Feral Magic

as no one had a degree in botany they wouldn’t notice the shrubs that grew where sunlight never touched.
“What now?” Zak whispered.
Voices sounded at the main entrance and Vixin’s only response was to take Zak’s hand and move further into the tunnel. She grew plants in their wake, sprinkling in a few that would ensure their pursuers never saw the light of day again.
~~~
Vixin emerged from the cave, shielding her eyes from the afternoon sunlight. Days. They’d been in the dark for days.
She slumped to the ground and her stomach clenched, sending a painful spike through her body. Thanks to Zak, they’d had water, but since losing their packs, no one had eaten, nor had they slept more than a few hours. She’d give every last drop of magic in her body for a good night's rest.
“What’s the plan?” someone called. She didn’t have the energy to look up.
“We keep moving,” Zak said. “And find our way back to the second realm.”
Vixin groaned with the rest of them. If they kept moving like this, she just might let their enemies capture her and put her out of her misery. No one looked like they had the energy left to take another step, let alone retrace their way back around the rocky pass.
“Have you ever thought about settling down?”
Silence stretched. “How would we go about ensuring no one turns our profession against us?” Zak asked.
She stretched her legs out in front of her. “We set up differently, maybe in the trees, somewhere less prone to attack.” Zak slumped against the tree across from her and Vixin continued. “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted and judging from the silence I’d say they are too. We just don’t have the energy to make it back to the second realm without recuperating.”
“We have friends there.”
“You’re willing to put our fates in the hands of someone else? What happens if they turn us away? We’d be left tired, hungry, and more vulnerable than ever.”
Sam spoke up. “She has a point.”
“We can hunt for food, you can get us clean water, and once we find a suitable location, we can build a shelter.”
“And how will we know it’s the right place to set up?”
Vixin jerked her thumb behind her. “As long as it’s far away from those bastards, I don’t care where it is. Until then, we survive and take it one day at a time, starting with a halfway decent meal.”
Daniel chimed in. “Once we settle, we could hit one more target, somewhere not as guarded, just to replenish supplies.”
Vixin nodded. “And after that, we make our own living. No more runs. We’ll wait it out, just like you wanted and once someone reaches the final realm, we’ll all go home.”
Zak furrowed his brow. “You seemed against that idea the first time I brought it up.”
Vixin scoffed. “If we headed to the front lines, we’d die. Well, I probably wouldn’t, you might stand a chance with a little more training but look around. One little mishap and this happens. They’re not ready, they need time to work with their magic, train in using it properly and then if, IF they can master their abilities, they might stand a chance.”
Zak smirked. “Sounds like you just volunteered yourself as a permanent teacher.”
She laughed to herself. “It’s not like anyone else can do it.”
“It’s settled then.” Zak rose to his feet. “Food first.”
~~~
They ate and rested, each individual more exhausted than the last. Four were set to take watch with two rotations throughout the night, but that didn’t stop her from setting up a perimeter. It was pitiful really, nothing more than a few vines strung between trees, but enough of her magic lingered in the stems to alert her if anything tripped over them during the night.
The magic still roared against her, stinging as if she’d disturbed a nest of insects, but she had to keep them safe. Had to keep Zak safe.
Vixin used a twig to draw her plans in the dirt. She carved the details in the soil and sprouted tiny seeds where trees would serve as their salvation.
Above ground, yes, that would be the safest bet. There were so many ways to hide, so many traps she could lay to ensure people didn’t dare intrude.
The sprouts shifted, twisting around themselves to form little houses among the branches. They stretched and connected with bridges and ropes that would lead from one level to the next.
Vixin lost herself in the design of a particular house, forming tiny windows high above the others. A rope was the only thing that would lead to her domain and thorns would wrap around the entirety of it to ward against unwanted guests.
“That’s some model.”
Vixin jolted, a part of her brain seeming to wake up.
Zak pointed to the house she’d created in detail. “I suppose that’s to be your fortress of solitude?”
Vixin smirked. “It’ll keep you out.”
“Oh, I’ll find a way.”
She scoffed. “Good luck. Unfortunately for you, my father tau—” Her breath hitched when he sat beside her, his body so close she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. Her face ignited and her throat went dry. Why did he always affect her like this?
Vixin kept her gaze forward and took a moment to steady her voice. “Where would you have yours?”
She could feel his gaze burning through her, but instead of pushing, he shifted his attention to her little figurine. “Beside yours of course.”
“So you can spy on me?”
“So I can keep you safe.”
Vixin rolled her eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of caring for myself. I don’t need—”
Her heart leapt as Zak's hand lightly brushed the hair away from her face and lingered on her shoulder. Vixin's pulse pounded in her ears and she