Read Episode #1 - "Torn": Star Chasers (Volume 1) for Free Online Page B

Eventually, he did turn to look at Shilastar and Ty; but not understanding their dismay, he finally began making his way down without them.
         Ty was the last to move. He had never seen a ship anything like this, and all he could think of was that he was afraid for his life. He wanted to leave Paliy now. This instant. Run away and hide. He closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself, but then he froze still and became calm. “Rhyess?” he called out. He opened his eyes and saw Shilastar’s face in front of him. She took his hand.
         “Come on, silly.”
         Rhyess was already waiting at level ground. Neither Ty nor Shilastar looked up at all for the remainder of the day. Eventually, the shadow seemed to retreat and all was well.
         At the ruins only dilapidated remnants of foundations and partial walls of various structures, but they captivated the threesome’s attentions for many hours. They danced on old floors, where Shilastar said a grand hall once stood. Shilastar served them lunch at the site of an inn. They played among the rocks, chasing one another about like children.
         Afternoon was ebbing before they decided to start back, sweaty, dirty, and messy haired. “Catch up!” yelled Shilastar playfully as she chased Rhyess up the grand hill overlooking the ruins. Ty lagged behind, dead last even while trying his hardest. About half way up he was breathing so hard, wheezing and coughing, that he was forced to stop. He hunched over and panted for air he couldn’t seem to find.
         Movement to his right caught his eye. Ty whirled his head about to get a glimpse it, and quickly realized it was Shilastar falling past him. He thought it was comical at first, but as she came to a sudden, crashing halt, he could see it clearly was not. Horrified, he cradled her in his arms. The back of her head was moist, and a check of his hands revealed more than sweat.
         She looked up at him and plead, “Make the pain go away Ty, just as you did before?”
         Ty searched her face and then checked for Rhyess, but the other was already standing next to him. His heart lamented as he saw the drops moisten the sullen dirty rocks. “I can’t,” he whispered almost apologetically. He set to rooting through his pockets. He felt something he probably should have returned to Shilastar then, but it wasn’t the time.
         “I have some ointment in my bag,” spoke Shilastar softly. Her eyes pressed closed and her lips stilled.
         “The bag! Find her bag!” wailed Ty to Rhyess and set to quick, concerted work to heal her using the power of his mind as Rhyess scrambled away. He could no longer bear the waste. Ty opened his eyes to find Rhyess returned with Shilastar’s pack in hand, staring at him.
         “Quick open it!” he barked, “There is ointment inside. It should be a tube of some sorts, brownish, I think. Hurry!”
         Ty lavishly rubbed the unguent, partially to mix it in well and partially to conceal his secret labors. Ty conveyed Shilastar to the crest, setting her down with her head across his lap. “The sun sets,” he whispered to her. “Night comes.” He had never been out during the fullness of night this far from habitation on Paliy, and he didn’t much relish the thought of it. Still, he knew it would prove best if they waited for a few hours before moving again. Rhyess seemed to think otherwise. “I should head back for help.”
         “Starting back now would be foolhardy.”
         “I can make it and I’ll bring Phaylio. He’ll know what to do.”
         Ty said emphatically, “You would not make it back to the village and perhaps not even as far as the barrier wall. Picking your way in the shadowed light would be tedious. The half-light plays tricks on the mind.”
         Throughout twilight they waited. The night air arrived, cool and hurried, blowing across the hilltop. Both suns sank below the horizon and the