Colliding Elements (Original Draft)

24. Sleep No More

All was busy in Zephyr like usual. The elemental headquarters was even busier than its usual, especially with Prisca filling in for Anan.

She currently leaned over the large stone table in his office, hands pinning a curled map down onto the flat surface. Her eyes scanned over the map of Cryxt, continually shifting from Zephyr to Crystal Crag as she studied it. A knock on the door made her glance up for a moment, ignoring the swinging of her loose ponytail as her gaze stayed fixed.

"Come in," Prisca spoke.

A young man, who could still be called a boy, entered the room. He shut the door behind him before standing up straight and holding his attention.

"Say what you need to," Prisca murmured as she measured the distance with her right finger. "I have important work to do."

The black-haired boy nodded before he began to speak. "I have received a message from Lady Mayrah. She has announced she will be returning back to the city soon. Lady Shasa will be coming as well."

"For what reason do they need to return to Zephyr?" Prisca noted, lifting her hands up off the map and crossing them over her large chest. The old paper rolled up quickly, filling the metallic room with a small echo. "The main trouble is going to be at the fire temple. Zephyr is in no danger, unlike Ember City and Adroushan's school."

"I understand, ma'am, but..." he trailed off as he struggled for the right words. "Zephyr may be a target now that you have brought the earth stone here. Plus, the air stone still resides in the mountains. Lady Mayrah will have some reason for returning to the capital."

Prisca sighed and waved a hand, gesturing for the boy to leave. "Thank you for the information. I will get preparations ready for her return."

The boy bowed and then left the room, leaving Prisca once again. She watched him leave before straightening her posture completely and tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. The usual Gemini headpiece she wore was off, along with the armored clothing as well, leaving her in a simple yellow tunic and leather pants.

The sound of wings flapping and rustling feathers reached Prisca's ears. She turned her head to face the small window in the room and look at the gray bird perched on the metal ledge. It was distinctively different from most of the birds with the vertical stripe of white on its black beak. A small rolled up piece of paper was attached to its leg, the bird curling that one up and into its body of feathers.

"Did Anan send you?" she asked the bird, not caring if she knew it couldn't respond to the question.

Once Prisca walked over to the bird, she extended her hand out and a ticking sound with her tongue to call the animal. It hopped onto her hand, squawking when she grabbed onto its curled up foot. The letter was finally removed after Prisca struggled through a good pecking from the bird, leaving a few cuts on her left hand.

"You're such a damn brat," she muttered under her breath. "I don't get why you're Anan's favorite messenger."

She moved to the door just a few feet away and opened it, tossing her arm up slightly to get the bird to fly off. It flew to the back of the room, huddling with three other gray birds. Once she checked to see the bird settled, Prisca shut the door and untied the thin rope around the scroll.

Her eyes wandered over the message on the paper rather quickly, her lips silently moving to match up with the words written on it. "The reconstruction is almost complete..." she spoke that part out loud while sitting down in the chair behind the stone table.