my brothers and closest friend into this whole Shadow Layer when I know they can die there? What kind of crazy person am I? Who does this to the people they love?

I glare down at my new boots and mentally kick my rear. Get moving, girl. An adventure awaits.

~~~

T
HUNDER MEETS US
at the foot of the trail, with the little tiger cub, Storm, at his side. Owen’s cute in either form, but he’s still getting used to the Shifting. He’s coming along for some practice with Thunder as his guide; they’ll be crossing back and forth. It shakes us when they shift, I can’t imagine what it would be like as the eight-year-old kid learning how to do it.

We don’t talk too much on the hike up. The trail is narrow and windy with periods of switchbacks at the very steep parts. On occasion, we pass a meandering stream containing several small waterfalls. The lilting water adds a musical rhythm to our steady footsteps. Flowers of all colors peek out from the tall grasses, bloom from the bushes, and drip from the trees, making my eyes water and my nose run. I keep sniffing and dripping and wiping and sneezing until Jamie, exasperated blurts out, “Sheesh, Liv. Didn’t you take my medicine?”

And thus we have occasion to stop and use a satchel for the first
real
time. It works, and everyone can go back to listening to nature in its purity. I ignore it. I mean, I keep alert enough so if we were approached by anything other than what we’d expect on a mountain, I’d be ready to take it down. But I’m looking inwardly, already trying to open my mind and accept the mission in front of me. If she were here, Callie would be proud. It’s a two hour hike; lots of time for reflection.

As we climb, the air grows cooler and a few random birds squawk out their calls, which echo around us. When we get close to the summit, Thunder stops and dips his head. I can’t help myself; I throw my arms up around his neck, burying my face into his silky mane. I hear him speak inside my head.

It is all right, Child. We shall enter at the same time, with all of you holding onto me. We shall safely pass, and get you to where you need to be.

Fine. Breathe, relax. Just a fun camping trip with the boys.

Whatever.

The fog comes from nowhere and swirls around us and I’m lost. Did anyone else hear about the holding onto him part? Had he only been speaking to me? As Thunder, Gunther is, well …
horsey
, and isn’t one to talk much. I’ve heard him do it a handful of times, the whole speaking into my head thing, but I don’t know how it works in a group situation. That is my last coherent thought before I burst into a thousand shards of oblivion.

I try to hold on to the thought of
I
, of
Me
. But, my brain is fractured and can’t hold on to anything. Finally, I feel something unyielding and warm near the center of my fragments, and I pull solidity from that. When I am pieced together enough to see blurred forms, I feel a searing pain and another dissolving, like part of my essence has somewhere else to be.

“No.” I say to myself. “No. Here!
This
is where I am.”

And I open my eyes to a pair of boots and solid ground. I am on all fours and can’t even turn my head before I heave the contents of my stomach onto the sturdy set of footgear before me.

The shoes jump back. “Really?! Really, Livs? Can you honestly not get that gunk anywhere but on me?” But Sam’s voice is laced with concern, and I feel his hand soothe over my hair, which is loose around my face. I heave again, but this time I can turn away in time. My eyes are streaming, and my arms shake.

“Here, let me help you get her up.” Ethan’s voice, steady and firm, sounds closer to my ear. He reaches from behind, hooking his arms underneath mine. With a gentle tug, he pulls me to standing, keeping his arms around me until he can tell I won’t keel over. I can’t tell if my legs are wobbly from the deconstruction, the vomiting, or the close proximity of the boy. Gads, I’m a wreck. In silence, Jamie hands me a wet cloth to wipe my face and hands. When I feel somewhat presentable, I dare to peek at the faces in the circle, which has formed around me. Every pair of eyes reflects one common emotion: shock.

“What?” I squeak and clear my throat. “What? I got nauseous. I am
so
sorry, Sam; I didn’t mean to. That was totally gross and ….” My voice trails away. “What?’ I ask again because I
know
something’s going on. Mentally, I’m counting heads. We’re all here. I look plaintively at Thunder, who whinnies and stomps his front hooves, kicking up clouds of dust. I sneeze. Is he mad at me? I feel his mind against my own, like he’s performing a mental scan, and he tosses his massive head.

You were almost Riven, Child
.

“Riven?” That’s a new one. Never even heard of it, but it sounds kind of pretty.

When the soul tries to split from the body.

Hmm. Not pretty then.

Something is calling to you strongly. Not many humans can survive such a pull.

“Oh.” I peer around again. “You all were able to see that? It kind of felt like I was Bending again, like I’d almost arrived but needed to go. I told myself to stay here. And I stayed.”

Thunder rumbles deep in his chest.
When you Bend to the Shadow Layer you MUST have a clear and definite goal in mind, which can hold your focus. You do not want to be torn so again.

How’s that for the beginning of an adventure? The boys keep watching me like I’m going to explode, and they’ve been under foot all day trying to take care of me. I’m gentle with my rebuffs; I don’t want to hurt their feelings because it
is
sweet of them. But I’m fine. And I’ve never been good at accepting help anyway. I rub at my new necklace; the stone feels smooth and comforting under my fingertips. I can absolutely handle this.

Thunder and Storm left us after lunch. Thunder’s job is to guide. We must take our own steps. But he does promise to watch over us. We must have some type of connection, since he was able to be with us in the aftermath of the car crash and everything. Like a guardian angel: He can’t stop the bad stuff from happening, but he
can
help us cope with it.

Unexpectedly, I feel my body dissolve again, no warning. I’m aware of something solid brushing against what would have been my hand. Then the world goes white and I cease to exist.

Chapter Eight: Hide and Seek

(SAMUEL)

“
W
HAT THE—?!
Frack! Jamie!! Bloody bugger!! Jamie, I need you! NOW! Frack. Shoist. Calm down. Breathe. JAMES DANIEL WILLIAMS!” I’m in a panic and my brother’s off peeing in a bush somewhere. What the bloody heck just went wrong? And what are we going to do now?! This was NOT part of the plan.

“What? What? Samuel—what’s wrong? I’m comin’! Hold on, hang on!” I hear branches snap as Jamie comes sprinting from the cover of trees. Out of breath, he doubles over with his hands on his knees, gasping. “Dude.” He looks up at me, his eyes narrowed as they scan my body. “Man, I expected blood or something. What are you yelling about?”

For a moment, my mind goes blank. I’ve never been at a loss like this before. I want to shake him and have his eyes see what I just saw; then I wouldn’t need to come up with the blasted words, which are getting all jumbled in my brain.
Easy, buddy, take it easy
. I close my eyes and focus on breathing through my fear. There is a way to fix this. We’ll figure it out. Opening my eyes, I stare Jamie straight in the face and take another deep breath. “They’re gone, Jamie.”

“Gone? Who—”

“Livs and Ethan. Gone. She burst, and Ethan was quick enough to grab at her and he burst, too. We’ve got to go. We’ve gotta find them somehow.”

Jamie’s face drops in a quick show of alarm, before pinching with the intense contemplation of an eleven-and-a-half-year-old genius. “Sam, they can be anywhere in there. Time and space work differently in the Shadows, remember? If we don’t go together, how do we meet up? Whew-boy. This changes things, doesn’t it?”