Raider let out a battle cry, swooping dangerously close to the mother's head as she rearranged her long body, covering the opening Kira had used. There would be no getting out that way. Not until Kira did what the mother had called her here to do.
That was okay. Kira hadn't expected anything else.
Kira kicked out, flipping herself so her head was pointed down. She swam deeper.
There, below her in the murky depths, a smaller version of the lu-ong wreaking havoc above drifted.
The baby's thrashing was weak. A dim welcome wrapped around her. She struggled to echo it, trying to push encouragement to him as she studied his predicament.
It was hard at first to understand what she was seeing.
He was in a cage of some sort. One that was much too small for his body. His upper half was outside the cage, his lower half and tail wedged inside. He looked like a broken jack-in-the-box, trying to escape.
She winced at the sight of blood seeping out of a deep gash. She had a feeling the tail might be broken. Not a good thing for a wild creature in the ocean where much bigger predators might come after him.
What she didn't understand was why the mother or the baby hadn't ripped the cage apart. Both should have been able to accomplish the deed with ease.
His body quivered as he held very still, allowing her to examine him.
He snaked his head around, and Kira went stock still, conscious of the very large teeth close to her body. He might be a baby still, but he dwarfed her. The last close call she'd had with these creatures flashed through her head.
It wouldn't take much for him to chomp her in half.
He looked at the cage and then at her, a question forming in her mind.
He was sapient, she realized with a start.
All the more reason to figure out a way to free him.
She reached out, bubbles escaping as she hissed when the cage burned her hands. There was an unpleasant sucking sensation that made her light-headed.
She imagined it was ten times worse for him. No wonder he was weakening.
The cage was sucking the life right out of him.
Urgency whipped at Kira. She didn't have time to figure this out or go slowly. The baby was fading, the brilliance of his mind dimming against Kira's.
A brief flash of fire flickered in her mind.
She hesitated, guessing what the lu-ong wanted.
Another image flashed; this time of a tiny candle next to an erupting volcano. Ah, Kira understood now. Different types of fires with different strengths.
The cage was made by the Tuann. They wouldn't have created something that might kill them every time they handled it. Because Kira was Tuann, she had a better chance of destroying it.
She touched her cuff and grimaced. Perhaps not. Access to her ki was nearly impossible with this.
That left trying to do things the old-fashioned way. Muscle through and hope for the best.
Kira grasped the bars of the door, setting her feet against the bottom bar of the cage, careful not to step on the lu-ong. Lightning bit through her as the power of the cage tried to suck her down.
She gritted her teeth and strained, resisting.
At her core, her energy flickered, trying to answer her need before guttering like a candle faced with a strong breeze.
Kira persisted. The cage's door creaked up an inch. Almost, but not enough.
She shoved again, reaching for the ki at her core by instinct and sliding off that same glass wall. This time, the mother shoved against her mind at that exact moment. Abruptly, her vision shifted, the watery scene fading as the cosmos danced behind her eyes.
It took several seconds to realize what she was seeing weren't stars but rather the tapestry of energy that made up every living thing. Like the feilli from yesterday, it sparkled and danced.
Curiosity compelled Kira to reach out, touching the aura that curled off one of those lights. The faint glow touched her skin, shifting colors until it turned a brilliant purple. She glanced out over the glittering lights that reminded her of the sun. Many were darkened and damaged, almost eclipsing the brilliance of those that remained.
Somehow, she knew those darkened parts were the pieces of herself she'd destroyed over the years. The parts she'd willingly sacrificed to protect those she loved.
Regret at the desolation moved through her, even as she knew she wouldn't have changed anything.
Those darkened bits were a reminder of what she'd done to protect her friends. They were something to be cherished. They meant she'd fought, even when it had been hard.
The small serpentine body of the baby lu-ong wound through the shimmering lights resting at the heart of her. He nudged a few in curiosity, making a pleased sound as they lit up—almost as if they were welcoming his presence.
He didn't only pay attention to those that shone with a brilliant light, but paid equal respect to the parts she would have said were dead and ruined. They gleamed, captured star fire glittering in their deepest hearts. It was as if the lu-ong’s presence had woken them from a deep sleep.
Finally, the lu-ong drifted to a stop in front of her. He hovered in the vast space, his frills fanning out, the whiskers around his mouth and his beard reminding Kira of a wizened old man.
We accept, daughter of Harding, he told her.
She didn't get a chance to ask what he accepted. Fire lanced through her as her consciousness slammed into her body. She floated, the baby lu-ong’s surprisingly wise eyes resting on her. Power crackled along her skin. Not since the first time she'd used the burst, had she felt like this.
It's time you fulfill the promise of your ancestors and reclaim your birthright, child. The lu-ong’s voice held the weight of ages as it echoed in her head.
Kira reached for the cage again, almost as if in a dream, visualizing what she wanted to have happen. A picture and clarity of intent was needed. Discipline of the mind was as important when using the ki as discipline of the body was for a warrior.
The cage glowed white-hot, pieces of it melting as the water bubbled from the output of energy she was releasing.
Its bars snapped. The lu-ong streaked free, the water echoing with his exultant cry.
His body undulated, scales brushing Kira as he surged forth.
His tail caught on the cage, jerking it forward. It crashed into Kira, its edge hitting her head.
Light glimmered above, darkness encroaching as she sank into unconsciousness.
Jin was going to have nothing but I told you so's for this.
TWENTY-TWO
Kira disappeared beneath the surface of the waves; the lu-ong’s body slamming over the space where she'd fallen.
A roar of denial escaped Graydon. His entire world froze, as if she’d taken the warmth and light with her. Endless years yawned before him, the knowledge that he’d never find anyone like her again ingrained deep in his bones.
Terror and fury trembled through him as the Roake around them shouted in dismay as the world started moving again. Fury lit Wren's eyes, the battle-hardened monster within making a rare appearance. One echoed by Graydon's own monster.
Graydon's ki magnified Raider's voice. "Damn it, Phoenix."
The human swooped dangerously close to the lu-ong, expertly avoiding her as pinpoint pricks of light flared from her mane. Raider spun, closing the distance between him and the lu-ong, his skill rivaling that of Graydon's oshota.
Kira's human was a talented warrior when in possession of a waveboard. A fact Graydon knew his first and Wren were taking note of.