Threads of Connection
1120 Words
Morning came too quickly.
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again—the ground splitting, the earth rising at my command.
That wasn’t normal.
“You look terrible.”
I opened my eyes and groaned softly.
Of course it was him.
Kael stood a few steps away, arms crossed, watching me like I was some kind of experiment.
“…Good morning to you too,” I muttered.
Kael smirked slightly. “Didn’t sleep?”
“…Mind your own business.”
“That’s a yes.”
I sat up, rubbing my temples.
“It was nothing.”
“Mm,” Kael hummed, clearly unconvinced.
Before he could push further, a familiar voice cut through the air.
“We’re moving.”
Solren.
Firm. Commanding.
Like nothing had changed.
Everyone began preparing immediately. No one questioned him.
But I noticed it—the way they moved.
More alert.
More aware.
Of me.
Great. Now I’m the problem.
We traveled for hours in silence.
No arguments. No unnecessary words.
Just the sound of footsteps and wind.
“…We’ll rest here.”
Aeris landed lightly ahead of us, scanning the area before turning back.
“It’s safe,” he added.
The group began setting up camp again.
I stayed behind.
Of course I did.
“You’re avoiding them.”
I didn’t need to look to know who it was.
“I’m not avoiding anyone,” I said, letting out a small sigh.
Eryndor walked beside me and sat down calmly.
“You are,” he said gently.
I glanced at him. “…I just don’t know how to act.”
“That’s alright,” Eryndor replied with a soft smile. “You don’t have to force anything.”
That again.
Why did he always say things like that?
Because he’s kind.
Or because he’s observing you.
“You trust too easily,” I muttered.
Eryndor chuckled softly. “Not easily.
Just… differently.”
Before I could respond, another voice interrupted.
“So this is where you’ve been.”
I stiffened slightly.
Taika.
“I wasn’t hiding,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
“Didn’t say you were,” Taika replied.
But he didn’t leave.
Instead, he stood there—closer than necessary.
Why is he so close?
Why are you noticing that?
“…Do you need something?” I asked.
“…Yeah,” Taika said.
I blinked. “…What?”
He crossed his arms slightly, his gaze steady.
“About yesterday.”
My stomach tightened.
“…What about it?”
“That power,” Taika said. “You’re just going to ignore it?”
“I’m not ignoring it,” I replied. “…I just don’t have an explanation.”
“But you’ve thought about it,” he pressed.
I hesitated.
“…Maybe.”
“Then what did you figure out?”
I looked away.
“…It happened when I touched you.”
Silence fell between us.
“…You noticed too,” Taika muttered.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I said quickly.
“…Or it means everything.”
I frowned. “You’re jumping to conclusions.”
“And you’re avoiding them.”
Before I could snap back—
“Well, this is interesting.”
I turned sharply.
Kael again.
“…Were you listening?” I asked.
“I have good hearing,” Kael replied lazily.
“You were eavesdropping.”
“Same thing.”
“Leave.”
He smirked. “…Or what?”
“That’s enough.”
Solren’s voice cut through the tension instantly.
Everyone fell silent.
“We need to stay focused,” Solren continued. “The Tiger Clan is our priority.”
Taika exhaled quietly. “…I know.”
But before he walked away—
He glanced at me.
Just for a moment.
And somehow—
That made things worse.
Why does that feel… different?
That night, the camp was quieter than usual.
No one talked much.
Even Kael kept to himself.
I sat near the edge again.
Away from everyone.
“You’re doing it again.”
I sighed.
“…I like the quiet.”
“Liar.”
I turned slightly.
Taika.
He sat beside me—closer than before.
Why is he always this close?
Why are you not moving away?
“…What do you want?” I asked.
“…Nothing,” Taika replied.
“…Then why are you here?”
He glanced at me briefly.
“…Because you are.”
I froze.
“…That doesn’t make sense.”
“…It doesn’t have to.”
I frowned slightly.
This was strange.
Everything about this was strange.
“You’re acting weird,” I muttered.
Taika huffed lightly. “You’re one to talk.”
“…Fair.”
Silence settled between us.
But this time—
It wasn’t uncomfortable.
“…About that power,” Taika said after a while.
I tensed.
“…What about it?”
“If it happens again,” he said, “don’t panic.”
I scoffed softly. “Easy for you to say.”
“I mean it,” he replied seriously.
I glanced at him.
He wasn’t joking.
“…Why?” I asked.
“…Because if it’s connected to us,” Taika said slowly, “…then panicking might make it worse.”
My chest tightened.
“…Connected,” I repeated quietly.
“…Yeah.”
We both went silent.
Because we were thinking the same thing.
But neither of us wanted to say it out loud.
“This is bad,” I muttered.
“…Yeah,” Taika agreed.
Another pause.
“…You’re not pulling away.”
I blinked. “…What?”
Taika looked at me.
“Usually, you move away by now.”
I froze.
“…I didn’t notice,” I said quickly.
“…Sure.”
I stood up abruptly.
“…I’m going to rest.”
Smooth.
Very smooth.
I walked away before he could respond.
But my heart—
Was racing.
What is wrong with you?
You’re getting used to this.
No, I’m not.
You are.
“…Shut up,” I whispered.
I didn’t realize how far I had walked until I stopped.
“…Wait.”
I looked around.
The camp was… far.
Too far.
“…Great.”
I turned—
“…You get lost easily.”
I froze.
Taika stood a few steps behind me.
“…I wasn’t lost,” I said.
“…Sure.”
Silence.
No one else was around.
Just us.
The air felt different.
Quieter.
More isolated.
“…You should head back,” I said.
“…In a minute,” Taika replied.
He didn’t move.
Neither did I.
And somehow—
That felt like the beginning of something.
Something I wasn’t ready for.
You’re in trouble, the voice in my head whispered.
“…I know,” I muttered.
- Writer
