"You can- YOU CAN WHAT!? GO BACK IN TIME!? You're right, I don't believe you! There's no way, how come you haven't told me!?"
Oak frantically moved his arms around, his face too contorted constantly. It shone a light into his psyche, as he tried to understand and comprehend what Lukas had told him.
"How does that even work? You're lying, right? You have to be! There's no world in which a power like that exists!"
Lukas laughed at Oak's manic outward thoughts.
"I never told you because it never came up in conversation. Everyone else above me seems to know about it, so I kind of assumed you knew already. But..."
He sighed, trying to find the right words to say.
"...I'm not sure how to explain it. I'm able to send my... self... back in time. But not me, not my body at least. Rather my mind, or maybe my soul. My memories travel back, rather than my physical self."
"Does that mean you can heal your injuries!?"
"...Technically... I guess you're right, but I don't see it that way. It's like I never got injured in the first place."
"So... if your arm got cut off, you could go back to when you had it?"
Lukas thought for a moment before cracking up in laughter.
"What? What's so funny?"
"...Nothing, it's just... that happened to me yesterday."
"Really!?"
Their conversation lasted for hours, causing Lukas to forget about his journal and simply speak endlessly. It went from how they fought, to what they had been through, to what they thought about the hunters.
Lukas was never one for the gossip that wove between the idle conversations back in Shorstone. He would talk a little here and there but never went beyond the small talk. But it felt like he had no choice.
Not that he didn't enjoy it. He had a smile on his face the whole time. Casually chatting away as the day flew by. Even when the conversation divulged into random topics, bouncing between them every few minutes.
At some point, Kai joined them too. But this time, he said nothing beyond answering a few questions with yes or no. He simply sat by, soaking in the conversation, allowing the time to drift formlessly around him.
At some point, Oak was called somewhere and had to leave. With Lukas and Kai remaining by the river. Lukas resumed his documentation and asked Kai a few questions about the ghast, to which he answered briefly and vaguely.
Kai stared longingly at the forest across the river. His mind was caught in the throes of a daydream, lost in his own mind. Not that Lukas cared, he did not mind what Kai thought about. The company was nice, especially as the evening sun came.
The two of them lay there by the river in peaceful silence. Not unlike the silence of the long evening shadows that flowed past them. Eventually, however, their silence was broken by someone else approaching them again. This time it was Skyla.
She was covered in scars and bruises. Her clothing had several large gashes around her arms and legs, even one near her stomach. One of her eyes was covered by rough bandages, and a trial of blood flowed from it like sap from a tree.
The bags under her eyes were deep and heavy. It was clear she hadn't had a good night's sleep in days. Not to mention the way she dragged her legs. She was like a husk of a person, lifeless like a corpse. But the fire in her eyes was burning brighter than before. The desire to kill the elusive ghast was clear, it was all that kept her together.
"Lukas..."
Her voice was coarse and rough. She spoke with a growl, once again showing the cold, flat reflection of herself.
"I need you to lead the explorations for the next couple of days. I... I've hit my limit. No, I think I hit it a while ago. I need a break, so I'm leaving the planning to you."
She shakily reached inside her bag and pulled out a folder.
"In here's a collection of maps and documents about what we've found so far. As well as everything we've done in searching for the ghast. Use it to make plans for everyone. They don't need to be perfect, only good enough to last until I recover."
He took the folder and browsed its contents. At first, he was a bit overwhelmed at the prospect. But as he continued to skim and glance at each new page, he began to understand what he needed to do.
"Skyla, is there anything I should know about?"
She stared at him for at least a minute. Her tired, exhausted eyes blinked slowly as she formed the words on the tip of her tongue.
"Everything you need is in that folder... I think. You're strong. Don't doubt yourself."
She smiled at him as she spoke those last few words. It was weak, but the warmth it radiated could stave off the cold of the deepest winter. Only a moment later, she was gone. Off to rest and regain her strength.
Lukas swiftly departed too. Delivering his report to the crows before spending the rest of the evening planning for tomorrow.
Kai, on the other hand, sat by the river. Enthralled by the flowing grass and contrast ripples along the river's surface.