It was night in the Snow Tribe. Tiber had returned with Mika, and they slept peacefully huddled far away from Aqila. As tired as she was, Aqila didn't trust her body to sleep. She needed to stay awake to consciously oxygenate her body. She didn't want to fall asleep and never wake up again. Her body had regained feeling up until her knees. At this rate, she would have sensation in her entire body again by morning. Aqila was devising a plan of escape. If she could make it just to Wyndhm, one of the apothecary shops would have something that would hold her until she got back to Kashmala for an antidote. While Tiber was sleeping with her back semi-turned, Aqila quickly loosened the ropes around her ankles. She decided she would make her escape by morning.

Aqila felt a familiar sensation behind her eyes. A vision was brewing. Images briefly began to flash before her eyes. Her heart sank. Every image was so filled with blood that she could not make anything out. Not a person, not a place, not a thing. She sighed. Suddenly, footsteps were approaching. Aqila quickly closed her eyes.

"Ugh, this girl is sleeping on the job," was Nahal's voice speaking. Aqila slowed her breathing down to imitate sleep. "Good thing the Windmaster is immobile, or that would have been a problem." Aqila heard his footsteps come closer. His cold hands checked her neck for a pulse. "You're a strong one, aren't you," he whispered. She heard his steps grow distant before stopping. He seemed to have sat down. Unfortunately for Aqila, staying awake with her eyes closed like this was proving impossible. Sleep was threatening to claim her. She was so tired that she stifled a yawn. She didn't want to give Nahal any reason to believe she was awake.

Aqila knew that she wouldn't be able to keep up like this. I'm going to end up falling asleep at this rate. Maybe if I stay up long enough to regain feeling throughout my body, sleep won't be harmful to my escape. She slowly fluttered her eyes open. Nahal was sitting near Tiber. However, he wasn't looking in her direction. This made Aqila feel slightly relieved. She closed her eyes and focused on oxygenating the rest of her body. She felt the pressure behind her eyes increase. Images flickered in her mind once again. Fiery wings, red scales, and blood flashed into her view. She saw flashes of red hair and then a blinding light. A light so bright that it seemed to burn through her eyelids.

What could that mean? Aqila was puzzled. She was almost sure that the light was referring to Jai and the red hair had to be either Arrow or Sheraga if the light was referring to Jai. The red scales seemed to refer to either Sheraga or Bhasker. Or possibly both of them. The fiery wings were a mystery to her. However, the blood was her fear. Blood could mean pain, injury, or, at worst, death. Aqila was frustrated. She couldn't even sit up straight and align her body to properly receive the vision. Flashes came again. The fiery wings flapped, then they faded and transformed into bird wings. The plumage looked like a Great Gray. The pattern almost looked like Talon's wings. Did Talon know where she was? Was he coming to help her? Was it Talon or possibly Sterling? Was Kavi on the way? Aqila knew better than to press the images for answers prematurely. In doing so, she lost the image completely. She breathed heavily.

That was a mistake. Her forceful exhale captured the attention of Nahal. She could hear him stand up and walk over towards her. Aqila calmed herself. She could feel his breath tickling her face. She breathed slowly and deliberately. Nahal didn't move for several minutes. Aqila wasn't sure how long she could suppress the sensation behind her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for Nahal to suspect that she possibly had a vision. Finally, he moved away from her. His footsteps got closer to where Tiber was sleeping.

That was close. I can't be so careless. She reminded herself. Aqila tried to focus on the vision. She was thankful that she was still able to have one. The Universe was giving her a sign of hope to hold onto. She always held onto a slither of hope that she would make it through this, but after receiving a vision, there was no doubt that she would make it. She heard stirring near where Tiber and Nahal were, "Nahal," Tiber sounded surprised.

"Who else would it be," he replied sarcastically.

Tiber yawned and stretched her legs, careful to not kick Mika. "Did you hear anything? Do you have the antidote?"

"No, I came to see how things were going with the Windmaster. She's not dead yet," Nahal replied.

"She's been slow the entire evening. She may die by morning," Tiber whispered, sorrow-filled her voice.

"Nah, she'll be fine. I checked her pulse when I came in, and it was slow but strong. Somehow, she's adjusting to the poison. Her body is still stiff, so I think she's still paralyzed. If things keep going at this rate, you may have a chance."

"A chance for what?"

"If she's still alive, you have more time to get answers from her. Besides, if her body is adjusting, she may be able to have a vision. That's all we need," Nahal replied.

"Yeah, but how will we know if she's lying to us," Tiber asked.

"Don't be a child, Tiber. Say she has a vision. We'll take her with us when we look for the Legend. If there's no sign that he was where she told us he'd be, she's lying. If she lies, we'll send her straight to Neptune to do with her as he pleases."

"Well, I guess that's a plan, but you're banking so hard on her having a vision. If she can't move, why are you so sure about her having a vision," Tiber replied.

"I'm not sure. I just have a feeling. Anyways, you can't be sleeping while you have a hostage."

"Chill, will you! Like you said, she can't move. There's nothing to worry about," Tiber brushed off Nahal's concern.

"Okay, if Neptune catches you sleeping on a mission, you'll be missing a head. Keep letting your guard down. See where it gets you," Nahal growled.

"Why do you have to be so serious about every little thing? Maybe if you came back earlier, we could have alternated watching her," Tiber spat, "We need to keep it down so we don't wake her."

"I don't care. If she wakes up, we can question her," Nahal shrugged.

"I questioned all day. She didn't get to the point of the vision that told where the Legend is," Tiber reminded Nahal.

"Yeah, because you went crazy and decided to pour a whole syringe full of the drug into her neck." Tiber sighed and looked down at her hands. Nahal bumped his shoulder into hers, "It'll be okay. Don't stress about it too much."

"Yeah, says the man who stresses about everything," Tiber rolled her eyes. "I just didn't realize how bad I would feel if her health turns for the worst and she dies. If she dies, it would be my fault. Everything I'm doing is to keep people from dying, but I don't want to kill a person to achieve that."

"There's nothing else to do. Neptune has the antidote. We can't get to him now, and you can't take back what has already happened. It is what it is," Nahal replied, nonchalant.

"How is Neptune so powerful?"

"Don't know, don't care. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know. It just came to mind. I was thinking about how he would save our people in exchange for these favors we do for him and got curious about his power," Tiber explained.

"Like I said, I don't know, and I don't care. I've seen him fight. Neptune should be worshiped. He's the god of our people and can save us. You haven't had an opportunity to see him protect us with his power."

"If this goes south anymore, I won't get the chance to see any of that," Tiber groaned.

"Then you have to do everything you can to keep things from going south," Nahal shrugged before yawning, "I'm going to sleep." He turned and curled in a ball.

"You know, alternating sleep was my idea."

Nahal turned around, "And?" He turned his back to Tiber, trying to go to sleep.

"Whatever," she muttered.

Aqila knew things would get more complicated if she didn't escape tomorrow. She could tell that Tiber was awake because she could hear her moving around. Aqila reflected on Tiber. She had not been claimed by the moon yet; because of that, her body frame was still childlike. She could turn ice into water, but she did not see anything extraordinary with her ability. Also, since she did not believe in the Universe, she probably was not gifted enough to be too powerful. It would not be wise to try to escape or attack at night. Waterbearers are at their peak strength in the presence of the moon and stars. Aqila had never seen Tiber at her peak. However, with her body still not at total capacity, she was unwilling to have an altercation with Tiber and Nahal at night. She would have to slip out first thing in the morning. Tiber would be tired and Nahal would be slightly disoriented, having just awakened. Aqila planned on using this to her advantage.

Another unknown was that Aqila did not know how many of the Snow Tribe were aligned with Neptune. That could be problematic. If the entire tribe was on Neptune's side, she would have to fight tooth and nail to escape. She had to escape in the early morning. Aqila fluttered her eyes open for a moment. She saw Tiber standing at the ice cave entrance, looking out at the sky. She wondered why Tiber didn't tell Nahal about their conversations. They seemed to have an unusual relationship. However, Aqila could tell that if it came down to it, Nahal would sacrifice Tiber to save himself. She was foolish enough not to recognize that already. Unfortunately, Aqila also believed that Tiber was foolish enough to think that Nahal was entirely on her side.

As she continued to oxygenate her body, Aqila wondered if she would be ready to kill Tiber if it came down. Tiber was a young adult who tasted many misfortunes and was primarily a victim of circumstance. She doesn't believe in the Universe because no one taught her the power of believing. Could she really kill her if it came down to it? Aqila did not feel comfortable with the idea of killing Tiber. Although to save her life, she may have to fight the Snow Tribe to the death, something didn't feel right about taking Tiber's life. Killing in the absence of war was not the way of the Windmasters.

Aqila felt pressure behind her eyes. It was not as intense as before. Images quickly came into her gifted mind's eyes. A circle divided into four equal parts. The upper left quarter of the circle had Jai's eyes. The light that showed in his eyes was so intense yet oddly gentle. It was as if he was right in front of her. The upper right quarter showed Windmasters in a line. When Aqila focused on the details of the Windmasters, their faces had no features until the last one in the line. Aqila was shocked to see the face of the last Windmaster. It was Zeroun. A knot formed in Aqila's stomach. She was so consumed by a vision she had recently experienced that she left her home in the mountains without notice to anyone. Not her mentor, fiance, or friends knew that she had left. Seeing Zeroun's face so vividly in the vision weighed her heart down with guilt.

The lower right quarter revealed nothing but midnight sky, with a bright, ivory full moon glowing against a dark velvety sky. The last quarter showed sand and lava. This fourth piece of the circle played with her senses. She heard a voice, she knew the sound, but she could not determine what the voice was saying. Then there was the smell of paper and ink. Something about it felt comforting to Aqila. The images stopped. She was puzzled and confused.

What's going on with me? I have never had two separate visions on the same day. With two completely different messages. What could this mean? Aqila pondered over the images. Could it be about the identity of the Legends? She wasn't sure. In the second quarter, the only one with a face was Zeroun. He couldn't be a Legend. He's three hundred years old. The Fireheart is always first, so maybe it's someone Zeroun knows. But again, he's three hundred years old. He has to know a lot of people. Also, it might not be referring to the Legends at all. Aqila decided to let it go. She didn't have enough images that she understood to interpret the vision. Besides, her priority was set, making an escape with as little bloodshed as possible. Sitting still and feigning sleep, she realized she had sensations throughout her entire body. Aqila wiggled her toes in her shoes to ensure this moment was real. She was thrilled, tired, and utterly exhausted, but thrilled nonetheless.

Freedom had only been a mere whisper before, but it was calling for her now. She felt confident that she would return to her usual self when she freed her ankles from the ropes. Aqila clung to patience with all her might. She didn't want to blow her chance. She smiled as she allowed sleep to slowly take her into its folds, knowing she needed the rest to execute her plans. A part of her wondered how she managed this. Nahal and Tiber were so sure that she was going to stay paralyzed. They were so confident that she would be dead by morning. However, that did not seem to be the case. Maybe because she's a Storm and her captors are unaware of that fact was the edge she needed to beat this. She wasn't entirely sure.

Aqila prayed that Jai and the Flamethrowers were alright. The visions of blood greatly disturbed her. Never in her life had she had a vision like that. Not even the times she had death visions were so gory. This truly concerned Aqila. Then there was the puzzle of the mystery vision with a meaning she could not comprehend. When I return to Kashmala, I'll share that vision with Zeroun. He might know what it means. She thought to herself, for all the angles she knew how to analyze, it did not add up. Thinking like this was tiring especially after the day's ordeals. After resisting sleep as long as she could, Aqila could hold out no longer and finally drift off.