Elements: The Coming Darkness

I recieve a package from a dog

Cody's P.O.V)

The rest of the day went past quickly and soon I was saying goodbye to my friends and packing up. I met Tobias outside the school's front door and we slowly started our descent home.

We didn't talk about much the whole walk home, just the occasional joke and questions. I was just caught in thought most of the walk home.

We were climbing up the steps of our house when suddenly Tobias stopped.

.

"Something's wrong." He said his blind green eyes staring forward. I shot him a confused look then directed my attention back to the house it was then that I saw it.

The door was burnt to a crisp and the bottom half was completely gone . "Stay here," I ordered Tobias. I went to touch the door and it collapsed into ash at my touch. I jumped back bumping into Tobias.

"What is it?" I heard Tobias ask me worry etched on his face.

"Nothing just stay there," I answered. He looked reluctant but he nodded, "Okay just stay safe alright. I nodded but then I realized that he couldn't see it and said, "I will don't worry."

I took a deep breath and stepped over the ash pile taking my first step into my house. i went to take another step forward when something caught my eye. There was burn marks leading to the kitchen but what really surprised me was that the burn marks were shaped like some kind of animals paw print.

What could have caused this? I wondered bending down to investigate the paw print further. I touched it experimentally with my hand and was surprised when it still felt warm.

"This thing must be big" I said out loud scrambling to my feet, Reaching for my pocket knife. I continued to investigate the house I even checked the kitchen but whatever was in there wasn't there anymore.

"It was obviously hungry," I muttered assessing our destroyed fridge. I gave up and went to go check on Tobias.

"Cody! Come here." I heard Tobias call his voice coming from the backyard. I turned and practically leaped out of the house landing a few feet in front of Tobias.

" what is, oh my god what is that?" I asked aiming my knife. Standing next to Tobias was this huge wolf-like animal with a bright red pelt and huge bird like wings. At the sound of my voice the animal turned its attention at me, it's amber eyes staring at me in amusement.

"Hello Cody," it said to me making me jump back in reflex.

"How are you talking?" I asked. "Dogs don't talk!"

"Well this one does."He shot back, "And I'm not a dog I'm an elemental."

I shook my head in disbelief. How is this possible? I asked myself, what is an elemental and what does he want with me and Tobias?

"Cody he's a friend his name is flamious." Tobias told me I looked at him in surprise. He was still standing next to the beast his blind eyes gazing expectantly at me.

I sighed lowering my knife. "What do you want then?" I asked Flamious.

"Right," he barked reaching behind him and pulling out three boxes, one black and one white and one silver, from seemingly out of nowhere. "These are for you and your brother." He said to me pushing the black one towards me and the white one to Tobias.

"What is it?" I asked taking a hesitant step towards it. Up close I noticed that it was glowing faintly.

"They are called zodianian cubes." He answered. "But I can't tell you what's in them you'll have to figure that out yourselves."

"Why? What are they for?" Tobias asked picking it up experimentally.

"You will find out I due time," he answered rubbing up against him. "But for now I believe I have over stayed my welcome,"

"Wait! What are we supposed to do with these and what even are they?" I exclaimed angrily.

"Goodbye Tobias, Cody I am sure we will meet again." He said ignoring me. Then he opened his wings and flapped off the ground the wind knocking me and Tobias over and causing dust to swirl around us.

I landed heavily on my side and closed my eyes protecting them from the wind and dust. In a matter of seconds he was gone and I was left laying on the ground covered in dirt. I scrambled to my feet brushing the dust of me and looked around there was no sign of him anywhere.

I started to doubt that he was even there till I looked down. The cube was lying at my feet glowing faintly and a quick glance confirmed that Tobias's cube was also there along with the silver one.

I pounced toward my brother and lifted him to his feet brushing some of the earth off of his shirt. "What just happened?" I asked.

He shrugged pulling away from me, "we just met Flamious." He answered calmly. I stared at him he didn't seem the least effected about meeting a giant wolf/bird creature.

I was about to ask Tobias another question when I heard a twig snap behind me. I turned around just in time to see a flash of fiery red hair duck out of site around the corner of our house.

"Hey!" I yelled giving chase. He quickly ran away jumping across another fence and landing nimbly on the other side. I quickly jumped after him trying to reach for his dark red sweater but he quickly evaded me and jumped onto the sidewalk turning quickly and racing down the path.

"Wait!" I barked racing towards the red haired boy in front of me. He screeched to a stop in front of me and I almost crashed into him but I managed to stop just in time.

He whirled around and stared into me his eyes wide with fear and disbelief. "Dddid I just see a winged wolf?" He asked me shaking a little.

*authors note: hey this is the end of the third chapter and I have to admit it took me awhile to write this one and I'm still not very happy how it turned out but next chapter things should heat up I promise :)*