A View Form Above
Chapter 8 Sleeping alone can be hard. (Can't we all just be friends.)

The day slipped by through conversation and practice, with each other’s abilities. The sun was setting, so May stopped to make camp. Zekka tied the horses down. Everything was wet; making a campfire was fruitless in the rain, so she began to set up a tent. “Are you feeling a little confident in your understanding of the Arcane muscles?” May nodded as she was getting the tent parts out. Zekka put her hand on May’s shoulder. “There is a place I have that is safe, and comfortable. It’s a big muscle, like a large man’s arm.” May found it; she pulled gently like before, but nothing happened. May’s face gave her away. “Pull hard; it is big. She pulled harder, and there was some movement. She stopped. “What happened?” Zekka wondered.

“I don’t want to break a leg,” May worried in response,

Zekka embraced her, whispering, “The forest and the rain believe in you; they know you can do it.” May pulled hard, and when she did, everything changed suddenly. It was like the muscle she pulled on locked in place. Her eyes scoured the new room. A massive bronze room covered in gears and, hissing noises all around them, the roof was a bright white light illuminating everything. “Where are we?” May asked in awe of what she had done.

“Another world.” She said it uncharacteristically quietly. May’s age returned to her.

What happened to your face?” The trees were pulling on the muscle for me; it was a kindness I didn’t need, but I was grateful.”

“Are you okay?” May asked, concerned.

“The last time I came here with someone was with Frick before he met you. I loved him. Maybe not like you, but I did love him in my own little way.” She wandered over to a contraption hanging on a wall by one of the doors. Zekka Flipped a switch on the panel. The door moved on its own. It opened to a much larger room with a bed, several comfortable chairs, and a fireplace. “There are people here, but they know not of me. I made this place far away from them.” The bronze walls covered this room with pipes or gears. As they got deeper into the room, the door closed behind them, dampening the hissing sound greatly. A large window opposite her attracted her. A dim torchlight showed a grassy field; everything else was absolutely black. No moonlight peered from above.

“Where is the moonlight? It’s so dark out there.” She asked, looking back at Zekka

“There is no moon here, no stars, only dirt and small round men that search for the shiny baubles hidden in the Deep loam by their ancestors. But they have good ideas about staying clean. This is the place we can rest for the night that isn’t the cold, hard, wet ground.” May gratefully sat in the chair near the window. Her legs were shaking from the ride. She was hungry; without the forest, she would need to figure it out for herself. Or so she thought. Zekka reached into her bag and pulled out some of her favorite fruit and offered it to her “The forest misses you, they wanted you to have this” May took it and sat in a chair opposite her

May began to tear up; she missed the trees. “I am grateful you listened to them; I can see Why Frick liked you.”

They ate the fruit in silence, taking the time to enjoy the gift. When they finished, Zekka stood and said, “Sitting is nice, but I have something I want to show you. I think you will appreciate it.” They walked back to the room they entered, and after Zekka flicked the switch to another door, May gasped, excitedly. It was a bath like she had never seen before. A massive, smooth stone made a wide and deep pool of water. She looked at Zekka, who had a knowing smile. You look like you could use a refresh. Take your time in here; it will make you feel better.” She walked into the room; it smelled like hot water.” Zekka walked past her and showed her the true wonder of the room. Flick this switch here, and warm water will rain from the ceiling. She demonstrated, leaving May speechless. She poured a small vial of liquid into the water. The scent of lavender and vanilla filled the room. Zekka left the room. May took off her armor and clothes and slid into the warm, sweet water. The silence of the water left a bad taste in her mouth; its warmth was an inviting echo of the love the river had for her.

Zekka took a shower after May was done. May sat alone at the foot of the bed a fireplace was in front of her, she could feel a muscle like an eye muscle looking around franticly. There was a familiarness to it that she recognized, there was a large glass bottle of water sitting on the table by the chairs. She went over to it and took a drink. It was indeed cool refreshing water. That muscle was bothering her, it reminded her of Frick’s blue flame. She had to know if she was right. She poured water onto the rocks in the fireplace like Frick did. Then thought a moment before pulling on the muscle causing a blue flame to appear it was warm and inviting, reminding her of Frick’s personality. Zekka had finished with her bath returning to the room in some fresh, comfortable looking clothes.

“It’s good to see that your intuition is quick.”

“I had some help from a hat,” she explained.

“Let’s get some rest, We will stop prince Eric and get back to our lives.”