Nathaly:

It felt so good to sleep on a bed once more. And a good one, at that. Nathaly curled into a tighter ball, immersing herself in her wool blanket. After sleeping on the hard-packed forest ground for four nights, her back had ached for a mattress like the one she had back when she was a Novice.

But unfortunately, during a hunt, sleep is the last priority.

Nathaly threw her thick blanket off her body, shuddering at the blast of cold that slapped her. Pulling on her trousers and strapping her weapons on, she made her way to fold the blanket when a radiating heat exploded in her head. 

Nathaly yelped and collapsed onto the soft bed once more. 

Thankfully, she knew this sensation.

"Kolton?" She called in her head, searching for his low rumble.

"Ah. So you remember."

"Do what do I owe the pleasure, Councilor?" Kolton's power was the ability to communicate telepathically through people he has met. Nathaly wasn't fond of the feeling but what the Councilor willed, goes.

"Unfortunately, I am the bearer of bad news." Nathaly's heart sped. "The lords of the clans have decreed that you have four days maximum to bring Orion Montague and Yasmin Capulet back to the woods. No more, no less."

Nathaly gasped to herself, panic stirring in her gut. "But we've only just caught up to the same town. It took us three days to get here."

"Then you have one day to find them and bring them with you. Remember your training and you will succeed, Nathaly." She gulped.

"Of course, sir."

"Your brother sends his regards." The heat faded to nothing, leaving Nathaly to her cold, empty mind.

Kodiak and Eithan merely watched as Nathaly paced the small room anxiously.

"How are we supposed to find, catch and bring them back in just four days? That's next to impossible!" Nathaly exclaimed. Her mind whirled for a solution, a simple plan. 

"Well, it will be with that attitude, love." Even though Nathaly was freaking out, her heart still warmed at the endearment. Kodiak had taken her to calling her love ever since their... embrace in the forest clearing. Eithan's eyes hooded but he said nothing.

"What do we know?" Eithan said, desperate to add something to the conversation.

"They're in the town somewhere, they are headed towards Pamukkale, and they arrived not two days before." Nathaly listed off her fingers.

"Alright, then what can we do?" Kodiak arched a brow. Nathaly knew the answer but was just unsatisfied with it.

"We go out and meet them at Pamukkale." Nathaly dragged a hand down her face, feeling the skin pull and fold.

"That's right." 

Nathaly exhaled, nodding along. She ran to the door and pulled on her worn boots, jerking her head at the sitting men.

"We won't be able to go anywhere if you sit. Hurry up."

The day was cloudy, blocking out the sun entirely. Nathaly didn't like it at all; it was as if the weather sensed the fight to come. Nathaly had always known that the lovers wouldn't come easily. Honestly, she somewhat understood why they didn't want to stay in the woods. But running would never solve anything. Nathaly would fulfill her mission but she also wouldn't let the two die because of love.

Now that she herself knew what it was like to be in love, she understood their decision. They were scared, determined, desperate for a life that was just out of their reach. But the Fontana Oblove? No one knew anything about it. 

"How do you get to Pamukkale from here?" Eithan pondered as they walked along the outskirts of the town.

"Go down the main road for about three miles. But it will be too crowded if we hope to catch up to them in a day." The new deadline caused her heart to pound, echoing through her body. "We must cut through the forest and block them off." The men give their agreement with a solid nod and Nathaly turns her mare, clicking to the creature gently. The fringe forests were alight with the mid morning sunlight, dappling the woods in warm spots. She urged her horse into the forest and watched the sun, marking their position.

"How long will it take?" Nathaly asked. Kodiak hummed in thought.

"Well, even with the shortcut we will most likely reach there in an hour or so. Plenty of time. We will just not stop to rest."

"Excuse me, but while you may be able to continue for miles at an end, Nathaly and I cannot. What are we, some pack mules?" Eithan snapped. Nathaly turned back in the saddle and gave Eithan a wry look.

"You do not speak for me, Eithan. I am perfectly content with riding the whole distance. I was going to suggest it, actually." They rode on in silence and slowly, the minutes ticked by.

Nathaly didn't know how long they had been traveling but with every minute that passed, her anxiety grew tenfold. 

The sun had peaked and its rays poured down, the heat heavy against her back. Nathaly pulled the fleece tunic away from her body and fanned, sending cool forest air through her shirt. She sighed at the feeling. 

Suddenly, in the quiet of the ride, one of the two horses behind her whinnied, a squealing sound that echoed through the woods. Nathaly whirled around on her horse, trying to comfort the mare. Kodiak's horse had reared, throwing him to the ground. Eithan was comforting the nervous beast, patting its velvety nose. 

Kodiak gasped and his eyes widened as the base of a leaning tree suddenly snapped. It leaned and time seemed to stop as it fell towards Kodiak. With a scream, Nathaly leapt off her mare and ran towards him, forcing herself to run faster and faster. Adrenaline and something else she couldn't place surged through her veins, pushing her on. Kodiak scrambled back but was too shocked to get up. Nathaly stopped in front of him and braced her arms in front of her, awaiting the blow.

But it never came.

"Nat..." Kodiak breathed, trailing off. Her eyes fluttered open and she gaped at what she saw.

The tree was hovering in midair, surrounded by a moss green glow. 

And the glow was coming from her fingers.

Nathaly didn't relax, out of fear the tree would collapse once more. She jerked her chin and Kodiak stumbled away, far out of reach. Maneuvering around the floating trunk, Nathaly placed herself out of harm and let her arms fall. The tree fell to the ground with a crash. The three stood, frozen.

Her newfound power coursed through her veins, strong. She had always known that she would eventually get her magic powers but she had never thought that it would be over... nature. Her upper lip curled at the thought. Kodiak noticed the change of expression and cocked his head in question.

"Every Novice gets their magical powers sometime over the course of the mission. For example, Ciara can heal herself and others. Calum can detect who is crossing the barrier. Kolton can communicate telepathically. Dmitry can control fire, and so on. I never thought that my power would be something like nature. How terrible is that?" Kodiak chuckled at her outraged expression.

"Nature is deadly, love. But it can also be beautiful. Depends on how you see it." Nathaly mulled over his statement but pushed the thoughts away.

"Power or no power, we have a mission to get to." 

Kodiak held his arms out. "Whoa, now hold on. Don't you want to see what your power can do?" 

A smirk curved on her face. "I guess I can spare a few moments." 

Nathaly looked around the forest, watching for possible weapons. She zoned in on a stone and focused on it's energy, it's presence. Then, she imagined throwing the stone far, far away. It zipped out of sight, whip quick. She laughed breathlessly and turned to the stream bubbling in the distance. Holding her hand over the crystalline waters, she drew the water up and swirled it together to form a small tornado of azure. Then, with a clench of her fist, it exploded into droplets. 

Nathaly gazed at her hands. It felt as if she had been wielding this power for her whole life. Like it had been a part of her since she was born. 

It had.

Nathaly smiled softly and turned to the two men, who watched the spot where the water had hovered just moments ago. She snapped her fingers in front of their faces.

"Come on then. Off we go." Nathaly ran to her mare and jumped on, squeezing the animal's ribs. The three bolted along the forest, racing to Pamukkale. Hope unfurled like a baby sprout, taking root in Nathaly's heart. She had been granted this great power for a reason. And she intended on making sure she deserved it. 

They rode in silence. Nathaly was grateful, for it gave her the much needed time to think about her newfound power. Her fingers tingled anxiously, the power collected. Nathaly forced it down easily, gaping at how simple it was to manipulate... this. She didn't actually have a name for her magic but she sensed she didn't need a name. It had been part of her, inside of her since she was born but now it finally uncovered itself. Nathaly somehow knew it had been there this whole time but she had never seen it, truly. 

Her mount snorted and pranced to a hasty stop. 

Nathaly tugged soothingly on the reins and the horse calmed, wandering a few steps over to graze a small, green patch of grass. Kodiak and Eithan halted a few paces behind her, scanning the small village bordering the mountainous caverns. The stone structure was formidable, an anomaly against the flat land. Nathaly felt it's energy, buzzing in a low baritone, strangely comforting. 

"We're here," Eithan breathed, dark eyes alight with excitement.

"Come, we don't have time to stop." Kodiak steered his impatient beast towards the petit village and trots on. Nathaly caught up to him, sidling the horse next to him. She wove her fingers with his, the warmth of his hands sending sparks up her entire arm. Kodiak started slightly, but saw her face and melted into a joyful expression.

"I've never pegged you for a romantic, luv." 

Nathaly smiled, letting him distract her for a few blissful moments. "Then you must know nothing about me."

Kodiak's grip tightened. "I fully intend to."

"I believe it," she replied softly, smiling shyly at him. Kodiak's gaze flitted longingly to her lips but he glanced back at Eithan, who was trudging moodily behind them.

"If only we didn't have an audience." He growled, pouting in the saddle.

"Didn't you say we don't have the time?" She countered. A playful grin lit up his face.

"I will always make time for you." She snorted but continued on. Their legs brushed and tingles raced up Nathaly's legs.

"Can you guys go be mushy with each other somewhere else?" Eithan snarled, pain lacing his tone. Kodiak stiffened but relaxed as Nathaly settled her other hand on his muscular arm. She turned in her sattle, looking at him evenly.

"If you are going to be here, you are going to help, not complain. I don't have use for a tagalong." Eithan slumped in his seat and Nathaly turns back to Kodiak, who is observing the village with those calculating eyes of his. Nathaly watched him, memorizing his beautiful face.

"See something you like, luv?" He rumbled, not looking at her.

A blush painted her cheeks. "Many things, actually." 

Heat radiated from him as he turned back to her, cocking his head at her.

"Careful. Distractions will do no good."

Nathaly rode ahead, making a beeline for the opening of the caverns.

Eithan caught up on her other side, determined to add to the conversation.

"They must be inside already."

"We'll have to catch them inside and hope they haven't found it."

"I don't think they will," Nathaly thought aloud. Kodiak shifted to face her.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because Pamukkale has multiple identical pools of the same looking water. They need to find the right pool." Eithan said slowly, as if talking to a mindless child. Kodiak snarled under his breath and Nathaly said nothing. He could handle Eithan by himself.

"You think you're so smart?"

"In fact, I think I am," Eithan replied hotly.

"You've been nothing but a pain in the-"

"Alright, can we focus, men?" Nathaly interrupted, overly bright as the village began to thin out. "We need to find Fontana Oblove before them."

"Fontana Oblove?" An unfamiliar voice screeched. Nathaly whipped around, hand flitting to the dagger in her thigh sheath. An old lady toddled towards them, urgency influencing her movements. Her dark blue eyes glimmered with pure, unadultered fear and grief, so palpable it practically radiated off her in waves. 

Kodiak watched warily as the woman approached them.

"Please, for the love of all that is holy, please do not go there. You are making a big mistake. Do not step in that pool."

Eithan held his hands out, smiling kindly at the old woman. "Miss, calm down."

The old lady inhaled and exhaled. "Heed my warning. Fontana Oblove is nothing but trouble and will bring ruin to your life."

Nathaly tilted her head, more curious than cautious. "What proof do you have?"

"I am the proof." She raised her head, staring at Nathaly pleadingly with sunken, hollowed eyes. 

"I drank that water and now, I pray for death to come."