Page 37 of Court of Aether and Shadows

Liam's brow furrowed as he looked me over, taking in my disheveled state.

"Sparrow," he said slowly, "what happened to your shoes? And your clothes? You look like you've been through a war."

Nothing stops me from letting out of huff that makes it seem this is all hilarious. It’s not…but what the hell am I supposed to say in this predicament?

One minute I was just running, minding my own business, and suddenly I was running like a warrior through the forest, ready to dive off cliffs and face galactic aliens that had yet to appear from the skies.

Yup. I’m losing my fucking mind.

I looked down at my bare, bloodied feet, wiggling my toes against the rough stone.

"I don't know," I repeated, a note of panic creeping into my voice. "Liam, I don't understand what's happening to me." It’s true because how do I explain all of this shit?

Ever since I got shot with whatever hallucinating drug, everything has been weird as fuck. My dreams are more vivid. This constant teetering between the real world and the realms of my dreams. Thinning walls, barriers, or whatever dimension planes they speak of in fairytales. Now I’m having visions of myself as a child that I’ve forgotten for all these years and running beyond Olympic-worthy world records.

My silence had no choice but to worry Liam as his expression softened. He pulled me closer, enveloping me in a protective embrace.

"It's okay," he murmured, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "You're safe now. We'll figure this out together, alright?"

This was the one thing I could never take for granted of when it came to Liam.

No matter how maddening a situation was, he’d never abandon me. It wouldn’t make sense to him, and he’d still assure me that whatever was happening, we’d tackle it and continue moving forward in our unpredictable life.

I nodded against his chest, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability as I melted in his grasp.

But even as I took comfort in Liam's presence, a part of me yearned for something –someone– else.

The memory of golden eyes and a voice like velvet whispered at the edges of my consciousness, a promise of answers to questions I didn't even know how to ask.

As Liam began to lead me carefully back down the trail, I couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had changed. The world around me seemed different somehow as ifa veil had been partially lifted from my eyes. Colors were more vivid, scents more intense, and sounds clearer and richer.

And underneath it all, I felt a new awareness stirring.

A sense of power, ancient and wild, that both thrilled and terrified me.

The forest watched our descent in silence, but I could have sworn I felt eyes upon us – not malevolent, but curious and maybe even a little eager. As if the very trees and rocks and streams were holding their breath, waiting to see what I would do next.

I glanced back once as we re-entered the treeline.

For just a moment, I thought I saw a flash of midnight blue fur and glowing amber eyes in the shadows between the trees. But when I blinked, it was gone, leaving me to wonder if it had ever been there at all.

With each step back toward the world I knew, I felt the magic of the mountain fading. But something of it lingered within me, a spark of that other realm that refused to be extinguished.

Why do I feel like this is only the beginning? That something better awaits if I keep exploring…this? Whatever this is.

As we reached the trailhead, I took one last look at the mountain behind us.

"Thank you," I whispered, though I wasn't sure who or what I was thanking.

For the memory? For the power? For the glimpse of a world beyond my own?

“Hmm?” Liam asks, still holding my hand as if I’d slip away and run back the way I came. He was never clingy like this, but I guess I did worry him.

“Nothing,” I assure him with an added squeeze of his hand.

A warm breeze caressed my cheek, carrying with it the scent of winter roses and starlight. And for just a heartbeat, I could have sworn I heard a deep, familiar voice whisper back:

"Well done, Twinkling Songbird."

---