(ROUGH DRAFT) Endless Sky ~Elemental Chaos~

Chapter Twentyseven

Avaro was glad to be back at the clearing with Lucerne, Sunset, and Renny. The remaining cats getting restless.
"The last few should be easy, they're closer," Sunset meowed. "Renny knows where the cavern for the fire elementals are at. Sorry Avaro,"
Avaro nodded sadly in understanding, his hope to travel with Blaze. He'd met up with her before he was told to escort the wind. She was happy to see he was alright, but was really angry that so much happened and she was left out. Avaro promised to tell her everything later.
"Lucerne, you take the fresh water elementals to the lake, Avaro take the salt water ones," Sunset meowed, opening her mouth to continue, but got interrupted.
"Fresh salt what now? Water elementals have a difference?" Avaro exclaimed, surprised.
"Of course they do, the ones with dolphin tails are salt water. They swim better in more dangerous waters. You guys didn't know that?"
"No," Avaro and Lucerne said in unison.
"Wow, at least tell me you've noticed the earth elemental difference, right?"
"Females are plants, males are the ground," Lucerne answered first.
"Yeah, what he said," Avaro chuckled.
"Okay, you both aren't total idiots," Sunset meowed, getting a "Hey!" from Avaro.
"If you face the twin mountains and turn one-eighty degrees. You should see a gap in the trees, very close, thats the lake," Sunset told Lucerne before turning to Avaro.
"You follow him, the lake has a stream that leads right to the ocean. Also close. You can see it if you fly, but these guys can't fly,"
"I know," Avaro huffed. "What do you plan on doing?"
"Dealing with the remainders, that's what," the old elemental answered before padding off.
"That's alot for an old lady," Avaro muttered jokingly.
"She's strong, I'm sure she'll be fine..." Renny said, overhearing the dragon.
"Oh yeah! Right. She's a strong one, yep," Avaro nudged Lucerne, motioning to the water elementals nearby. "Come on, let's go. Before it gets dark," he said before heading off, his friend quickly following.
The water elementals were quick to listen, excited to see new waters.
According to Avaro, Renny had let some elementals hunt while the others were gone. So all the cats were fed and ready to travel, no need to breaks.
That was a relief to Avaro.
Sunset wasn't wrong when she said the lake was close, it only took them about twenty minutes to reach the massive lake. The water shockingly clean and clear, some foliage across it looking to be another home.
Cheers of excitement erupted behind the duo, all the water elementals running ahead and diving into the water.
"Hold on now!" Avaro tried protesting to no avail. "What if that water... Is dangerous?" He sighed.
"I'm sure they're fine, though you're going to need to get the salt water ones back out," Lucerne said, patting his friend's back.
"I thought I made it clear what the plan was," Avaro pouted, heading over to the edge of the lake. "Hey!" He shouted, getting the attention of only a few water elementals.
"Some of you have to keep going!"
A cat swam over, her dolphin tail splashing. "Do we have to go? I have friends here," she whined.
"You have to come, but you don't have to stay. You can come back and even stay if you want," Avaro explained. "It shouldn't take long, the ocean should be close by,"
The cat pouted, but obeyed. Crawling out of the water and shaking like a dog.
"Watch it!" Avaro laughed, backing away quickly from the sudden spray of water.
She giggled and bounced away, heading over to the river. "Wait for the rest of us!" Avaro yelled, getting a nod in return.
Even though it only took twenty to get to the lake, getting the cats out of the water took just as long.
"Alright, everyone here?" Avaro asked, staring at the few remaining water elementals, about a dozen total.
"Everyone's here," an elemental replied, a bunch more nodding.
"Alright, onward then," the dragon said, turning to walk downstream. It didn't take long for all the cats to splash into the water next to Avaro.
"I'll leave them be, as long as they're following me," he thought, keeping a close eye for any stragglers.
About ten minutes of travelling, the trees opened up to a massive ocean. Avaro having no idea how he missed it while flying.
"Woah! Look at all that water!" A cat screeched, all of them charging towards it. Avaro let them go, seeing no point in stopping them. He'll have to find their official home himself.
Letting the elementals enjoy the new waters, Avaro split away. Searching.
He walked along the beach, as far as he dared, but found nothing. He tried looking the other way, still nothing.
"It can't be underwater... Can it?" Avaro jogged back to the water elementals and tried flagging one down.
It took a few tries, but one manged to notice him and swim to shore.
"Something you need?" He asked, his pelt dripping in salt water.
"Can you check the waters for a small structure? Like a camp or room for you guys to sleep at, a cave maybe?" Avaro answered. He did not want to look himself. Salt water in his eyes, soaking his fresh clean clothes, he'd rather not.
"Alright, will do," the cat replied, padding back into the water and splashing away.
Avaro watched him for a moment before sitting down on the sand, waiting.
Ten minutes passed.
"Did they find it?"
Twenty minutes.
"Are they still looking?"
Thirty minutes.
"Zzz,"
Avaro dozed on the sand, bored and tired of waiting.
"Avaro?" Lucerne's voice spoke.
"Hububupff?" Avaro yawned im response. "Are you asleep? In the sun? You know that can give you a bad sunburn right?"
"I'm awake!" Avaro yelped, sitting up quickly. He hated sunburns, it's the reason why he never sunbathed, he always got a burn much quicker than everyone else.
"How red am I?" He asked, looking up at his friend.
"Kinda red, I don't think it's too bad," Lucerne answered, Avaro sighing in relief and quickly hid into some shade.
The celestial beast followed, looking around. "Strange place, isn't it?" He said, striking up a conversation.
"Kinda, I guess," Avaro responded.
"You guess? How often do you find an ocean in a non tropical climate?" Lucerne asked, getting huffy.
"You make that sound like I've traveled to hundreds of worlds,"
"Well, I have. And I have never seen a world like this, it's almost as if someone manufactured it this way," Avaro's friend kneeled to the ground and scooped up some dirt sand mixture.
"But this is a real universe, I know it. No more giant invisible walls,"
"Ain't that a blessing," Avaro snorted, sitting down. "You know, I told those guys to find some underwater home. They never did come back," he added with a sigh.
"Oh, is that why you were laying in the sad? Waiting for them?"
"Yep,"
Lucerne frowned and looked at the empty ocean. All the elements under the surface.
"I'll go see the issue," Lucerne said before shifting into an albatross and flying off.
"Good luck!" Avaro called out, staying where he was.
"Alone again," he sighed, hoping he wasn't about to wait another half an hour. The sun was already getting pretty low.
Granting his wish, it only took Lucerne around five minutes to return. A blue, white speckled dolphin leap high into the air, transforming into a seagull at it's peak.
The sea bird then flapped over to Avaro, reverting back into Lucerne.
"Did you have to make an entire show to announce your arrival?" Avaro chuckled. "If so, it was pretty impressive,"
Lucerne flushed a bit before shushing him. "I found their home," he said afterwards.
"That's good, did you tell the elements?"
"Didn't need to, they were already there for awhile. They forgot to tell you they found it," Lucerne answered, making Avaro whine.
"So I laid out there in the sun for nothing?"
"It's not too bad, you'll be fine," the celestial said, getting up and opening a portal. "Want to head back?"
"Sure, this area is so much hotter than the mountains," Avaro responded, hopping to his feet and quickly slipping into the portal.
The clearing was significantly more empty now. Giving Avaro the chance to fully appreciate it's glory.
The trees around it curved inward, giving the clearing an outer rim of shade. The ground was flat and grassy, lots of, now trampled, flowers in the sunny areas. It was overalls a nice hangout place. Large too.
The only remaining cats were Fuchsia and her family, speaking to Sunset.
At first Avaro thought they were arguing, but upon closer inspection it was clear no one was angry. Sunset looked tired and burned out whole Fuchsia looked pleading. Bob was talking to his son, Stripe, while Patch and Rose were huddled up next to their mother. Both afraid of their new surroundings.
"Is everything alright?" Avaro asked, giving Fuchsia a cold glance.
"No, Fuchsia wants to live somewhere else," Sunset replied, the pink cat remaining silent. Her face full of guilt.
"She better feel guilty, my head's been hurting all day,"
"Somewhere else? Like where?" Lucerne questioned with a frown.
"Exactly my point. She wants me to give her a home but I have none," the old elemental turned back to the cat in front of her. "Hear that? None. All I can suggest right now is stay with the prophets and Wild cats. They're building homes."
Fuchsia pouted, but kept her silence, avoiding Avaro's cold gaze.
"What about the others? Do they want to leave too?" The celestial continued, glancing at Bob and Stripe.
"No, they're trying to get Fuchsia to listen and go," Sunset sighed, exhausted. "Just go Fuchsia, no one is going to kill you in your sleep,"
"I might," Avaro thought, instantly dismissing the idea as Zeru's lifeless body flashed in his head.
Fuchsia pouted some more before finally nodding, getting up and sulking away with her family in toe.
"About time," Sunset grumbled. "How'd it go with the water cats?"
"They don't listen well," Avaro instantly answered, getting a snort from the elder. "Yeah thats expected, they get really excited at times and refuse to listen," she laughed before coughing. "Damn, I need a drink,"
"Want me to open a portal to the lake?" Lucerne offered. "No need, I'll get to it myself. Renny's back," Sunset pointed out, the potion maker heading over quickly. "Did I miss anything?" she panted.
"No, not really," Avaro replied. "But I do think we are done, correct? Everyone is in their proper place?"
Sunset nodded to Avaro's great relief. "It's all done. You two can go back with Renny if you want to. Unless you want to sleep with the prophets and wild cats,"
Avaro opened his mouth to respond, but his friend cut him off. "We would be grateful if Renny can spare us a place to sleep," he said, Avaro frowning.
"...Sorry, I'm just getting tired of sleeping on the dirty hard ground..."
"It's alright, I don't mind crashing at Renny's place for a bit," Avaro nodded, patting his friend's shoulder.
"Well, then get going," Sunset meowed, looking up at the darkening sky.
"Portal is already opened," Renny said, motioning to the hole in the ground.
Lucerne nodded his thanks before leaving, Avaro hesitating and glancing back. Wondering what would happen to Fuchsia once everyone finds out about the true Zeru.
"Are you staying or going?" Sunset snapped.
"I'm going! I'm going!" Avaro yelped, jumping after Lucerne.
Renny came shortly after and guided the two to the guest room, offering extra blankets and pillows if one of them decides to sleep on the floor.
"No need, this bed is big enough to hold maybe three or four people, we got space," Avaro chuckled, Renny nodding before leaving.
She came back shortly after, giving drinks and more food before leaving the two alone. Probably heading to bed.
"Hey," Avaro looked over at Lucerne sitting on the other side of the bed. "Did Renny look a bit more stressed than usual to you?"
The celestial beast nodded with a worried face. "I think she wanted Sunset to take it easy," he said quietly.
"Sunset's a strong cat, I'm sure she's fine," Avaro yawned, getting ready to sleep.
"Right right..." Lucerne fell silent, Avaro taking the chance to succumb to sleep.