Shoves boulder

Ryn’s hand stroked the side of her face. Soundless, the girl’s mien was placid, unconcerned. It was her calm that stopped Naomi’s struggling. She drifted lower, to the pinned ankle, and stretched one hand back, striking the stone tablet with four stiffened fingers. A crack of thunder. A tremor hummed all the way up Naomi’s leg to her hip. The world split, it must have, judging by the sound ringing in her ears. Then, the strange girl rolled away an engine block–sized stone with one arm.
Again, the oxygen in Naomi’s lungs was spent. Again, her vision darkened. Ryn took her chin in hand, leaned in, and briefly their eyes met. Had the water paralyzed her, or had something else made her timid? Their lips touched a second time. Naomi’s eyes widened as air once again filled her. She only stole half a breath, likely all her friend had to give—every last whisper passed from Ryn to her.


Chapter 9, Page 314