The Young and Gifted

19. stars, clouds and suns

Landon finally found Raf, patrolling the witches who were taking down the spell. He was ordering the werewolves to try and clean off any hazardous objects that were created in the chaos.

Landon held a hand to his chest, heaving deeply. Raf turned to him with relief. "Thank god, where the hell were you?"

"With Hope."

"And where is she? The monster is—"

"After her, I know, but she's distracting it until Ric and the teachers come," he answered swiftly.

Raf stared at the human in shock. "Is she stupid? Why would she do that?"

"Beats me," Landon shrugged. "But I couldn't properly ask her when the freaking Gargoyle was showing up. Am I the only one amazed about how cool it is? Even though it's bad? I guess you guys are supernaturals yourselves so it's not as shocking. Did you know that they hate rain? Makes them soft. 'Cause you know, water softens stone—"

Landon stopped talking when he was scooped up into the sky with a yell. Raf's eyes widened as he watched his best friend fly up into the sky. "Landon," he yelled. The Gargoyle took him high and you could still hear his shouts.

Lizzie ran into the clearing panting, Josie and Penelope arriving behind her. "What is taking so long?"

"Where the fuck are the teachers?" Lizzie barked.

MG, Mason and Kaleb arrived, looking worn out. "Look guys, I quit. I know that I am the leading character and shit but I think it's time to tap out."

"Where's Kaura?" Raf and Mason asked at the same time.

"I last saw her with Lizzie." Penelope turned to the blonde witch with accusation.

"I left her at the part when Josie dragged me away like a rag doll," Lizzie snarled, crossing her arms impatiently.

Sooner than later, Hope arrived breathlessly. "What are we doing? Why are you all just standing around, doing nothing?"

Raf sighed deeply, pacing around nervously. Lizzie threw a strand of her hair behind her shoulder and tapped her foot impatiently. "This is the worst party ever. I would have thrown something much better."

"Is that Landon?" Hope gasped, glancing at the figure above still screaming.

Josie jerked her arm out, shouting, "Confractus et relego—"

Hope halted her immedetialy. "Stop, the monster might drop him."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Penelope harshly demanded. This is definitely too much spice, she thought.

The witches who were silently chanting rose. "The cloaking spell has been brought down."

"About time. That means help is on the way, right?" MG said with ambition.

"It might not arrive in time," Hope said and swallowed, taking deep breaths to calm her bombarding heart.

"Landon said something about it hating water?" Raf offered.

Hope turned to Mason, sharing a silent conversation. "I think I have a plan."

*

By the time Ric, Emma and Dorian arrived, Landon had stopped screaming. The gargoyle was still in the sky and Hope didn't want to know how long it would take for it to leave. Ric had tried to shoot arrows at it but MG told him that they were useless to its stone skin. Hope relayed her plan to the group, making sure that they knew how to perfectly enact it. They were all getting into positions, doing their rightful tasks.

Thunder started to roll in as Lizzie and Josie continued to spell the weather. Hope was working on her own spell to keep the monster from leaving campus while Raf and the guys were trying to set up a safe landing for Landon in case he was dropped. Now they just needed to wait for the rain to roll in before they could attack.

Meanwhile, Kaura was sitting up in the large tree in the centre, watching the commotion. She was so high in the branches, nobody could see her. She was completely aware of what was happening...she just didn't want to get involved. In fact, she was inclined to sleep on the branch but there was the aching fear that her body would think she was in bed and roll over, pummelling her to her death.

She leaned back and sighed. As the others tended to the problem, she couldn't help but get lost in her mind. She knew that being a part of whatever was going on down there would only create a bond that she wasn't ready for. They couldn't see it now but the group was carefully and blindly pulling the strings to a strong friendship. A family even and Kaura was not ready for it at all. It only reminded her of her mother and her father, how they built a bond stronger than friendship with the Mikaelson's. If anything, it scared her. To be so vulnerable. That was her biggest fear, to be at the weakness and disposal of people outside of her walls. And if it meant swinging up on trees, sleeping while the war happened on her lawn to avoid it, she would. 

Once it started to rain, the gargoyle plummetted from the sky. Landon was falling behind it and she could feel and see the fear in their eyes. But thankfully, he landed into the safety sheet Raf and the guys adjusted for the touchdown.

All she did was continue to watch. Watched as they checked for whether or not Landon was alright. Watched as Ric, Dorian and Emma defeated the Gargoyle, bringing down a hammer to the softened stone. It shattered, rocks and dust erupting around as it screamed.

Watched as they all returned to the school building. Watched as Mason turned to the tree and his gaze rose to hers. She was too numb to even react. Mason only blinked and kept on walking. Kaura remained there, watching the stars twinkle, the clouds mist and the sun rise.

~

"If you're running, I'm running, too."

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