Beautiful Shadows

Beautiful Shadows- Chapter Four

"So, I guess we have to cooperate and stuff," Lucas moaned. He was never a people person. 

"Before you get your boxers in a twist we have more important things to tend to then your huge ego." I snapped. 

"Yeah, like what? My ego needs love too." 

"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE GOING ON SOME RANDOM QUEST THAT NONE OF US AGREED TO GO ON?" 

"Calm down Cleo. You're fussing isn't going to help anyone," said Isis, who was already examining the forest and plants. She had a knack for nature that came in handy every once in a while. "We're in the Galian forests. There’s nothing too dangerous here in the day time, just maybe a few deer and fairy children." 

"Specifically children? Where do all the adults go?" Luna questioned. 

"They're not all little kids’ idiot. They're just called fairy children. Children of the Fairies. Whatever you want to say," Isis muttered as she rolled her eyes. "Anyways, the path is this way."

"How do you know? Are you some sort of hiking guide now?" Lucas spat out. 

"No, you can see the trail of a traveler here. You would know that if you actually looked around for once." 

"Whatever..." Lucas sneered as we followed Isis around the trees. They were tall and a nice chocolate brown, with the bright green leaves shimmering above them. The sun barely came through the canopy, but the heat reached the ground leaving us all sweaty. Snaps of twigs and the crunching of leaves echoed through the forest as we approached the sandy path. I heard the rushing of a river in the distance. 

"Here we are. Now, what did she say the guilds name was?" Luna asked as her eyes scanned the forest. 

"Well, she said it’s the Magic Guild of Apulia, but were all the way in Galia. I don't think it’s that far away. If there’s a river nearby, we might find some water fairies." Isis stated. Without another word, we followed the sound of rushing water. It was hard not to notice the beauty of the forest, and how vulnerable we were. Even though fairies were usually nice, they're tricky little things. 

We reached the source of the rushing water sounds. A waterfall fell off of a large cliff into a beautiful pool of sparkling glittery water. A group of fairies were giggling under the waterfall, their bodies covered by water. They were tall, all of them at least 5'7. Their blue hair blended in with the water. They looked at Lucas and giggled. 

"Hey there, red head," one of them taunted. She was tallest of them all, standing at least 6 and a half feet. Lucas' face went bright red. 

"Um...Uh..." he started. 

"That’s enough. We came here for directions, not to play with Lucas' raging hormones," Isis said as she glared at them. They're faces went blank with disappointment and they pulled their bodies out of the water. They were wearing what looked like blue leaves wrapped around their bodies. Their wings shimmered and reflected the light as they waved them back and forth like fans.

"Well you aren't any fun," the second one said as she wiped the water of here. "Why would we help a bunch party-poopers?" 

"This bunch of party-poopers is trying to get somewhere important. Do you have any idea where Apulia is?" I asked. 

"Apulia? Why it'll take you a full moons cycle to get there! This is the far west of the Galian forests; Apulia is all the way to the east. Hope you bunch like walking!" One of the fairies spat out as she laughed at our misfortune. She was starting to annoy me. "But, there is a little merchant’s guild a little bit north. They might be able to give you a map or something of the sort. If you have money, that is." 

"Great, were broke and helpless. This is going great so far, isn't it?" Lucas said with a tone of sarcasm. 

"Don't tell me you little rich kids don't have money to spare in those pockets of yours," Isis pointed out. 

"Ugh, fine..." Lucas and Luna muttered at the same time. Lucas shook out his pockets and Luna dumped out the contents of her purse. 

"That would be enough for a map... more than enough actually. Say can you spare some for some poor Fae?" The tall one taunted. Her eyes were enticing. 

"Fae have no need for anything other than nature. What would you use it for?" Isis glared as she spat out the words. She didn't have to be so cold all the time. 

 "Just little things, nothing of importance to you," she replied. "How about this, you give us a little spare change, and we show you where the Merchant Guild is. Fair trade?" 

"I'm not-" Isis started. 

"It’s our money, we get to decide what to do," Lucas and Luna said at the same time. If they keep doing that someone is going to get hit in the face. "It’s a deal. But if you pull anything tricky I swear to Merlin-" 

"We get it. I'll be leading you. My name is Bell," the tallest one said again. "Call me or make a reference to Tinker Bell and I swear to the queen of the Fae I'll slit all your throats." 

"Well that’s a great way to start a friendship, isn't it?" I muttered under my breath. 

"We should get going; we all know what happens after sunset..." She said her giant blue wings moving as fast as the wind. We walked ahead on the path. 

"Um, what exactly happens after sunset?" Luna whispered to me.

"Do you ever pay attention in class? Bad things happen in the dark, you idiotic twit," I snapped in reply. 

"No need to be so cold..." 

"Says YOU of all people." After this, our walk was silent. I was hoping this fairy was trustworthy, and I hoped this Guild was near, because my legs already feel like snapping off.