Elementals

Chapter 4: Myths

"Why... Is... it SO hard... to climb this STUPID... mountain..." wheezed Emma, as she stepped over the rocks and pebbles that made up the path. She had to start carrying Sabrina because she had tripped several times, and was getting tired.

"Why don't you man up?" taunted Aiden, who was far ahead, dragging along a dazed and tired Ben. Aiden seemed unaware of this, and kept climbing at full speed.

"I'm a GIRL, Aiden. Slow down! You're going to kill poor Benjamin!" Emma shouted, Sabrina asleep in her arms.

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"How... did you... get up here... so quickly?" coughed Emma, sat tiredly on the rocky ground with Sabrina beside her, starting to stir. She blinked her long eyelashes as she woke up.

"Whoa, how did we get up here?" said Sabrina, looking over the side of their ledge. They were high, high above the clouds.

"This isn't Mount Kazbek," said Benjamin. "I don't know where we are. Did the fog roll in?"

"Who cares? Let's go explore the cavern!" cried Aiden, as he jogged towards the face of the mountain.

"Wait, Aiden! We did NOT just climb this much. It might not be safe! You all remember the stories of fire-breathing giant snakes flying across the sky!"Emma warned.

Aiden ignored his sister as he continued towards the cave, trying to look brave, but fear was still evident in his eyes.

Sighing, Emma followed, dragging along a struggling Ben and a drowsy Sabrina.

It took their eyes a moment to adjust to the brightness of the cavern. A moment later, they gazed upon the coins and jewels that made up the cavern.

The cavern itself was a splendid sight. The walls were a dark grey, like smoke. The ceiling was high, with blue crystals embedded into it. The crystals scattered light in all directions, giving an illusion that they were underwater. The cavern floor was smooth rock, and it was not a substance that was known. The strange thing, however, was that if you tried to look at it from certain angles, it would shimmer and disappear like a mirage.

And then there were the jewels. Mostly it was gold coins, gold bars, gold anything, but there were also jewels in every colour of the rainbow. Rubies, emeralds, diamonds, garnets, opals, tourmalines, topaz, peridots, amethysts, agates, and more than one could possibly name.

The four stood there, gawking at the splendour of the cavern in general.
Finally, they started to move.

"Lets take some of this and go home! Now we'll never have to wish for anything ever again!" cried Aiden, his eyes sparkling like the treasure all around.

"I don't know if that's a good idea." said Emma. "It might belong to someone."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "They won't notice. There is so much here that no one will notice if we just take this much..." At that, he bent down and picked up a few bars of gold.

"Why is it so hot in here?" asked Ben. "At this altitude, it should be much, much colder."

"Uh... Emma? I'm scared." whispered Sabrina. "Look."

"Not now, Sabrina. I have to deal with your brother."

"Look! It's... it's behind you!" stammered Sabrina, slowly backing into a corner.

At this, Emma turned around and paled considerably, for behind her, a massive dragon blocked their one and only exit.

It was majestic, but terrifying in equal measure. It had mottled red and brown skin, with darker, bat-like wings. It's teeth were yellow, and claws of the same colour. It had a wickedly spiked tail and smoke billowed out of it's snout.