The War Of Crystaliam Book One: Preparing for Battle

Chapter 1: The News

Ashlie's bright red hair covered her face once her back pounded the solid dirt, erupting a cloud of dust from the Earth into the air, then back on the ground. Her stick flew back once her elbow jabbed into the dirt. Towering above her was a taller male a year older than her holding a damaged stick. Off on the sides were other friends of hers, waiting for the two to conclude their match, standing within the tall pine trees. The kids were also taller and older than her, with the exception of two; Jessica who was the same age and height as her, and Shelby, who was a year younger than her and two inches shorter than her.

"Nick! You said you would go easy on me!" The seven-year-old girl whined in her high-pitched voice. She had been sparring with her friends for an hour that day, excluding the five minute intervals in which they catch their breath and rehydrate for their brawl with their next opponent.

Ashlie never knew why the boys would spar so much, she just saw them doing it once and thought it looked fun. When ever she went out to spar she always took her best friend Jessica and her sister Shelby. Just like  her, the both of them also had no experience sparring or sword fighting in general. "You know I'm not as good as you guys."

"Sorry, Ashlie! I didn't mean to! It's just-!" Nick's originally pale face glew bright, bright red. Shelby silently giggles to herself. She squeals quietly as Nick grabbed Ashlie's hand and both their faces became a deep crimson red.

Once she had been lifted off the ground she crossed her arms, and puffed out her rosy cheeks, and looked off into the trees. "C'mon Ashlie, don't be like that. You're getting so much better at sparring."

The statement reminded Ashlie of a question she had pushed out of her mind since the time wasn't right. She assumed now would be as good a time as ever to ask. "Hey Nick?"

"Yeah?" Nick responded.

"Why exactly do you guys spar anyway?" Nick's fair skin went paler than normal. Ashlie looked back at her other friends only to see the other males faces were just as pale.

"Ashlie, when we tell you this, you cannot freak out." Nick stared into her eyes and cupped her hands in his own. He hadn't blushed this time, but it was mainly because of him dreading what he had to say.

Ashlie stared right back into his eyes, "Alright?" She sounded more confused than she wanted to. Her face grew red with embarrassment but she didn't break eye contact, not for a second.

Nick inhaled deeply, "Do you remember that summer your family went on a camping trip?" He procrastinated. He just couldn't find the right wording and he needed more time to collect himself.

"Yeah, it was like the worst summer ever. Our camp was swarmed with bees and we had to camp with some random family a few blocks away and their son kept flirting with me! Worst of all I wasn't here with you all." Last summer Ashlie's family went on a camping trip and it wasn't the best. At least for her and Shelby, their dad either enjoyed their time having what the girls called 'adult talk' over a scorching flame, or he just refuses to admit that the other parents were a bit eccentric.

"Well, you see, while you were out on that trip..." Nick cleared his throat, though all could tell, including himself, nothing was there to clear.

One of the bunch, Cory, stepped forward. "Look Nick, I got this." Young Cory said as he slyly put his arm around Ashlie's shoulders. Nick threw jealous looks Cory's way, but Cory didn't care. "Now Ash, what Nick was failing to say ways-" his statement was placed at a halt when he looked over at Ashlie. Her head was inclined to the side innocently enough to  catch the boy by surprise. "I can't do this! SOMEONE HELP ME DANGIT!" Cory withdrew his arm from the redhead's shoulder and broke out in a panicked sprint toward Nick.