Page 55 of Scarred

Amma continued to scan the area. “We may need to move things around and make a barricade for me to hide behind.”

“That’s good thinking.” Jo said. “I’m sure we can move some of them, right Ru?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Amma had been wondering about a place for her to cast a circle to keep her body safe while she was working with the animals. “Suni and Ru, do you guys think you could bring one of the benches over here?” Even before she finished talking, Suni had picked one up and put it next to her. She was shocked. “Suni, did you just pick up a stone bench and carry it by yourself?”

He looked down at the bench before meeting her eyes. “Yes.”

Amma fanned her face. “If we were not about to go into battle, I would drag you off into the bushes and show you how sexy I find your display of strength.”

Suni’s eyes hooded, and he grinned. “We have time.”

Ru’s ears swiveled in their direction. “If we had time for pleasure, I would steal my mate away too. Amma, we need to know where the witches are and their numbers.”

“Yes.” Amma sat down on the bench and rolled her neck. She took three deep breaths before her eyes flew open. She needed to reach a deep meditation before reaching out to an animal in the area and Suni’s musky scent was driving her wild. “Suni, move downwind, please. I can smell you and its distraction.”

“I will not leave you while you are vulnerable,” Suni growled. “You cannot ask me this.”

Amma sighed. “Fine.” She cracked her neck again. “Don’t get mad at me if all I can connect to is a hummingbird. She concentrated on her breathing until she started to feel as if she was floating. The world dropped away and darkness descended. Slowly, small pinpoints of light started to appear and voices filled the void. She knew from experience she was looking at the souls of every animal within a hundred miles. The smaller points she ignored. Subterranean animals wouldn’t help her either, as their instinct was to hide. If the Coven witches saw one out in the open, they would know another witch controlled it. She also dismissed any animal in a herd. Again, if one started to act abnormally, it would be noticed.

A bright soul flared nearby, and she latched on to it. Suddenly, she was flying above the canopy, feeling the wind in her feathers. She had learned as a young witch that most animals were willing to lend her their bodies if she asked them kindly. They didn’t know how to be afraid unless she gave them reason. It was her job and honor to keep them safe while she was in control.

Who are you?

My name is Amma. She answered. Would you mind if I used your eyes? There are bad people headed to my home.

Will it hurt?

Absolutely not. Amma promised. You have better eyesight than I do, and I can’t fly.

I do not mind.

What is your name?

I am called Flix.

Flix. All I need you to do is let me put you in this cage. It will not hurt you, but will allow me to control your body. She mentally built a cage with no bars. You can take back control whenever you want.

Flix didn’t hesitate. He stepped onto the platform, and immediately Amma was in complete control. Flix was a bird of prey, and his eyesight was amazing. She could see the ground through the leaves, and when she gazed into the distance, she could just make out a mountain with clouds covering the tip. Amma flew in wide circles over the trees before she was able to pick out the trail the witches left. Evil always had a way of making animals disappear and sometimes vegetation wither. At the edge of the destroyed vegetation, she spotted five females walking leisurely through the forest. The way they were acting, Amma would have thought of them as females from the village returning home without knowledge of what was going on. They were still far enough out that she could warn Ru and they could get the defenses up, but only just.

Flix, see those females? Amma asked. I want you to always keep them in your sight. Tell me if they change their path.

I will. Flix took back control of his body.

Amma’s eyes snapped open, and she blinked to settle her eyes. The transition from seeing everything in fantastic detail to plain old human sight was jarring.

“Amma?” Suni murmured. He knelt in front of her, holding her hands. “Amma?”

“Suni, I’m fine,” she answered, and squeezed his hand. “Just a little disoriented.”

“Your eyes lost their color. I do not like it.”

“It’s normal,” she assured him. “I can’t use my eyes if I’m using someone else’s.”

“What did you see?” Ru brusquely interrupted.

Suni snarled.

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