Elemental

Chapter 4

Twi and I run through the warmth of the forest. The Guard were right behind us when we left the town.

My legs give out and I collapse on the ground. Twi stopps and puts her hand on me. "Are you alright?"

I just nod and focus on catching my breath. She feels my forehead. "This weather isn't your strong suit. How about we stop for the night so you can cool off?"

"Sure. How far away from Rorath are we?"

"I don't know. Let me climb a tree and see if I can get a good look," she says and walks off.

I sit up and create a snowflake with my hand. It floats around my head and I create other snowflakes until I surround myself in a circle of ice. I  spread my hands apart and snowflakes burst everywhere. I look at what I created and smiled.

I hear a branch crack and turn my head in the direction I heard it.

"Hello? Twi? Are you there?" I walk towards a shadow I saw in the trees and stop.

A tiny little light starts in the midst of the shadows, lighting up a man's face. He has blonde hair, bright yellow eyes and is maybe 16. He also has lion ears and a lion tail. The little ball of light moves in front of my face and circles all around me. I laugh and so does the boy.

I look at him,"Hello? I'm Glace."

There is a silence in the air before the man stands up and comes out of the shadows. "Ligero," he says.

"I like that name," I say and smile.

"So, you control frost?" he asks me, pointing to the snowflakes behind me.

I chuckle. "Yeah and water. You control light?"

"Yeah. And who is the 'Twi' you spoke of?"

"Oh, she's been my best friend since I was a little girl. She controls shadow and twilight."

"How did you meet her?"

"Well, I was born in a desert surrounded town. But when my parents found out what I was and what my powers were. They decided to move to a town where the weather was better for me."

"Snow?"

"Yeah. I met Twi there, we were the only shape-shifters there. Some kids were picking on her and I stood up for her. We've been friends ever since."

"That's good. And your parents must be proud of how brave you are."

I bite my lip and lower my head. "Is something wrong?" Ligero asks.

"No, it's nothing."

"You can tell me."

I wipe a tear away from my cheek. "It's nothing you've done. My parents died about 5 years after I met Twi. It was a fire. I was walking home with Twi and when I saw the house on fire I attempted to charge in but Twi held me back. Just as she did, the house collapsed. Later, I was walking around town and I had to run and hide from some of the Guard. While they were looking for me, I heard them say 'Her parents were easier to get to with that fire, but this girl is going to take a while.' Ever since, I've lived in fear of them."

"Glace, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine ever going through that."

"What were your parents like?"

He shruggs. "They gave me up when I was 7 and the children's home wouldn't take me for obvious reasons. I've lived on my own ever since."

I hear shuffling behind me and turn to see Twi. Her black panther ears twitch in the direction of Ligero and she looks up.

"Glace? Is this-"

"The shape-shifter we were trying to find? Yes. Meet Ligero."

"Oh, hi we were looking for you."

"You must be Twi," he holds out his hand for Twi to shake and she does.

"Wait, so you're not in Rorath by now?" Twi asks.

"What do you mean?"

"When we were looking for you, we asked a trader if he had seen you. He said you gave him a big bag of gold and asked for passage to Rorath." I said.

"I never went to a trader or gave anyone a bag of gold, I've been broke for a month now."

Twi and I exchange glances. "Then what shape-shifter was he talking about?" I ask.

"He didn't exactly like us, he could've been lying. He did try to turn us in after all."

"No. I don't think it's that. I feel like there's more to it than that, I know it."

"Well, anyways, we can't travel during the nighttime, it's too dangerous. We might as well make camp," Twi suggested.

"She's right. How about I go find firewood?" Ligero offers.

"Okay, we'll stay here." I said.

Ligero heads into the woods while Twi and I scavenge for rocks we might use to spark a fire with when he gets back.

"I found two!" I say.

"Good, now let's wait for Ligero." Twi responds.

"I'm back!" we heard him say. He walked out of the trees with an armful of branches.

"This is good firewood. I'll try and light it." Twi says as she grabs the two rocks I found and starts to try and make a fire.

Ligero and I sat down in the grass as we waited for Twi to get a fire going.

I stare at the pile of firewood and I begin thinking about who the other shape-shifter could be. It seems almost too good to be true.

"What are you thinking about?" Ligero asks.

I look at him,"Hm? Oh nothing. Just curious about who the other shape-shifter is, if there really is another one."

"Well, we're still headed to the city he was. Maybe we'll find him there, or while we are traveling."

"Yeah, maybe."

"I got it!" Twi say and starts blowing on a small fire amongst the firewood until it begins spreading faster.

"Wow! Nice job, Twi!" I say.

"Thanks. Just leave it to the professional!"

"Since when are you a professional?"

"Since 5 seconds ago." She says and we all laugh.

"So what now?" Ligero asks.

"I don't know if you do, but I really want to see if we can find that other shape-shifter the trader mentioned." I say.

"Glace, I don't know if we will. The guy was lying." Twi responded.

"You don't know that. Remember the look he had on his face?"

She hesitates before saying,"I do remember. But...I don't know."

"Can we at least look? We know he's heading to Rorath." I ask pleadingly.

Twi and Ligero look at each other then back at me. "It wouldn't hurt to try." Ligero says.