Lion's death had a variety of effects on the group. Lara was the least impacted, having only limited time around the cats and with her own emotions to work through. At the other end of the scale, Kira and Carry were deeply saddened. The young girl lost a playmate and protector, whilst for Carry the rambunctious young cat had initially been a welcome distraction from her own loss, then a source of affection and amusement at his playfulness.

  The group worked through the loss in their own ways, and Matt was not totally surprised when Alan came over the road the next morning with a question.

  "Y'know those loci you and Kira were chatting about the other day? What do they look like?" He asked, leaning on his staff with a 'post-workout' sheen of sweat covering his forehead.

  "Both the ones I've seen have been like a faint crackle of lightning, but different colours." Matt replied with a thoughtful expression. "The one in my kitchen where I tussled with the rat on that first night was red – maybe something to do with blood? The one in our bedroom was green. I'll get Kira to read up on them and see if she can find out some specifics. Why do you ask?"

  "I was doing a stick workout in the garden – Caz won't let me do that inside any more after the hole I put in the kitchen wall." They both grinned at the memory of the epic talking-to that Carry had delivered. "Anyway, something kept bugging me out of the corner of my eye, but kept sorta sliding away when I looked for it. It was annoying enough that I stopped and really focused on it, and there it was. Like an upright, green crackle in the air – right where we buried Lion yesterday."

  Matt considered for a moment, before his eyes widened at the implications of this. A communal event such as they had experienced might be the catalyst for a locus that multiple people could attune to. It would potentially push the boundaries of what each could achieve with their bonded objects. He clapped Alan on the back. "Good work mate, let me grab the girls and we'll head over, this is worth everyone looking at I think."

  "You think we might all be able to… what's the word? Connect… attune to it? What would that do anyway?"

  "Let's check if everyone can see it first, then we can get Kira to do some research and see what benefits it might have." Matt's spirits were raised out of the doldrums with the news, hoping that this would be another locus they could connect to, increasing their capability individually and as a group. He went to the bottom of the stairs and called up.

  "Oi, girls! Grab your bag, book and dragon and get on down here. We've got an experiment to perform!"

  A few minutes later, the group entered the Brands' back garden, the mood sombre but curious as they greeted Carry with warm hugs. She had looked reluctant as Alan led her out through the back door, but stoically kept her chin up and returned the greetings. The group turned to Matt, and Arlee put voice to their thoughts. "Okay Matt, what experiment do you have in mind?"

  Matt held up his loom conspicuously in one hand and moved towards Lion's grave. Upon entering the garden he had immediately noticed the locus – probably due to that 'improved mental clarity' that Kira's book mentioned, he thought. He moved straight toward the shaft of crackling energy, a green tinge clearly visible throughout it.

  "Can you all please hold your special objects and move closer, focusing on the air right above Lion's grave." The group moved forward, expressions curious until one by one a variety of squints were followed by looks of surprise, pensiveness and outright glee. Only Lara and Oswald appeared unable to see the anomaly suspended in the air, and the young girl's face was downcast as the others confirmed what they had seen.

  Matt moved over to kneel in front of her, holding her hand tenderly as he explained to the group. "What most of you are seeing is a locus, a source of magical energy. From the research that Kira has done, these are created by an event that was particularly significant for each of us." He looked into Lara's eyes. "I think the reason that you and Oswald can't see it is that you had only just met Lion, whereas the rest of us had lived with, fought beside and played with him for the whole time."

  Carry and Kira were in fresh tears, being consoled by Alan and Arlee. Lara looked disconsolate. "But I loved him too! It's not f… maybe I can use it the same way you all can anyway?" She looked pleadingly at Matt.

  He gathered her into a hug. "I'm sorry Lara, I wish I could help, but from what I've seen it's basically not there for you, or anyone else outside this group." He released her but held onto her hand. "You will have the chance to find your own loci, through your own experiences."

  Lara leaned forward, whispering so the others wouldn't hear. "Oswald and I thought about that. Do you… do you think you could take us back to my house? To see if there is one there that we can use? There are things that I want to get as well – family things, so I can… I can remember …" She trailed off, voice fading.

  Matt was stunned, rocking back on his heels at the request. He had thought that the last place she would ever want to see again, but searching her face there was an intensity and desperation there which was totally foreign to the usually happy and carefree girl. He wondered whether that original version would ever re-surface, and the thought made him profoundly sad. He would make every effort to make her future better but wasn't sure that the inherent risk of returning to the snake's territory was worth it.

  "Is it that important to you, to find a locus? I don't know how we would avoid the snake, and I don't think it's worth the risk."

  "Please Mr T! I… I need to do this. Kira read in her book that it would help Oswald and I get better …"

  Matt frowned but restrained his temper in the face of the traumatised girl. "Kira showed her book to you?"

  Lara shrank back but set herself stubbornly. "Yes. She didn't want to, but I wanted her to find out things for me. We would never tell anyone, I promise!"

  Matt sighed, unhappy but not entirely surprised. "I know Lara, I know. It's just that if anyone bad ever found out that Kira knows things like this, she would be in danger. The more people who know about it, the more chance there is that someone will make a mistake. You wouldn't want to put her in danger, would you?"

  She shook her head emphatically, looking frightened.

  Matt thought for a moment. "I can't promise that we'll get to your house soon. But if there is an opportunity and we can do so safely, then maybe. We could have Oswald fly around to see if the coast is clear. No promises, but we will see, okay?"

  She threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly, Oswald uttering a muffled complaint as he was pressed between them. Then just as suddenly, she released him and walked back to sit on the doorstep.

  Matt moved over to the others, who were looking at him in curiosity. Shaking his head at their questioning looks, they took the hint and focused back toward the locus.

  "How does this work then mate?" Alan asked without preamble.

  "Firstly, we get Kira to check on whether you all should attune to it." Matt stated firmly. "From what she has researched so far, I can make use of the energy these provide because my special object…" He held up his loom. "…is used to create something – the patches. That provides the outlet for what her book calls Arcanic creation."

  He turned to Kira. "Can you check quickly to see whether people without… a way of using it, I guess? Whether they can use the energy from loci? Maybe dig more into the specifics of what Arcanic expression is?"

  Kira nodded excitedly and settled herself on the back doorstep next to Lara. Nala nuzzled in next to her, noticeably watching the skies above. She took a deep breath and flipped open the large book, wearing her customary focused look when addressing anything even vaguely academic. After a moment, she began speaking.

  "The term 'Arcanic' is used to group the many effects, abilities and items which exhibit additional and/or unusual characteristics in the post-Overlay environment. These characteristics are determined by such factors as location, age, emotion, loci attunement, material of construction and direction."

  She ran a finger down the page before starting to read again. "The varied impacts generated by these entities and determining factors are known as 'expressions'. Types of expressions are physical, spatial, elemental or spiritual, in instances deemed both positive and negative by witnesses and researchers. Examples of physical expressions include body transformation and item imbuement. Examples of spatial expression are movement, translocation, dimensional adaption and boundaries. Examples of elemental expression are based on the four base elements of fire, air, water and earth, and all attendant sub-elements. Examples of spiritual expression involve emotion, aura and personality."

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  Kira paused again to take a breath, scanning down the page for the information she sought. Suddenly she stabbed a finger into the page, face lighting up in triumph. "The expressed effects of bonded entities have a baseline level of power, which can be increased through attunement to loci!" She looked up at the group with glee, face growing confused at the obvious lack of understanding she was surrounded by, with the exception of Matt. He was grinning widely as well and took up the explanation for the rest of the group.

  "Bonded entities means our special items – the ones we formed a connection with right at the beginning. The 'baseline level of power' I think means that it has some effect – like my loom letting me create that first light patch and Al's stick hitting things REALLY hard. Arlee's bag carrying lots of stuff, Carry's first aid kit doing miracle healing and Oswald!"

  Kira butted back in. "And my book! But each time dad attuned to another locus, the effect of his patches – the expression – got bigger, more powerful. That means that you all – we all – can attune to loci when we find them and the way we use our items will get more powerful as well!"

  The rest of the group were taken aback at the level of enthusiasm being projected at them from the father and daughter duo, but upon recovering from this vicious assault of positivity they began to think about the implications. Alan was the first to react, striding up to the crackling anomaly next to Matt.

  "So, what happens? How do you connect to it?" He asked, squinting at the hazy distortion warily.

  "I just grabbed them. The first one is pretty quick – a flash of pain, less than an instant. The second one I did seriously sucked, but even then, it was over quickly." Matt replied.

  Alan took a deep breath, then reached forward and wrapped his hand around the locus. As the rest of the group watched, his back arched and eyes went wide, before his body slumped forward and he dragged in a shuddering breath, staff planted to support his weight. After a few moments he straightened up and looked up at Matt, a broad grin plastered over his face. "What a rush! It's like a… a… lightning bolt crackling along my arms! Is this what you feel all the time mate?"

  Matt shook his head. "Nope, every time I make a patch, it drains some of that feeling, some of the power. Seeing as I've been weaving pretty much every spare moment, I don't often build up to that feeling."

  One by one, the group took their turn grasping the locus and absorbing the shock of energy. Carry had a new look of determination when she stepped forward, as if resolved that Lion's sacrifice should not be in vain. Kira was the most hesitant, in the way common to young children when they know something is going to hurt. With encouragement from Lara – still disappointed that she could not participate – she bravely stepped forward in a rush and reached out her hand.

  The group were now used to the momentary shock, but they were not prepared for the reaction to Kira's attunement. Beginning as expected, the moment stretched out longer – Kira's back arched and head thrown back – and visible crackles of energy started making their way up her arm. Moving like electrified spiders, the tiny bolts gave off a distinct green glow as they wriggled and jumped from her hand clasping the core of the locus, across her shoulders and down her other arm into the large book, clasped at her side. When they reached the book, the sparks writhed over the surface, before seeming to melt into the cover and pages.

  Even before Matt and Arlee could reach toward their seemingly stricken daughter, her hand released the distortion, and she fell backward into Matt's arms. He gently lowered her twitching body to the ground and called out to her desperately. After a few seconds, a thin cry escaped her lips and tears ran down her cheeks and onto the cool earth. Her free hand clamped onto Matt's arm and she let out a wail, breath juddering as Arlee fell to her knees alongside and clasped her. From the shadows of the trees, Nala appeared and moved quickly to her other side, nuzzling her leg urgently.

  "Kira! Kira – look at me! Carry, help, please!" Matt was beside himself at his daughter's pain.

  Carry lurched forward, recovering from the shock with professional speed. Crouching at the girl's side, she brushed hair back and levered open an eyelid, simultaneously locating a pulse under her chin. After a few seconds, Kira's wails started to fade and Carry relaxed as her eyes opened and distorted features smoothed out once more. Looking up at her parent's anxious faces, Kira took a deep breath before speaking in a croaky voice. "I thought you said it would be over quickly?!"

  Matt and Arlee let go of the breath that had frozen in their lungs, waves of relief passing through them. As Kira tried to rise, Carry stopped her, shoving a sweater under her head. "Stay down Kira, you had a nasty shock. There's no rush to get up."

  "Can you tell us what happened love?" Arlee asked, stroking sweat-soaked strands of hair back from Kira's brow.

  Their daughter looked up at them for a moment before replying. "It was just like dad said, but it went on and on. It seemed like forever, a horrible burning that went from both my hands into my chest like a chain. It felt really tight, then just as I thought I would break apart… it stopped."

  Through all this, her left hand had remained clasped tightly on the spine of the encyclopaedia, her forearm holding it clamped against her side. The adults eyed it warily, unsure what the unusual reaction heralded, but there was no further activity, no change in the book's appearance.

  "La', what's wrong?" The group was brought back to focus at Kira's voice, her head turned to the side toward her friend. They turned around to see an expression of terror on Lara's face, Oswald clasped tightly to her chest as heaving breaths threatened to run out of control. There was a wild look in her eyes as she turned and fled silently back into the house.

  Carry moved quickly after her, calling behind as she moved. "Once Kira can get up comfortably, move her onto the sofa and get her a drink." She disappeared through the back door and out of sight.

  "Is Lara going to be alright Mum?" Kira asked in a small, worried voice. "Was it something I did?"

  Arlee turned back to reassure her daughter. "She has been through a lot, remember darling. It's going to take quite a while to move past it, and we need to avoid surprising or shocking her. I think maybe she didn't like you getting hurt like that."

  Matt helped Kira to her feet slowly, making sure not to rush the movement and watching out for signs of dizziness. She seemed much steadier now though, the whole experience seeming to be short term shock without – hopefully – any lasting harm. Arlee walked her slowly back inside and into the lounge. settling on the sofa with a drink and a chocolate biscuit. An attentive Nala hovered by her side, eyes fixed on the girl's face with an eerie intensity. Kira leaned over and stroked the large feline's head.

  "Don't worry girl, I'm still here."

  Carry had instinctively grabbed her first aid kit as she moved in Lara's wake – through the kitchen and up the stairs. Entering the guest room, she found the girl curled up on the bed, hands clutching her sides as Oswald looked on helplessly. Her eyes were screwed tightly shut and a low moan escaped her gritted teeth between rapid breaths. Carry sat down next to her and laid a hand on one shoulder, expecting the violent jump that her touch triggered. She started gentle strokes of the girl's hair, and comforting words in a low, calming voice. After a few minutes, Lara's breathing slowed, though she remained locked in place.

  "Lara, Kira is fine, totally fine. She had a bit of a shock, but it didn't hurt her badly. She's downstairs now, talking to Nala. Can you tell me what's wrong?" Carry had a pretty good idea of the reason but wanted the girl to voice it herself.

  The bed gave a creak as Oli slowly climbed up and lay down beside her, silky fur warming her back and whiskers tickling the back of her head. The contact roused Lara, eyes opening and arms releasing their vice-like grip. She mumbled something into the duvet.

  "I can't hear you darling. Look at me please and tell me again."

  The girl's tear-streaked face turned toward Carry briefly. "I can't lose her as well." Lara said simply, in a quiet voice.

  Carry gave her a gentle smile. "And you won't – we will make sure of that. You're both very dear to us, and we won't let anything happen to either of you. The world has changed greatly, but we will work together to make the future the best it can be. You won't be alone again."

  Lara didn't respond but reached up and took Carry's hand which she held to her cheek, weeping softly. On an impulse, Carry fished around in the first aid kit with her free hand, locating one of the unofficial additions she had made. Awkwardly unscrewing the top, she opened the small vial of lavender oil and the distinctive aroma seemed to settle around the girl as she held the vial close. A personal choice, she carried the essential oil as a calming agent which had proved effective with younger patients in the past. As she held it forward, Lara's whole body relaxed. With a couple of deep breaths, her eyes closed and she slept, still clasping Carry's free hand to her cheek.

  Outside, Matt was psyching himself up for what he expected to be a profoundly unpleasant experience.

  "The second one I attuned to lasted for a few seconds but was really damn painful. This one might be worse, so can you keep an eye on me if it all goes pear-shaped?"

  Alan looked around the garden and up into the sky. "Looks clear but wait a mo." Moving to one of the sheds, he pulled out a cobwebbed garden umbrella, which he erected and positioned to shield the area around the locus from the sky.

  "Good thinking Stickman." Matt said with a smirk, before seating himself on the ground within reach of the crackling distortion. He definitely didn't want to be standing if this attunement hit harder than the last. Alan nodded his readiness and Matt reached out to grasp the locus.

  As it turned out, 'really damn painful' did not do justice to the borderline agony that erupted within his core and spread out, like lava creeping through veins and arteries. His body flopped weirdly, hand unresponsive and locked on the locus as he lost control of his movements. Is this the price of power? He wondered, surprised that the coherent thought during the torment.

  Alan looked on in concern as Matt's involuntary ragdoll contortions continued for several more seconds, before lapsing. He was left panting for breath, lying on the ground.

  "How you doing mate? Still with us? All major bits accounted for?"

  Matt sucked in air like a drowning man finally reaching the surface, flopping onto his back with the loom resting on his stomach. Groaning pathetically, Matt closed his eyes and quieted his mind – the calming effect coming quickly. I must get Kira to research more on this 'mental clarity' she found before, he thought before reaching his hand up for Alan to grasp and heave him upright.

  "No time for lying around Matty, we've got a rat's nest to poison, remember?"

  Matt groaned again at his friend's merciless reminder, but it was mostly for effect. He had shaken off the shock of the attunement, and felt invigorated by the core of power pulsing within. It was like a second heartbeat, each surge filling his torso with an energy that felt in synch with his body. Stretching toward the sky, he felt better than he had in years and there was an extra bounce in his step as they walked back inside.

  Despite the danger inherent in their plan for the day, Matt felt a confidence in their course of action, a rightness that defied explanation. He sat with Kira and Arlee as Alan moved around the house, gathering gear and getting ready. They were at the optimal time of day for avoiding any encounters during their endeavour, and the recent pitched battle had demonstrated that they did not have the luxury of time. This needed to be dealt with – and fast.