Seth and Kendra walked toward the gap, stopping two paces from the entrance. Coulter hunched forward, trembling with the effort of each arduous step, but managed to keep his feet moving.
"Where is he?" Kendra asked.
"Almost to the gap," Seth said. "He looks like he's about to pass out."
Coulter slogged forward another few steps. Pausing, he leaned forward, bracing one hand against his thigh. Quivering, he strained to lift the other arm, but failed to hoist it very high.
"He's reaching for us," Seth said. "Step a little closer."
"I can't let him touch me!" Kendra exclaimed.
"Just a step," Seth said. "I think he's come as far as he can."
"Why don't I back away?"
"He wants you near him."
Kendra took a cautious half-step forward, and suddenly Seth glimpsed flesh flickering beneath the shadow.
"I see him!" Kendra shrieked, lifting her hands to her lips. "Part of him, anyway, faintly."
"Me too," Seth said. "I've never seen any of the shadow people do that. I think you might be healing him. Yes! He's nodding. Get closer!"
"What if he contaminates me?"
"Just a little closer. He still won't be able to reach you."
"What if he's faking how far he can reach?"
"He fell to his knees!" Seth cried.
"I can see," Kendra said, taking another half-step toward the gap in the hedge. Coulter flashed into clearer view, slumped forward, both hands buttressed against his thighs. His face looked anguished, contorted by tremendous effort. He tried to keep his head up, but it was slowly bowing.
"Help him!" Seth yelped.
Kendra stepped into the gap between the hedges and seized Coulter's shoulder. Instantly he came into full view and flopped through the gap in the hedge to lie panting on the path.
"Coulter!" Seth exclaimed. "You're back!"
"Barely," he wheezed, face ruddy from the recent exertion. "Just barely. Give me... a minute."
"We're so happy you're alive!" Kendra gushed, tears blurring her vision.
"We should... stay back... from the entrance," he gasped, crawling away from the gap in the hedge.
"A pair of satyrs just took off running," Seth reported.
"They'll want to... spread the word... that Kendra can overcome the darkness," Coulter panted. He sat up, taking deep breaths. Gradually he appeared to relax.
"Did you see my light?" Kendra asked.
Coulter chuckled. "Did I see it? I was scalded by your light, Kendra, blinded by it. I thought it might consume me. It scorched me differently than sunlight. Sunlight only inflicted pain. Cold pain. Your light beckoned as well as burned. It gave me warmth along with the pain, the first warmth I've felt since the shadow fairies transformed me. I could feel the darkness that possessed me cringing away from your light, and that gave me hope. I thought if I could just get close enough to your light, I would either perish or be cleansed. Either way, my frigid existence would end."
"What was it like as a shadow?" Seth asked.
Coulter shivered. "Colder than I could ever describe. A normal human body would go numb long before it could experience the cold I felt. Sunlight intensified the cold into agony. As a shadow, it was tough to focus. My emotions became confused. I felt desolate. Utterly empty. My mind wanted to shut down. I was constantly tempted to collapse and wallow in my emptiness. But I knew I had to fight those inclinations. Tanu helped me keep my mind whole after he was changed."
"Where is Tanu?" Kendra asked. "And what about the others? Have you seen Grandma or Grandpa?"
Coulter shook his head. "Gone, all of them. I met up with Warren and Dale briefly. As fellow shades, we could communicate, more like telepathy than speaking. They warned me she was after them, that she had already taken Stan and Ruth away. We split up, with plans to reunite at a rendezvous. None of the others ever arrived. I came here, hoping to warn you what had happened to the others. You were shining, I approached, and here we are."
"What did Ephira do to them?" Kendra asked.
"Is that her name?" Coulter asked. "Warren and Dale suspected she was imprisoning them somewhere. Stashing them away. Hard to say for sure. Tell me, Kendra, why you were shining so brightly."
"I'm not shining anymore?" she asked. Coulter scrutinized her. "I expect you are, but not to my eyes."
She eyed the dark satyrs, who had retreated even farther from the gap in the hedge. "We'll give you all the details later, in a place where we won't be overheard. The Fairy Queen gave me a gift full of light energy." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "It might help us stop the plague."
"It certainly cured me," Coulter said. "Hurt plenty, though. I expect it will rank right up there with my least favorite memories." He stretched his arms. "I guess it's up to the three of us to rescue the others."
"We also have Patton Burgess helping us," Seth said.
Coulter snickered. "Right, and I expect Paul Bunyan will also be lending a hand. We should check if Pecos Bill is available."
"He's serious," Kendra confirmed. "Patton came forward through time. He's here. When Lena saw him, she abandoned the pond again, so we have her too."
Coulter failed to resist a broad grin. "You're pulling my leg."
"Would we kid around during such a dangerous time?" Seth asked.
"I was raised on stories about Patton Burgess," Coulter said, eagerness entering his voice. "I've always dreamed of meeting him. He died not long before I was born."
"I don't think you'll be disappointed," Seth assured him.
"Can you walk?" Kendra asked. "We could bring him here."
Grunting, Coulter tottered to his feet. Seth steadied him as he swayed. "Now, don't start coddling me," Coulter griped. "I just need half a second to get my bearings."
Coulter started walking toward the tent, his measured steps a bit wobbly. Seth stayed near him, ready to catch the older man if he stumbled. Coulter's paces grew more confident, and his posture became more natural.
"Here they come," Kendra said, pointing across the field. Holding hands, Patton and Lena were swiftly approaching.
"What do you know," Coulter murmured. "Who could have guessed I would meet Patton Burgess in the flesh?"
"You found a friend," Patton called to Kendra and Seth.
"Coulter!" Lena cried. "It has been far too long!" She danced forward and took his hands, sizing him up.