“So, how did you get your hair to look so blue and natural? I thought maybe dye, but why didn’t you just dye his hair too?” Cain asked when they were walking. The busy city noise was behind them and the towering walls were getting closer.
“Is it okay if I don’t answer that right now? Sorry, I just don’t want to say anything that could get me in trouble.” Tev apologized, fidgeting with her fingers. Cain said it was fine but did give her an odd look.
“What’s your family like, Cain?” Tev liked saying his name, it reminded her of sugarcane and thought that would be a funny nickname. Cain shrugged and said, “I mean, they’re nice. I have a little sister, Derya, and then my parents.”
Tev nodded, she wanted to spark a conversation, but it was hard and Zeru wasn’t a very big help either. “I have six younger sisters.” Tev said and kicked a rock out of her way. “Wow, six?” Tev nodded. “One older sister, one older brother, and two younger brothers.” Cain seemed to do the math in his head.
“Wow, ten siblings?” Tev nodded again and said, “I’m adopted.” Cain looked at her, his face seemed to be torn between “I’m sorry.” And “That’s cool.” Tev decided to assure him that she loved her family and that they were great.
“Ze’s family pretend to be a normal family by day, but at night, they really fight monsters and crime.” Tev said and Cain laughed while Zeru gave her a confused face. “What? No, they don’t.” Zeru said, not catching on.
“They can be whatever I want them to be if you don’t talk.” Zeru made an oh face as he realized, and his cheeks went a little pink. “Sorry, I was thinking.” Tev asked him about what. “Random stuff.” Zeru’s face told her that it was about something related to the journey.
So far, Tev was thinking about calling it an adventure. No one has been hurt yet, and she got to come to the Water City, it wasn’t bad. But the possibility of there being a ‘yet’ was what made her hesitate to call it an adventure.
“No offense or anything, but you two are a little, well, weird.” Cain said and Tev replied with, “Yeah, that makes sense. Hopefully we can stop being weird soon.” They were at the gate now and Tev saw Ms. Arcelia standing on the other side.
“Wow. You actually found someone.” Ms. Arcelia said, and Cain looked more confused. “We didn’t tell him anything because we couldn’t remember if you said to or not.” Zeru explained to her as the guards opened the gate.
“Am I allowed to go through?” Cain asked, a little nervous now. “Yes. You won’t get in trouble, and we can explain some things.” Ms. Arcelia said, and Cain walked through the open space. “Hi, I am Ms. Arcelia, Air from the High Counsel. What is your name?”
Ms. Arcelia held her hand out and Cain sent a nervous glance to Tev, maybe thinking he was getting tricked or in trouble. Tev gave a small, encouraging smile and Cain shook Ms. Arcelia’s hand.
“I’m Cain Blackburn.” Ms. Arcelia nodded and asked his age. Tev told her he was fourteen and Cain corrected her. “I’m fourteen-and-a-half.” Tev rolled her eyes a little. “So, do we tell him? What’s next?” Tev asked, she wanted to change into her boots and tell Cain everything, it was so hard to not answer his questions.
“First. Cain, have you ever thought of leaving home?” Ms. Arcelia asked him. “Er, I swear I’m not like trying to take down the city or anything… I promise I am loyal.” Cain said, looking at the guards for a moment.
“Not like that. Here, let’s talk in the carriage.” They both got in the carriage and Tev started to think maybe Cain wouldn’t be the right choice. What would happen if they told him everything and he said no? Would he be free to go back home?
“So, what were you thinking about earlier?” Tev asked Zeru softly, she didn’t know how much the guards knew. “My family, home, and the war.” Zeru said, looking at the ground.
The first two made sense to Tev, but why was he thinking about the war? Tev asked him that and he said, “It’s weird. We weren’t there when the war happened, and it’s been years since it happened. Yet, everyone is all nervous and suspicious. We had to assure Cain we weren’t spies, we had to hide our element, and Cain thought he was being tested to see if he was loyal or not.”
Tev was silent for a moment as she let it sink in. Zeru had a point. “Fear is powerful.” Tev said and they looked at each other. “It can make people see and think things that aren’t true. Or keep people from doing something. Or make the elements turn on each other.”
“Like how people think you’re dangerous?” Tev looked him in the eyes and said, “Yes. And how I was scared to come here. And how the war started.” Zeru nodded. Tev realized that it was getting a little easier to hear that.
“I didn’t know you were scared. Not much at least.” Tev was a little surprised to hear that. “Oh. Well, I’m a little less scared now. I hope it stays that way.” Zeru agreed and then the carriage doors opened. Tev hoped he said yes.
“I will get a guard to get your parents to come here. You go and pack.” Ms. Arcelia said, and happiness mixed with relief filled Tev. Cain waved lightly to Tev and Zeru before going back through the gate, meanwhile, Ms. Arcelia was talking to a guard.
Tev ignored whatever they were doing and turned with a smile to Zeru. “Yes! Oh, I am so glad he agreed. I was getting a little worried for a minute there.” Zeru smiled too, “Same! I can’t wait to get out of these shoes.”
They talked about the uncomfortable shoes and sand for a moment before Ms. Arcelia came over to them. “Good job on finding someone. Maybe next time don’t lose each other?” Ms. Arcelia looked down on them as they grinned sheepishly.
“I will talk to his parents. Once he gets back, we will ride a little and then you can change.” They nodded. Then, Zeru asked a question. “What happens if his parents don’t allow it?” Tev hadn’t thought about that. She had been forced to go, Amaya wanted Zeru to go, and although Cain agreed to go, what if his parents don’t approve?
“This is official High Counsel business. He must go.” Then a thought appeared in Tev’s head. Aren’t they taking someone’s child away from them? What if something bad happens to Cain? Or Zeru? Tev couldn’t imagine being told her child died on a journey with people she didn’t know, and she didn’t have a say in whether they could go.
The thought made her stomach hurt. And Cain has a sister. Now Tev felt a little sick. She hoped Cain’s parents were fine with it, so at least then a little guilt could go away. Then she hoped even more that they would all survive and be able to go home.
“We will go to the Fire City next; it is a three-day trip because we will have a few hours of Cain helping you with Water.” Tev tried to picture her learning to truly use the Water element. It was hard but she was a little excited.
“We will discuss the plan farther once we’re on the move.” Ms. Arcelia said, and they both nodded. A few minutes passed and then there was a couple talking to Ms. Arcelia on the other side of the gate.
From what Tev could see, they both had deep blue hair, and the woman was wearing a blue and aqua dress with a few shell necklaces. The man had a blue shirt with silver making some sort of pattern or shape-Tev couldn’t see what-with blue shorts.
The three of them were talking and Tev got more and more nervous every second longer that they talked. They finished and each parent shook hands with Ms. Arcelia right as Cain and a little girl were walking up.
“Can you see me hair?” Zeru whispered to Tev. “No, it’s good.” Zeru nodded and stopped messing with his hat. “Kids. Come here.” Tev noticed that Ms. Arcelia didn’t say their names. The two of them walked up to the family and through the now open gate.
Tev felt like the guards were getting tired of opening the gate. “This is Cains mother, Eyre and father, Pike, and his sister, Derya.” They both waved lightly to them and his family did the same. Tev looked at Derya, she had blue hair like her family but with silver ends. She had on a little aqua dress with silver dolphins and bead bracelets.
She looked about six, which reminded her about her own six-year-old sister, Era, and then the rest of her family. “Nice to meet you all.” Tev said with a smile and Cain’s parents echoed it. Derya was holding Cain’s hand and was a little hidden behind his leg.
Tev waved a little at her and Derya smiled softly and waved back. “We have to go now, so say goodbye.” Ms. Arcelia said, and it reminded Tev of when she had to leave. Cain’s family hugged him and said goodbye. 52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4nFnyhh8g
When his parents were talking to him for a moment, Tev said to Derya, “I love the silver in your hair.” Derya smiled and softly said, “Thank you, you’re really pretty.” Tev smiled and thanked her, Derya was so sweet.
“Alright, let’s go now.” Tev waved to Derya and Cain waved to his family as they walked to the carriage. The gate shut one last time and Tev got into the carriage. She sat in the same place as before and Zeru did too. Cain sat across from Tev, on the same side as Ms. Arcelia.
Cain’s bag was the same colors as his clothes and looked like a big backpack. Under Ms. Arcelia’s instructions, he put his bag under the seat. The carriage jerked a little and then started to move once more.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHhtdYGTqz
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEGokep4tH
Hello! I am once again so sorry about it being late! Not too mention that it is so short! I didn't want to make it short, but I decided that I wanted to publish a chapter more.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58SCq9gVXK
Also I changed Ms. Leven to Ms. Arcelia! So I will be changing the previous chapters a moment after publishing this one! 52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkeSmkYqrU
(And Zeru's last name is Kaze instead of Felon)52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI75OXqEyR
I hope that you can bare with me and that I see you in the next chapter! Bye lovely people and have a wonderful day/night/endless abyss!52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBjyn0akkD
---(AUTHORS NOTE)---52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZtz77Wr3j
