[CHAPTER FOURTEEN]

"My friends," Tolman called out as they approached. "How was your training?"

Sloane could practically feel Wally's grin. Excitement radiated from the young man. He stepped lightly, dancing forward and gestured triumphantly dropping to one knee, arms spread to showcase Sloane. "She hit the tree."

Sloane slapped her palm against her forehead. "That was… so much buildup for such an anticlimactic statement."

"Well," Wally hopped to his feet and turned his body so that he stood next to Tolman and faced Sloane squarely. "She didn't just hit the tree."

Slaone sensed his body shift, a tilt of his torso, something about his neck and shoulders. Looking up at Tolman perhaps?

"She made it explode. All the bark popped off and it split down the middle from the tip to about halfway down AND it was burning from the inside out." 

"It what?" Sloane and Tolman said in unison.

"You didn't know?" Wally craned his head and leaned in close to Sloane's face.

Sloane waved her hand in front of her eyes. "It's not like I could see it." She retorted snarkily, "I could smell charred wood but that didn't make me think 'burning from the inside out' Wally."

Wally chuckled, "Well, it was really cool."

Sloane shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. "Wally, next time let's practice using your element too. That way we can both become stronger."

"It would be good for both of you to gain strength." Tolman placed a hand on each of their shoulders and gave them a firm squeeze. "But for now, let's eat!" He guided the pair into the house.

Tolman's home had become a place of refuge for Wally and Sloane. They had been welcomed warmly, cared for, and made to feel safe, despite the Traveler's role as protectors. Many nights had been spent sitting around the fire and laughing until they cried. Such a happy home, full of love and security, was a stark difference to the home Sloane had been raised in. Many nights as she lay in bed and tried to sleep she struggled to think back and remember the world she came from. The memories were there, the effects of them could be felt clearly, but thinking back to the specifics of her previous world often felt hazy and tangled. She could feel that she didn't fit with her family, but she couldn't remember the specifics of her house beyond that. Sloane wasn't sure if she found it comforting or troubling. 

"Sloane," a soft voice and a gentle nudge woke her, "I thought of something I want to try."

"I'm up," Sloane replied with a heavy sigh. "

"Let's go." Wally tugged at her arm.

"No," Sloane pulled away, "first we eat, then we go."

"I got too excited," Wally helped her up, "I'm sorry. You're right, let's eat first."

She followed Wally to the table and sat. Wally put a plate with cheese and bread in front of her and sat down. She heard the pitcher scrape as he pulled it across the table. Heard liquid pour into a mug, and then the cool, rough clay shape pushed into her hand. She ate the cold breakfast in silence, the sleeping house was still and hushed. How early was it that even Tolman and Tove were not awake?

Swallowing the last of the bread with the remnants of her drink she pushed back from the table and headed to the door on silent steps. Wally followed her outside, only speaking when they were farther from the house.

"Ok Wally," what is your idea?"

"I've got a few actually." Wally hopped ahead and turned to walk backward. "First, I want to know if you can hit arrows you've shot with lightning. And then I also want to know if I can use my ability to harness the fire your lightning creates."

"Oh," Sloane smirked, "that would be so cool. Is it still difficult for you to generate fire? Before you said it was easy to control but not generate. If I could create a supply for you on the battlefield that could drastically improve our combined power."

"So you are willing to try?" Wally's voice rose in excitement.

"Of course," Sloane smiled. "Which one do you want to try first? Harnessing fire or striking arrows?"

"I think," Wally mused for a moment, "striking arrows."

When they got to the meadow Sloane tested her electrical field. It was still strange, to know what was out there without being able to see it with her eyes. She let an arrow fly. She had chosen one with a metal shaft. She could feel it clearly. Like a beacon where it landed. She lifted her hand and gathered electricity, and then sent it off. But as she gathered electricity to strike the arrow the electrical field of vision faltered.

"Oh so close!" Wally exclaimed.

Sloane sighed and rubbed her forehead. "It's difficult to maintain the field and collect electricity."

"Well it wouldn't be much training if you got it down right away." Wally replied.

"I know." Sloane straightened, and then took aim again, "It's just that this is so much more difficult without my sight."

"Just means you are going to be that much stronger." Wally comforted.

"I have to be," She released the arrow, and instantly began gathering energy. This time she collected the energy faster and released it.

"You hit it!" Wally jumped excitedly and shook Sloane's shoulders.

"Yea," She agreed, "but it was a weak hit. I'll just have to keep at it."

After hours of practice Sloane could maintain her electrical field while charging to hit the target arrow. It still took too long between charge and release in her opinion, but at least she could do both consistently.

"Let's change focus." Sloane suggested, "You need to get some training in too."

"You're right," Wally stretched, "I'm getting bored anyway."

Sloane nocked an arrow, charging it with electricity and taking aim at a tree. It was a satisfying boom, Sloane felt Wally rush away. A triumphant whoop from near the tree told her Wally had been able to use the flames.

"Do it again!" His shout was distant but clear.

They repeated the process. Again and again. The day rapidly faded away. The pair were famished and exhausted when they returned at sunset.

"Welcome back," Tolman called out, "you left early this morning."

"We did," Wally replied. "We wanted to try some new training methods. We achieved a bit of success."

"That is good to hear." Tolman clamped a hand on their shoulders. "Come, let's eat!"

Sloane grabbed Wally by the collar before they stepped inside, "If you wake me before dawn tomorrow I will taser you."

"Understood."

Several days later.

"We are going to town," Tolman said at breakfast, "would you like to join us?"

"I'm down." Wally was as excitable as ever, "what about you Sloane?"

"I could use a change of pace." She agreed. "Maybe we can pick up some requests."

Sloane caught a putrid and acrid scent on the wind several times. But it never lasted long enough to pinpoint a source. It troubled her, and she knew that Wally smelled it too. He became more subdued and serious as they approached town. Tolman didn't seem to notice, or at least he played it off. He laughed along with his family, his children chattered happily, Tove worked along with Tolman to distract the children.

There was a crowd in the town center when they arrived. The air around the town square was a strangled silence punctuated by subdued murmurs. The stench of decay lay like a blanket, adding weight to the already heavy atmosphere.

"That scent," Sloane turned to Wally, "what's going on?"

"They've found a monster. It's, well, it's disgusting. Gray skin, no eyes, too many teeth, claws like scythes."

At that moment an urgent alert popped on every traveler's bracer screen. A rift was forming and threatening a massive breach.