[b] Li-Li[/b]
The moment it happens everything slows down for me. A gaping void of a wound tears open inside of me. I can taste my pulse and hear darkness. Everything is wrong.  The beating of a heart roars around me. I sink to the floor of the Oasis. Galen sent me here to keep me safe. He was teaching me. I held him at arm’s length still not completely ready to forgive my abandonment and now it’s too late. I was stupid. I was weak. I saw Zaak and didn’t do what needed to be done. I should have shot him where he stood.  
My mind scrambles to make sense of this thing that doesn’t make sense. One thing I do know is I don’t have time to fall apart. I can’t deal with this loss right now. The loss will swallow me whole and reality is at stake. I have to push this down and pull myself together. Compartmentalize. Think it through. What’s your next step?

My eyes zero in on Zaak. The traitorous murderous nit. He defied me. He deserves to die and he looks as if he’s about to accomplish that all on his own right now. I shake my head. He’ll die when it’s convenient for me and right now would be terribly inconvenient. There’s too much to do and he’s the only father I have left despicable as he is.

I open a dimension underneath him and he falls into the Oasis seconds later. Along with him falls Galen’s weapons. Zaak doesn’t deserve them so I gather them up. I spend a moment longer with Lucy, running my hand along her barrel before putting her away. Finally, I look at the lump on the floor of the Oasis, my Oasis now. I force the weight of my existence on him, much like I did Nevermore. He’s harder to do so with but it’s still possible sense he’s unbelievably weak from his fight with Galen. I push and push until he’s on the brink of death and then I pull back.  I can’t deal with him without the all-consuming need to kill him, to seek revenge. I’m going to need someone who can. Someone I can trust.  Time to summon her in.


[b] Lexianna[/b]
To hear Furm explain it, sounds like a double edged sword. I’m not exactly sure how to feel about it. I excuse myself for a moment and step outside. I walk along to the edge of the water and take my scythe out. I touch it to the waters sensing the great expanse of the river. Then, I turn my head to the sky. Stars twinkle brightly above in the blanket of black. It’s late and the tax collectors will be on this village first thing in the morning. We should probably get started. No better time than the present. I’ll need Sia’s help.

I turn to head back inside when I’m stopped suddenly. There’s a weight pressing in on my heart. It makes my legs go weak and I lean heavily on a dock post for support. I feel like it’s crushing my lungs, ripping at my soul. I start shaking and tears prick in my eyes. I put my weapon away and sink down onto the dock to catch my breath. [i]What just happened?[/i] Even as I think this I already know that whatever it was, it was terrible. This heartbreak…. my thoughts immediately go to Li-Li. I dismiss the idea moments later. She’s with Galen and he would never let anything happen to her. I suck in a deep gulp of air. When another horrible thought hits me, Razz. I can’t really dismiss my feelings but there’s not much I can do right now. Until we find Razz and Nevermore, we won’t know anything. All I know is we need to hurry.

I rush back into the hall and poke my head in the doorway. “Sia, I could really use your expertise out here.” I motion her out and walk to the dock again. There’s raised platforms along the walkway before you get to the dock, where I’m assuming the tribute of fish are supposed to be. “We need to refill those platforms with fish. I’m also going to need to borrow some of your fishing knowledge to spread. So…” I summon my scythe again and hold the end out to her. “Will you please touch the edge of my scythe?”