We walked for the next couple of hours in silence, we both needed time to contemplate the gold-back herd. Being surrounded by them like that is not something I have ever heard anyone talk about before. I have only ever known people describe watching from afar, whats more they say that if they get too close and the gold-backs catch the scent, they get spooked.

I can’t help feeling that we were part of something special.

I think even Mouse felt it, he stuck close to Elyr and carried on with us for the rest of the day. I was not expecting that either, hoop weasels are normally easily bribed but fairly flighty.

We made camp early right down by the edge of the river, it felt the calmest down there like the flow was soothing the world.

As we sat by the fire and talked late into the evening, Mouse stayed curled up at Elyr’s feet and even the bear slept on the edge of camp where he could feel the warmth. I think he wanted company as much as we did.

We talked about the patterns, and about the strange synthetic resonance fibres which seem uncomfortable and unsettling in cities and in human made resonance tech, but much more disruptive when they are patched into the natural Resonants.

(Elyr taught me the word Resonants, it is a translation from the Aethri word, when talking about these ancient organic artefacts, I think it is perfect)

I have seen the effects of these fibres twice now, at the grove in Brae woods and now here. I wasn’t sure the first time, but the reaction of the gold backs really made the turbulent effect of this technology clear.

I told Elyr about all of this and they say that the patterns I am seeing in the land are reflected in the resonance, the Aethri are noticing it too but they say that the resonance disruptions are stronger to them. We talked about the glint-wings and the gold-backs and the geese all behaving differently from normal.

Then Elyr asked me “do the creatures change the resonance or does the resonance change the creatures?”

I wonder if it is both.

When I said as much to Elyr, they said “most humans don’t think that way”

I said that most Aethri don’t either. Elyr smiled at this and allowed that I was right. By the way I recognise Aethri smiles now, they are whole body ripples of brighter blue.

“I wonder if it has always been like this” I asked, not really expecting an answer.

Elyr was still for a long moment, then said:

“There used to be people who could see the patterns in the world, they knew them to be connected”

“I think we need to find one of these people if they still exist” I said.

Elyr wasn’t sure but if anyone would know it would be the Echo Keeper in Aethryn.