Hope

Chapter Nine: Imprisoned by Ideas

It wasn't long before we were back on the road and moving towards the nearest town. Stan was strangely subdued and sang the same depressing song over and over again.

"I want to count the stars with you

And do everything my parents did together

But you will not be seen with me

You say my face is ugly and my hair dull and lame

But you are my everything

Why can't you see my love for you?

Why can't you see my love for you?"

Tasha sighed. "Why does he have to sing that stuff when we get close to civilization? Why can't he sing that where no one can hear him?"

Rebecca shrugged. "Maybe it's because civilization brings heartbreak. I never cared for it much myself."

"You have an excuse, though. You're a Fire Elemental," Tasha pointed out. "Your very personality defies civilization. Though I suppose that depends on your definition."

"The definition of civilization is the point where we're all trapped in our culture," Rebecca grumbled. "And it is considered rude at best for one to be different and blasphemy at worst."

Jing reached across the wagon and patted Rebecca on the back. "We're not trapped in our culture, Rebecca. We're only trapped if we choose to be. There's hope for everyone, civilized or not."

Tasha rolled her eyes. "And I bet Rebecca's going to make you eat your words every time we're arrested for looking too 'manly'."

"That is impossible," Zack interjected. "One can never become the opposite gender by looking 'too much' like the opposite gender. It is anatomically impossible.  And even if it were possible, would it really be such a bad thing?"

"Try telling that to the fashion police," Rebecca muttered.

Jing sighed and leaned back on her crate. She then said to me, "Do you think they'll ever stop bickering?"

"Who?" I asked.

"Rebecca and Zack. They're always fighting."

"No, they're not," I said. "Rebecca's just being difficult. She's always like that. And Zack... I suppose he sets her off sometimes, but she's not doing it on purpose and he's not doing it on purpose."

Jing thought for a moment. "I suppose so, but they've been like this from the moment they've met. Maybe Zack's a Water Elemental. That would explain a lot."

"Maybe," I echoed, knowing Zack's real secret and wishing I could tell Jing. Of course, under the circumstances Zack would have to tell Jing himself.

As the day dragged on, we finally came to town. This time I accompanied everyone while Jing stayed behind in the wagon making sure that Zack didn't get into trouble. This town was a fishing town with brightly painted buildings and many, many shops selling seafood and salt. Some of the buildings were very old and the brightly colored paint was flaking, but it just added to the general effect of the town being someplace warm and friendly. All kinds of people lived in this town, including other women and girls that wore pants, so I looked less out of place. The town was noisy compared to the other towns that I had been in, which I also took as a good sign.

However, there was one thing about this town that wasn't good. Apparently, it was one of the governmental hubs since it was the largest town north of the capital, so it had a lot of governmental posters and things lying around. And one of them had to do with Zack. It was tacked up on a bulletin board and read: