[rework] Minglings - chapter 47: Separation of concerns

Jake wanted to scream for joy at the sight of the white sand curving up towards the beach.

Finally, the island!

He stuck his head up, water clattering on the surface, and looked around. The ruins of Gobtown sprawled not too far away. That meant that the river wasn't too far away!

He shot along the coast like a torpedo until he reached the mouth of the river. Half a day it had taken the previous time to arrive here from the island. But he had been with the Kobolds. Now he was alone!

He rushed forward, sticking close to the bottom of the river.

Faster! He pushed himself, the water around him changing into a churning mass as he left a trail of bubbles in his wake.

An hour later, at most, he saw the river widen, signaling he would arrive at the lake. He smelt traces of blood in the water, and he prayed it was from Goblins.

As he swam into the lake, he slowed as he passed dozens of floating Goblin bodies. Some drifted towards the river, taken by the weak current.

Shit, they are here already? Jake's heart skipped a beat, and he continued on.

Almost at the edge of the island, he shot up and out of the water. As he landed on the muddy sand, the sounds of war, shouting and screaming, came from the far side of the island.

Running through the bushes, Jake slammed into the wooden wall. He grabbed the edge and crawled over, the three-meter-high barrier barely slowing him down. At the top, he froze. A milling mass of Kobolds, Goblins, and Orcs fought inside the walls in front of one of the gates. The number of bodies on the ground almost matched those left standing.

He scanned the battle by drawing in some ice energy to calm his roiling emotions. To the side, and away from the main clash, Gria and Lyra battled a giant troll, all three bleeding. Although the kobolds were half the troll's size, the spears stabbing from his gut and chest showed they were holding their own. Jake was about to run there when he saw something that made his blood curdle. At the edge of the open area, an Orc held up a dark and purple-scaled figure by the neck while a second beat it with a club.

Melissa?

Jake's coldness vanished in a wave of fury, and his dragonic roar caused the wall below him to vibrate. He leaped forward and landed a dozen feet from the wall before rushing across the open ground. Unlike the last time, his roar didn't cause the battle to seize. Instead, it caused the Orcs and Goblins to fight more viciously, and only the Orc that was about to strike Melissa turned.

The sight of Peltmans ugly mug infuriated Jake even more.

"Damnit, can't you stay gone, you winged Gekko?" Peltmans growled as he tossed Melissa's unmoving shape toward Jake.

The Kobold flew towards Jake, who barely managed to grab her, rolling around in the air and landing on his feet. He managed to get one look at her when a shuffle made him look up, and something slammed into his side. Then he felt Peltman wrap his massive muscled arms around his neck, trying and choke him. The second Orc slammed him in the chest, reaching up to the sides of his head.

"Get lost!" Jake roared, slashing his claws across the Orc's face.

The Orc screamed in pain, pressing his hands in front of his bleeding face, but Jake didn't care. He trampled across him, slamming down with his massive hind legs and squishing the Orc's head like a melon.

"Danny, stop toying with those two and come help me!" Peltmans roared, a tinge of panic in his voice.

Who the hell is Danny? Jake wondered, reaching behind to grab the Orc. The tips of his nails scratched over something before it inched back and out of the way. The massive arms squeezed tighter, and Jake stumbled. He slammed his tail into Peltman's exposed back while slashing with his claws, hoping to get a hit in.

"This not easy! No complain to me. You do self!" The troll's rolling boulder voice sounded from somewhere beside him, quickly followed by a strangled cry.

Dark spots began to appear around his vision, and Jake jumped around, slamming his tail against the Orc.

Turning full circle, he caught sight of the troll, clutching at a spear in his throat. Gria rolled up behind him and turned to Jake, waving him off.

"Kill their leader! We've got this!" she yelled before she nimbly ducked below a ponderous slap. Lyra stabbed a spear at the troll's kneecap from behind.

With more and more dark spots appearing in his vision, Jake wondered how she had expected him to help in the first place. Suddenly, his scrambling hand got a hold of one of Peltmans' dangling feet.

"No, let go, you stupid snake!" Peltmans roared, but the fear was evident in his voice now.

Jake felt elated as he squeezed and pulled on the ankle, trying to rip Peltmans off. The Orc howled and squeezed even harder, so hard that Jake could barely breathe, the air whistling as it wheezed through.

As his mind became foggy, the Draconic instincts bubbled. A primal anger took hold of him. How dare this little Orc? The furious thought came from his dragonic side, and a desire to rent and kill followed it.

With a sudden jerk, he punctured the ankle with his long nails, slicing through skin and flesh. Pelmtmans screamed but didn't let go, and Jake continued digging down until he felt the bone. At the same time, he bucked and rotated violently, like a wild horse.

Peltmans howled in agony and finally released his hold on Jake's neck, grabbing for Jake's wrist.

Jake ripped the Orc from his back, slamming him into the ground. Stepping back, he drew in ragged breaths, glaring at Peltmans. The Orc scrambled up and hobbled away, cursing and howling for help.

Get back here! Jake thought as he felt a deep desire to rip the Orc to pieces.

He jumped forward and reached the fleeing Orc in one bound, knocking him over and stomping his two front paws on the others' pack, pinning him to the ground. Gnashing his teeth, he gazed at the flailing and cursing form. The memory of Tergin, lying on the ground unmoving, popped up in his head, followed by the unmoving Mellisa as she was beaten to a pulp. With a snarl, he bit into the back of Peltmans head, causing the Orc to screech in utter panic. The hot, stinking blood flooded his mouth. He ignored the outcry and ripped the entire backside of Peltman's skull off, silencing the menace.

The sudden silence was almost disorienting, and he took a step back, staring down at the bleeding, mutilated body. Did he just kill the leader of the goblins? In a rush, he looked around.

Gria knelt next to Melissa, a worried look on her face. Behind her, Lyra was repeatedly stabbing her spear in the head of the twitching troll. At first, Jake thought she was angry or raging, but then he saw the calm look on her face and the fingers of the troll clench and unclench. The thing just wasn't dead yet!

As he calmed down more, he reared on his hind legs and looked around.

A hot mess of a battle still raged in front of the gate, but more Kobolds lay on the ground than were left standing. Even more Goblins lay between them and some half dozen orcs.

Sadly some Orcs still lived, and five rampaged in the thickest of the battle. A group of spear-wielding Antracii tried to reach them from one side of the battle, but the remnants of the Goblin forces blocked their way.

Let's end this, Jake thought as he ran forward, barrelling through the group of goblins and sending them flying like bowling pins.

In the group of Kobolds stood Bolyr, breathing heavily and with dozens of bleeding injuries across his arms and torso. He had a cracked spear in his hand and just nodded once.

Glad to see the other alive, Jake turned to the Orcs, who had backed up. They glared back at him, all five covered in wounds but with hungry looks in their bloodshot eyes. A few dozen goblins were all that was left standing behind them, and one of the orcs stepped forward and pointed his spear at Jake.

"Kill that Dragon, and the battle is ours! Attack!" he roared.

The Orcs and goblins ran forward, ignoring the small pockets of fighting still waging around them.

Jake crouched down, ready to pounce, when he felt a hand on his flank, followed by a soft voice. "Let them come closer!"

Bolyr looked at the orcs with such calmness that it caused even the raging fire inside Jake to cool. Taking a quick look around, he saw that on each of his sides stood Antracii, gripping their spears, eyes sharp and ready.

"Wait for us to engage them. Then grab and kill that one first," Bolyr whispered as his spear minutely jabbed at the left-most Orc.

"Alright," Jake said. They had no time for long debates.

The kobolds jumped forward right when the screaming and shouting Goblins arrived. Like a well-oiled machine, they stabbed and blocked, and the incoming Goblins stopped as if they had hit a brick wall. The Orcs, however, weren't deterred. They grabbed at the spears and ripped them out of the hands of the kobolds.

One of the Antracii slipped between the spears and speared the left-most Orc in his leg, causing the large green brute to reel back.

Jake saw his opportunity. He jumped between the moving figures, knocking Kobolds and Goblins aside and grabbing the Orc's neck, yanking him back like a fish. Two solid fists struck his chest, but he barely felt it. With a quick motion, he bit through the Orc's throat.

He let go, thinking it over, when something slammed into the side of his head, inches away from his left eye. Jerking it back, he saw the Orc was flailing around. He held a snapped spear clutched in one of his fists and stumbled around like headless chicken before finally keeling over.

The knock against his head woke Jake from his rage, and he realized if it had been a bit further, he might have lost an eye or at least gotten a black one.

"Jake, hurry!"

He saw the Orcs were heavily pushing the Kobolds, and even though the latter had better combat skills, the Orcs were more powerful.

What followed was a dangerous game of Jake waiting for the last moment to grab and pull in an Orc, sometimes at the cost of another Antracii life.

It took almost two minutes, a short time for many things, but not for anything involving death and mayhem. When Jake finally jumped on top of the last Orc, disemboweling it with his claws, he was weary to the bone.

Stumbling back, he realized he had never been this worn out in his whole life. And not just physically. He forced his heavy head up and looked around, hoping it was over.

Antracii rushed around, destroying the last pockets of goblin resistance and adding more bodies to those lying on the ground. Along the edges, wounded Kobolds were walking around in what seemed a daze, some pulling others with them.

Seeing the countless dead, Goblin and Kobold alike, Jake felt numb.

Glistening blood colored the soil around him, and the sweet sickly scent almost made him want to vomit. If not for the changes becoming a dragon had given him, he knew he would have probably fainted.

As the last goblin died, his scream cut short by a spear in the eye, the sudden silence seemed absolute.

Jake raised his long neck higher to make sure that only kobolds were still standing. Most were Antracii, with only a few dozen Earthlings still up, easily recognizable from their troubled and confused gaze.

The Antracii, instead, moved through the carnage purposefully. Sometimes they viciously stabbed down into a still-breathing Goblin, and at other times they gently dragged or lifted wounded Kobolds away.

Finally done, Jake thought as he struggled to remain standing.

He wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep. Even the ever-present, normally almost overpowering impulse to head to the sea seemed distant and vague. He knew he had to do something important, but his mind was foggy.

As he looked around for a spot to lie down, a high-pitched scream caused him to jerk upright and look around. A rush of adrenaline jogged him enough to realize that the sound came from the insectoid hive, still present against the base of the heart tree.

Getting a bad feeling, Jake ran towards the entrance, arriving at the same time as Gria, Bolyr, and four spear-wielding Antracii.

Bolyr stared inside with a tired look, mirroring how Jake felt. He had a few half-finished leaf bandages around one arm from which blood seeped.

"Whatever that was, it can have come from only one place. We've blocked all the passages besides the one to the mana-well," Bolyr said before letting out a sigh and walking inside.

And it continues, Jake thought wearily as he entered after him.

The moaning and crying sounds of wounded Kobolds faded into the background as Jake followed Bolyr deeper into the tunnel. An earthy smell mixed with something pungent and sharp that he couldn't quite place. He saw that Gria was walking at the back, constantly checking to make sure nothing sneaked up from behind.

As they moved into a larger room with a single open tunnel on the far side, the most distinct sounds were the soft padding of Kobold feet and the heavier of his.

None of the Kobolds seemed inclined to talk, and that suited Jake just fine. His eyelids were constantly drooping, and the warmth of the tunnels wasn't helping. Had they been talking, he might have fallen asleep, no matter the danger.

Four winding tunnels later, deep under the ground, the temperature was so stifling that Jake gave in and pulled in the little water energy drifting around. As soon as he changed it to ice energy, a waft of cool air spread from his body, and his mind cleared to a crisp. He felt a slight drain and a sense of hunger, but he had dealt with worse during the river battle.

A soft sigh of relief came from the Kobolds moving beside him, and even Bolyr slowed to walk closer.

"We are almost there. One more tunnel and we are at the mana-well," Bolyr whispered.

Jake nodded, wondering what crap was waiting for them this time. He'd killed Peltmans, so that left what? The insectoids? Whatever had screamed couldn't have from this deep. The voice would never have carried, he thought, slowing a bit more.

Before they arrived at the last corner, a distant murmured conversation reached them. The group slowed down, then stopped. Bolyr made a few weird hand gestures and the other Kobolds nodded before spreading out weapons ready.

Jake saw something pass between Bolyr and Gria as they looked at each other, and the female leader of the Antracii ground her teeth before nodding and taking a step back. Bolyr snuck forward and took a swift look around the corner. His shocked intake of breath was shockingly loud.

"Attack!" Bolyr shouted as he rushed around the corner.

Jake jumped past the kobolds and swiveled around the corner into a large oval-shaped room.

In an instant, he took in his surroundings; hardened walls reflected white light from a bright glowing coral-shaped stone in the middle of the room. Before the brilliant stone stood Tess, drawing a strange, bloodred symbol. Beside her lay a Kobold in a pool of blood, and she used its blood to draw the symbols. Next to her stood an unknown goblinoid. He was bigger than the Goblins Jake had seen but smaller than Orcs. As he turned to the entrance, Jake saw a gaunt but handsome face. Elongated, pointy ears stuck through lush, thick black hair.

"And the Dragon arrives!" the figure said.

His voice was oily but held an otherworldly ring to it, sounding like someone on the verge of singing and only just holding back.

Jake shivered. Something about the thing triggered a deeply rooted fear laced with hate from his Draconic self. He slowed down as the Kobolds rounded the bend and stormed into the room.

"Diadr!"

Bolyr's snarled shout got him only a slight smile from the thin green lips, while Tess didn't stop as she rapidly carved out more symbols on the stone.

The Kobolds ran forward, passing Jake, but before they could attack, the Diadr raised his hand. A visible wave of shimmering light spread from it and encompassed the group of Kobolds.

With a pop, Jake's cold aura disappeared, and the mana inside him almost exploded. The cave shuddered as his body crashed into the ground, powerless. It was as if all the blood in his body wanted to burn its way out.

"Aww, did that hurt you? So sorry. Perhaps I should have told you to stop your tricks before I started mine," the Diadr whispered.

The Kobolds were also on the ground, only Bolyr remaining on one knee, as the Diadr walked forward. Everything about his movements was graceful, from how he stepped to the slight tilt and shift of his upper body.

Through the haze of pain and weakness, Jake watched the Diadr move towards the closest Kobold, which lay shivering on the ground. He knew something bad was going to happen, and he tried to crawl forward, but it was no use. Even the slightest movement caused his body to cramp, hot pain almost causing him to blackout. He kept his eyes on the Diadr, wishing he could kill him and rip him apart.

Again, with a graceful movement, the Diadr placed his foot on the Kobold's neck and grinned at Jake.

"Why do you look so angry? If you don't like what I do, come and stop me."

His words fell like blows on Jake's ears, and he tried again to move, forcing his body to rise. Pain blinded his vision and dulled his hearing, and he sagged down, breathing raggedly. A dull snap pierced the haze, and when he could see again, the Diadr had moved to another kobold. The first one lay to the side, it's head at an odd angle.

This time the Diadr didn't speak but just snapped the Kobold's neck before moving to the next, Bolyr.

"Still up, I see? I guess you're the weakest mana user here. Well, it won't save you!" The Diadr gripped the sides of Bolyr's head.

Before he could do anything, there was a rush of light accompanied by a ripping and tearing sound from the other side of the cavern.

Jake saw the Diadr's eyes narrow on Bolyr, then he shrugged, dropped the Kobold, and turned to Tess.

The Fiend was breathing raggedly, leaning against the stone with one hand. In front of her was a black, stary filled hole with jagged edges.

"Move! We have only seconds. Those stupid insects seriously drained the well," Tess grunted. Then she looked at Jake, a smile on her weary face. "Sorry, but you can't come. The others might capture you or worse!"

Her voice was poisonous and sharp, and it took Jake a moment to remember that those were almost the exact words he had used when they left Tess behind on the island.

The Fiend's eyes widened as a grin covered her face as she seemed to see the realization set in. She snorted and stepped through the portal, whisking away like a spec.

"Awww, I think you hurt her feelings," the Diadr said with a laugh before kicking the motionless Bolyr in the chest and running to the portal. "I wish you luck in this ass corner of this world. Perhaps after I am done conquering the rest, I'll see if you managed to survive!"

Laughing in his sickly sweet voice, the Diadr dashed into the portal, disappearing as Tess had.

The portal remained open for two or three more seconds before a loud crack ran through the cave, and it disappeared. The glowing symbols faded until they were just markings on the grey stone that began cracking. Small pieces fell, and with a woosh, the drawn section slid down like a miniature avalanche, the pieces crumbling on the ground.

A soft sigh came from the entrance, and Gria walked in, staring at the Kobolds with the snapped necks. Jake still couldn't move more than his head, and he watched her kneel down and check for a pulse. He guessed she didn't find one as her shoulders sagged a bit. She said nothing as she moved towards the debris, staring down at a reasonably intact piece with a partial symbol.

"This symbol... Hellion Gorge."

She cursed and kicked the piece, causing it to disintegrate into a floating pile of dust. She then placed her hand on the remaining mana-well, half mumbling to herself. "It's drained, barely anything left, and damaged. It might never regain its former power. Such a waste."

The rest of what she mumbled was so soft Jake didn't understand, and it didn't last long. She moved next to him, sitting down beside his head and staring into his eyes. The lines around her eyes were more visible than what Jake remembered, and the sheen of her scales was dull.

"I fear that this Fiend had a hand in a lot of what has happened. Those goblin attacks struck me as weird when I heard about them... And insectoids working hand in hand with Goblins? Unheard of! Even if you are from another world, I don't believe it one bit," Gria said with a faraway gaze.

Half an hour later, the first of the Kobolds managed to get back up. Jake still couldn't move, and he'd had insisted the others go up, partially because they might be needed but more because he wanted some quiet.

As he lay there, he finally realized what had bugged him before. He had somehow forgotten about Melissa. Had she survived? With a grunt, he forced himself up and forward. No time to stay here and rest. He had to find out!

It took hours more before he managed to drag his weary body out of the tunnel system and into the open area. It was dark and quiet outside, the light from the hundreds of stars and the silvery moon barely penetrating the dense canopy. Although the air was cool and fresh compared to the dank caves, a pungent scent of burned meat clung to everything. At the edge of the open area, a faint orangey glow showed from between the bushes.

Where are you, Melissa, Jake thought as he wondered where the Kobolds had gone.

There was no movement, not even along the thick trunk of the heart tree. The few dozen houses in different states of completion seemed empty. Even with all the losses, they couldn't house all of the Kobolds.

After a few moments, he heard soft laughter coming from the other side of the island, opposite the orange burning pyre, which he assumed created the glow.

He moved towards the sound, thudding forward, his legs feeling like stone stilts. As he crossed the wide-open area, he heard voices, many in high spirits. More laughter echoed his way, almost as if he was heading to a neighborhood barbecue.

The path through the bushes ended on a grassy outcrop wide enough for the group of Kobolds that had gathered there. They were laughing and dancing in the light of the moon, drinking from wrapped-up leaf cups. Many had wounds, some bandaged, others covered in thick orange goo.

What the hell is going on here? Jake thought.

Watching the festivities stood a group of kobolds; Melissa, Bolyr, and Gria. Seeing the purple-scaled Kobold on her feet, Jake let out a pent-up sigh of relief. Only a few of the partying kobolds noticed his passing, as absorbed as they were in the dancing and drinking. Melissa had bruises across her face, neck, and arms, the scales dark and dull. One of her arms hung in a sling made of purple leaves, and she kept moving her weight from one foot to the other. Tir lay draped around her shoulders, sleeping.

Jake towered over the others and lay down when he saw they all had to crane to look at him. With his head on his front legs, he glimpsed at Tir before staring at Melissa. The dark purple female Kobold was silently observing him.

"Are you alright?"

"No, I am not. I've got a broken arm, bruised and broken ribs, and more bruises on my face than I dare count. Now, if you're asking if I'll live, then yeah."

Melissa's words came out snappy, but she stepped forward with a smile. "I hear you got to have a face-off with a mana-burner?"

Jake gaped at her. He knew what a mana-burner was, the term used in the games he'd played, but hearing the old term was jarring and reminded him of days that seemed years ago. He also realized that she was probably right. That thing had to be a mana-burner. It made more sense than anything else he could think of anyway.

"How do you even know these terms? Don't tell me you're a gamer?"

"A bonified noob-slayer is what I am!" she said. Using her one good arm, Melissa struck a pose that ended with a gasp and a wince.

Jake snorted and was about to remark on her poor form when he saw Gria and Bolyr stare at them as if struck by thunder.

"Bolyr, you look like you've seen a ghost."

The heavyset Kobold frowned. "I have never seen a ghost, although I've heard of them." He looked at Gria with a curious look.

The de facto leader of the Antracii shook her head with a smile that quickly faded again.

"No, and I don't think that's what he meant. Jake, why are you still here? The urge must be almost unstoppable now; you need to be careful! Forcing yourself to stay here can be dangerous!"

Jake stumbled, as a sudden desire to turn and run to the sea seemed summoned by her words. Pushing the sensation back was harder than he remembered, and worriedly he stared at Gria. "What do you mean, dangerous?"

Gria shrugged, and for the first time, Jake noticed the uncertainty in her eyes. "From what I know, if awoken don't follow their instincts, it can have deadly consequences."

Jake felt like strangling her. Why didn't you tell me that sooner? He barely kept his thoughts to himself, but they must have shown on his face because Gria sighed.

"I am sorry, but without you, we might not have made it," she said, staring him straight in the eye without backing down.

Seeing the steely resolve, Jake suddenly realized something. Even though the kobolds practically worshipped awoken, they still put their own lives above his. Somehow, he had forgotten that and in the process, believed everything they told him. Another thought popped to the fore, and he looked at Bolyr. How many of the things he was told were even true?

Bolyr was coldy staring at Gria. "You could have told me." His words were weary and tired and tinged with pain.

"No. You are too old-fashioned and would have done everything to protect him, even if we needed his help. The Anatracii are almost extinct, but what remains has a good chance here."

Bolyr's shoulders slumped, and he turned to Jake. "Jake, you need to go before something bad happens. I don't have the knowledge she has; if I had, I would have told you."

The loud partying continued, but a quiet hung over their small group as Jake stared at Bolyr, Gria, and finally at Melissa. "Will you be okay?"

"Do I have a choice?" she shot back.

"I guess not." Jake turned to Bolyr and frowned. "I trust you, Bolyr. I believe you will make sure everyone here will be better by the time I get back."

If I get back, he thought, feeling the desire to run away grow stronger again.

It took a few seconds before Bolyr looked up, but as he did, his jaw squared, and his yellow fist cracked as he balled it. "I promise you; your people will be fine as long as I am here!"

Gria took a step forward and raised her hand in a peculiar gesture. "I know you don't have a reason to believe or trust me, but your people will fare well here. When you come back, we will have a flourishing town with many young ones!"

Jake sighed before turning away and staring at the party. The sweet scent of the drink the kobolds were drinking mixed with the fresh smell of leaves and the smokey scent of burning goblin caused his long scaly nose to twitch.

"Fine. Is there anything you haven't told me yet?" he asked, turning his long neck to stare at Gria.

She shook her head. "No, you know all I know."

Jake doubted it, but he also worried he didn't have the time to figure out what she might be hiding. Taking another look at Melissa, he nodded for her to follow him away. She shrugged, and he walked back towards the center of the island, exchanging a final nod with Bolyr before he stepped between the bushes.

Melissa's soft footsteps followed him, and the shouting and partying dulled down as the vegetation enclosed them. Back in the open area, Jake turned and saw Melissa frown at him as she stroked Tir's smooth blue scales.

"Do you trust them?" he asked.

Melissa seemed to think for a bit, and when she finally answered, she sounded unsure and hesitant. "Bolyr perhaps, but not Gria. She will do anything to save her tribe, but I think I can handle her."

"I hope you are right. Listen, if you feel your change coming, make sure you get a good look at the sky! Remember where this place is! And if Mason comes back, tell him I'll return when I can."

Melissa nodded before smiling at him. "Next time we see each other, we can go flying together!"

Jake nodded back and looked at Tir. His little sibling was still sleeping. He almost left her with Melissa but then shook his head. He had forgotten about her once, and it had caused her to lose her mind. With a sigh, he held out his scaled hands, and Melissa placed Tir in them.

A small smile spread around her lips, and she nodded, seeming happy about his decision.

Jake didn't say anything but put the small lizard behind his neck, close to the frills, and felt her instinctively clutch on. The simple gesture strengthened his resolve to take her. Without looking, he moved to the nearest water edge, the powerful draw seemingly increasing more and more as if it had felt that he was going to move.

"I'll come back when I can!" he said before running towards the thing that beckoned him.

As he surged into the undergrowth and towards the wall, he thought he heard Melissa whisper something, but he couldn't stop. He scrambled across the wall, across the muddy bank, and jumped into the clear water of the lake.

Feeling the energy from the water flow into him, Jake shot forward towards the sea. The worry for those left behind, Melissa and even Bolyr, evaporated as the desire to follow his instincts burned like a bonfire. The last thing to pass through his mind before he started acting solely on instincts was the hope that Mason had the same desire and that it wasn't water but the same location that he was heading to. Perhaps his friend would be there!

Then, all there was left was his desire as his blue and silver shape blurred through the water, leaving behind bubbles and foam.