{"id":5334,"date":"2026-03-31T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=5334"},"modified":"2026-03-30T14:26:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:26:06","slug":"dimension-of-abnormality-part-vi-the-absconder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/03\/31\/dimension-of-abnormality-part-vi-the-absconder\/","title":{"rendered":"Dimension of Abnormality, Part VI: The Absconder"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 6 of 8 in the series Dimension of Abnormality<\/a><\/div>\n

By Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias\u2019 silver eyes were as wide as saucers. His lips parted, eyebrows shooting up behind his hair. Even the silky black locks pooling over his face couldn\u2019t hide his horror from what Nova had told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe knows?\u201d He asked slowly, as if he weren\u2019t sure the words could be true. Nova could hardly believe it herself. She\u2019d been training for several days while keeping Amias safely hidden in her cave\u2026at least, she\u2019d thought <\/em>he was safely hidden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After her conversation with the Chieftess, she felt a mix of horror, hopelessness, and relief. She was horrified that the Chieftess found out and could potentially lock her up in those suffocating dungeons or sentence her to an even worse fate. Her heart plummeted at the thought of what her betrayal would mean to the Alaptera<\/em>, to her dear friend Adira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019d thought back to her father. His kind blue eyes and soft smile would only be a faded memory if she were to be imprisoned here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, she felt a hint of relief because the Chieftess hadn\u2019t reacted the way she had expected. Instead of looking aggrieved or calling the guards to arrest Nova, she had smiled and walked away as if they had finished a friendly conversation. But that relief was short-lived, as Nova now wondered if her punishment was yet to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"StarsandTrees\"
One more night before freedom\u2026or punishment. | Harrison Haines (Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, the memory of digging out of Amias\u2019 prison cell came rolling back to her. There hadn\u2019t been any guards down there, and now it all made sense \u2013 the Chieftess must have called them off to give Nova false hope. But why not arrest her on the spot?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t think her heart could drop any further \u2013 it seemed to be all the way in her stomach now. A wave of nausea rolled over her, and she had to swallow to keep her lunch down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe does,\u201d Nova finally replied, though her words came out as a whisper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias ran his fingers through his hair and looked up at the cave\u2019s ceiling. \u201cWell, that is certainly a problem.\u201d Nova had to fight the urge to hit him for uttering such an understatement when their very lives could be on the line. But, she remained silent, and Amias eventually continued, \u201cAre you sure she knows? Besides her comment about you letting humans take advantage of you, does she really know anything else? She can\u2019t possibly know our plan to go back to Caligo to see your father, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thought this over. The Chieftess had only hinted to Nova\u2019s partnership with Amias, but that didn\u2019t mean the creature wasn\u2019t aware of everything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019d have to be a fool to be ignorant of our plan,\u201d Nova said. \u201cIt makes sense that I would break you out to go see my father, especially since your mission was to take me home to him. It\u2019s only a matter of time before she finds where we are and stops us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias began to pace around the campfire in the center of the cave, his arms crossed. \u201cI don\u2019t want to downplay your worries, because it is very much a possibility she knows everything and will punish us,\u201d he explained. \u201cBut what if she isn\u2019t sure you\u2019re the traitor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova flinched at the word. She really was a traitor now, wasn\u2019t she? She was betraying the belief that Adira had built into her all these years\u2026 and betraying her friend. The thought made her eyes sting, but she forced the tears away and looked up at Amias. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wonder if she saw you in the dungeons herself, or if she\u2019s making assumptions based on probable reasons,\u201d he explained, the light from the fire illuminating his chiseled features and piercing eyes. \u201cIt makes sense you would help me so we could escape together, but she never saw you break me out of the dungeons and bring me here. Besides, you told me she doesn\u2019t know this cave exists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven if that\u2019s true, she will<\/em> find proof of my betrayal. She rules the forest and the fields, so she will find us too. My friend will also get the truth out of me. I can never hide anything from her,\u201d Nova responded, her voice wavering. She cleared her throat, but that did nothing to stop the guilt and sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias sighed, his arms falling to his sides. \u201cThen we need to leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova stilled. \u201cNow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re stronger now\u2026your power has grown, hasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked at her trembling hands. \u201cYes, but\u2026\u201d she trailed off, hating herself for betraying the colony but also for hesitating when she finally had the chance to see her father. She couldn\u2019t even make up her mind. What was wrong with her? \u201cI can\u2019t just leave all of a sudden. I need to see this place one last time and talk to Adira. And I\u2026\u201d she shut her mouth, realizing how pathetic she sounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She stared at the ground as silence settled over them, the only sound coming from the crackling fire. Nova prepared for Amias to scoff at her\u2014to tell her the Alaptera<\/em> weren\u2019t worth it and she should forget them all. She prepared for him to react as all humans would: heartlessly and selfishly, just as Adira taught her and as she experienced for herself five years ago on Caligo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, she felt his presence right in front of her. Her arms grew warm and electrified when his hands made contact with her skin, and she shot her head up to see him staring down at her, a soft grin on his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have said that,\u201d he said in a voice so low Nova felt the rumble in her bones. \u201cTake your time. I know this place must mean a great deal to you, so I understand if you need a moment to breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warmth in her arms slowly crept up her neck and onto her face as she held Amias\u2019 gaze. His hands were touching her arms so gently, but his eyes were looking into hers with such intensity it made her heart stutter. She almost forgot she was inside this cave on the planet Apricus. She almost forgot she was about to say goodbye to her friends and the home she had made these past five years. She almost forgot she was betraying everything they stood for. Almost.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment was gone too soon, and they backed away from each other. Nova found herself tucking her long hair behind her ear without realizing, and she looked up ever so slightly to find Amias staring at the cave wall and rubbing the back of his neck as if his mind were elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever she felt pass through them, he had felt it too. She didn\u2019t know why that thought brought a small smile onto her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was happening to her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She shook the smile from her face and finally recovered her voice. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias\u2019 gaze met hers again as he grinned and nodded slowly. \u201cOf course. I\u2019ll be here when you\u2019re ready to leave.\u201d His face suddenly filled with worry. \u201cAlthough, please do come back soon. I\u2019m not sure how much longer we have until the Chieftess finds out we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise I won\u2019t be long. Give me an hour\u2026or two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias nodded again, and she turned to leave. As she stepped out into the fading sunlight of Apricus, she discovered she couldn\u2019t concentrate on the yellow fields and plains or the golden rivers she had come so familiar with. Instead, she found herself thinking about those poignant silver eyes and playful smile. Above all, she was thinking about the fact that a human<\/em> had held her so gently, like she was precious, yet looked at her like she was powerful and worthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only human who had ever regarded her so highly was her father, but something about that moment felt different. Her fingers felt tingly, her stomach was fluttering, her heart was pounding. She felt wanted. Powerful. More powerful than when she used her abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She couldn\u2019t begin to comprehend it all, but she thought it was better to set the moment aside and focus on her next task anyways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Nova thought she would have been lying beside the plumes of the fields and enjoying the refreshing breeze pressing against her face. She thought she would be wandering the forest and taking in the wildlife one last time. She imagined herself hiking in the canyons and standing in awe of its expanse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t expect to find herself walking back to the Great Tree, trekking up the spiral staircase, and knocking on Adira\u2019s door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no response, so Nova called out. \u201cAdira, it\u2019s Nova. I want to talk with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After another moment of silence. She noticed there was no light coming from the crack underneath the door, so her friend had to be gone. Alaptera<\/em> barely slept, so the possibility of Adira being asleep was ruled out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova leaned against the door and sighed, trying to think of where her friend could be at this hour. Eating at the mess hall? Training with other Alaptera<\/em> in the courtyard? In the Chieftess\u2019 chambers being told Nova was a traitor? She sure hoped not. She was on edge at the possibility the Chieftess knew her plan and would potentially inform the guards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She looked down the corridor anxiously, hoping all the guards were occupied elsewhere. She only wanted to see Adira one last time before she left, but the silence behind the door seemed to ruin every chance she thought she had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly the door creaked open, and Nova stumbled into the empty room. She fell to the ground with an \u201coof<\/em>\u201d before standing up quickly and rubbing her bruised knees, taking in the darkened lamp and vacant hammock. There was no sign of Adira, which made Nova\u2019s skin crawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A light breeze tugged at Nova\u2019s hair, and she turned her head towards the small, circular window that opened up to a brightly-lit night. She could see stars twinkling and the triplet moons lined up vertically above the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approaching the window, she felt another gust of chilly air press against her face. She stuck her head out and breathed in the beautiful night of Apricus. Possibly her last night\u2026assuming she\u2019s unwelcome after her departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tried to shake away those thoughts, looking left and right but finding no signs of her friend. Her head jerked upward at the sound of flapping wings in the silent night. She caught a flash of ruby disappearing into the crown of the Great Tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova was bounding up the spiral staircase in seconds. Her heart was thumping against her ribcage, but she felt a rush of energy rather than exhaustion, and she mentally thanked Adira for all the training she\u2019d given her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She made it to the top of the staircase, where there was an opening to the crown of the Tree. The slight chill of the night air infested Nova\u2019s skin with goosebumps as she stepped out onto the tree crotch. One of the Great Tree\u2019s large branches extended about a hundred feet in front of her. The branch was about fifty feet in width, but she still felt a rush of nerves in her chest as she made her way across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From here, Nova could see Adira perched at the end of the gigantic branch, her friend staring up at the night sky. The Alaptera<\/em>\u2019s wings were tucked at her sides, her ears perked upward. She must have heard Nova approaching because her left ear twitched backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t come up here often,\u201d Nova commented when she\u2019d made it to her friend. Adira rarely flew to high places \u2013 Nova recalled her explaining that she preferred the comfort and stability of the surface. \u201cWhat\u2019s the occasion?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adira didn\u2019t break her gaze with the stars. \u201cI thought I\u2019d experience something new,\u201d she said lightly. \u201cThe view is quite beautiful up here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova wanted to move closer to her friend, but the possibility of plummeting to her death kept her away. Instead, she sat a few feet from the edge and laid down on the bark, its coolness making her shudder. She stared up at the canopy of leaves; she could still see the stars twinkling through the small openings in the canopy. The sight was peaceful, paired with the faint rustling of the leaves and light chirps from night bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She heard movement beside her and turned her head to see Adira lying beside her, also staring up at the sky. It was a long moment of silence before the creature spoke. \u201cYou don\u2019t normally luxuriate up here, either. What made you come?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova\u2019s chest filled with heaviness and the sting returned to her eyes. In only a couple hours, she would be leaving with Amias to her home planet, and she might not come back after her betrayal. She would be saying goodbye to the place she\u2019d made her home and to the friends she\u2019d made during her time here. She\u2019s saying goodbye to her best friend of all, but she knew that Adria wouldn\u2019t understand why she was working with a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova swallowed the lump in her throat. \u201cI wanted to see my best friend,\u201d she said. It was the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adira turned her head and faced Nova, their eyes locking. Nova continued before the tears burst out of her. \u201cWith all my training and the soldier landing on our planet, I feel like we haven\u2019t had the chance to talk. About anything\u2026not related to training,\u201d she chuckled lightly. Her friend\u2019s eyes filled with light as a smile spread across her face, and the sight warmed Nova\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt would be refreshing to talk about other things,\u201d she agreed. Her chest rose then fell as she took a deep breath. \u201cTraining has taken up so much of my time. It\u2019s exhausting. And, believe it or not, I\u2019m tired of critiquing and yelling at people to do things right.\u201d She shut her eyes. \u201cI apologize, that\u2019s related to training. What I\u2019m trying to say is that I\u2019m ready to spend time with you more as a friend than as a trainer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova smiled widely, but her heart was breaking into a million pieces. Just when they were agreeing to spend more time together as friends, she was leaving\u2026most likely forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, in this moment, Nova didn\u2019t want to think about that. She wanted to enjoy one last moment with her best friend, so that was what she did. They lost track of time as they talked about nothing and everything. Thankfully for Nova, they avoided any conversation about training and Amias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the triplet moons were high above the Great Tree, the two started heading towards the staircase. Nova turned to her friend once they reached the room and did something she never thought she\u2019d do: she hugged Adira. Strong-willed, independent, don\u2019t-touch-me Adira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her friend was tense for only a moment before she melted into the embrace. That\u2019s when the tears finally pooled out of Nova\u2019s eyes and down her cheeks. She pulled away and looked up at Adira, allowing the tears to fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you for being such a good friend to me,\u201d she sputtered. \u201cYou\u2019ve always been so good to me, even when you were yelling at me to fix my form. I love you,\u201d those three words were out of her mouth before she could stop it, and she found she didn\u2019t want to stop it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adira\u2019s eyes became glassy, and she brushed her feathers against her eyes. \u201cDon\u2019t make me a mess, Nova,\u201d her voice broke ever so slightly, but she was strong unlike Nova and composed herself quickly. \u201cBut I love you, too. You\u2019re such a great friend. I wouldn\u2019t have been so driven to train and help others if I hadn\u2019t met you and your perseverance. You are strong, Nova.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova always felt weak because part of her heart still went out to the humans \u2013 to her father and even to Amias \u2013 but hearing those words from her best friend made her believe it for a second. She decided to embrace the words for a little while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a tear finally rolled out of Adira\u2019s eye, she scoffed and turned her head away. \u201cGreat stars! You\u2019re making me lose my dignity. This sounds like we\u2019re never going to see each other again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If only Adira knew how true those words were<\/em>, Nova thought with a broken heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Nova portaled back to the cave, her heart pounding against her ribcage as her escape grew closer. The time for her to leave the Alaptera<\/em> and reunite with her father was finally at hand. She\u2019d thought that she\u2019d be jumping for joy at the thought of seeing her father after so long, but all she felt at the moment was anxiety and sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tried throwing the negative thoughts aside because this is what she really wanted; to be with her father again and to go back home, even if it meant persecution. However, Nova wondered if things back on Caligo were different now \u2014 if people like her were more accepted by the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No<\/em>, Nova told herself. Don\u2019t let the humans fool you. They will always hate you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But would they?<\/em> The angel on her shoulder asked. Maybe it\u2019s time to start trusting them again, just as you trust the human soldier now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The thoughts wouldn\u2019t go away as she stepped inside the cave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As promised, Amias was waiting. He had been sitting by the fire but, at the sight of Nova, stood up and grinned warmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re back,\u201d he said, relief clear in his voice. \u201cDid everything go well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI said goodbye to Adira,\u201d Nova replied, the lump forming in her throat again. \u201cOf course, I didn\u2019t really say goodbye. I didn\u2019t reveal anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias nodded, his shoulders tensing. \u201cI guess it\u2019s time for us to leave, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova took a deep breath and nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She planted her feet and popped her fingers, closing her eyes to concentrate. The power came to her easily now, so she felt the electricity rushing through her veins at once. The sensation covered every inch of her body and reached the tips of her fingers. She stretched her hands out and opened her eyes, coating the cave in purple light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWoah,\u201d she heard Amias whisper beside her. It made her heart swell, and she didn\u2019t know the reason why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space tore before them, the spinning wormhole growing to cover the lines on the wall of the cave. An image formed: dark blue fields and sky-high mountains coming into focus. She was doing it. She was opening up a portal to Caligo. She was finally strong enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, instead of feeling comfort at seeing the familiar sights of Caligo as she did weeks ago, she felt horror. Her power stuttered in her veins, distorting the portal before her. Sweat dripped from her face as she strained to keep the wormhole alive, and her surroundings began to blur as tears filled her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flashes of her and her father in the field returned to her. She saw the soldiers gagging her and taking her away, binding her in chains and discarding her into space like she was nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t\u2026\u201d she sobbed, her knees buckling. \u201cI can\u2019t go back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The portal vanished. Nova plummeted to the ground, but she didn\u2019t make it all the way down. Suddenly, she felt strong arms underneath her, holding her up. Turning her head, she saw a blurry Amias gazing down at her, his eyes alight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re okay,\u201d he said, his warm, sweet breath on her face. She felt his warmth all over, and suddenly her surroundings became clear. His voice became clearer, too. \u201cTake your time. You can do this, Nova. I know you can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d her voice came out hoarsely. \u201cI don\u2019t think I can go back. What if they all still hate me? What if they hurt me again? They took me away from my father and sent me here because they thought I was a monster, and they were right.\u201d She paused, before adding: \u201cI lost control of my power once when I was younger and sent an innocent child into the void.\u201d She never thought she could say those words out loud to him, but they were finally out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias went silent. He stared at her, taking in every inch of her face. Nova wasn\u2019t sure if she should feel worried, embarrassed, flattered, or all three. She couldn\u2019t read his expression, and she hated it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was silent for the longest time, and Nova started to think he\u2019d finally had enough of her. Maybe now he would scoff at her and tell her she was worthless\u2014that she deserved to be exiled for what she did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, she was proven wrong once again when Amias gently set her down on the crumpled blanket and poured her water in a mazer. He handed her the wooden bowl then sat across from her, silver eyes never wandering away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova used the remainder of her strength to sip the water, the chill of it making her shudder. She felt cold all over, and it wasn\u2019t only because of the water. The look in Amias\u2019 eyes was intense, but there was something else gleaming in those piercing irises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova released a breath she hadn\u2019t realized she\u2019d been holding when Amias finally spoke. \u201cI was scared to go back home to my family after the war.\u201d He paused as if he were gathering his thoughts, but Nova urged him to continue with a nod. \u201cMy brother and I had been serving for seven years. We hadn\u2019t been able to go home to see our parents, and they were devastated. We wrote to them as much as we could, but it was difficult when you were at war with a neighboring planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He looked down, his eyes dark with sorrow as he continued. \u201cMy brother, Adriel, suffered the most homesickness out of the two of us. He was always home, taking care of our parents and helping out in the fields. I was always the one who went out and did my own thing, so I was used to being away. I loved my parents, but I wasn\u2019t as close to them as Adriel was. Sometimes it felt like they loved him more anyways,\u201d he said with a weak, sad chuckle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, you could imagine his joy when we were finally discharged after our victory. I remember him tripping over his own feet as he packed up his stuff to head home.\u201d A small smile filled Amias\u2019 face as he recalled the happy memory. \u201cI was ecstatic to go home, too. But I was mostly happy for my brother to finally rest. If only I knew how literal that statement would come to be.\u201d His words became a whisper as if they were too heavy to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova felt bile rising in her throat. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were on the way to the loading dock for the ship to take us back to Caligo. Everyone was in good spirits and ready to head home, but we were taken by surprise. We were ambushed from all sides by the aliens of the planet we won against. There was no time for us to fight back\u2026 it was chaos. I remember taking Adriel\u2019s hand and running with him to the closest fighter jet we could find, but I was so focused on escaping that I hadn\u2019t realized one of them was on our tail. Before I knew it, the alien had taken its sword and pierced it through my brother\u2019s heart. I watched his life leave him\u2026 right there on the concrete. I didn\u2019t even get to tell him goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias sagged his shoulders, and his lips trembled ever so slightly. Nova was holding his hand before she even knew what she was doing. He looked down at their interlocked hands and, instead of pulling away, he pulled her closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m deeply sorry for your loss,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t even begin to imagine what that was like for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias took a deep breath. \u201cIt was awful. But, honestly, it was worse for my parents. I couldn\u2019t even look them in the eye when I came home and told them what had happened. Adriel\u2019s death broke the family\u2026 he was what kept us all together. I barely see them now, ever since that day. We aren\u2019t as close anymore.\u201d He stood more upright and cleared his throat. \u201cI didn\u2019t say all of that to make this about me\u2026 my point was that I was horrified of returning home with devastating news, but I couldn\u2019t stop it. I had to go back because my family was important to me, just as your father is important to you now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He squeezed her hand, and his gaze focused again. \u201cYou deserve to go home and be with your father, even if it\u2019s for one last time. Put aside your past and focus on right now\u2026 focus on going home to your father. The world will always be cruel, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t still experience love from your family and others who care for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was right. Even if it meant Nova would endure the consequences of being abnormal, her father was worth it. He was the one who had held her hand when she was afraid and picked her up when she fell. He was everything to her \u2014 the only person she could love and be loved by in return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although, watching Amias as he held her like she was everything, Nova began to believe maybe there were others out there whom she loved and who loved her back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she finally said, rising to her feet. \u201cLet\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amias stood up with her, a smile brightening his face. \u201cYou\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova returned his smile and focused again on her power. Once she finally got ahold of the image, she made it manifest before her. The portal opened. Caligo was right there. She took a step forward and\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStop right there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova and Amias froze, turning their heads towards the squad of Alaptera <\/em>guards who had entered the cave. They had arrows pointing right at them, their faces devoid of emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leader of the guards stepped forward, his armor gleaming in the firelight. His wings were tucked, ears twitching as he took in the two culprits. Finally, his beady eyes rested on Nova\u2019s, and he spoke in a voice full of authority. \u201cYou are to follow us to the Great Tree. The Chieftess demands your presence.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This entry is part 6 of 8 in the series Dimension of Abnormality<\/a><\/div>

By Rebecka Jones, Staff Writer Amias\u2019 silver eyes were as wide as saucers. His lips parted, eyebrows shooting up behind his hair. Even the silky black locks pooling over his…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":5326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"series":[59],"class_list":["post-5334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-creative","series-dimensions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5334"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5386,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5334\/revisions\/5386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5334"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=5334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}