Feral Magic

couldn’t take everything.
She tugged a large blanket out from under a stack of boxes and began lining up everything they could carry. Clothing and weapons were all they needed to ensure a comfortable start. They were so close now.
Vixin rolled the items up and tied a rope around its center.
“You realize that’s going to be heavy.”
“It’s fine, I’ll be dragging it with my magic anyway.” A hole opened up between them, large enough for Zak and the pack to fit in. Zak’s face went white.
“Are you really scared of small spaces?”
He swallowed. “They’re not my favorite.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let it collapse on us or anything and by morning we’ll be back on the surface and forget it ever happened.”
“Morning?”
“We have to ensure we’re far enough away. Don’t want to risk leading them home.”
Zak gritted his teeth, took a breath, and dropped in. She followed, tugging the bag behind her and they began their long crawl through the tunnel together.
~~~
Hours later Zak cursed and stilled. “This is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
Vixin paused behind him, digging a rock from her palm. “Really? I thought it was one of my better plans. No deaths, no warning cries, just a quick in and out.”
“I guess.”
Vixin took a moment to listen to his rapid breathing. If she had to guess, his heart was probably pounding along with it. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of claustrophobia and hearing the distress in his voice was almost worse than seeing it in his eyes.
“We’re almost there,” she promised.
“That’s what you said an hour ago.”
“Actually, it's only been about twenty minutes.” He didn’t respond, and his breathing came faster. If he didn’t slow it down, he was going to hyperventilate.
Vixin crawled forward, dirt falling around her head and placed a hand on his ankle. She slid her way up to his arms, feeling in the dark and finally grabbed his hand.
“You’ve trusted me this far. There’s only a bit more to go. I promise, I won’t let this tunnel collapse around you.”
He shifted. “And the collapsing behind us?”
“On purpose, so no one can follow.”
He took several deep breaths. “I got stuck in a well once, when I was a kid. Broke my leg and sat in the dark for half the night. I was in the trees behind our house, at an old settlement that I wasn’t supposed to be playing around.”
“Well you’re not stuck now, and your leg isn’t broken. It's not much further.”
Zak took another deep breath. Then another. He squeezed her hand, then scooted from her reach and started down the tunnel again.
In truth, they had at least two hours to go, but she feared telling him that might make him claw his way out then and there. So Vixin kept her mouth shut and followed, dragging the pack behind her and collapsing the tunnel in her wake.
~~~
Vixin had never seen someone so happy to breathe fresh air again. Upon declaring their freedom, her magic hadn't moved fast enough, and he’d half clawed his way out, ripping at roots before she could even break the surface.
Zak knelt on the ground for several minutes, staring at their former campsite while she curled greenery around their goods and pulled them from the hole.
Dawn had barely risen. Neither had slept in two days, but they still had a long way to go if they wanted to stay ahead of any pursuers.
“We should keep moving.”
Zak let out a heavy sign. “What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep?”
“Three days.”
“And food?”
“I only lasted two with that one.” Her stomach growled and Zak’s answered. “I’ll watch for berries along the way and we'll get fish from the river tonight if your magic is feeling up to it.”
“Oh, trust me, I'll make it feel up to it.”
Neither talked much as they trudged through the forest and finally into the clearing. Despite her haggard state, Vixin kept an eye on the trees, willing whoever might be following to stop there. She’d been sure to cover their tracks along the way.
“I’m surprised you aren’t exhausted after all that digging.”
She gave a strangled laugh. “Oh, I am.”
“Then we should rest.”
“It’s not safe.”
“What if we crossed the river? We could hide in the trees over there.”
“Is your magic strong enough for that?”
“I’m sure I can manage.”
Vixin glanced at the raging water and gave Zak a doubtful look. He ignored her and frost crawled from his feet toward the riverbank.
A thin layer of ice formed over the water only to be washed away with the current. Zak furrowed his brow and the ice layered itself again, thickening and spreading across the moving water. Vixin eyed him and then the bridge as a solid wall formed on either side to serve as a rail.
“We should hurry.”
The strain in his voice had Vixin propelling herself forward, sliding more than running across the slippery surface. She sprouted plants from the opposite bank to carry their pack then they both headed for a cluster of trees.
Vixin threw their bag to the ground, collapsed against a tree, and closed her eyes. A minute was all she needed. Just enough time to rest her burning eyes before they continued on.
The crackling of a fire startled her awake and Vixin’s hand shot to her dagger. She took in Zak, the fish, a fire, and settled back against the tree. “You shouldn’t have let me sleep.”
He looked at the blade in her hand. “I wasn’t very well going to wake you.” Zak handed her a roasted fish. “Eat.”
“How long was I out?”
“A few hours. Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping an eye on the trees. It doesn’t look like anyone is coming for us.”
Vixin downed her fish and threw the