Heirot

Not taking her eyes off of his, Mizuki's aura penetrated Micha's and his pain was dulled.

"Now we should tend to it." she told him and help him back to his feet gently. She tried hard not to turn around to look at what was happening to the city. If she looked, she wouldn't be able to tear herself away from it. If she looked, she'd think of Soran in a burning building, and if she thought of him...

Grimancing, Mizuki closed her eyes and turned her head away from Micha.

"Thank you," Micah said, as if the gravity of being upright enabled him to speak in a real voice again, though it was still thin. He looked over at the city, and his face fell. "What the hell happened. There's no way I wouldn't know of this being planned," he murmured in horror.

"The Arken Army." Mizuki whispered in despair.

Micah blinked. It all made sense now. "They're going to try to take Ighten," he said, turning to Mizuki. "They wanted me to tell them the layout of the area." He shook his head dizzily, so relieved by the numbness in his arm. "You look like you have something planned. Before...you were talking to Soran, weren't you," he said as if he didn't really believe it was possible.

She opened her eyes with her pain visible within them. "Yes." she said numbly. "I had been talking to him but... I lost him..." She held Rai tighter to her, as if holding her would keep the fear and pain at bay.

"What do you want to do? I owe you my cooperation, at least," he said.

Mizuki thought about it, trying to consider what they could do for what was--would--be left of the city.

"Gather what men you can first for a resistance. But we'll be no match now..." she thought for a moment then looked to the forest. Yes... "Make a camp within the forest for resistance and survivors. Keep quiet about it, if the army catches wind of it we'll be eliminated." She paused and the two walked a ways before Mizuki stopped him again and said, "Camp near water."

Micah frowned and nodded. "Mizuki, he called to stop her as she walked away. "There's a tunnel to the west of here, marked by four birches in front of a cave. It goes to a cellar in the center of the city. I can't guarantee what's on the other end, but..."

Mizuki nodded, understanding. "I need to find Soran..." No matter what his fate had been, she added to herself. "I'm going to find his location. Go forward without me," she ordered him like a commander ordering her troops. "And I'll find you later," she added when Micha looked at her, wondering how she would find them later. It was obvious that tonight and the following days, she would be putting her powers to the test.

Rai blinked her eyes wearily. "What happened?" she asked softly, trying to sit up sore and slowly.

"Shhh," Mizuki hushed Rai to silence. "I have you, you're safe now."

Rai smiled softly at her mother. "Mommy...." she said and blinked tiredly. "Where is daddy?"

Mizuki tried on a smile, but it wavered and fell. "I don't know, but I'm going to find him now, sweetie." Nodding to Micha, Mizuki turned in the direction he had pointed out to her and with Rai in hers arms Mizuki walked down a ways and stopped. Micha was just a small figure in the distance now. In the cover of trees and bushes, Mizuki ducked them under there and placed Rai against the trunk of a tree.

"Mommy's going to search for Daddy now sweetie, I need you to be quiet for a moment. All right?"

Rai looked up at her mommy for a moment. "Alright, mommy... Can I take a nap while your gone?" she asked softly, almost falling a sleep again.

"I'll still be here," she explained to Rai as she settled down beside her. "But you may sleep." She patted Rai's head then closed her eyes in concentration. She tried to concentrate on Soran's thought patterns, but it was hard when he was not conscious. She'd have to try and reach him through spiritual patterns, then.

Exploring deeper into her powers, Mizuki let herself go into a trance as she searched for Soran somewhere in the chaotic city.