+ THE ELEMENTS OF POWER +

CHAPTER 49, THIRD WHEEL

Opal examined the trees that were walking by, making sure if any symbols or patterns could be seen.
" hm, no signs yet guys." Opal said. With admiration Leo said she was very smart to know about the symbols, and Opal blushed.
Lizz was behind them, happy for Leo but so drained. All they would talk about was how good one another was at something, and then they would both laugh or check behind them to see if she was still there.
" hey, Leo, can you pass me the bag a minute?" Opal asked.
Leo passed the bag and she scurried around in it.
" hmm. I think if we actually use this map, we might get somewhere." Opal sighed.
Lizz laughed abit. She was happy to feel laughter again, it had been some dark days recently.
" here! We should follow this map to moonlight's forest, and make a left turn...then we should find a small hut somewhere about." Opal said.
Leo and Lizz nodded and they followed Opal to a new direction.
As they progressed through the forest, the trees started getting darker until black, and the sky got redder and darker.
Leo looked confused.
" how is the sky a different colour in this forest?" He asked.
" magic. I'm guessing moonlight cast this spell. The sky makes all the plants and trees grow to look mangled and withered." Opal said.
" oh...right"
They trekked through, careful to not go near anything strange unless it was perhaps a hint to finding coco.
Leo and Lizz realised Opal had started glowing a blue-green colour.
Leo looked confused, but before he could say anything Opal spoke first.
" a strong magical surge is nearby." She said quietly.
" be careful, coco's territory is near moonlight's cavern." They trekked on through without uttering another word.
As they did, Opal glowed brighter.
" coco's cottage!" Opal screamed.
" shhhh!" Lizz said quickly, but it was clear that moonlight hadn't heard a thing.
" how didn't she hear that?" Leo asked.
Opal looked concerned and quickly told them, " we need to pass the opening of moonlight's cavern to get to cocos cottage." She said.
" well that should be fine," Lizz said whilst they walked closer to the carvern.
" you can speed along right?"
" I can, but I'm worried that my glow might disturb moonlight."
" it's alright, your really fast!" Leo assured her and soon enough they were running at the speed of light.
As Opal ran, she noticed something. Moonlight was not home.
That's weird. We're could she be? Opal wondered but pushed her thoughts aside for the time being- they had to focus on finding coco.
After a long run and walk and run again, they had reached coco's cottage.
Opal dusted her hands off.
" I guess we should knock..."
Leo tilted his head.
" you OK, Opal?" He asked.
" yes..it's just, ever since the breakage of our elemental group..things have been weird between us all. Me and Izzy haven't talked at all since...not to mention coco. I fell out with her first, and I'm worried what she might say. What if she doing decide to join? Then we would be down a member!" Opal hesitated.
" Opal Opal, it's alright. It's all in the past, right? Forgive forget!" Leo said optimistically and knocked.
They waited for about two minutes until someone came and answered the door.
" oh, hi! I wasn't expecting visitors. I thought it was coco! Ugh, someone tell that girl to come back home"
" oh, uh. Hey! Who are you? And, if you could tell us, where's coco?" Opal asked.
The brown haired girl examined the three elements.
" oh I'm so sorry Opal! I forgot to introduce myself, my name is valentina! I'm coco's fiancée. So who are you both? Come in come in and I'll tell you about coco!" Valentina said and gestured them in.
They follow and greeted each other as they did.