The Whispering Trees by J. A. White Page B

Hurry!
    A tiny shock vibrated up her right calf. She plucked a water worm from her leg and squeezed tightly, sending droplets onto a dozen other shapes scurrying for position beneath her. “Leave us alone!” Taff screamed, slapping athis arms, his knees, his thighs. Some half-formed shape with four wings landed on the back of his neck, and Taff’s mouth trembled as a particularly violent shock pierced his body. Kara—ignoring the pinpricks of pain exploding all over her own body—slid across the boulder and yanked the creature away, wringing it between two hands like a wet hand cloth. She enfolded Taff in her arms and covered him protectively as a dozen water-winged shapes plummeted toward them.
    The simulacra never reached their target.
    Something large and blue streaked across the sky and caught the water creatures in its gull-shaped beak. Kara saw at least a dozen of these new arrivals—with leathery skin stretched taut across long, sinuous wings—snatching the remaining simulacra from out of the air, or slurping the ones without wings from the surface of boulders with long, conical tongues.
    Kara had not known what matter of beast would answer her call.
    She had needed them only to be thirsty.
    One of the creatures landed gracefully on the boulder next to her. It was somewhere between a reptile and a bird, with soft eyes and an absurdly long tail that sat coiled upon its haunches like a stored rope. A jagged scar split its flank, and its slightly protruding tongue was swollen with black mold. It wasn’t completely Blighted—not yet—but it was well on its way.
    The beast bent its head forward, and Kara, hesitating only briefly, stroked it.
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    Must keep you safe , Kara heard its voice in her head. Witch Girl save us .
    â€œNo,” she said. “I can’t help you. I want to, but I can’t.”
    The creature looked up at her, its old eyes glowing with wisdom, and a hint of mischief too.
    You will .
    And then, with a squawk so loud that Taff covered his ears, the creature lifted off. The rest of its tribe followed, their bellies happily swollen with water. Kara watchedthem disappear into the leaves of the Thickety.
    Taking Taff’s hand, she skipped boulders until finally stepping onto black soil again, where Mary Kettle was waiting.
    â€œWhy didn’t you help us?” Kara asked.
    â€œYou must learn to fight your own battles.”
    â€œWe could have died!”
    â€œKara,” Taff said.
    â€œBut you didn’t. What exactly do you think Imogen is? A common sledgeworm? How do you hope to become strong enough to defeat her if I’m helping you every step of the way?”
    â€œSo this was, what? A test?”
    â€œKara,” Taff said.
    â€œNo. This was training.” Her voice softened. “If things had gotten truly dangerous, of course I would have helped you. But there was no need. You performed—”
    â€œKara!” shouted Taff.
    Mary and Kara turned to face him. His face was ashen.Blood dripped from a cut on his left palm.
    â€œYou’re hurt!” Kara exclaimed.
    â€œIt’s not that,” Taff said. He raised his good hand and pointed toward the Draye’varg.
    In the distance stood a small figure. It was too far away to make out all the details, but Kara thought she recognized an unruly patch of sandy hair.
    â€œMy blood—it must have dripped between the boulders,” said Taff. “I’m sorry.”
    Kara shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
    â€œWe can’t let it live,” said Mary. “It’ll follow us. Hunt Taff.”
    Kara swallowed deeply and held out her hand.
    â€œGive me your dagger,” she said. “I’ll take care of it.”
    Mary unsheathed the blade. She held it hilt-side out but as Kara reached for it Mary withdrew her hand.
    â€œNo,” Mary said. She looked somewhat confused, as though surprised by