Dream Journal

The Pregnancy and Tendency of Elementals

The skydeck was cool, and the air was warm. The darkening blue sky was swirled with creamy clouds, and the Wind elementals were out flying. I got butterflies myself as one of the older boys dove near me on his giant, insect-like wings, and the sweet breeze trailing behind him ruffled my hair. Today was too perfect; something horrible was bound to happen.

I rolled my eyes at my pessimistic tendency and leaned against one of the powder-white columns lining the checkered deck. It was dangerous, but I wasn't worried. If I were to plummet into the open air below, hopefully one of the Wind elemental boys would catch me. Or would they? I gulped. I wasn't sure. They didn't seem to like me too much.

Classes just ended. You passed the test, didn't you? Now is the time to relax, I scolded myself and leaned my head back.

The grainy wind blowing through the silver-lined clouds brushed my sleeve, pulling it up to my elbow. I immediately yanked it back down my arm, over my hand, and helplessly waited for the heat spreading across my cheeks to cool. The thick fabric of the uniform, weren't it so baggy, would be perfect for hiding my chlorophyll-infused skin. That's right. Chlorophyll-infused, otherwise meaning: positively green.

I shut my eyes and imagined myself flying among them with arms spread wide. I wished the wind would carry my worries away as easily as it would for them. Suddenly, something warm tickled my back. Something that was growing too warm for comfort. My skin began to burn, I jumped up and down, desperately trying to claw at my back. Smoke wafted into the air above me. I coughed and sputtered until another Wind elemental dashed by, and the sudden breeze put out the flame. The warm wind caressed my skin where the heat had been. Great. Another hole straight through the back of my uniform.

"Hey, freak. Classes are starting. Get to the nursery where you belong." My heart skipped a little beat at the sound of the voice. Although the words weren't too pleasant, I'd recognize the voice anywhere. It was one of Rowan's Fire elemental friends. It had to be. I nodded and scuttled away before getting a good look at the boy. But I did notice the red crest on his uniform.

Another fireball came whooshing at me just after the first, but missed. I jumped away from it as it fizzled out into the air as a puff of smoke. One of the professors exchanged places with me and hurried out of the school, toward the group of Fire elementals. I snickered as the Fire Elemental boy's whimpering echoed through the air. I knew that the professor had grabbed the boy by his ear for sending fireballs up on the skydeck, but it wasn't very satisfying. They'd come back for me again; even detention couldn't keep them quiet. I was sure they'd string me up in the doorway by some vines or burn some more holes in my uniform. The uniform they'd just burned was already my fourth this year. I guess I could look forward to getting my fifth. It'd be a new record.

I headed to my dorm with slumped shoulders. Classes wouldn't begin for another twenty minutes or so, but I thought it would be best to listen to the Fire elementals. They get a little... tempermental... when you don't listen to them.

I wandered across the Skydeck and hurried through the hallways, past the classrooms, training rooms, and observatory until I reached the south wing. I pulled the key looped around my neck on thin, green twine and turned it in the first keyhole I came to. My airy, open room facing the nursey outside welcomed me. It was the only thing that would welcome me. I fell face-down on my bed and breathed in the fresh fabric. Completely natural material made from cotton that the older Earth Elementals grew. Wonderful.

Droawsiness overcame me and I almost couldn't resist falling asleep. That was until I heard the voices outside my door.

"Have you heard...?" a nasally voice asked. I recognized its owner as being one of the Water Elementals. I couldn't remember her name, but she was part of the pool squad. A cheerleader. I guessed she was doing her best to stay on the down-low, but Water Elementals have naturally big mouths.