Guarders: Playing With Fire

Chapter 8

Flameheart stood nervously outside Room 196, Regulus Hall. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to knock, or if Reddust wanted her to walk straight in. Flameheart raised her hand to knock, but it sank straight into the magic wall/door. She shrugged. I guess this means I walk straight in. She thought.

She did the same glowing hand ritual that she did for her room, and walked in. Six pairs of eyes immediately snapped in her direction.

"Oh, hi Flameheart! Sorry, the boys and I were just hanging out." Reddust greeted her.

Flameheart relaxed a tiny bit. "No problem"

Reddust introduced his friends. "Boys, this is Flameheart. She's a new Guarder here and is rather powerful so I'm training her. Sparky, this is Dustleaf, Stormpool, Fleetwind, Sungaze, and I think you already know Snowrush."

They all waved, except for Snowrush. What is his problem? Flameheart thought.

The Air Apprentice, Fleetwind, leaned forwards. "Why did Red call you Sparky?"

Flameheart rolled her eyes. "It's the nickname Kennaspark dubbed me with. Apparently it's because of what happened when those Riders attacked."

Sungaze, the other Fire Apprentice, sniggered. "It suits you."

"Thanks?" Flameheart said, but it came out more like a question.

"So did you come here for a reason, or did you just want to say hi?" Snowrush said rudely.

Flameheart glared at him. "Actually, Reddust asked me to come here because we need to talk about training."

Snowrush snorted. "What, are you already failing?"

Reddust threw him a sharp glance. "That's enough Snowrush. Flameheart is actually one of the few people who can challenge me in swordfighting. What happened this morning is none of your concern."

Snowrush just turned his head away angrily. His friends were all staring at him, puzzled.

"I'm sorry about Snowrush, he's not normally like this." Reddust apologised.

Flameheart waved it off, but inside, she was feeling a bit sick. She remembered how Snowrush had glared at her when she first saw him, after the fight on her first day at Camp. She had gotten the sense that the Water Apprentice didn't like her.

"So, um, should I come back later? I mean, I can see that you're a bit preoccupied at the moment..." Flameheart said awkwardly and began to walk backwards to the exit.

"Oh, no it's fine. The boys were about to leave anyway." Reddust said hastily.

"Nice meeting you Flameheart!" Dustleaf said chirply.

"You too." Flameheart replied, as the other boys filed out of the room. Snowrush was last and as he passed her, he gave her an indimidating glare. Flameheart glared straight back at him, refusing to break eye contact.

When the room was empty save for Flameheart and Reddust, neither of them spoke for a while.

"I don't think Snowrush likes me that much." Flameheart remarked.

"Yeah, I'm not sure why. It might be because of Oceanfrost. They're not just siblings, they're actually twins, and Snowrush can get, um, rather overprotective of her. He might consider you as a danger to her." Reddust said thoughtfully.

"Oh, well, I wouldn't put any of the girls in danger." Flameheart stated.

"I'm sure you wouldn't." Reddust replied.

"So, about earlier.... why'd you do it?" Flameheart asked, changing the subject.

Reddust glanced down at his hands. "I don't really know. I mean, you slipped, and I ,um, I don't know what I was thinking, it just felt like I should do it. I know I shouldn't have without your permission and you probably hate me right now and-" his face turned red as he rambled on, running a hand nervously through his hair.