Chapter 168: Reinforcement

"Come here," Graeme said, tugging at August's hand and drawing her into his chest as they sat on the mossy floor. One of his arms rubbed hers, and he kissed the top of her head. "It is going to be okay."

"So the alyko have always known this about themselves?" August whispered against him.

"I don't know if all of them have, but I am guessing based on Charlotte knowing about La Loba from her family and Penelope knowing about this extra detail… I am guessing that the answer is yes. And it just hasn't been recorded. For obvious reasons," he replied.

"Is this why they are being tracked?" August asked. "Did Penelope know about the map?"

"She knew," he replied. "There is no way to remove yourself from that visibility once you are… tagged in that way. She said even lycans have been exposed to that tracer. Apparently all they have to do is put it in the water. But you only show up on the map if you are alyko. Or… fae. Even though all of us have some of that inside of us. I wonder if the elders even realize that. That they, too, have a portion of this inside of them. That, at least in some quantity, it is what makes them who they are as well…"

They were both silent for awhile, and he felt her thinking it over. "Why are the petals back?" she suddenly whispered, changing the subject to something she could see and concentrate on with her own eyes.

He didn't respond to it, instead rubbing her arm some more to comfort her.

"Maybe we should rest here. What do you think? Can you get some rest with me?" he asked soothingly. After several moments of silence, she nodded her head and he felt her nuzzle closer, burrowing herself into the comfort of his chest.

There was something about being together like this, just having the weight of their bodies resting together that made everything else seem easier and doable. It activated a deep calm, and soon August's breathing was heavy and even. Graeme exhaled in relief. There were so many unknowns, but at least they were together. They were together, and she was safe.

"Why are the petals back, guardian?" he asked in a hushed voice even though the woman was not near them.

"It is nothing to be concerned about. There is more at work than I was aware of, but with a little more reinforcement here, she will be ready to return," the woman's voice reached him from where she remained standing in her original position by the spring.

"Reinforcement of what exactly?" Graeme asked, looking at the sky. What was this place?

"Why of her of course," the woman raised her hands to the sky.

"What…" he trailed off, not even sure how to phrase the nascent questions in his mind.

"I will send the bird with her," she continued.

"The bird?" Graeme repeated.

The woman nodded once with a small smile.

"Is this going to be something she needs to repeat? Coming here?" he asked.

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"Perhaps," she answered. "That is why we are here. Take comfort in it."

"Why didn't she have you before? Where were you during those three weeks when she needed a place like this and we were stuck sitting by, hoping she would pull through?" It seemed so long ago now even though it had barely been two weeks.

"Ah, well a place like this always requires a second fae to open the door," she replied. "Otherwise, anyone would have access."

"A second fae? Someone opened the door for her?" Graeme's eyebrows pinched together.

"Oh, yes. This is why you must be patient. You need to acquire more knowledge. There are those who will be in danger if you proceed without caution," she said, apparently referring to his planned retaliation against the council.

He huffed a frustrated breath, and August stirred against him before sinking back into sleep.

"Do you see? Measured breaths are required when so much rests on you who is the ground in which others will grow and flourish or crumble. Wisdom is not reactionary," she said.

"But protection is," he countered.

"Do you know who it is you are protecting and from whom? If it is protection from an immediate threat and but for a moment, then reactionary protection is necessary. But as a leader and for the long term, you need so much more," she said. "These things you have learned. Not all that long ago."

Graeme frowned. How would she know that.

"It is a shared wisdom that has been passed down to you," she answered his silent question. "It is understandable that reactions would guide so much of your decisions now, after everything. But they will trap you if you are not careful. And reactionary thinking is not often synonymous with the caution required to outsmart the oppressors."

"The oppressors… are we talking only about the elders? I know there are other leaders who are also against the alyko—particularly whoever else has shared access to the map—but is there something I am missing? Something bigger?"

The guardian adjusted her posture, folding her hands before her and tilting her head to the sky.

"It is always bigger than we think. And with implications that are far-reaching. Not even I know the extent of how any one decision will affect all that is. But what I have said will remain true in every situation," she said, as cryptically as always.

Graeme sighed. He was so focused on this conversation with the root guardian that he missed the fact that the petals had once more disappeared into the bright sky above them.

From somewhere on the far side of the spring, a crow appeared and soared over the steam to alight on the ground next to August where she was still asleep, cradled in her mate's chest.

"Perhaps you should rest as well, Graeme," the guardian said, gesturing toward August.. "You may just awake with a firm resolution about how to proceed in the wisest manner for all within the realm of your responsibility."

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