Crystal Wings

Not such a nice "Welcome Back party"

~Lea's P.O.V.~

    I woke up a few hours later and, I must say, I was feeling A LOT better. My head was still in a bit of pain, but it was much less than before. My vision was a bit blurry, nevertheless, I sat up and waited until my vision adjusted to stand up. The rest of the group had arrived already, from the looks of it. I looked around and I wasn't in the same room as before. I was somewhere in the Nether, resting against a piece of netherack, while the rest of the group discussed something I couldn't hear.

    Less then a few seconds passed before Alpha noticed I was awake.
"Lea", he called out and smiled as he walked towards me.
Of course, it wasn't long before the rest of the group turned to face me. Crystal walked towards me and hugged me.
"How are you feeling?", she asked as she let go.
"Better and ready to go", I said and smiled.
Jake chuckled, "You never rest, do you?", he said.
I laughed and shook my head as to say no and hugged him.

     Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Steve with a look on his face that said two things: "I really messed up" and "Whoever pissed me off right now better run".

     I walked towards him.
"Hey, I thought I was the one that got overtaken by a she-demon. What's wrong?", I asked as I tried to put a smile on his face with the she-demon thing. As you've probably noticed, I'm not good with humor. Steve looked up and his expression softened slightly.    "I... uhm... The thing is...", he tried to explain but clearly failed. I raised and eyebrow.
"Hey, you can tell me anything you know, what's wrong?", I said and tried to put my hand on his shoulder, he quickly pushed away.
"You just wouldn't understand", he said, guilt reflected almost inconspicuously on his eyes as he began to walk away.

     "What the Nether is wrong with him?", I said in my head as I had a puzzled look on my face. Alpha punshed my shoulder playfully.
  "Hey Sherlock, what's the matter?", he said and laughed slightly, I raised an eyebrow.
  "Who...?", I said, I have no idea who this "Sherlock" is.
Alpha's expression changed from 'I'm so funny' to 'Seriously?', in less than and second.
  "You...? Nevermind. What's wrong?", he asked.
  "Steve is... well, I don't know what's wrong with him, he's acting weird.", I stopped and thinked for a second, "Hey, could you-?", I didn't get to finish as Alpha interrupted.
  "I'm on it", he said and went towards Steve.

     For whatever reason, Alex was looking out into a sea of lava, completely concentrated on whatever she was thinking about. I walked towards her and laid my hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned around and put a dagger to my neck. I raised my hands up in the air. She put her dagger away.
  "Sorry, I'm always on alert", she said and shrugged.
  "I noticed. It's fine though, that's good, considering the surcumstances", I said. She responded with a simple nod.
  "I just came to see if you were okay", I said, her expression hardened, like she was trying to bite back something she didn't want to say.
  "I'm fine, thank you", she said and bowed her head down slightly before she walked away.

     What is up with everyone today?
  "The Nether, doesn't always bring out the best in people that are not from here", said Claire behind me as she dropped down from a hanging piece of glow-stone. I stepped back a bit in surprise.
  "Did you just-?", I was interrupted by Claire.
  "Read your mind? No, mearly your thoughts. I figured, since I have to keep you from turning into Lena, I might as well sence some thoughts that might be of impulse for her", she said. I blinked in surprise.
  "Thank you... I guess...?", I said, still a bit stunned. She smiled a bit and walked over to a small hill of netherack.

     Claire cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.
  "I know most you still don't know me very well or at all; however, I believe a task is at hand. We have to get back to the Overworld as soon as possible to stop that Witherstorm and whoever is controlling it in it's tracks. We mustn't delay, we must go, now.", she finished and opened a portal to the Overworld and gestured for us to go in.
Everyone exchanged troubling looks. I don't think they trust Claire after the mini-battle we had when we arrived.
  "Claire is right, all the people from every realm are in danger if that thing gets stronger, we have to go, now", I said. They nodded in agreement as they started going through the portal.