Raging Fire

Two

Calantha panted as she stumbled down the last stretch of the hill, nearing the town of Wildedrift. She sat down on a Boulder, and ate a small bite of bread. Her rations were almost gone, but she hoped she could purchase some food in the town. She also needed a cloak. If anyone saw her hair, which was a trademark for a fire mage, they would freak out and most likely tell Queen Adonia, who would finally know for sure that Calla was alive. Conveniently, a small cottage lay in the woods not far from the town, and a long clothesline was strung from the corner of the house to a tree. Dozens of clothes were hung from the line, including a dark navy cloak with a gold outline. Calla looked around, and peeked in the window of the house. No one seemed to be home. Quickly, she ran and snatched the cloak from the line, hiding behind a thick tree as she draped it over herself. Then, casually, she strolled into the town.

She bought a loaf of bread, and a new, not trashed dress. She also bought a metal water canteen. As she walked into the town square, she bumped into a person accidentally, sending her groceries to the ground.
" Oh, I'm so sorry!" Calla apologized, stooping over to grab an apple that had rolled to her feet. As she stood up again, her hood blew off, revealing her hair. The woman's mouth opened in surprise. Calla hastily put her hood back on. Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind, and pulled her behind a wagon filled with oranges. Calla punched the person who grabbed her.
" Ow!" The voice sounded male. " Wait! Don't leave!" He called, and threw back his hood. Calla stared at him surprised. He had dark brown eyes, a slightly crooked nose, bleeding fearfully, broken, by the looks of it, a sharp jawline, and, most surprisingly of all, his hair was copper colored and wavy.
" Y-you're a Fire Maiden!" She whispered, then blushed as she realized what she said.
" I am the Fire Maiden's brother." He said. " Come, you must not show yourself here again." He grabbed her hand and led her into the forest.

Birds twittered high above the treetops. The man rushed through the twisting tree branches, Calla struggling to keep up. She tripped on a root, falling face first into the cold mud hardened by frost and thawed again. The man grabbed her arm, and hauled her up.
" Come on, we're almost there."
" Almost where?" They reached a small clearing of trees, where a giant Boulder stood, covered by moss, lichen, and vines. The man felt along the rough gray side of the rock, and seemed to press a hidden button. A door appeared out of nowhere.
" Hurry!" The man called, pulling Calla in. They walked down a flight of stairs, Calla wondering how the seemingly dense rock somehow had a hidden cavern inside of it. The man knocked on another door at the end of the staircase. A sweet, dreamy voice said,
" When one does not know what it is, then it is something. When one knows what it is, then it is nothing." It seemed like a riddle. Sure enough, the man quickly answered,
" A riddle."
" Good." The voice said. " Lives without a body, hears without ears, speaks without a mouth, to which the air alone gives birth."
" An echo."
" Mmm." The voice hummed. " A cloud was my mother, the wind was my father, my son is the cool stream, and my daughter is the fruit of the land. A rainbow is my bed, the earth my final resting place, what am I?"
" Rain." The man sighed. " Open up, Celia." The door opened. A tall, beautiful woman stood there, with a flowing, auburn colored mane.
" Who is this?" Celia, who had the dreamy voice asked.
" Um," The man said, looking back at Calla.
" Calantha Ravensthorne. You may call me Calla, though." Celia's eyes widened.
" You are the only fire mage?" She asked.
" Yes." Calla answered, blushing. She didn't like it when people gaped at her. " I am supposed to be dead, though."
" Oh." Celia whispered. " My sisters and I will not tell Queen Adonia." She curtsied to Calla. " It is my pleasure to meet you, fire mage Calantha." She turned away, and rushed into the shadows of the cave.

The man led Calla deeper into the darkness, Calla walking carefully, to not trip over her feet. Suddenly, a warm glow emerged from around the corner, and a large fireplace shone brightly from a corner. Calla could see the depths of the cave better, with the new light. The walls were dark gray, or so they seemed in the dim light, the floor was the same gray, but smoothed. A few chairs lined the fireplace, and several girls sat in them, including Celia. They turned their heads at the exact same moment, giving a creepy vibe to Calla.
" Sisters, this is Calantha Ravensthorne. The fire mage." Celia said. A chorus of gasps came from the six other girls sitting there. They all stood up, and formed a line, Celia hovering nearby. As each woman got closer, Calla could see that each of them had the same auburn colored hair as Celia, tightly curled and flowing.
" Hello," The tallest girl said, curtsying. " My name is Catalina." She passed, and walked to where Celia was standing. The next girl in the neatly formed line danced up.
" Cadenza," She curtsied. " Is my name."
" Caia."
" Cora." Two girls of the same height looked as though they could be twins. " We are twins." Cora explained.
" Camila." And finally, the last sister came forward, maybe seven or eight.
" I am Cambria." She spoke delicately, not the wispy, breathy voice of Celia, but strong, yet somehow fragile, like the petals of a flower. Calla curtsied to all of them.
" Hello to all of you. Everyone has such beautiful names."
" Thank you." All of the girls replied at once. " It is a pleasure to meet you."
" Has my brother introduced himself yet, Calla?" Celia asked.
" I am very sorry." The man said. " I have not formally introduced myself. I am Callum."
" Hello, Callum." Calla did not find it weird at all that their names all started with C.
" Come sit by the fire with us, new friend." Celia said, pulling up two more chairs. " I will tell you a story."

Shorter chapter, I know, but the next one will be interesting. Please comment! Also, I changed Conleth to Callum, hopefully you aren't confused.

— chaoselephant