Aqila's eyes began to flutter open. However, her vision was hazy. All of her limbs either felt heavy or numb. There was a searing pain in her head. Her blood felt like it had been set on fire, and she was sweating profusely. She tried to move her body to no avail. There was a pulsing pain in the left side of her neck. Try to remember. Try to remember. She kept thinking to herself. She recalled having a vision, a death vision, to be specific. It was about Jai and Arrow. There was a fork in the vision, meaning one small change in decisions could affect the entire outcome of the scenario. She was attacked before she could probe further into who would make the pivotal decision and what it was about. All Aqila knew was that Jai was possibly in grave danger. She had to get her body to work. Think, what have I been injected with? She thought to herself.

Aqila pretty much knew that her attacker probably did not want her dead. She also knew that this foreign substance was not intended to be poisonous, and she would have already been dead if this was made as a poison. This substance was so strong, almost as if it wasn't developed to be used on humans. She took a deep breath and could actually feel her lips. Aqila pondered. Her whole body has been numbed, and now she can feel her lips?

Oxygen! She focused on breathing so much that her body was involuntarily producing extra oxygen for her respiratory system. The increase of oxygen nullifies the foreign substance.

The good news is my body is fighting. The problem is I don't know how long I've been out. It could be days or weeks before I can naturally override this substance. I know Jai and Arrow don't have that long. The intensity of the vision means that the future is near. What I saw could happen later today or tomorrow. What can I do? I have to try to get the antidote. My attacker would have to have the antidote. Wouldn't they? The more she thought to herself, the more her mind became clear. The negative, it was draining her to even think like this. She took a deep breath. If I can clear my mind, I can command my body to increase my oxygen count as if I were in battle. The increase would make me physically stronger. I'm alone right now. I may not make it out of here in time to help Jai and Arrow, but if I can get my vocal cords free, I'll be able to talk. If I can speak, I'll be able to get information and send it as well. I just hope he'll hear me. Aqila's mind was clicking and getting in sync. She was forming a plan.

The girl adjusted her midnight blue fur cape over her shoulders. She looked back at the Windmaster lying motionless and patted her snow leopard's head as it purred. "Mika, I hope she's not dead back there. Maybe I shouldn't have given her the whole syringe full of that stuff. I don't know. Mika girl, take it easy as we go up the snowy mountains. The girl's tall, so take it easy with the extra weight." Mika carefully pawed upward towards the top of a snow-capped mountain. They had been traveling for nearly three hours and had almost reached their destination.

The big cat effortlessly pulled her rider and the captive Windmaster towards an icy mountain entrance. "Mika stops here," the leopard immediately stopped in its tracks. The blue-eyed young woman checked Aqila to ensure she was still appropriately fastened. She looked at the warm brown face of the girl, "Hope you wake up soon. You're no good to us sleeping." She looked up to see that it was beginning to snow. She went inside the mountain entrance, leaving Mika and Aqila outside.

"I'm back," she called. A young man around her age appeared. His eyes were round and cerulean. His mahogany-hued skin looked cool and intensified the sharpness in his eyes. This mountain cave had the pelt of a yak spread across the floor. The walls were icy, and there were heaps of snow everywhere. The young man's tall, lean frame walked over, standing at least a foot over the girl. He peered into her eyes before asking, "Did you bring him?" He asked, tapping his foot impatiently in his mink fur boots that stopped right underneath his knees, swallowing the bottom of his caribou skin pants. His parka was also mink fur. One could partially see his navy-dyed caribou skin shirt between the parka.

She pushed him back, "No, I didn't-"

"Then why are you back?" He raised his voice. Annoyance was quite evident.

"If you had let me finish, you'd know by now. I didn't find him, I found someone who knew where he was, and I brought her instead. I think she'll be more useful and a baby seer."

"Tiber, are you kidding me? A baby seer?"

"Relax, she's not literally a baby. I had some business that Neptune wanted me to handle in Theyra. I was on my way to Ember, and I saw her having a vision. As she sat down, I heard her say something about Jai," Tiber's eyes beamed with excitement.

"You know, many people have the same name, Tiber," the young man replied.

"Why would a Windmaster and a seer just be having visions about any old Fireheart. It was worth the capture," Tiber answered confidently.

"I don't think Neptune will be impressed with your reasoning."

"Nahal, I'll wait to hear that from Neptune himself," Tiber scoffed. "Help me bring her in, and she's heavy."

Nahal walked outside to assist Tiber. She untied Aqila and Nahal lifted her effortlessly off the back of the snow leopard. Tiber rolled her eyes, "Show off."

"She's just tall, Tiber. Besides, how much of that stuff did you give her?" Nahal laid Aqila against an icy wall while tying her hands behind her back.

"The whole syringe," Tiber replied.

"Tiber, what!" Nahal tied her ankles together, "I'm shocked she's not dead. I told you that the stuff was made for hunting sharks and stuff. Does she look like a shark to you?"

"Sorry, I got carried away. The stuff just went so fast," Tiber put her hands up in defense.

"No, that means you were heavy-handed with the syringe," Nahal squared his jaw, "this could still kill her. You know that, right?"

"I thought you had the antidote," Tiber's eyes went wide.

"No, Neptune has it. And I don't think he's going to buy your ridiculous story. Leave it to the little girl to mess up a good plan," Nahal rolled his eyes.

"I am not a little girl. I am a woman!"

Nahal laughed insultingly, "Not officially. Besides, if anyone saw you, they'd think you were like twelve," he continued laughing.

"It's not funny," Tiber growled.

"Easy Tiber, I'm joking. You still look like a child, but it's not your fault the moon hasn't claimed you yet. At least you don't sound like a child," Nahal smirked. "Okay, I'll go to Neptune, and you stay with her and see if she talks."

"If she talks?"

"Yes, I was looking at the veins in her wrists. They were pretty large. It seems like her body is trying to increase her oxygen count. It will start from the head and proceed down. However, I'm afraid this will kill her before anything lower than her chest starts being able to move on its own. You should talk to her once she comes around. She probably won't make it long."

"You are going to try to get the antidote, right?" Tiber looked worried.

"Of course I am! But if she dies, it's on you, the genius who shot her up with everything in the syringe. Good luck," Nahal calmly stated as he left the mountain. Tiber became very worried. She wasn't trying to kill anyone, and injecting her with everything in the syringe was a careless mistake. She sighed, "Mika, come here, girl." The snow leopard bolted to her side. Tiber gently petted the top of the leopard's head.

Just as I thought, my body may expire before I completely free myself. I have to be careful. Aqila had gained complete feeling throughout her entire head. She could see, hear, and smell properly. She was working on her vocal cords. They were warming up but not quite ready for use. Tiber walked towards Aqila and peered into her face. Aqila opened her eyes and blinked at her.

"You're awake already. You must be quite gifted to awake after a few hours. Can you talk?"

Aqila was silent. She was taking in her surroundings. A snowy mountain? I must be in Avala. Also, I know that I've been out for a few hours. In approximately three hours, I have gained feeling throughout most of my head. I just need my vocal cords to warm up some more. Aqila just blinked at Tiber. She had a young face. Based on her judgment, she did not appear to be much older than fourteen. Her body looked like a child's. Yet she had insisted that she was an adult moments before. Aqila began to feel dizzy, and she closed her eyes.

"Easy Windmaster, Nahal said your body is increasing its oxygen levels, but it will wear you out. You need to rest. Try and talk to me if you can. Then I'll arrange to have you released.

Aqila became furious. Have me released! I'm not an animal! I'm a seer and an esteemed citizen of Kashmala! I have to get the message to Jai and Arrow about the impending danger they're in... even if it kills me. I don't want to die, but if this is where my stars fade, the Universe knows best. Aqila had hoped to live a full life, but she was determined to put her mission first. She had to get the message in the right hands. Only one person in the world could receive a message from her all the way in Waterbearer territory. Her most trusted confidant. She just prayed that his ears were perked. This mission will not fail. She opened her mouth to talk, feverishly increasing her oxygen.

Tiber was just watching her. She saw the Windmaster's mouth open, "You're trying to talk."

"What - do - you," Aqila huffed.

"What do I want? Tell me where the legend is. You said his name, Jai! Tell me where Jai is," Tiber questioned. She sat on her knees close to Aqila, almost frantic for her to speak.

Aqila took a deep breath. She was tired, and her voice was almost ready. She closed her eyes and tried to recuperate some of her strength. Overriding her body's normal abilities was hard work.

Tiber eyed Aqila cautiously. "Well, while you try to gather some of your strength, my name is Tiber. You're in Avala. I need you to tell me where Jai is, and I'm going to tell Neptune, and you'll be released. It will be as easy as you make it," Tiber explained.

Hearing the words released and because she was tied up only angered Aqila. The angrier she became, the more her oxygen increased. When I'm mad, my oxygen increases naturally, just as if I were fighting. The more things happen naturally the more energy I'll save. Aqila allowed her anger to fuel her oxygen increase. Her vocal cords began to feel ready for her to speak. "What do you want with Jai?"

"I don't want anything from him. But Neptune needs him, and I don't know why. Where is he?"

"I don't know," Aqila replied.

"And now she lies. Mika!"

The snow leopard went from lying quietly to standing alert. It charged towards the Windmaster and growled in Aqila's face, baring its teeth. Aqila didn't flinch but continued to speak, "I don't know. I was trying to have a vision before you rudely interrupted. Now, all of my senses have been impaired thanks to you. So when your Neptune arrives, I'll just let him know that you're the reason I don't know anything," she gasped for air. She had spoken too much for where her body's strength was.

Tiber's blue eyes went wide. She reflected on the events of the day. The Windmaster had a vision, so she was the reason the Windmaster didn't have the information. If Neptune heard that her life would be on the line. Maybe if Nahal could get the antidote from Neptune, they would give her a little where the Windmaster could have a vision. If not, things would not be looking up for her. After talking a little bit to Tiber, Aqila's vocal cords felt normal. Her whole face and neck felt normal. She could even turn her head. Now, she was ready to prepare her message.