“Tomorrow,” Will said. “I’ll try and decide tomorrow.”

His heart told him what to do, but he wasn’t up for sharing it tonight. It was nice to be open and honest with Ezra and Bet, but the story of their parents had left him feeling pained. He hurt for them. He wouldn’t pretend he knew what they were going through—they had been without their parents for at least a year—but he did understand a little. He’d also lost his parents. It’d only been a few days, but still, it was the longest he’d gone without them.

“Bet… Ezra…” Will said. “The portal closes tonight? The Neptinox, or whatever it is, will be over?”

“Yes.” Bet answered, but didn’t look Will in the face.

“And you guys think there’s a way I can get home without the Neptinox portal? Like the Mender said… since I’m a Darkhand?”

“Honestly, we have no idea. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. We actually don’t know that much about what a Darkhand can do, besides what’s obvious, I mean. It’s something that they keep to themselves.”

The idea gave Will a flicker of hope, but still his heart felt empty. He missed his parents. He ate in silence, constantly thinking of the green mist slipping away and leaving him stranded here forever. That night, as he bedded down, he sat with legs crossed above a thin, red blanket. Swoop must have known he wasn’t feeling well, and she stood on one of his knees, regularly cocking her head back and forth as if to check in. Will reached out and scratched at the feathers between her neck and shoulder.

“You think we’ll get back?” he said. Swoop only leaned in to better rub against his fingers. “You went through on your own.” Will gave a quick smile. “Probably shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did.”

After a bit more time with Swoop, he nestled down by the fire and slipped the red blanket up and over his body. There would be a way to get home. There had to be, and whatever teacher he was going to see would teach him how. He was sure of it.

The next day Will woke, achy and stiff. He stretched for a few minutes, gathered his bedding and helped bury the ashes of the fire. No one asked him about the Binders, but he could tell they were interested in what he’d decided to do. Eventually, Will said to the others, “We should get the Links some food.”

“I think they’re fine,” Ezra said. “We could make a bit of distance toward the canyon before we stop to eat again.”

“No, they’ll need the energy,” Will said. “I’ve decided what to do with the Binders. I want to unlock the three of them fully.”

Ezra and Bet smiled wide.

What should Swoop’s passive ability be?

A call that confuses enemies and makes them dizzy

She flaps her wings, causing a rush of air that pushes others forcefully away

She can create two other hologram-like duplicates of herself

This Poll is Closed