Elemental

Five- Deception

Phoenix was in the center's dining hall, sitting at a table with Dryad and Wilde. She looked at a clock on the wall and realized that it was getting late. She stood up.

"I'm going to, um... go explore the center. So, if I don't come back to the room for a while, don't worry."

Dryad tilted her head. "Okay... Oh! We could come with you!" She bounced out of her chair, leaving Wilde looking bewildered and slightly disappointed.

"No. I kinda want to do it alone." Phoenix pushed Dryad back towards the table.

"Okay." Wilde said, smiling. Dryad sighed. 

"Okay."

Phoenix walked away quickly, heading to the spot where Kraken had said to meet. He wasn't there yet, so she leaned up against the wall and sang softly to herself.

"An effort made/ the children's glade/ they'll find the answer in the shade/ there will be four/ finish the wa-"

"That's really good. I didn't know there was a song." Kraken had come up behind her.

"There isn't."

"Then what were you singing?"

"I made up a melody, okay? Now explain yourself."

"Whoa, not so fast."

"You made a promise. I will make you keep it."

"I'm sure you will. But let's walk around for a while. Still too many people."

She sighed. "Okay, but I won't let you get away with not telling me."

"Come on then." He started to walk away, leaving her to catch up. "So, what's your story?"

"What do you mean?"

"Y'know. What happened to you up to this point."

"Why should I tell you?" she challenged, shoving her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, "After all, I don't really know you."

"I could say the same of you, and yet here I am, being forced to tell you something that could get my family in serious trouble."

"It's that bad huh?"

"Yeah. Anyway, what's your story?"

"Normal and boring really. Never knew my dad, he died before I was born. That's where I got my name. Phoenixes symbolize rebirth. My mom wanted to show that even though my dad was dead, he lived on in me. Other than that, nothing interesting ever happens to me. I don't have really any good friends. I mostly read. Or draw..." she added thoughtfully.

"Oh." He walked in silence for a moment, then hesitated. "Would you... consider me a friend?"

"Yeah." She shrugged. "I guess so. But for me to really say you're a friend I have to have known you for more than twenty-four hours."

 He chuckled "Makes sense."

"Yeah. What doesn't make sense is that for some reason I trust you." He tilted his head at her tone.

"You trust me?" Kraken asked, struggling to keep the mingled hope and surprise out of his voice.

"Yes. And I don't know why."

"Hm. Could it be-" He stopped and struck a pose. "my rugged good looks?"

"No dude." She rolled her eyes and punched him playfully in the shoulder. 

"Help." He staggered dramatically away. "I'm dying. Remember me..." He pretended to faint.

"Get up." she ordered, suddenly cold. "I don't have time for your flirting."

"Not flirting." He stood up and ducked into an alcove. "It's just us now. So I can tell you."

"Go on." She followed him into the secluded spot and tapped her foot impatiently.

"Okay, okay. So, you rightly assumed that I am Watrea-"

"Duh. Get on with it."

"Anyway, yes, I'm Watrea, but not completely. My mom made a mistake when she was our age. She fell in love with an Earthen, which is forbidden, since-"

"I know, the Earthens don't fledge, so the kids might not fledge."

"Yeah. So, she was seeing this guy in secret. One day, she realized she was pregnant, and she told him, expecting him to be excited. Instead, it turned into this huge fight, and he ended up requesting reassignment to another city to avoid her. My mom has never seen him since."

She raised an eyebrow. "You're half Earthen?"

"Yeah. Luckily I mostly look Watrea."

She huffed. He had muddy-looking skin, mossy green hair, and his eyes were hazel. He looked like the definition of a hybrid.

"Okay, I look like a hybrid. People don't ask questions, and I don't just give out answers. Except," he added wryly, "to girls I just met."

"Yep. Smart decision on your part there. Still wondering why this is such a big secret."

"It's my mom's fault. She's scared for me. So, I live a lie."