Moonways pt4

For long minutes, Lily's brain shut down in horror, spinning and lurching in panic and fear. Finally, steely anger settled over her, bringing brittle calm. How far could she have gone, really? Grabbing Mona's backpack, she unceremoniously dumped its contents on the floor then went to the kitchen, considering briefly before throwing in a bottle of water from the fridge, a utility knife, carefully slid into its case, a notebook and pen, and a flashlight.

She fought with the absurdity of her actions for a moment, then, sighing, opened the junk drawer and picked out an old brass keyring, some thumbtacks, a pair of dice, and shiny plastic beads. She made sure the house was locked up tightly then stepped out into the night.

The park was bright in the clear evening, and Lily tipped her head at an angle to catch the signs of... that couldn't be right, could it? She crouched down, bringing herself close, brows knitting. Hoof prints? There was nothing even resembling a farm nearby. Pulling out her flashlight, Lily shone it on a print, dug deep into the grass. The horse had been galloping. The exposed earth glittered oddly, and a finger pressed gently into it came away with what could only be gold dust. Lily's frown deepened, and fear fluttered in her chest.

Straightening, she strained to see as far as she could in either direction, then jumped as she realised there was a figure striding towards her. Her hand fumbled into the backpack to grasp the knife until she noticed that he wasn't even looking up; he was following the hoof prints. Several times he stopped to bend and examine the ground, until he was close enough that Lily could see he was probably about thirty, though as he finally seemed to notice her, she thought he looked older than that. Or was it younger? She couldn't even fix a firm idea of the colour of his hair. Was it light brown, shimmering, or white as white? His features seemed to slide off her memory, so that even looking at him was like staring down from a great height; dizzying and uncomfortable.

Finally he slowed his steps, and hesitated. It felt like every muscle in Lily's body was tensed to breaking point, her hand trembling around the knife handle. But he didn't come any closer, merely giving her a bemused look. When he spoke, his voice was honey dripping on sandpaper; gravelly but musical.
"You can see me." The ridiculousness of his statement unfroze Lily's limbs and her eyebrows shot up.
"Of course I can. Why wouldn't I?"

Considered silence followed her response, building until Lily's chin tilted defiantly. "What are you doing?" She fixed him in an imperious glare, though it was giving her a headache. To her surprised, he chuckled.
"Mostly, I'm being impressed. Otherwise, I'm looking for someone." He paused. "What's your name, girl?" The back of Lily's neck prickled, and she tensed again, as something brushed her memory. The power of names....
"You just called me 'girl'. That's as good a name as any." Now it was the stranger's turn to frown.
"Crowborn?" Lily had to relent a little and rub her face in confusion. Everything swum before her lazily like a mirage.

"What are you talking about? Are you following the hoof prints? Do you know who they belong to?" Urgency clawed at her suddenly. Mona! Her vision cleared, though the man's features were still difficult to fix upon. When he didn't answer, she twitched with impatience. She turned to walk away, and suddenly he spoke again.
"The horse belongs to one of the Percontors. Why do you track them?" Lily's mouth formed the strange word; it tasted sour. Percontors.
"They have... they have something of mine. I think." She stood ramrod straight, trying to control the trembles coursing across her limbs.
"Something... precious?" His eyes suddenly glittered strangely.
"...yes. Something precious. I need it back."

Expecting further questions, she drew on a cloak of flat hostility, but he merely nodded, and his eyes were cast in darkness again.
"We have a common purpose then, at least for now. However I fear we came too late to catch them this way. They will be through the Gate by now, and it will not open here again." Lily gasped in horror. Through the Gate? The shining figure, burning her eyes with his terrible brightness... If the stranger noticed her expression, he made no sign of it.
"We should go." Lily hesitated only a moment before nodding.
"Where are we going?"
"To see the Finder of Lost Things." His loping strides took him off back the way he had come. He turned to wait for her. "You should call me... Dusk. It's as good a name as any."