Chapter 2 The river's claim
My name is not Healer, but no one cared what my name was. All they wanted was to be healed—so I was called Healer.
It was the only name I could remember being called. I didn’t even know if I ever had another.
The sun was about to set. My eyes were fixed on it, my heart pounding in my chest, my fingers trembling terribly. I was going to fail Eva.
I could hear the water clearly—the rush, the rage, the way it struck the rocks and wore them down. But I couldn’t smell it. How did Eva expect me to smell water from this far away? It was worse that I was still high up in the tree, with no idea how to climb down.
I had been distracted by the height. When I looked up again, the sun was gone.
Now.
I didn’t think. I didn’t calculate. I jumped. What was the worst that could happen?
My ankle broke.
Or maybe it didn’t break—just shifted out of place.
It was funny how I could heal anyone from anything, but not myself.
I dragged my leg along, still trying to catch a whiff of water. When my nose failed me, I relied on my ears again. That was when I heard them—
The sound of an army, running on four legs, in their wolf forms. They were coming for me.
I ran.
I forgot the pain, forgot the water—just ran, away from the sounds.
Fear wrapped around me, slowing me down even more than the pain in my leg. Then I tried again. I needed to smell the water. Please, God. Please.
I couldn’t afford to run aimlessly. If I got caught, Eva would be ruined too. My life didn’t matter anymore—but hers did.
It seemed the concoction had finally kicked in. My senses sharpened. But the sound of the water began to fade. The water was falling asleep. I couldn’t hear it anymore. That was why Eva told me to follow the smell, not the sound.
I was lost. But I couldn’t stop running.
The dizziness was gone now, and I ran faster. Then, by some miracle, I finally smelled it.
Water.
It was faint at first—like a soft whiff of food escaping a neighbor’s pot—but it was enough to give me strength. Enough to give me hope.
I stopped, sat down, lifted my foot, and snapped it back into place. It hurt like hell, but I was willing to endure it. For Eva.
Then I ran again. Faster. Following the scent. Shutting out the sound.
“Finally!” I screamed. “Water!”
Joy. Such a strange feeling. I hadn’t had a reason to feel it in so long. But now—I did. I made it.
But then… what next?
“I see you’ve regained your strength.”
I turned. The captain stood there in his wolf form, alone.
“Come back with me,” he commanded.
I looked around. Just plain land and water. Why had Eva told me to reach the river? She’d said I would be safe here. But she knew I couldn’t swim. I’d never learned how.
“There’s no place for something like you in this world, Healer,” the captain said. “You’re good for only one thing—healing. You will come with me.”
“I’d rather die.” My voice came out rough, almost a snarl, as I stepped backward into the water. It was deeper than I thought—one step, and it reached my knees.
“Come back here, Healer,” the captain growled.
“Come get me,” I taunted.
I didn’t know why, but the captain couldn’t move closer. He stopped right where he stood. Eva was a genius. I was going to kiss her when I saw her again.
Another step, and the water reached my waist.
“Stop right there, Healer!”
For once, I wasn’t afraid. “Why don’t you come stop me?” I said with a shrug.
Another step—the water rose to my chest.
“HEALER!”
I lifted my middle finger like I’d seen Eva do when his back was turned, and then I let myself fall, surrendering to the current—to whatever fate wanted of me.
Unfortunately, water didn’t seem to have an ending—and even still water could drown a person.
The river must sleep like a bird, because suddenly it was awake and raging again. It shoved me like I was an enemy, trying to conquer and destroy me.
There was nothing to hold onto, nothing to grab. The water slammed me against a rock—twice. My head throbbed, and anger burned through me.
“Stop trying to drown me!” I begged, but the water didn’t have ears.
Then I managed to grab a rock. I was sure the river meant to smash my head a third time, but not this time.
Water had to have a soul—or a spirit. Nothing could convince me that what happened next was coincidence.
“Well, guess what? I won,” I shouted. “You tried, but you didn’t succeed. I didn’t drown!”
I screamed at the river, forgetting I was still in it until my hands began to slip from the rock.
“No. No, no—please, I’m sorry!” I gasped. “I was rude, water spirit. We’ve played long enough. I don’t want to play anymore. Please, be still. Please.”
Magically, the water went still. Instantly.
Apparently, water liked to be begged. Arrogant thing.
“Step out and tell me who you are.”
The voice was cold—so cold it sent shivers down my spine. I had never he
ard a voice so powerful. Every nerve in my body responded to it.
I was right.
It was the water spirit.