Stranded

“Farewell.” Sevir called and began running parallel to the forest. Bailong’s vision shifted. Sevir’s path was clear.

However, unsaid, disruptive emotions made his eyes see past the vision at the back, running away from him, farther and farther, getting smaller. Did he expect Sevir to stay with him? He did not, and yet he wanted to follow. In his vision, Sevir held a cat, looking up at something in the trees.

Qinglong said, “good idea. None of them expects us to go south.”

Qinglong’s words pushed the idea into his mind. South would take him farther from his destination. Was it best to follow Hiwaga’s plan? The vision shifted — Sevir and himself fighting the hoard of insects back to back with himself being thrown around like a rag doll in Sevir’s hands. Bailong looked around the forest and saw the bats hiding between the thicket ahead.

Qinglong asked, “what changed?”