Page 24 of Lunar Bound
"Can you still hear me?" he asked, concerned about maintaining her consciousness during the transition.
"Yes," her voice responded from within his field. "It's like we're the same being. I can feel you everywhere."
"We must proceed quickly," Lunar advised. "Maintaining this state will drain your biological energy over time."
He moved them toward the underwater passage, flowing like liquid shadow across the surface of the pool. When they reached the submerged opening, Lunar simply continued forward, his shadow essence passing through the water as easily as it moved through air.
The passage twisted through solid rock, occasionally narrowing to spaces barely large enough for a human body to pass. Within Lunar's shadow field, such constraints meant nothing. They moved as a single fluid entity, navigating turns and constrictions that would have been impossible for Poppy in her physical form.
Lunar monitored her biological functions continuously, noting increased stress markers but nothing approaching dangerous levels. Her consciousness remained stable, her mental patterns indicating wonder beneath her fear.
They emerged into a larger chamber beyond the underwater passage, where Lunar gradually withdrew his shadow field, returning Poppy to her normal physical state. She stood unsteadily for a moment, her expression dazed as she readjusted to independent existence.
"That was," she began, then shook her head, apparently unable to find adequate words.
"Disorienting," Lunar supplied. "The transition between energy states often creates temporary sensory confusion."
"Amazing!" Poppy corrected. "I could feel everything you felt. The world looks completely different through the shadows."
Lunar had not anticipated this level of sharing. Typically, transported entities stayed aware of their own identity but did not have direct shadow perception. Poppy's experience suggested an unusually deep integration.
"Your adaptation was exceptional," he acknowledged. "Most beings resist shadow integration, creating friction that limits perceptual transfer."
"I told you, I've always been drawn to the dark," Poppy replied with a small smile. "You know, I have to ask. Did you learn our language from kidnapped astronauts or something? The way you say things is very scientifically precise."
"No. I have an implanted translator that makes my words understandable to you. I am saying things how we say them on my planet, and they come out in a way you can understand."
"Just curious." The corner of her mouth twitched at the side.
The chamber they had entered was larger than the previous one, with a ceiling high enough that Lunar could not detect its upper boundaries. A faint current of air suggested a connection to the surface, and the ambient temperature was slightly warmer.
"Where are we now?" Lunar asked, allowing Poppy to orient them in the unfamiliar space.
"Secondary cave system below the canyon," she explained, activating her red light again. "There's a concealed exit about half a kilometer from here that comes out near an unmarked trail. From there, we can reach the back roads and eventually a route, which connects to the main highway."
"They might have established surveillance on major transportation routes," Lunar noted.
"Probably," Poppy agreed. "But I know people at the wildlife sanctuary who can help us get transport without question."
"We should contact Eclipse and Solar," Lunar said. "Let them know where to find us."
"We will once I can get a phone signal," Poppy agreed. "There's a ridge near the exit where I can usually get cell reception."
They navigated the new cave system, with Poppy in the lead. The passages showed no signs of human visitation. There were no footpaths, just the raw, ancient stone shaped by water over millions of years.
After navigating several tight passages and climbing a natural stone chimney, they reached a narrow fissure that admitted a thin strip of late afternoon light.
"It looks like it's not yet evening," she noted. "Not ideal for you to be above ground, but we can find shadow cover in the canyon."
Lunar assessed the risk factors. Daylight would restrict his shadow-walking capabilities and increase his visibility to tracking technology. However, the benefits of contacting Eclipse and Solar outweighed these disadvantages, particularly given Milano's demonstrated search capabilities.
"I will manage," he assured her.
Poppy squeezed through the fissure first, checking for any sign of human presence before signaling Lunar to follow. The exit emerged behind a large boulder. Beyond, there was a steep-sided canyon whose walls cast considerable shadow.
"The ridge is this way," Poppy indicated, leading him along a nearly invisible game trail that climbed the canyon wall. "Stay close to the cliff face. The shadows are deeper there."
Lunar followed her guidance, keeping within the darkness cast by the towering red rocks. Poppy matched his careful progress.
