The Elementals

Chapter 1: Moving Forward

 Tarah woke up to the sound of heavy feet just outside of her house. Quickly jumping to her feet, she peered out her window to see FBI agents preparing to break-down her door. Tarah grabbed her backpack and with fear fueled speed, she packed some clothes. She made it out of the back door just in time, as crashes and shouts came from behind her. She ran until she reached the wood. She then used her elemental power of earth, one she had since she was a baby, to ask the trees what was going on. They said that the Government was searching her house and that she better get as far away from here as possible. She seized her opportunity and headed anywhere but back. She had only been walking for a few hours before she decided to stop, perhaps it was to early to stop but she was both mentally and physically exhausted.

She woke up that next day but something was wrong. The air was heavy and the wind was strong. She could hear trees crying out in pain as their branches fell to the ground. Tarah looked around but saw nothing. She looked up toward the sky and saw what looked like a figure getting closer to her. Not knowing what to do she shot a vine at the figure, but as soon as it got near it the vine was sliced to pieces. Tarah soon was surrounded with a circle of air just barely making a tornado.
"What is an elemental like you doing out here," said the voice harshly. Tarah can't see the figure but could tell by the voice that it was a man.
"  I'd ask the same thing to you," Tarah said back to him.
" Answer my question first then I will answer your's," said the man tightening the air circle around her.
"I am fleeing from the Government," said Tarah. The man paused then said,
" It appears we are running from the same thing. What is your name ?"
" Tarah," she replied, " And your's?" Releasing the circle of air the man said,
" Liam."
" I am sorry for attacking you," said Tarah breaking the silence.
" I understand. I wou-," But before he could finish Tarah cut him off saying,
" Sh. The trees are telling me something." Tarah listened to them, then with a concerned face she bent down and put her hand on the ground. Almost right away she jumped up and shouted,
" Their coming!"

Liam and Tarah took off running. Liam used the wind to help them go a little faster than normal, but it also helped the Government too. They were gaining on them. Tarah was getting tired and knew she needed to come up with a plan so she could rest. Liam wanted to keep running but knew that Tarah couldn't run much longer.
" Do you have a plan?" he yelled back to Tarah, who had fallen behind
" Yes," she shouted, "Follow me." Liam saw her go deeper into the woods and he followed. When he reached her, he saw her standing in front of a giant tree. She put her hand on it a whispered something he couldn't quite hear or understand. The tree opened. Tarah quickly grabbed Liam and threw him inside the tree. The tree shut behind him leaving him in complete darkness. Tarah climbed up the tree and quickly grew branches around her to keep her hidden. She watched as the shouts came closer and closer to where they were. Tarah slowed down her breathing so they couldn't hear her. The armed group circled around the tree several times.
" Lets keep moving," rang out a voice almost making Tarah jump. Then they left. Tarah waited a few minutes before climbing down the tree then opening it up so Liam could get out.
" What was that for?!" Liam said in a angry tone while walking out of the tree .
" Sorry, but I didn't have time to explain," said Tarah, " We should get moving before they come back."
" We?" Liam questioned
" Don't be stupid you know two is better than one," said Tarah flatly.
" Yes, but I just met you and I don't even know you, let only even trust you," replied Liam.
" How do you not trust me?" Tarah asked loudly.
" You threw me inside a tree and tried to choke me with a vine," Liam said trying not to yell.
" Well for one I could of left you in that tree but I didn't, two I said I was sorry, and three you enclosed me in a air tight circle. At least mine didn't make it to you," Tarah replied angrily
" Well you should of left me in that tree," replied Liam.
" That can be arranged," snapped Tarah. Liam felt the ground from under him move. He looked back and saw the tree from which he had just came out of was open again and he was headed right towards it.
" Okay, I take that back," said Liam calmly. The ground stopped moving and the tree shut.
" Well then lets get going," Tarah said as she began to walk.

They had been walking for a day and barely talked. Tarah turned to Liam and asked,
" Would you like something to eat?"
" Sure. I am a bit hungry," said Liam. Tarah whispered to a tree near her. Shortly afterwards the tree handed her two apples and two pears.
" Here," said Tarah handing Liam a pear and apple. There was a few minutes of silence until Liam asked,
" Do you have any family?" Tarah was silent. A tear fell down her cheek.
" I did have family. They died a few years ago. The Government came at night. My parents told me to hid. I waited for hours. They never came back. I searched the house looking for them. I never found them. I went outside and found them lying on the ground lifeless. I buried them and next thing I knew they were being covered with flower. That is how I figured out I was an elemental with the earth element. The earth raise me. The trees taught me to write and speak. The ground taught me to run. They are my family. But enough about me, do you have a family?" Liam took a deep breath then said,
" Just like you I had a family until the Government murdered them. I was about eighteen years old. They came to my house as well. My father told me to go and hide and that had would come get me when it was safe. So I hid in the kitchen cabinet, like the ones on the floor. I could see them though the crack but they couldn't see me. I watched the Government storm into the house. My parents tried to fight them off but they were shot. I knew then that my parents were dead, but I couldn't leave. It would be to dangerous. They took my parents body then left. I didn't sleep at all that night. The next day one of our neighbors stopped by. She saw me and asked where my parents were. I told her that they were gone and they were never coming back. She took me to her house and raised me until I was about twenty. Then I discovered my elemental power of air. She apparently didn't want to take a risk of having me around anymore, so she kicked me out. I had to live on my own. But the sky welcomed me. So I went to it. They were like a family to me just like earth was to you. I have been running for awhile just hoping to see another day." Silence fell over them. Tarah was speechless. Liam was too. They finished eating their apple and pear and began walking again. It was time to move forward not back.