The Bonding Chronicles Ch. 06

"Let us revisit what we know, shall we?" Karen began. "When I hold the moonstone it casts a blue light. We must assume that represents my ability to heal."

As Andrew and Sara studied the violet light emanating from the stone they both responded, "Agreed." before turning and laughing at their unexpected synchronicity.

Holding the moonstone into the air, for all to see, Andrew stated, "The purple glow must be related to my magical gifts. Whatever those may be. But are the metallic flakes which seem to fade in and out of view somehow related to my gifts? Or are they some kind of artifact of the bond I share with Sara? I mean, let's face it, it seems far too coincidental that Sara would cause the stone to form patches of what appears to be the same metallic substance."

Sara reached out and placed a finger against the moonstone, watching as its surface again shifted into a multi-banded representation of their gifts. Normal moonstone on the bottom, giving way to solid bronze alloy, followed finally by the captivating lilac rays of mesmerizing light.

"That seems to fit." Sara concluded as she watched the light dancing along the stone's surface.

With a chuckle, Karen watched the young couple and admired their desire to find further significance to their powerful bond. "I'm inclined to agree with you, though there remains one last series of tests to perform."

Karen stretched out her arm and placed a single finger against the other side of the stone, and everyone gasped in anticipation of what would happen. After a couple of seconds they all let out disappointed exhales as the surface of the moonstone remained unchanged from the configuration that represented Andrew and Sara's combined gifts.

Taking the stone from Andrew, the stone glowed a discordant blue within Karen's excited grip. She asked first Andrew, and then Sara to touch the stone which never shifted from its azure radiance.

While setting the moonstone back onto the table, Karen stated, "Well, I didn't know what to expect, but I think this goes — at least to some degree — to show that your theory has merit."

The young couple embraced while releasing excited laughter. They were both thrilled at this affirmation of the special significance that their bond represented. Their hearts soared with the idea that through their bond they shared the most fundamental parts of who they were. The parts which made them most special. Andrew and Sara were excited to add this to the growing list of ways that the bond tied them together.

With deep breaths they pulled apart, both resisting the urge to take things to an uncomfortable place in front of Karen. "Later, kitten." Andrew assured her as he pecked her on the lips.

"Can we be certain that the purple glow signifies that I am a magic user? You seem to accept that it does, but why?"

Karen was surprised by how Andrew was able to shift from near wanton desire to eager speculation within the briefest of moments. Sara's trembling struggle against her own lust was further heightened as she watched Andrew shift his tumescence while he draped one leg over the other. His failed attempt at discretion provided Karen with the slightest smile as she prepared to respond.

"I have witnessed but a few magical practitioners use this artifact, so I will admit that my assertion is based on scant evidence. That having been said, I am forced to conclude that you are indeed a practitioner of magic. However underdeveloped you may be, you show tremendous potential. While all of us have exhibited different shades within the moonstone, the chaotic casting of light has been remarkably similar between us all.

"There is no doubt in my mind that you are a wizard, Andrew. A most frightening wizard indeed."

The air seemed to be drained from the room as the mood shifted. Her words hung potently in the air, their significance settling on the young couple with a heavy hand.

"How is my gift frightening? Shorting out electronics and powering magical devices cannot be that dangerous, can it?" Andrew's voice was full of frantic concern.

"Those things alone are not troubling, Andrew. But if the incident in the glade is to be believed then you have unknowingly created something more powerful and complex than perhaps any magical construct in existence. A being capable of performing that act after centuries of training would be frightening. You having done it driven purely by instinct staggers belief. It would be like an infant building a spaceship capable of warp drive out of play-do."

Sara shivered for a moment beside Andrew, who struggled to comprehend what Karen was saying.

"I don't even know what those symbols do. The whole thing just... It all just came to me. It can't be that dangerous, can it?" His voice was weak with worry as he struggled to project his words.

"Andrew, your creation, while staggering in its existence is not the dilemma. It's the act of its creation that is so telling of the power you posses. A power you must learn to control before you attempt to use it in that way again. Like so many of your gifts you must learn to control it, otherwise you risk destroying those closest to you."

Karen feared that her warning may have been too heavy handed, but knew that fear of harming Sara was the only guaranteed path to temper his eagerness to explore his powers more fully. Andrew and Sara looked into each other's eyes, measuring their love against their shared desire to further explore Andrew's gifts.

"I think she is right, tiger. I need to be more careful about using these gifts from now on. Otherwise next time it may be something more important than 'The Rocket' that I kill." Petting her cheek he watched her with worried eyes as she leaned her face into his palm.

Andrew's eyes never left Sara's face while he asked, "Karen, could you check the ward tonight? While I know you may not know exactly what it does, I hope you may glean some of its purpose."

The storm raged outside of the house, muted but ever present within the warm living room as Karen considered his request. She was eager to see Andrew's creation, but recognized the threat that the forest posed within such a tremendous storm. Sara seemed to realize the same thing as she responded on Karen's behalf.

"Andrew, the rainforest is a dangerous place during a storm. Trees fall all the time. It's a natural part of the cycle of life here. The risk of being hit by a massive tree is real. I love you, and would protect you from anything, but not even I can stop a falling tree."

Memories of the countless trees laying on their sides revisited Andrew as he thought back on his few journeys into the forest. He remembered Sara standing atop a large tree which had rotted through until it broke. Sundered by time and the ravages of this moist paradise. He had never considered how many felled trees he had seen until this moment, and he now realized that the numbers were incalculable.

"I recognize the risk, but feel like we need to understand as much as we can about what is happening. It may seem selfish, but I need to know what this creation of mine does. Even if it's only a small window into its purpose."

***** The Gilded Glade *****

They had parked their cars far from the dangers of the forest. The howling winds causing the branches to sway hither and yon far above their heads as Sara guided the frightened group through their treacherous environment. The large drops of water acted as a constant reminder of the perpetual threat from falling trees, punctuated by the sounds of crashing timber off in the distance.

"We should almost be there." Sara's voice was obscured by the din of the tremendous storm, just audible to Andrew and Karen who followed behind her. Clambering over a freshly fallen tree they scurried after Sara who set a brisk pace. Andrew recognized the trail leading towards the glade as their journey picked up speed until he noticed the feeling of warmth start filling the air around him.

"Can you feel that?" Andrew called out into the storm.

"That's amazing." Sara's surprised voice responded as she looked back with a broad grin.

Stopping, Sara began scanning the forest with a concerned furrow to her brow. Andrew turned and noticed that Karen was nowhere to be seen. "Continue along the trail and the glade should be just ahead." Sara's voice was full of confidence as she passed Andrew, heading back into the woods with an assuring but nervous smile on her face. "I will find Karen and meet you there shortly."

Before he could protest Sara was gone, shrouded by the gloom of the oppressive rainforest. Swallowing his fear for the woman he loved, Andrew followed the trail by the dim moon light. The temperature grew a few degrees as he drew closer to the glade, eliciting a small smile as Andrew realized that the trail was becoming easier to follow. The diffused light of the shrouded moon cast a surprising amount of light through the broken canopy as he reached the edge of the glade. Looking up he could see the familiar sight of the pond and gentle sloping mossy terrain within the place which had come to mean so much to him.

Andrew was startled as he strode into the clearing and watched as his perspective seemed to shift. The distant trees on the far side appeared to pull further away with every step he took into the open space. While he drew closer to the pond he knew that the distance was not decreasing by the amounts his strides normally provided. He glanced around and was struck by the fact that the clearing seemed far larger than he remembered. As he puzzled over the increased real estate around him, he began to notice that the sounds of the storm seemed somehow lower pitched. He could have sworn that the canopy of the forest had been swaying far more violently as he watched the lazy sway of the tall trees.

While he watched the roof of the forest his attention was drawn to a large drop of water as it drifted down from the canopy. Its descent seemed surreal as it fell at an impossibly slow rate. Andrew studied the undulating orb of water as it made its languid journey, and he began to spot many more drops moving with the same slow and measured pace. Turning, he was confronted by a large glob of water which was just before his face, making slow progress towards the moss carpeting at his feet.

Andrew walked around the sluggish drop of water, admiring the beauty that falling water possessed when you were afforded the opportunity to watch it fall through the air in slow motion. As he watched, small droplets of water broke off from the top of the main globule. Andrew thought to himself, *Well, it's official; reality just shit itself.*

Reaching out his hand, he placed the lazy drop of water into his palm. As it pooled into his hand its movements became much more expected. Pouring the water off the side of his hand, he watched as it fell to the ground at what appeared to be a normal speed.

Walking further into the glade Andrew was comforted by the pleasant temperature and the gentle breeze which carried a delightful floral scent around him. His pulse settled and his unease from a moment before faded as he was enveloped by a comforting warmth from deep within his chest. His dick grew hard and his thoughts turned to Sara and the sounds of her moans while he felt erotic desire threatening to overwhelm him. Andrew's arousal was broken by his residual fear; knowing that Sara and Karen were still out in the forest.

The languid pace of the falling rain added to the otherworldly sense that permeated the entire glade. The low pitch of the howling winds reaffirmed the impression that something was not right. After arriving at the circular ward Andrew estimated that it was now at least thirty yards further from the edge of the glade than it had been the night before. The moss felt softer beneath his feet. Andrew was forced to resist the urge to take off his shoes as he imagined wiggling his naked toes through the lush inviting vegetation.

The lighter shaded moss which composed the ornate circle contained many tiny wildflowers which lent the entire design a natural beauty that went beyond its magnificent filigree patterning. He beamed with pride as he marvelled at his creation. As he admired its intricate and meaningful design he couldn't help but wonder about its purpose, and why he had been so compelled to make it.

He closed his eyes expecting to see the beautiful spiraling shapes and patterns of the ward etched into the floor of his thoughts, illuminated by the powerful pool of energy which dominated the background of his mind. Instead, he saw the same thing he had seen ever since he started exploring this new found aspect of his gift; the pool of radiant energy swirling and roiling within the distance of his mind. He searched and found the tiny fluttering sprite that he knew represented Sara, and was pleased to feel waves of relief echoing off the miniscule icon.

*She must have found Karen. That's great.* Andrew thought to himself as he opened his eyes and ran his hand over the ornate design at his feet.

Andrew stood and approached the pond where he dipped his hand beneath the cool waters. He poured the pooled liquid out of his cupped palm, and was pleased as he watched it splash into the pond at a normal rate. He stood and took in his surroundings, and was struck by the undeniable fact that he stood within the heart of something fantastic and powerful.

Watching moonlight twinkle in a languid drop of rain, Andrew laughed in the knowledge that he was like so many of the heroes he had read about or seen in countless stories. This place, this wondrous fantastical place had been born from something within him. The knowledge that he had been given a tremendous gift fell upon him as he measured himself against the person he had been three days prior. As his tremendous intellect began contemplating his place in this new found world of magic and mystery he settled on one undeniable fact; from that day forward, he would be the hero of his story.

Andrew was startled from this revelation by the sounds of Sara pulling Karen into the glade. They both made slow progress into the clearing. At first Andrew assumed that they were moving cautiously as they made their way through the brush that surrounded the glade, but as they cleared the entrance he noticed that their movements seemed odd. Their steps were not measured, they were just moving — much like the rain — in slow motion.

He could hear a slower, deeper version of Sara's voice as she yelled into the open space. The distance between each syllable was long and drawn out as she moved into the clearing. Every step added speed to her movements, and clarity to her words, as the pitch of her voice headed ever closer to normal. "Andrew, something is wrong with Karen."

Sara's experience as she entered the glade was profound. She had the same sense of expansion that Andrew had experienced when she crossed the threshold into their sanctuary. She was startled as she watched the rain's descent slow with every step until the rain seemed almost suspended in its flight. Her acute senses focusing on every detail as Andrew and everything within the glade seemed to shift and move further away from her despite her forward progress. Her concern for her friend forced her to push down the questions that these observations raised. Andrew ran up and intercepted them as Sara pulled Karen further into the glade,.

"What happened?" He asked as he looked up into Karen's eyes, brushing the hair out of her face. Karen scanned her surroundings as if she was trying to find something, and Sara had to grip her shoulders to prevent her from walking back into the forest. The older woman fell to her knees.

Andrew held Karen's face between his hands, forcing her to look at him as he screamed at her, "Shake out of it, Karen! You are safe, you don't need to go anywhere."

The couple was relieved to see Karen's eyes shift between them as she began to mumble, "What? Where? ... What happened?"

"You're safe, Karen. Just focus on my voice. Everything is OK." His tone was calm and soothing.

While Andrew worked to bring Karen back to her senses, Sara stood and scanned the edge of the clearing. Unlike Andrew, she could see well into the forest, where she saw dim moonlight casting the tall trees in comforting hues of silver and gray. The large raindrops which moments before had fallen with a steady and consistent drum beat now fell at a slow and unnatural pace. Scanning the glade she again was startled to see the same thing reflected all around her as the rhythm of the stormy forest seemed to be slowed to a snails crawl. The roar of the wind sounding haunting in its baritone thrum.

Her sex moistened as the potent influence of the glade began to take hold. Her concern for Karen waned as her desire for Andrew grew. Turning her attention on her boyfriend she was pleased to smell his desire radiating from him. Something she had never noticed before, but that she found satisfying as she breathed in his soothing scent. She leaned in and closed her eyes, almost purring as his musk filled her lungs.

She took a step back to regain her composure as she noticed a powerful feminine odor which was distinctly not her own. Sara recognized its source as she watched her friend begin succumbing to the effects of the glade. Karen's nipples hardened beneath her blouse, just visible within her open rain jacket. Karen began rubbing her inner thighs with her palms as she sucked her lower lip into her mouth and moaned.

Andrew took a step back and looked between the two women as he recognized the lust on Sara's face, and realized that Karen was suffering from similar feelings. Karen had just started responding to questions when she seemed to glaze over with this sudden wave of lust.

Karen ran one hand up her abdomen as she remembered a lover she had spent a wondrous year with in Spain. Her hand reached the bottom of her plump breast when she opened her eyes and saw Sara staring at Andrew with wanton need. His gaze was shrouded in lust as he reacted to Sara's overt desires.

Visions of Sara as a young and willful child flooded Karen, tamping down her growing sexual need as her maternal instincts began to assert themselves. She closed her eyes and focused inward as she listened to Sara rush into Andrew's arms. The young lovers fell to the forest floor and made out with passionate fervor. Karen cast a spell that settled her desires and focused her mind, hoping to prevent herself from losing control to the magical influences around her. The effects of the glade were more profound than she had expected, and she was pleased that her spell's effect took hold the instant she finished her invocation.

Once the last remnants of her fugue state drifted from her mind she opened her eyes and found the young couple rolling on the soft mossy ground many feet from where they had began. Their lips were locked as their hands explored each other's bodies. Karen laughed to herself as she admired the speed with which they had managed to discard their shirts. She walked over to the lovers and placed a hand on each of their heads, casting the same spell she had just used on herself.

The speed and pressure of their affections slowed as their passion changed from frenzied to sensual. Their kisses became long and slow as their hands glided with gentle pressure, stimulating the small erogenous areas of each other's backs and sides. Andrew rolled onto his back, wrapping Sara in his arms as she settled on top of him. She ground herself against the solid bulge in his pants as they shared a tender kiss.

They both smiled as Sara sat up and stared into Andrew's artificial blue eyes. "Phew, that was intense..." Her words drifted off as the last demands of her passion vanished. The intense arousal from moments before could still be felt, but the need to act upon it had been removed. Sara recognized the feeling and knew her friend had once again provided clarity where chaos had once reigned. Something she had experienced many times since childhood, when Karen had used magic to weaken Sara's need to follow her more animalistic desires.