Innocents

Chapter Four

Aveline

A branch slithers on the grounds and spirals around my ankle, pulling my feet out from under me. I scream as I tumble over, smacking the ground, taken by surprise. I cough as the limb of a plant drags me along the forest floor, trying to recover from the lack of oxygen flowing in my chest, knocked out by my fall. I flail around trying to stop the weed from painfully hauling me any farther, but everything I grab just turns up in the loose dirt. The roots swerve through the dirt scratch at my skin. Fallen leaves on the ground curl under my t-shirt that has rolled up to reveal my stomach, as my body is towed across the uneven landscape. I come to a hard stop, dirt mounded around my stomach. Every inch of my skin is covered in dirt. "It's just me," I cover my face from the blunt of any more attacks.

Talia and Raevyn stand over me. Lia's hands glow green, the emerald energy luminating off of her palms. Lia looks at me guiltily, the green glow fades and the plant that is wrapped tightly around my ankle uncoils itself and slithers away. The enchanted root forces its way back into the earth, diving into the loose earth and settling entwined with the other plants growing through the forest floor.

"Dammit Ave! We thought you were Aniera," Raevyn extends her hand for me to take and she yanks me back up onto my feet. I let go of her hand once I stand up, cautiously regaining my balance.

"Ow," I gasp, my back aching and stinging from my fall. I look at my bare stomach that now is red with shallow cuts. I roll my t-shirt back down over my belly, to cover the open skin. I hiss as the fabric rubs against the tender newly opened flesh.

"Sorry," Lia apologizes, wincing at the damage she's done.

Morgan springs into the clearing seconds after, inches off of the ground. Air casually drifts between him and the ground. His palms are raised, prepared, "I have magic and I am not afraid to use it," he threatens, floating mid air. Reed and Leonardo follow Morgan into the clearing, both of their hands flexed, ready to use their powers at a moment's notice.

"No need," I breathe heavily from my fall, shaking my head to clear up my vision, "These are friends." The boys' palms drop to their sides, relaxing knowing there is no threat.

"Great, nothing like saving a damsel in distress to boost his ego," Reed says, chuckling. Reed shoves his elbow to Leo's arm, but Leo steps to the side, expertly dodging Reed's elbow. Leo's lips fall into a slim line before he catches me looking in his direction. The corner of his lip hardly turns upward as he smirks, but his face doesn't drift farther than that. No smile.

"I am rather the hero," Morgan poses dramatically as he floats back to the ground. I move my attention from Leo's somewhat strange reaction to Mogan. His feet touch the ground and Morgan brushes the stray locks of curls from his brow. Out of the corner of my vision, I see Leo roll his eyes. That's the most emotion I have seen him give since I met him. His collected composure quickly returns, letting the slightest amount of emotion show for only for a moment.

"So are we going to learn who these new people are? Or are you just going to let us guess at that?" Vynn interrupts my curiosity. Raevynn's arms are crossed over her chest, cocking her eyebrows in the boy's direction.

"Oh... of course," I snap out of my daze of trying to figure this man out who has me confused on too many levels. "Lia. Vynn. This is Leonardo, Reed, and...," I gesture over to each of them, introducing them, but Lia cuts me off.

"Mo?" Lia's face drops to a color of snow. Her already pale complexion turns a whiter skin tone than normal. Her mouth gapes open, as her palm rushes to cover it.

Morgan looks up, his flirty demeanor suddenly vanishing as his eyes connect with Lia's. His eyes light up, hope glimmering within his irises, but then quickly vanishes into confusion. He hesitantly advances towards her, leaving the rest of us very much lost in translation. "What? How are you here?" Morgan cups her cheeks, as if he is checking to make sure she's real. This is the first time since I met the tall British boy that his voice resembles some sort of seriousness.