Feral Magic

and thickening until not a single drop of water hit those beneath it.
The four able to use earth mimicked her actions, growing the trees along the outside edges to a similar height before expanding the middle platform.
Moments later a fire started, then shirts, shoes, and even pants were hung to dry. Vixin averted her gaze as Anton went a bit too wild, but she couldn’t stop the smile his carefree attitude brought to her face.
“Going soft on me?” Zak tugged off a shoe.
“Maybe I’m just sick of the rain.”
“Ah, so selfishness caused you to take pity on them.”
“Exactly.” They both laughed.
“Seriously though, do you think we’re far enough away?”
“I won’t know anything until we’ve scouted the perimeter, but the rain washed away our tracks days ago and with a river separating us, I’d say we’re as good as we’re gonna get.”
Zak looked up. “So, we’re really going to live in the trees huh?”
“It’ll ensure we’re ready if anyone does come for us.”
He eyed her. “You look ready to fall over.”
Her head was swimming, and her magic had tried warning her, stinging its way through her veins like an angry hornet. “I might have overdone it.”
“You still haven’t recovered?”
“Creating perimeters every night kinda prevents that.”
“Every night? Vixin we’ve been moving for over a week.”
“I’m aware.”
He stared at her. “So much for only looking out for number one.”
“I guess your bad habits are rubbing off on me.”
Zak chuckled. “Come on, if anyone deserves to dry off, I think it’s you.”
She followed him and when Zak placed an arm over her shoulder, she didn’t push him away.
~~~
Vixin didn’t rest. She built, creating paths and archways that weaved themselves between the trees. Thick trunks twisted around one another to serve as pillars that reached toward a second story.
Vixin leaned against a trunk, allowing her magic to settle. The stinging had grown more painful by the hour, but there was still a lot to get done before she could allow herself rest.
She watched those running back and forth on the ground and wondered what would happen when she finally finished. Was she content to live a simple life while someone else tackled the hard part? It might be fun to test her abilities in a different way.
“You know, that wicked grin prevents you from making friends.” Zak handed her a steaming cup. “Do I even want to know?”
“Probably not, you wouldn’t approve.”
He leaned against the opposite wall she’d been working on. It didn’t have a roof yet, nor anything in its center, but once she finished, it’d be a sturdy home.
“Sticking around to enjoy the boring life?”
She took a drink. “What makes you say that?”
Zak patted the wall behind him. “You’ve been working on this all morning. I assumed it was for you.”
Vixin averted her gaze. “Actually, it’s yours.”
Zak stared at her then turned to study the wall. He walked a few paces to his right and craned his neck to view the branches she’d been forming above.
Zak point. “You’re really going to make yourself climb all the way up there?”
“It’ll be good for me. Besides, I can’t have anyone sneaking in on me in the middle of the night, now can I?”
“And if they try?”
She took another drink. “Let’s hope Sam can get to them before the toxin sets in.”
Zak gave an exasperated sigh. “What’s with women and poison?”
She shrugged. “I suppose it’s in our genes. Just like men and their swords.” Zak chuckled and they both turned toward those running back and forth below.
“You won’t get bored?”
“With what?”
“The simple life. Skipping out on adventures that could get us killed.”
“Last I checked, we still have at least one to tackle.”
He smiled. “Right, but after that. Am I going to wake up one day and wonder where you ran off to?”
“Have I given that impression?”
“Not recently. I just want you to know that I’m not the only one who’d miss you. Sam doesn’t shut up about you either.”
Vixin clicked her tongue. “Well, if Sam wants to keep his arms intact, he’ll keep his distance.”
“You haven’t broken mine yet.” Zak brushed the hair away from her shoulder.
“Yet,” she emphasized and gave him a playful smile. “So, about this last run.”
“No need to worry, I already have a team on it. They’ll be back in a few days, we’ll make a plan, then presto, we’re set.”
“Good, because I need new clothes.”
“And furniture,” he added.
Vixin barked out a laugh. “Plan to carry a couch out now?” She gestured him inside his new home and tugged at the vines in the floor. They rose, twisting around one another until a loveseat formed in the corner. “There, all you need now are cushions.”
Vixin turned, but Zak was there. Close. Too close. His breath hit her face and her stomach twisted in knots. Zak’s hand grazed her cheek with a feather-like touch. “Would you really break my arm?”
Vixin slowly shook her head, not trusting herself to form words. Her mind raced as Zak leaned in and—
“Zak, how long are you going to laze out on me up there?” Sam called from outside the door. Vixin sidestepped before Sam entered and she could have sworn she heard Zak growl. “Come on man, you’re the one who said we had work to get done.”
Zak gave her an apologetic look. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.”
~~~
Days passed with Zak’s assurance that whoever he’d sent out on the scouting mission could more than handle themselves. After their last encounter, she wasn’t so sure.
Vixin glanced at the horizon line and signed, tugging at her magic to patch the final hole in her roof. She inched her way down the steep slope, then dropped off the side, grabbing the ledge