Chapter 11: Big Question

I raised my hand hesitantly to knock on Herbalist Hardandra's door. What if she's still asleep? Or busy? Or just doesn't want to talk? I guess if any of those are true she'll probably need someone to care for the horses at her house. I took a deep breath and knocked. I held my breath as I waited for her to open the door.

I was just about turn away and look for her elsewhere when she opened the door. Her hair was messed up as if she had just woken up, she was in the same clothes as yesterday, and her eyes were red and swollen.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, "I didn't mean to wake you up."

"You didn't Kate, I wasn't able to fall asleep last night. I was just debating on coming out to do chores anyway, I just hadn't quite found the motivation for it yet..."

"I can help out if you want! I know what to do and what each horse gets for hay. I just came here-"

"Katie, listen to me. I've been up all night, so I decided on doing a simple seer spell to focus more on the vision Smo shared with me before he died." On instinct I took a step back, as if waiting for her to explode like she did yesterday. "I think you need to see too."

"I'm fine," I said, "I mean I really don't need to know."

"The person who killed Smo is going to go after Ocean next-"

"WHAT?!"

"I told you, they weren't simply after Smo, they're out to destroy Spiritus Vinculum. Do you want to see what I saw?" She asked hesitantly reaching a hand out to me.

"Yes..." I trailed off reaching my hand out to hers, "I have to protect Ocean."

"You won't be alone," she said just as my hand met hers and we were plunged into a vision.

Everything was dark and no matter which way I turned I couldn't see anything. I frowned reaching my arms out to search the darkness. I stumbled forward, searching for anything at all and finally my hands came in contact with what seemed to be a wall. I felt along the wall, eventually finding a switch that I assumed to be for a light. I flipped it on, just as I thought the room, well more like building lit up. I looked around and found I was standing in the barn that I had just visited Ocean in.

"Hello?" I asked wandering down the aisle towards where Ocean was kept, "anyone in here?" Why would her vision bring me to the barn if no one was even here? Just then there was a loud cracking noise, like a tree snapping, it came from the back of the barn. I took off running, barely reaching Ocean's stall when he came barreling out of it! "Ocean!" I screamed as he came running full blast towards me...

Everything else happened in a flash, Ocean lowered his head so that I could grab the reins and jump on. Ocean ran towards the sliding door of the barn, which I must add was still closed. Suddenly a knife came flying out of nowhere causing me to throw my hands up in defense. It barely missed us, sticking into the wooden door in front of us. I saw the blade close enough to make out enchantment engravings on the metal. Just as we got near the door, everything changed. Suddenly I was back in the forest and like my dream, Ocean an I were headed straight for the fallen tree. Before we hit it, everything changed once again and Ocean and I seemed to be flying! I looked down, but all I couldn't see anything, it was too dark outside. I felt something slam into me and was instantly freezing, I couldn't see Ocean anywhere.

It was like the vision Hardandra had shared with me last night. Everything was cold and dark. I couldn't see at all, nor could I even breath. I could feel myself drifting off, losing consciousness. Just as my eyes began to drift shut I caught a glimpse of Ocean's mane and reached out towards it. My fingers barely tanging in it when everything went black.

I sat up gasping for breath. "You saw more than I did last night, are you okay?" Herbalist Hardandra asked helping me back to my feet, as I brushed off my clothes.

"Yeah, I'm good, but I still don't have a clue of who was there."

"I don't understand... Anyone I thought it could be would know that you can't kill the Kelpie with a knife."

"But what if that knife was enchanted?" I asked meeting her gaze.

"It's very possible... We have to find out who it is before this vision comes true."

"Hardandra..." I tailed off not knowing what to say, we both knew the visions would come true, they always did.

"Don't say it. What did you come up here for? I thought everyone would mainly avoid me for awhile after what happened yesterday?"

"Hunter Ryan wanted me to give you some news!"

"About what? The investigation?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"I thought he couldn't find any evidence on whoever did it?"

"He couldn't but-"

"So he's probably already about to give up on the investigation?"

"No! Not at all! He couldn't find any evidence so he decided to take a break," Hardandra opened her mouth to say anything but I rushed in, "a very short break, to take a walk and find a new angle. While walking he found something, something big!"

"What? What did he find?"

"He found a hidden cabin!"

"A cabin," her hopeful look dropped as she played with the bottom of her shirt, "I don't see how that helps... He sent you all this way to tell me about an abandoned cabin?"

"Thats just it! The cabin isn't abandoned! And there's enough evidence in there to prove that someone had been planning Mister Smokes' and even Ocean's death. Hunter Ryan is going to go through it later and wanted to know if it would benefit you to go along with him and see the evidence for yourself."

"I don't know if I would be much help... Unless I can bring some of the objects here and use them to have a vision to see who they belong too and what exactly happened!"

"You can do that?"

"I can try!" She exclaimed running past me to the barn, "I'm going to feed horses real quick and then meet up with Hunter Ryan, do you know where he is?"

"Uhhh... No?"

"Where was he heading when he asked you to deliver the message?"

"I don't know!"

"What do you mean you don't know!? Then where were you when you last saw him?"

"I didn't. See him I mean. He saw Shar and asked Shar to ask me to deliver the message to you!"

"Oh. You and Shar were talking?"

"Yes, she wanted to ask if I would help her with training Ocean." I shifted my feet uncomfortably under Hardandra's gaze. "I know that I really shouldn't but-"

"But that's actually perfect!"

"What?"

"Smo and I had been talking about it for months but you were so fixed on becoming a Hunter we thought we'd wait to ask you..." Now, it was her turn to look uncomfortable as she looked around.

"Ask me what?"

"Katie... You are the only person with whom I can share visions with, you know nearly all the herbs, what they do, when to pick them, how to pick them, and now you even have a Spirit Bond! You learned how to read Moon Energy on your own, you have the greatest probability of learning magic, and I can't do it without Smo..." Her voice broke as she wiped tears from her eyes, "I just can't without my bestfriend."

"Can't what? I don't understand what your asking?"

"I'm asking you to train to be the Herbalist of our village."

"What?!" My jaw dropped as I stared at her wide eyed. I don't understand why she'd ask me this so suddenly! She was young enough that she should be able to be the Herbalist for many, many years! Not only that but I'm only eight! I can't train to be an Herbalist at only eight! And what about being future leader? Although I guess I could do both and it would make sense... The vision of me and Ocean flashed through my head once more, I can't be anything if that stuff happens and all visions come true... I looked up to catch Hardandra's gaze as she wrung her hands together.

"Well? What do you say?"

"I- Uhh... I got to go! Bye!" I yelled taking off away from her house and back towards the training grounds. I should tell Shar to tell hunter Ryan that Herbalist Hardandra was going to go with him, but after that I wanted nothing to do with the investigation or visions or anything magic related for that matter! This week just keeps getting wilder and wilder!

I paused at the bottom of the hill trying to catch my breath when another vision slammed into me. I was curled against a HUGE oak tree crying. I tilted my head to the side as I watched myself, why was I crying? Other me looked up and glanced around, "I don't care if I can't go home anymore... Ocean, please come back to me...Please..." Other me whispered staring blankly ahead. I took a step forward, silently questioning.

"Hey! What did the Herbalist say?" Shar said out of the blue snapping me out of the vision.

"Oh... Uhh, she said she's go." I said.

"Great then I'll go find Hunter Ryan, meet me at the round pen in ten minutes, we'll begin training." With that she took off and I began to stumble towards the round pen, still in a daze.