I couldn't believe what had just happened. One minute I was talking to her, little flame - Amy - and the next she was gone. I had thought she had just ran away, after all I did almost kiss her. Then she appeared again in almost the exact same spot, bleeding. I didn't know what to do. She was appearing and then disappearing. I picked her up and rushed off to my sister, who is a healer. Even though she kept fading in and out I could still feel her in my arms.

By the time we got back to my sister, Lena, she was completely with me and passed out. She mumbled once the name Lexie - it must be a friend of hers - and then she was out. I was so afraid Lena would say she couldn't do anything or that Amy would disappear again and never come back. I didn't want anything horrible to happen to her.

"Kyle, I've done all I can," Lena said, coming out of the spare bedroom that Amy was currently resting in. "She seems to be stable, but she needs rest."

I was sitting on the balcony railing outside the second floor. I always sat there when I needed time to think. Our house was made from a giant tree and we could easily climb down from any balcony if such a need would come. For me that need came quite often and I felt that need now. I didn't want to be here, just waiting. I needed to do something.

"Go, Kyle. She is fine and in good hands. You know this or else you would not have brought her to me." Lena grabbed my hand and squeezed to let me know she could handle this.

I nodded and jumped out to a branch and began to climb up. Here, the trees are huge and close together. If I don't want to be seen, then all I have to do is climb from tree to tree. I've been doing this since I was 6 years old. Being 23 now, I have become quite the pro. I am what you would call the hunter of the family, Lena is the healer. She came into her healing powers when she was only 4 years old - very young but she has always been more mature than her age. She is now 19 and I still feel like she was meant to be the older sibling at times. She wouldn't admit it, but Lena has taken on the role of parents since ours died. I do my best, but I have a temper. Every one connected to the fire element does, some just control it better than others.

I climbed to the very top of our tree and just sat there staring out at the world below. Being up here I felt better, freer. I knew I couldn't stay up here, but for now I needed the fresh air and crisp breeze. And I didn't want to just lurk around while Lena tended to Amy. That would just irritate her and she would end up telling me to leave anyway. I'm just saving her the annoyance. 

***

The sun had set and the stars were out. I was still up in the top of our tree, waiting and listening. Finally, I heard my name faintly being called from below. It was Lena. I got up and quickly climbed down, hoping beyond hope that Amy was awake. I got my answer and the world fell off of my shoulders. She was awake and drinking broth.

"She seems very confused and thinks she is in a hospital? Where is she from, Kyle?" Lena looked at me accusingly and crossed her arms.

"I'm not exactly sure, Lena." I admitted looking over her shoulder. "Every time we met it was always up at the field. And she always talked about this all being a dream. I never thought she was from somewhere other than here until I saw her fading in and out once she was hurt."

Lena gasped and her eyes lit up in excitement. "You found a dream walker!"

"A what?"

"A dream walker! They can go between worlds when they sleep and once connected to a certain world other than their own they keep returning to the same world, in the same spot! She must have connected with you. I can't believe this! I thought they were only in stories, but here you go stumbling upon one!"

I looked over to the door which Amy was behind. "She has no idea, does she?"

Lena shook her head. "No, but we will have to explain it to her then. I don't know when she will wake up this time -" Lena became quiet and her face filled with sudden horror.

"What?!" I grabbed Lena by the arms gently and forced her to look at me.

"If she's here and able to go so far from the field where she enters, then something happened that is making her stay asleep. And it's a very deep sleep."

I nodded and let her go. "Only one way to find out." I walked past Lena and towards Amy's room. She was sitting up against a mountain of pillows, sipping broth from a bowl. Lena had lit a fire for her, to keep the chill out. She was still very pale and looked very tired, but she was wide awake. At least, in this world.

She picked up the bowl and took another sip, then set it back down on the side table. "Little flame, you need to finish that."

"How many times do I have to -" She stopped suddenly and looked quickly over at me. "Kyle! What are you doing here? No, what am I doing here? Am I asleep still? No wonder this doesn't look like a hospital. But, I have never left the field before. We even tried once and I ended up waking up." I let her get that all out of system before speaking.

"No, you're not awake. You were injured and kept fading in and out of my world. You're what we call a dream walker. You can go between different worlds in your dreams, and once connected to one, you continue to return to that world in your sleep. But you can only go to the initial place you are connected to. Technically, you are still asleep... In your world."

She stared at me and slowly confusion spread across her face. "Then, how am I able to leave the field? The last thing I remember is a loud bang and -" She stopped. "I was shot. Lexie's ex boyfriend shot me. I am almost positive he was aiming at her, but he got me. Then, why am I not waking up?" This question she directed to herself and the answer came several seconds later. "I'm in a coma. I must be. This is insane!"

Lena came in at that moment and glared at me as she walked past. "Yes, you are a dream walker. My brother should not have burdened you with all of this right now. You need rest, Amy."

Amy looked at Lena. "No, it's better he told me. I'm not going to get over excited. I'm tired and I need to sleep, yes. But, I'm glad to know. This just seems so unreal."

"Well, let me change your bandages and then you can get some much needed rest. The worst is over. Now you need rest to heal." Lena lifted Amy's shirt. I turned my back to give them privacy, but didn't leave the room.

"How many days have I been here?" I could hear the awe in Amy's voice as she spoke. Lena must have removed the bandages.

"You haven't even been here an entire day. If I had to place a time, I would say you've been here about 12 hours." Lena continued with her work.

"That's... impossible." Amy whispered. "My wound looks like it's begun to heal."

Lena came up behind me a tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and saw her smiling. "Yes, that's because I am a healer here and my remedies work very fast. I've been perfecting them. By tomorrow you will be able to get up and move around. By day three it will be just a fresh scar. It normally takes less time, but your wound was very bad."

Amy's mouth dropped open. "Lena, you would make a fortune in my world!"

Lena laughed a little and shook her head. "I'm afraid my powers of healing wouldn't work the same in your world. Granted, it would speed up the healing process, but not like it does here. I am from here, after all."

Amy stopped rubbing her side and looked up at us. "Where is here anyway? What is your world called?"

"Thelbesor. It means 'elemental'. Our world is named so because each person belongs to one of the four elements. Maybe you will develop elemental gifts while you're here." Lena gathered all of her supplies and made her way to the door. "Now, I will let you and Kyle talk for a bit, but I want you to get some rest. Don't talk too long."

I watched my sister leave the room and she quietly shut the door. I looked over at Amy and saw she was staring at me, waiting. I went over to her bedside and sat down on the chair left by Lena. As we sat and stared at each other, her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of light pink. She was blushing. I smiled and touched my fingertips to her cheek lightly.

"I am very relieved to see this color, little flame." I couldn't help but use the nickname I gave her from our first meeting. When she threw her shoes at me because I surprised her.

She sighed and shook her head. "Are you ever going to call me by my real name when we are alone?" She grabbed my hand and held onto it as she pulled it down from her face. She placed it gently on the bed, but did not let go. 

I smiled. "Not a chance. You earned that name." She laughed a little and winced. "Let's not crack any jokes right now. You're not healed enough for that. You should get some rest."

She leaned back into her pillows and shut her eyes. "Will you be here when I wake up?"

"Absolutely, little flame."

She opened one eye and glared at me. Then she sighed and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before her breathing became deep and even. She seemed to be resting peacefully. I went to pull my hand from hers, but she tightened her grip. I guess this would be where I sleep tonight. Not exactly the most comfortable place, but I have had worse. I leaned forward and placed my head on the bed next to our hands. She didn't move again and I watched her sleep until I finally couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

***