Page 30 of Gift from the Tree

I can’t believe I can just manipulate the air around me and create something so chaotic. I know it can be beautiful as well if I can figure out how not to let it burst out of me and destroy everyone’s shit.

I don’t even want to think about the visions or memories maybe—I don’t know what they are—but I didn’t want to go there yet. I feel so hurt and abandoned, like the empty void where love should be in my chest filled for a split second before completely spilling out again. The only thing I can manage to accept from it right now is that this weird feeling of being home isn’t a delusion or desperate plea for somewhere to belong. I’m supposed to be here, and I can let the fear of this unknown place go and just learn.

Closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the rocking chair, I try to feel around in my chest again for the spot. I start getting upset when I don’t feel anything, but after a few moments, I feel a little spark. It’s nothing like when my air’s going batshit crazy, but it’s there.

I swear I can picture it there like a silver rope attached inside my chest. Focusing on that rope, I try to tug on it, and when nothing happens, I tug harder, begging it to be real and to listen to me. Suddenly, me and the rocking chair are sliding backward across the porch.

Shit.

After a second of sitting there, stunned, I start laughing hysterically, the beautiful reality hitting me, erasing the small doubt I still had.

Fuck me, I have an air element. This is going to be amazing when I get my shit together. Feeling giddy about it, ready to try again, I focus back on my chest where my air’s resting.

Huh, weird. There’s something there with my air.

When I try to focus on the indistinguishable spot, shooting pain zaps across my brain and before I can stop it, I puke all over my feet.

“Gross. Fuck me,” I groan as I wipe my mouth across my hand.

“How did you end up all the way over there?” Gaster comes out the door holding a mug of tea. When he looks down at my feet, he grimaces, turning tail and hurrying back inside hollering, “I’ll grab a towel.”

I chuckle over his hasty retreat. I probably look like a hot mess right now and poor Gaster’s having to deal with this. He comes back just a few seconds later with a couple of wet towels, dry ones, a new pair of flip-flops, and some mouthwash.

“You’re so prepared, Gaster, thank you.” I laugh again as he starts handing me everything, then takes a few steps back.

“I’m not very good with people throwing up, but you’ve done it enough in the past day and a half that I’m getting used to it. Rather keep my distance, though,” he states. Looking over him, I hide my grin because he does look a little green in the face. Poor Gaster, a sympathy puker.

“Now tell me how you ended all the way across the porch.”

“I was searching for the spot inside my chest again, and when I found it, I tried to tug on it a little. It didn’t do anything, so I tried again harder and, well, shot myself backward.”

“It may not seem this way, Willow, but that isn’t the level of control most people have even a year after their powers emerge. It takes a while to be able to call your element out and it respond so easily,” Gaster says like a proud father, and it makes my throat close a little.

“Can you explain how powers emerge and all that to me? I’m just kind of throwing phrases out and I have no clue what the proper verbiage for any of what’s going on is,” I ask him, the need for knowledge now a hunger in me. I’m going to get this right.

“Of course I will. There’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time. Where should we—”

“I was told I’d find you here, little wanderer!” An all too cheery voice sounds from the bottom of the steps. I turn and sit up higher in my chair so I can see Draken head up the stairs toward us.

“Draken, hey! What are you doing here?” I ask, sounding way too excited. I didn’t mean to, but his happy-go-lucky attitude is contagious.

“I wanted to come see if you’d join me for lunch. I heard breakfast got a little messy, so I figured you might be hungry,” he says with a teasing grin, and one of his eyebrows lifts.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” I snap, but there’s no real heat behind it. I can tell he thinks it’s funny and is trying to tease me.

“So what do you say?” he asks again.

I look at Gaster, not necessarily for permission, but I did just ask him to help me, so I don’t want to be rude and run off on him.

“Go on, take a break. We can pick back up after lunch. Draken can bring you back here when you’re finished.”

I smile at him as I get out of the chair and make my way to Draken, who grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers, hustling us down the steps.

“Come on then. Let’s get you fed.”

Nine

Draken

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