"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Everyone along the shore was frozen in place, and Atha felt a chill run up her spine as she stood in the water.

What I've done?

"What are you talking about, Joel?" Eltier demanded.

"Not here," Joel said, nervously eyeing the large crowd. But they weren't having it. One after another, they began shouting at the lead guide.

"What's going on?" 

"She was about to make this woman immune!"

"You all have no idea what this girl has done!" Joel yells, silencing the protesting people. "You have no idea what trouble she has brought upon herself, and upon those like her!"

"Trouble?" Atha asked, feeling her breath catch in her throat as she uttered the word. "What do you mean?"

"Joel," a guide in the crowd said. "You don't know what will happen-"

"Neither do you!" Joel exclaimed, a note of panic making his voice go slightly higher than it normally would. "You have no idea what they'll do!"

"What who will do?" Eltier asked, looking just as confused as everybody else.

"You can't stop me without giving a reason!" Margaret said sternly. "If you're not going to tell us what's going on, then leave us be. I just want to be able to be in the water with my son." All eyes shifted back to the lead guide, who eventually nodded in defeat.

"Very well. I'll tell you what you want to know. Then you can decide if you really want to risk it." Everyone looked to Atha, and for the first time she realized that she had a say in whatever was happening.

What could this be about? It seems like the other guide knows what the problem could be, but Eltier doesn't? In any case, if this situation could really turn bad, then I need as much information as I can get.

Atha squared her shoulders. "I want to hear what you have to say."

"But Atha-" Margaret pleaded.

"I know. If you still want to be immersed after what he says, I will make sure it happens. But I need to know why this could lead to trouble."

Margaret nodded. "Alright. I'll listen, too."

"Let's gather around the cooking fire," the lead guide said. "There's enough room there for everyone."

Atha strode out of the water and onto the rocky beach, the other pilgrims parting to allow her through. Eltier and Belon followed, along with everyone else. The lead guide led the way to the cooking fire, where others were gathered for the light and warmth. The sun was still a few hours from setting, but some dark clouds had obscured it, casting shadows onto the beach.

"Gather 'round, everyone!" Joel called, causing others to stop what they were doing. As Atha and the group following her approached the fire, others that had already been gathered there began to murmur.

"Isn't that the girl that can touch the water?"

"And the boy she saved! What's going on?"

"I don't know..."

Joel took a spot near the fire and waited for everyone to settle in. Once the last person was in earshot, he opened his mouth to speak, projecting his voice so that it would carry to everyone's ears.

"There has been a development. This girl," he paused to indicate Atha. "Has discovered that at least some of us can be immune to the burning water."

"It's more than that," Eltier stated, lifting up his sleeve to reveal that his arm, which had once sported a large scab from contact with the burning water, was healed. "I was burned by the water years ago, but the wound is gone now. I don't feel the pain anymore." Sounds of disbelief, excitement, and fear errupted from the gathered people, and Joel had to raise his hand for silence. 

"I know it seems wonderful, but with this comes a slew of potential problems." Joel took a large breath, then continued. "Putting aside the fact that we don't know if it'll work for everyone, and that someone could end up getting killed... There's danger waiting on the other side of the crossing."

"You mean the Clan?" Eltier asked, his brow furrowed. "What can they do?"

"Much more than you realize, boy," Joel stated sadly.

"What is that?" Atha asked Eltier, but it was the lead guide that answered.

"You don't know about the Clan?" Joel asked

Margaret huffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "None of us do," the woman said. "We're the poor folks that couldn't afford to pay for gossip, remember?"

"Oh... right," Joel said sheepishly. "Well, I hope I can explain well enough for you all to understand. The Clan is in charge in Yolek Town, the settlement at the end of the crossing. They control everything there. But most importantly, they control the drinking water."

"How can one group control water?" A man in the crowd asked. "Just put up some skins when it rains. Anybody can collect it."

"It has been outlawed for anyone that is not certified to collect water," Joel informed them, causing others to shout in outrage.

"How can they do that!?!"

"How can anyone live without collecting their own water?"

Joel again raised his hand for silence. "As long as you follow the rules set by the Clan, you're given a ration, much like how it is now during the crossing."

"But... I can drink the burning water," Atha said. "So can Eltier. Once you're made immune, you don't have to worry about getting rain water rations. You just have to be close enough to shore to get it yourself."

"Therein lies the problem, lass. How do you think the Clan will react to you, and anyone else that you make immune? People that they can't control through their water?"

"But if enough of us are immune, they can't do anything about it," Margaret pointed out. "Can they?"

"I don't know," Joel said, shaking his head slowly. "I've seen things that tell me they'll do anything to keep their power." Joel locked eyes with Atha. "So I guess it's up to you now. You would cause mayhem if you go through with this."

Atha was silent for a moment, thinking of what she would say next. The Pilgrims and guides surrounding her waited with baited breath. "From what you've said, it doesn't sound like I'd want to be at the mercy of this clan and their rules." Atha turned away from Joel's pained expression to look over the crowd of people gathered around her. "Anyone who wishes to be immersed, follow me."

With that, Atha walked away from the fire and led the way back to the water. Eltier was right by her side, and she turned to speak to him quietly.

"Do you know much about the Clan?" Atha asked.

"They're just the people in charge. I honestly have never been in Yolek Town for any long period of time, and I've always had enough water rations since I work as a guide." Eltier glanced worriedly behind him at the trailing people. "I'm sorry, Atha. I didn't realize how much of a probelm they could be."

"Well I don't care," Margaret said, causing Atha to jump since she hadn't realized that the woman had been following so closely behind them. "You said you can drink the burning water?"

"Yes," Eltier answered. "I took a drink right after I was made immune, it was wonderful."

"Then there's nothing to worry about," Margaret replied. "If all they have control over is the water, then they can't control us at all." The woman looked at Belon, who was running ahead of the party towards the water, excited to get in again. "There's no turning back for me, anyway."

That night as Atha lay beneath her makeshift tent, beyond exhausted, she pondered on all that had happened that day. Margaret had been immersed as soon as they reached the water, and happily played with her son until they were both too tired to continue. After the people on the shore saw that Margaret was unharmed by the burning water, they vied to be the next to experience being immersed.

One by one, wincing as Atha and Eltier guided them into the water, they all took that leap of faith, and trusted in her to make them immune to this enemy that had plagued them all for ten years. Atha tried to hand off a few people to just Eltier, but each insisted that she be a part of their experience, as if they were convinced that it was her doing it that allowed the change to occur. 

Atha and Eltier obliged all of the waiting Pilgrims, and kept immersing people until the sun went down. Each rejoiced when they were able to stand in the water without being harmed. The people were laughing, playing, splashing one another, and drinking the sweet liquid. When all was said and done, more than three quarters of the Pilgrims had taken the risk, and almost every guide as well. 

Atha felt sorry for those that had chosen not to be immersed. She was sure that some of them would come around, but she also recognized that the reasons for them holding back were completely valid. Fear of the burning water had been ingrained in their daily life for nearly ten years. They also probably didn't want to risk the wrath of the mysterious Clan waiting on the other side of the crossing. Or they could be in denial, convincing themselves that immunity from the burning water was not real.

Although she felt sorry for them, she also understood. She had been afraid for so long that her secret would have negative consequences. She still didn't know what would happen, but the fact that she was helping people now was enough for her.

Some good has already come out of this, Atha thought, remembering the laughter of Belon and his mother as they played in the water together. 

Atha lifted her head as she heard some approaching footsteps, and was not too surprised to see Eltier arrive outside of her tent.

"Atha? Are you awake?" Eltier whispered. 

"Yes. Though I am tired." Athat sat up and scooted towards Eltier, sitting just underneath the old blanket. "What is it?"

"I was just wondered if you were doing alright," he said, taking a seat beside her. "Today... well there's a lot to process."

"Yes, there is," Atha agreed. "I've had to hide my secret for so long, and now all of a sudden I don't have to. And there are so many others like me now. It's... surreal." Atha paused, looking at Eltier, and gathering up the courage to ask something that she had been wondering all day. "Eltier? Why did you trust me so easily?"

"It wasn't necessarily easy," Eltier said, running his hand through his dark hair. "I laid awake last night just thinking about it. It was a terrifying idea, allowing myself to be put completely under the burning water. Especially since I know the pain it can cause..." He rubbed his forearm where the giant scab used to be.

"So what made you decide to do it?" Atha asked. Eltier looked over at her.

"You did."

Atha shook her head, not believing him. "I didn't convince you of anything, you came and asked all by yourself."

"You didn't need to convince me. I convinced myself from what I saw in you. I knew that I would be in good hands."

"I think you're paying compliments where none are warranted..." Eltier gave her that strange look again, then shook his head slightly.

"You really don't have that high of an opinion about yourself, do you?"

Atha squirmed uncomfortably. "Well, how could you have such a high opinion of me? You don't know anything about me."

"I know you're brave, and selfless, and kind. Those are qualities I can see in you, and I'm sure that anyone that saw you jump in the water and save Belon's life saw as well."

Atha ducked her head and waved her hand, dismissing his words. "That's not brave. I knew I wasn't going to be hurt by the water."

"Even so, you exposed yourself, and then you took a risk to see if you could save him." Eltier paused. "Maybe I don't know a whole lot. But I want to know more. I want to know you."

"Why?" Atha asked. Eltier paused again, looking down at his hands. She wondered what he would say.

"Because I like you."