I shifted before opening my eyes, a dull ache creeping through my right arm. The stone beneath me felt colder than usual, missing the faint warmth I'd come to expect each morning. I turned to my left—Noelle was curled up beside the Gryphon, both fast asleep. I turned my head to the entrance of the cave, and the skies were clouded in a heavy grey. A sweet yet pungent aroma drifted in from the forest.
I breathed slowly, trying to ease the stiffness from what must've been the most awkward sleeping position imaginable. I propped myself up with my left elbow. I rubbed my eyes, recalling yesterday. No doubt, it had been the craziest day of my life. As I sat, I stared at my right arm, barely able to lift it.
I still didn't understand how I'd blasted ki from my hands. If I could do it again, I'd need to release smaller amounts, just enough to avoid hurting myself. I held my left arm, and it became awkward, but nothing transpired.
'Why can't I do this? What if it doesn't work at all? What if I'm damaged forever?'
My left arm was injured, my right barely moved, and worst of all, I still had no idea how to control my ki. I kicked my feet in the air like a child not getting its way.
"Brother?" a raspy voice said.
"Oh, hey Noelle, how do you feel?"
She blinked and yawned. "Good. The creature kept me warm." She scratched its head. "What is this thing, anyway?" while petting its head
"Remember that one tale mother told us about the Gryphon? He's one of those. Are you hungry or need some water? I have an idea to start a fire today, and we can keep warm. I also remembered where we can find some clear and clean water." Noelle interrupted.
Noelle interrupted, "You sure talk a lot now. You've even got a different look in your eye."
She said this with a curious gaze, and she looked like she was trying to figure me out.
"Noelle, thanks, but now we survive until we find our way back or someone helps us." I smiled at her, causing her to smile back.
I gathered the sticks I had dropped earlier and stacked them carefully. I think I can use my blast to set a fire. I have to make small blasts so it won't hurt me or cause the wood to shatter everywhere. I have to learn how to.
Once again, I raised my left arm in the direction of the stick. I stiffened my arm and waited. Once again, nothing happened. "Darn it!"
"What are you trying to do, brother?" said Noelle, lounging against the Gryphon's side.
I need to start a fire with my energy blasts, but can't.
She lifted a finger to her chin. "I remember the energy blast that hit the bear. Well, why don't you remember what caused you to do it?"
"You're a little genius!" I shouted, grinning.
"Thanks? always here to help," she smiled, scratching the back of her head with a confused expression.
I thought back to both times when I used Ki. Both times, I was under heavy pressure and didn't think at all. Emotions, 'that's it!' I reflected on the discussion I had with my father. I remembered that Ki can be influenced and drawn by emotions and willpower. Willpower was a big, essential part of it.
I looked again at the pile of sticks, this time determined to ignite the pile. I held my left hand out and stiffened it, releasing a thumb-sized ball of energy that shot from my palm. It had wisped to the pile of sticks and sizzled, but not enough to ignite it.
I heard my sister laughing and the Gryphon squaking as if he joined in a strangled warble, like trying to mimic human laughter.
"Hey, stop it, you two, I'm trying to get it right."
She stopped and said, "I believe you'll get it. Keep trying."
Two hours passed, and my left arm wasn't hurting anymore. However, I did feel exhausted. I had to try one last time, so I aimed at the pile of sticks, and a bigger ball of energy came out and lit a fire.
"Yes, I did it!"
"Yay, you did it!" My sister cheered me on and clapped.
"You sit by the fire and warm up. I'll get more food. The Gryphon seems to have eaten all our eggs."
"How will you climb? Your right arm is barely able to move, and your left is exhausted. You should take a break." As Noelle finished talking, her stomach roared.
"It was him." She blushed and pointed at the Gryphon. He gave out a squawk.
"I can't, not when there's mouths to feed, and I'll find a way. Just sit tight."
As I turned my back and prepared to leave, Noelle spoke out.
"Promise."
"What?" I raised my eyebrow.
"Promise you'll leave and come back."
I walked over, smiled at her, and patted her head."I promise."
I left the cave, entering the soft, damp grass once again. Looking up, the sky was clearing. But no creatures were still in view. Why were all of them still gone? As I kept walking to the macaw nests, I have to think of a way to get them down. Maybe I could aim both hands at the ground and launch myself upward with the recoil... No, that's stupid.
Nah, that idea's stupid. I wouldn't be able to grab onto any branches as my arms would be too injured. I got it. What if I get a big stick and throw it at the nests? I did train with many weapons, including a javelin.
I arrived at the nests, picked up a stick, and threw it, but it missed. I sometimes skipped training, and I suppose it had a significant impact on me. The stick sailed past the nest and landed on the far side of the tree.
I stretched toward the stick above my head, then a piercing sound tore through the air. The tree above me had claw marks. I turned my head to see the black bear that I scared away.
'Damn it! I forgot about this thing, it's way scarier up close.'
I bolted, clutching my injured right arm with my left.
'How will I escape the bear's gaze?'
I jumped over logs and roots, trying to stay ahead.
I spotted a cliff at the edge of the forest, the trees opening up to reveal a clearing bathed in light. The bear was approaching fast. I got it! The bear lunged at me. Once again, I stiffened my arms. A flicker of light pulsed in my palm, rhythmic like a heartbeat. I aimed my palms at the floor and blasted myself into the air. The ball hissed through the air, then cracked with a sharp pop—like a firecracker exploding on stone. The bear tried to stop, but ultimately fell, and the air swished, and he splattered on the floor.
"Yes!" I crashed onto the rocky ground..
'Ow... That hurt, but not as much as I expected.'
I extended my left arm onto the rocky ground where there had been no grass around me. I pushed myself up. My arms... they weren't broken. But my right arm had turned an awful shade of purple. My world was turning upside down, and I kept running back into the forest to the nearest tree as my arms hung from my body. With my left arm, I grabbed the bark of the tree, scratching it consistently.
'This pain is unbearable.'
I vomited over and over. I slumped against the tree, arms limp, bits of yesterday's food staining the grass below.
"I have to get back. After all, I did make a promise."
I pushed against the tree with my left arm. I looked down the mountain, and not one but two things were splattered on the ground. It was the bear and the injured Gryphon.
"So that's where you ended up."
It killed itself, far away from its offspring; it wouldn't witness the crude reality of this world.
"Enough procrastinating, it's time to head back."
My arm felt like a million needles had pierced it. Every couple of minutes, I almost blackout out. The cave was finally in my field of view.
"Damn." I let out a weak voice.
I tripped on the aerial roots. I couldn't even push myself up now.
'I can't die, not just yet. '
I kept clawing my way to the cave slowly, leaving a bloody trail behind me. Until my world turned black. I heard voices in the abyss. I recognized some, but didn't recognize the others. 'Am I dead?'