"Hmm?" I look up at the sky, frowning. What the hell? It's too early to be my turn, so why is it suddenly night? My tail swishes, and I drop the head I had been holding. I lick my fingers clean, stepping towards a more open area to make a portal to the Valley. Well, the fingers I still have. The punishment for my little temper tantrum yesterday was the removal of four fingers before going out on this stupid hunting assignment.

I had stood, trembling, beside the Well of Life with a knife I had formed in one hand as I slowly cut away my pinky and ring fingers. Watching my blood sink into the depths of the Well, where Mother resides.

I had then moved on to the next hand, cutting away the same two fingers as I moaned in pain. The bitch had also given me a tough assignment. During daylight. I'm sure it was just to add insult to injury. Whatever, at least killing Life Spirits is a distraction and it's not like anyone else can handle the more powerful ones, so I would've probably ended up killing the pride of felines anyway.

But now I've become distracted from that, worry for Ezi clouding my thoughts. I push the massive leaves of the jungle out of my face, looking for a large hole that I had seen earlier. Portals are easier to create if you use a naturally formed circle. The lake that Ezi and I had used when we were with the human, for example, had been shaped in a perfect circle, making it easy to use. I find the hole again quickly, and leap in.

After several moments of free fall, my feet touch down on a thick branch in our forest. Hopping from one to the next, I start making my way to the main clearing.

I soon stop dead in my tracks, nearly falling off my branch when I land. Ezi. He's entered the Valley, along with Jake, Kamiko, Lilo, and the human. Their anxiety scrapes my chest, and Ezi... I can hardly feel him at all. His aura has always been difficult to detect despite how powerful he is, but it's fleeting and weak right now. No wonder it switched to night out of nowhere. It's only thanks to me being awake that it's night at all, otherwise the Orsmira would've been plunged into Twilight.

I rush through the treetops, not caring that my tail lashes the leaves. Having no time to relish in the lack of day in the world right now.

I leap out of the forest, easily fifty or so meters above the grass. Jake is carrying the translucent Light Spirit in his arms. One without arms of his own. I'm so shocked that I nearly botch my landing, crashing on my side and skidding in the grass. I somehow manage to roll back onto my feet before losing momentum, dashing at full speed.

There's a little crowd around Ezi and company but it parts for me as I get nearer. Black smoke is oozing off me, as it always does when I get emotional.

Fear is pouring off Jake like lava down the volcano, his eyes flaming and hair lighting up the dark somewhat. Other Fire Spirits come closer, all with their glowing eyes and flaming footprints. Jake looks at me. "Cyn! Cyn, he just - he just fell over! I dunno what to do!"

Lilo, helpful as ever, raises her hand and shouts, "Wack his little noggin with a big rock!"

Kami, arms crossed, murmurs to me, "Cynthia, thank goodness you're here! Listen, Ezi used a strange ability I had never witnessed prior, then promptly fainted."

"You think all his abilities are strange, Kami," I point out.

"No, Cynthia, you misunderstand. He used his powers without his spear."

Now I'm surprised. Ezi, who can only augment his weapon and light the sky, and nothing else. Now, after - what - twenty years of being a Spirit, he suddenly gets this new power that he can use without a weapon? And I can't help but notice that his weapon isn't anywhere near the group. I stare at the small Light Spirit as Kami fills me in on the details, Jake and Lilo sometimes adding their own commentary. The human looks shocked, staring at nothing. Again, I feel sympathy for her that I try to push down.

When they're done telling me, I slowly nod. He was able to channel his powers though something other than his spear, not truly use them on his own. I never thought that something like this would be possible. Still, it was his hair, a piece of his own body. Our weapons are a part of us - for those who use weapons, anyway - so it's not that surprising. But still... I've never heard of an Elemental doing something like that.

There's silence among us as I take it in - as we all seem to take it in. The quiet is broken when Ezi lets out a soft groan, yellow eyes fluttering open. He looks more solid now, the sky brightening, but his expression isn't lucid. His eyes jiggle around and he's obviously not processing anything. He reaches up, as if intending to tug on his hair when he notices his hands haven't reformed yet.

I gently hold his wrist. "Ezi, don't. I'm here for you. How are you feeling?"

He grins. "Great, thanks for asking!"

"Mate," Jake interjects, "you ain't got hands. Just sayin'."

Ezi chuckles. "You get used to that after a while."

"Ezi," I say, shaking his wrist to get his attention, "they told me what happened. When you have the energy, you're going to show me what you did. Okay?"

His smile fades, and his aura turns quieter. Dead. Slowly, nervously, he nods.