My body felt like it had been scrubbed over the washer and beaten against the rocks near the stream where we did laundry in the Village. My stomach heaved as my head throbbed and thrummed. My heart pounded in my ears as my eyes watered.
I struggled to pull air in through my nose and push it steadily from my mouth. Over and over. All I could focus on was my breathing. Staying alive. That was it.
Once my world righted itself, and my organs felt like they were back in their normal position, I sat up. The living room greeted me. We were back at home.
I looked around, counted heads. Nodded. Good. We were all here. "Ari? What the heck did you do? And why?" My tongue felt thick and stupid inside my mouth.
Reaching out, I grabbed Thane's hand in one of mine. Drace's hand in the other. "Gra
