Finding Strength

The night air was crisp, the sky clear as Islana remained vigilant while on watch. The young woman still had a few hours to go and with the men asleep and the night quiet, it left her with little to do but let her mind wander.

Earlier in her watch, once she was certain Stran was asleep, Islana had gone to check on River. It wasn't so much a check as an attempt to use her ability on the horse. Got as far as come, go, lay down, look (which was new and got River to look where she was pointing). Caution was taken in making sure she was safe and facing the horse, so no one could see her eyes. She practiced giving hand commands with words, along with her abilities. That was an easy way to just say the horse was trained to do those things. None of what the young woman was making the horse do was out of the realm of possibility for that to be the case.

There was a feeling now when using her ability that Islana hadn't felt before, almost like a surge of power inside of herself. If felt very much like there was a great deal more almost ready to burst on to the surface. It was a scary, yet, amazing feeling.

However, that had been a while ago and now her mind became lost in thought towards her friends. Three days her and Hunter had been gone, they probably had no idea the two plus the fake prospector were missing yet. Islana was convinced the man chasing them wouldn't have gone back to Maru because it wasn't the direction they had run in.

Islana hoped Voah and Tarmen had been found alive and well, she hoped everyone was safe. Her mind slipped to Alexis and Gonyaul. Thinking about what each of them might say in a situation like this. A smile warmed her lips for a brief instance. While the young woman was realizing her own strength a little more couldn't hurt. I could make use of channeling some of the strength of Alexis and the optimism of Gonyaul. Maybe, the wisdom of both.

Her thoughts then turned to Boyce, had there been something there between them, even a little something? Did it matter any longer? If she ever saw the man again; well, maybe that wasn't something to ponder at the moment.

Tomorrow was going to be another long day. At least they had more help now. She turned to look at the still sleeping Stran. He was a curious man. While helping strangers was something both her friends and herself would likely do, it wasn't that common a trait. Why had he been so willing to help them? Was he just a good person? (Maybe) Did he really want the company that badly? (unlikely). Was there something else to this? (Debating that answer)

For the time being, there would be caution with the man. That would have been there anyway but it seemed even more important given the current predicament. There was no way to prepare herself for all the possible outcomes for Hunter and herself. There were too many. Besides, she was trying to not lose hope because once that was gone it would make it harder to go on. So, currently everything would have to be taken moment by moment, day by day. Islana glanced up to the stars, took a deep breath and tried to renew her strength for the coming day.