I hit hard packed earth but I don't care as I brush the pain aside. I can function again.

I stand up and make for the portal before it closes. Strong hands encase my body tightly effortlessly making my struggles futile.

"We have to get back. We have to help them."
I franctically scream so loudly kicking small rocks and pebbles.

Tears stream down my cheeks.
"We have to go back."
My struggles ebb as the portal snaps shut.

I sink to my knees and wail entirely feeling hopeless. I don't care who is watching. Am in too much pain to care.

My knees get soaked. I hear waves crushing in. That means we are at the beach somewhere, some shore but it's a bit foggy and cold.

Small hands wrap around me. She places my head against her chest as I sob while she gently strokes my hair. Martha's smile is all I can see.

Someone else kneels the other side of me and I hear a crunch. My hand is balled in my mouth to hush the sobs wrecking through my body. It's Jake. He envelopes me in a hug too.

They make a loving cage around me. It's warm and reassuring but the thought I didn't do anything for them crushes me.

Once again. I was powerless against the demons. They have once more robbed me of people I love and I just stared helplessly. I cry more. I bite into my fist. those people raised us.

I hear more crunches. I open my eyes and see Emmeline in front of me with a handkerchief tears streaming down her face too. She takes my hand out of my mouth in hers squeezing it gently as if to pass me some warmth.

"There wasn't much to do Thea." Karim kneels behind Emmeline.

"At least I could have done something" My voice is so hoarse and alien to me.
Karim looks helplessly over my shoulder. I hear more crunches and Thoren with Shen in tow also come before me. I sniffle.

This boy I barely know has seen me cry a lot and vulnerable so many times. But do I care? I just lost my stand-in parents too. He palms my face gently. Stroking my teared cheek softly. I take in huge hiccupping gulps of air reveling in the comfort. All of these people around care about me and am selfish.

I slowly extract myself from the human cage around me removing my bag pack in the process and crawl to him. He puts his arms around me and plants a chaste kiss on my burning forehead.

He rises gently with me. Am weak and drained. He seems to know that as he sweeps me into his arms bridal style. Am grateful because my legs are softer than melting butter.

Temi, Emmeline and Jake's faces are tear stained. I made them sad. What kind of person am I? It weighs on me. Of course they are suffering the same loss but I didn't consider their feelings.

"What next?" Shen's voice rings out as he takes my bag pack.
"We are alone with no clue or guidance what next."

"We get a place to spend the night first." Thoren declares his voice resonating. "We all need a proper rest and grieving."

"We can go to The Old Forge pub. I'll guide." Jake starts walking.

"You are forgetting something.....!" Shen's voice rings out again. Everyone pauses and stares at him. "I mean look at us. Weapons, attire is fine but still, our eyes." Now I give him credit for being smarter in a crisis. We wouldn't want the poor folk here to fall into the black eyed kids frenzy.

"Put me down." I croak in Thoren's ear. He looks at me momentarily and the sets me on my feet gently.

If they gave us bag packs then there must be supplies. I walk to Shen and grab my pack from him. I open it and start rummaging through clothes, notebooks, flasks, first aid kits and I triumph as I discover our savior.

In my position I could see it is nearing twilight. The sky is a deep shade of red and purple with random orange clouds adorning it spanning the sparkling blue ocean. If only I had the heart to enjoy it.

It's just another bloody setting day with my loss. More tears threaten to spill. Keep it together Thea. Thoren insisted he carry me because it is quite a distance from where we landed to the small town.

The waves crash softly as we move across the shoreline making crunching noises disturbing the peace of Inverie as we walk along the Loch Nevis as Jake termed it.

It is impossible to get a sense of scale here. From a distance, the dozen or so stone whitewashed loch-side buildings account for everything that is Inverie and Knoydart have to offer in terms of the high street experience.

Thoren sets me down and I hand him his disguise. Shen is shouldering my pack and his. It is almost surprising to see so many people waiting to catch a ferry back to Mallaig and I wonder if this will leave Inverie deserted for the best I hope.

A short walk on the jetty leads us to the center of everything at The Old Forge. The remotest pub in the whole UK. The place is heaving with people. Two on a bench by the door and three others by the picnic table across the road overlooking the Loch Nevis. There are other people scattered about.

We walk up the street trying to blend in. We get a few queer looks as people wonder where a group of teenagers are coming from. No ferry has docked yet. I hold onto Thoren a bit more tightly. I look at some of them as they avert their eyes from us. They stare at anything other than us as we make slow progress.

Thoren sweeps the white support cane wildly in front of him just like Emmeline who is being guided by Temi. The odd looks continue until we enter the Old Forge. Shen is being guided by Karim slowly like planned.

The pub is renown for fresh local sea food, vension and it also stocks real ale. Tonight's menu is written on the glass windows with white board markers. We quietly enter under Jake's guidance. The noise inside instantly dies down as all the dinning tourists look at us. I mean yes we look odd. Our quiet entry is noticed.

Twins with mismatched hair, An Asian blind boy being guided by an African boy, a half Mexican blind girl led by an American boy with red highlights in his hair with clear resemblance to the twins, and an dark American hot blind boy in an unknown place on Earth that doesn't appear on maps. Quite an assortment.

And there are no adults on us which is really queer. Hushed whispers break out as some people avert their eyes clearly uncomfortable in the presence of blind people. Emmeline is handed over to Jake and they tread through the tables slowly till they reach the counter with a pudgy man manning it.

"How much for four twin bedded rooms sir?" Emmeline gives the old pudgy man her best smile behind her super black glasses. He cringes but quickly hides.

We decided that Thoren, Shen and Emmeline are to pretend to be blind after we found super black shades in our bag packs and white canes. And some blind badges.

Clearly Martha and Eric had though of everything. I cringe from where am standing.

"Fifteen Euros a night but........Have you got a reservation cupcake?"
The old pudgy man asks Emmeline giving her a weird look probably wondering how she could tell he's male before he spoke.

"No sir but we have cash sir. Please we came from far and a few of us have disabilities as you can tell." Emmeline frowns looking a little bit hurt. A few tourists turn to look at pudgy man angrily.

He regards her silently lost for a bit.
"How old are you? Where are all your parents?" His eyes sweep the packed pub landing on me. I know I look sickly, pale and worrying. His accent is very thick. Very Scottish.

"It's just a trip. Our parents are okay with us travelling in groups."
Jake interjects beaming at the pudgy man. That's not a very convincing lie. He frowns in consideration looking at the red highlights in his hair. He is skeptial.

"Am still sorry but I can't take you in without a reservation. Knoydart ways." He is firm. And he thinks we are stowaways.

"This is going no where." Temi grunts standing up her wooden chair scraping the floor with such force I flinch. All the attention shifts to her. She advances towards the pudgy man with malicious intent in her golden blue eyes. Emmeline gives her way.

Shen starts coughing so bad. He doubles over and falls wheezing and coughing but artfully so that his glasses don't fall off. Everybody comes and congregates around him. Emmeline nods to Artemis. She shoves her palm in the man's face and blackish mist seeps out enveloping his head. His eyes turn white momentarily before they become normal again.

I smile. Nice diversion. Karim helps Shen up who looks recovering. An old British couple hovers more fuzzing about as the rest disperse. More people were waiting from the glass windows. Clearly we are going to be the talk of the town.

"We have reservations. Three blind Americans, twins and their brother, our African and Asian Pen pals." She retracts her hand and the man stands there dazed. He shakes his head.

"Forgive my bad memory. Of course you darlings have reservations and you can order anything you want and it'll be on the house for your entire stay as an apology. Enjoy your stay."
The pudgy man chimes happily as he hands Temi a bunch of keys.

Everyone claps for him clearly pleased with his reconsideration. He smiles and bows to everyone.

"Thank you so much. Come on Sarah let me walk you." She grabs blind Emmeline by the hand and guides her to us gently. Jake hands the man a wad of Euros which we also found in the bags with other foreign currencies.

Temi takes a key and dumps the others on the table as the rest converge. My eyes momentarily drift to the lovely peat stove providing the heating.

"What did you do to him?" Shen asks. Am moderately curious too. I thought he was in on the plan none of us knew about as he put up quite a diversion.

"The mist of confusion is more lethal to humans. Thea your bedding with me."
I frown. I was kind of hoping I would be paired with Thoren but with sister dearest around not a chance. Shen takes up Karim. Thoren takes Jake and Emmeline gets a room all to herself. lucky.

"Let's go. Temi gently supports me as I hold onto Thoren we march to room two taking the steps slowly the others following behind closely.

We reach our destination and she fumbles with the key and lock in one hand while supporting me. Thoren carries me since no one is watching.

Our bedroom has one single queen sized bed. Pink checked duvet, pillows and lamps. Every is pink checked except the tiled floor, the murky green walls and bedside table. It's pretty though too pink.

Shen shoulders around Thoren and dumps both our bags at the foot of the bed. Thoren sits me on the bed and Temi takes off my sneakers. She pulls the covers back and I slide in quietly. She tucks me in and places a kiss in my hair ruffling it gently like mom used to every night I was upset.

I sigh and I find relief in closing my swollen eyes. It's been a long day.

***********************************************************************************************
I wake up to the sound of distant waves. I yawn loudly and stretch. I sit up ramrod straight. Temi's absence is what woke me up. I wear my sneakers.

I leave the comfort of the pink sheets and march outside softly careful not to make any noises. I don't want to be seen.

My face is hit with cutting cold air the moment I step outside taking away the last of my drowsiness. I wrap my arms around my self. I can see the mist of my breathe in front of me.

The moon is high and full glowing a brilliant white on the water surface in the distance. I start walking towards the beach the stones grinding beneath my feet.

My thoughts scatter not forming. But it's good because I don't want to think, I just want to find my sister. I think she's at the beach that's where the connection is taking me. Makes sense. Artemis loves anything to do with water. Maybe she needed a swim to wind up. But its cold.

The wind races past my ears making them sting. I pull up my hoodie to cover my head more and keep warm.

Martha was right to make me wear this. It's cold. I wonder what she would say if she were here now. I shake my head violently taking in deep breaths. Don't go there Thea.

I reach the beach. I look at the water moving in constant motion. The small waves crushing ashore. I stand and watch them for a while leaving my mind blank. The shoreline is rocky but attractive in a stark way. It is peppered with countless muscle shells and carpeted with sea weed.

To my left is a forested hillside and a road that disappears into foliage.

Something glinting catches my eye in a small wave. I step into the water carefully not to get water into my sneakers. I bend down and shiver momentarily as my fingers dig into the cold water.

It's a piece of sea glass. I get out quickly once I get it. I hold it up against the moonlight. I twist it and examine it. It's an odd piece. With every twist and turn it changes it's color from crimson red to flaming orange to aqua blue to black and others. I pocket it. Temi will love it.

I turn and start walking the shore line to look for her again. I find myself spacing out again. The beach mostly has stones that look like gravel. There is not much sand too. Okay maybe this isn't a beach.

I keep walking listening to the sound of my footsteps crunching. I walk for a while till my legs start to burn and still no sign on my sister. The path nears foliage. I see a movement. There under one of the Birchwood trees is Temi with Emmeline. They are hugging and I feel like an intruder. 

Her hands are tightly wrapped around her as she leans on the trunk Emmeline's back to her. Head on her chest leaning back as they watch the moon under the birch. They look so serene and melancholic at the same time. I tear my gaze away feeling pangs in my chest. It's too comforting a scene for my inner turmoil.

I turn back slowly and run to The old forge as the wind picks up. I close the door softly as I take off my sneakers and shove them under the bed panting.

I get back in bed and try to get a grip. I close my eyes as one thought races in my mind. But why didn't she tell me? If anything is bothering her i would have gladly taken a night stroll. I don't get it. Why her? I close my eyes.

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Hey guys thanks for reading and don't forget to vote. Love you all. Is it getting more interesting? Feedback would be very much appreciated. For purposes of writing in Inverie, alot of research has been done and some of it may correlate with travel journals but I hope you enjoy.
Am going to leave some images.