Looking past the giant oak on the west end of the clearing, Keshiema fidgeted nervously. “I don't like this idea. I’ve never strayed far from here.”

  “You’re right to have reservations. Ethera’s forests can be dangerous." Setting his hand on her shoulder, Ezekiel tried to reassure his daughter. "But if you want your memories back, there’s no other way.”

  “Of course,” Fotiá chimed in. “You could always stay in Ethera."

  Keshiema immediately shook her head. “No, too many are counting on me. I can’t give up.

  Smiling proudly, Fotiá urged her on. “Then let’s get going, child. Time in Ethera is unstable.”

  Closing her eyes to gather all of her courage, Keshiema missed the glare Ezekiel gave his father and the quick shushing motion Fotiá replied with. “Alright. Let's go.” She gestured for Fotiá to lead.

  “Right.” Rubbing his hands together, Fotiá led the way into the forest.

  Keshiema trailed behind her forebearers, listening to the world around her and taking in the calming essence of Ethera. The sporadic chills still came and went, and she felt slow and weak, but the forest calmed and soothed her.

  The birds chirped happily around them as the trio trekked through the tall ferns. Nearby, a red fox pounced, trying to catch a mouse hiding in a berry bush. Butterflies fluttered around peacefully, sharing wildflowers and tree blossoms with bees and hummingbirds.

  Ezekiel nudged his father, "You know who she looks like?" A growl from Fotiá told his son to drop it. "Don't be such a grouch. At least we still get to talk to them."

  "I just miss Azura," Fotiá sulked, "and seeing her in your daughter is bittersweet."

  Turning to Keshiema Fotiá motioned for her to walk next to him. “We're going west. The wind from the ocean searches for wandering souls, calling to them. If you go into the wind, you’ll always find your way to the Ocean. As the daughter of an Ice-Priestess, water should be your ally." Fotiá paused

  "I sense a "but" coming?" Keshiema smiled nervously.

  "Well, your power comes from the Ancient Fire. So it could go either way for you."

  'Is that why my ice magic doesn't work right?' she wondered, but did not want to bother him with the question.

  Dark clouds moved in overhead, covering the forest in a gloomy haze. The deeper into the woods they walked, the darker the skies became. The birds quieted. The animals scurried to their dens and burrows. Thunder rolled in the distance, adding to the ominous vibe.

  "So," she twiddled her thumbs, "It's a curse that has you stuck here, right? Dásos, claims if he interferes too much he'll be banished."

  A forlorn sadness passed through Fotiá's eyes and his colors dulled slightly. "It is."

  "How would such a curse be broken?" Curses were nothing more than intricate spells, after all. And every spell could be broken, as long as the prerequisites were met.

  "The one who cursed us would need to be killed." His colors brightest and the air around him warmed up.

  Keshiema had a quizzical look about her. "All of the participants, or just the Creator of Eden?"

  Fotiá laughed, impressed with her knowledge. "Just Eden's creator. But even if the curse is broken, we would need to find a way out of Ethera ourselves. Unlike you, our physical bodies are currently trapped in between Ethera and Vitera."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Father, its time.” Keshiema looked back at Ezekiel in confusion. He reached behind himself and unsheathed a sword as it materialized.

  Fear and panic took over as she looked to Fotiá. He smiled viciously as a scimitar appeared in his hand. “Finally.” Cursing herself for being too trusting, she tried to back away. Grabbing her arm, Fotiá held her close to him. “Where do you think you’re going, kid?”

  Ezekiel ran towards them, ready to strike. Before he reached them, Fotiá dived forward, bringing Keshiema to the ground with him. Using Fotiá as a springboard, Ezekiel launched up. A loud shriek filled the air as blood rained down around them.

  Fotiá helped Keshiema to her feet. Looking round him, she saw the remains of a harpy, with her venomous claws still extended. “We need to go.” Fotiá urged her forward. “More are coming.” Another wail confirmed his statement.

  Ezekiel took her hand and ran, letting Fotiá lead the way. “When we get to the bridge, you’re on your own.”

  Keshiema shouted, “Wait, you’re not coming with me?”

  Squeezing her hand, Ezekiel tried to explain. “We can’t. Each of us is only allowed in certain parts of Ethera. It's part of our banishment; we have to stay within our boundaries.”

  A harpy swooped in, narrowly missing Keshiema with its sharp talons. On its second attempt, Ezekiel let go of Keshiema's hand and grabbed the harpy’s foot. With surprising strength, he slammed the demon against a tree, breaking its spine. “That’s why these things are here.”

  A bolt of lightning hit a nearby tree, shaking the ground and knocking everyone to their knees. Before Keshiema regained her balance, Fotiá had her hand. Looking back, she called for Ezekiel

  “He's fine!” Fotiá's grip tightened. He pulled her forward, forcing her to run. Her sides ached, and her lungs burned, but she managed to to stay on her feet as he pulled her along.

  Three harpies circled overhead. Two dived down on either side of them. The harpy on their left grabbed Keshiema's arm while the one on the right went for Fotia's weapon. The third dove for Keshiema's face.

  Ezekiel jumped in, cutting down the harpy diving towards her. Letting go of Keshiema's hand, Fotiá sliced through the one attacking him as three more joined the frey.

  Struggling to get her arm free, Keshiema grabbed hold of a tree branch to hold her position. Jumping up, she slammed her feet into the harpy's chest. Its talons tore open her arm as it fell, leaving four deep gashes.

  Breaking the branch off, Keshiema charged the harpies attacking Fotiá, hitting one in the face before being knocked back by another. Ezekiel and Fotiá killed the remaining beasts while Keshiema beat the life out of her attacker.

  After several heavy blows to the harpy's head, the branch splintered into pieces. Keshiema looked up to see Ezekiel staring in shock and Fotiá smiling proudly. “What? I made do.” Dropping the broken branch she dusted off her hands

  Another lighting strike shook the world, snapping the trio out of their moment of relief. Another wave of harpies circled above the trees, searching for their prey. Handing Keshiema his sword, Ezekiel shouted for them to keep going. “Move!”

  With the harpies on their tails, and lightning raining down with no hesitation between strikes, the three ran, doing their best to stay together. Blood trickled down the sides of their faces as the cracks of thunder burst their eardrums.

  A sickly knot formed in Keshiema's stomach when she spotted a long, mossy bridge strung across a large fern-covered canyon. She tried to stop at the entrance, but a harpy swooped down on her, knocking her over the edge.

  The world slowed, Fotiá, though too far away to help, reached out to her as she fell, “Keshiema!” A bolt of lightning struck him as he called out to her.

  The wooden planks creaked and moaned, threatening to buckle, in opposition of her weight. Pain radiated from her injured arm as she scrambled back onto the bridge, dropping her father's sword in the process.

  Fotiá kneeled on the ground, supporting himself with his scimitar, fire scattered around him, dendritic scorches trailing from his shoulder across his torso. Keshiema tried to run to his aid. An invisible wall bounced her back, almost knocking her off of the bridge once more.

  Ezekiel shouted at her, screaming for to keep going. A harpy landed in front of her, blocking her view of her family. With no weapon and her path back to her family blocked, Keshiema took a step back. Shrieking, the harpy clawed at her. Hitting the wall, it jumped back, screeching in pain.

  A blade came through the Harpy's chest. Its lifeless body slumped to the ground, revealing Fotiá. His color wheel eyes glowed with anger and heat radiated from his skin. “Go, we'll be okay.” His voice sounded harsh, filled with rage and urgency. Another harpy came up behind him. Spinning around he, he sliced through it before yelling at her again. “Go! Find the ocean!"

  Her blood running cold, Keshiema staggered back a few steps, shaking her head and clutching her injured arm before turning around and running away. Tears overflowed from her pitch-black eyes as the shrieks of harpies and claps of thunder faded away.