Breaking Free: A Zodiac Story

Chapter 11: The Earth Benders

Author's Note: Sorry if this is a little messy. I rushed a little on it, but I hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading!

"I'm tired." Pisces muttered, leaning heavily on Scorpio. Leo strode on ahead, clearly undeterred.

"Hey! Blond boy! Some people are tired and they need a break!" Scorpio yelled. Leo turned around and squinted at the other eight.

Pisces and Cancer seemed tired from walking - they probably weren't used to walking so much. Scorpio was glaring at him, with one arm supporting Pisces - Leo noticed that he seemed to be tired from walking too. Maybe it was a water elemental thing? The air elementals didn't seem tired, but sweat beaded over their foreheads. Aquarius fanned herself with one large wing, while Gemini tried to cool the group off by manipulating the wind. Libra wandered alongside Gemini - with so many trees, Leo could already tell there was nowhere for him to summon a bird. Sagittarius and Aries didn't seem deterred by the heat, being fire signs after all - but they walked with less enthusiasm.

"Alright, we'll rest." Leo decided, ignoring Scorpio's 'nickname' for him. He glanced up at the sky - it was probably two or three in the afternoon and the sun beat relentlessly down on them.

"Hours of walking and nobody in sight," Cancer sighed, perching herself on a rock. "And there are so many trees..."

Pisces sat down next to her and patted Cancer. "Don't worry! I'm sure we'll find them soon." she said cheerfully.

Cancer gave Pisces a tired smile. "I hope so."

Pisces cupped her hands and concentrated. Water began to pool in her hands - her makeshift bowl slowly began to fill.

"Here, Cancer!" Pisces said, opening her eyes and giving her friend a smile. "Thanks, Pi." Cancer said gratefully - the water leaped out of Pisces' hands and into Cancer's. As soon as Cancer began to drink, she immediately looked a lot more refreshed.

Leo had been watching the two water elementals talk, but he turned away when he felt someone tap his shoulder. "Stalker." Gemini giggled.

"Hey, I was not!" Leo protested. Gemini simply giggled again at his expression. "Right. Anyways, do you want me or Aqua to fly up for a few seconds and see where we are?"

"Um, okay. Just be careful and don't get caught." Leo said, sitting down on the grass.

"Okay!" Gemini replied, summoning a gust of wind to carry herself upwards. "Come on, Aqua! Let's take a look around!" she called. Aquarius redid her hair into a ponytail and followed Gemini into the sky.

---

"Alright, we're pretty close to the main city." Aquarius announced as she flew down to rejoin the group. "How do you want to find your earth elementals?"

"Um... I... don't know?" Leo said sheepishly. "I mean, you guys just... came to us, right?"

Practically everyone mentally facepalmed.

"Well... I don't think it's going to be that easy." Aquarius pointed out. "We only found you because I was out patrolling... myself. I don't think they'd send out children patrolling if they could control it..."

"Hmm." Leo said, crossing his arms. "Well, I guess..."

He was interrupted by a grunting noise. A stag burst into their clearing, snorting and grunting. The nine elementals scattered, attempting to avoid its giant antlers.

"Where in Zodiax did that thing come from?!" Sagittarius yelled, pulling out her bow. "Don't shoot the poor animal!" Pisces shrieked, tugging at Sagittarius's arm.

Sagittarius reluctantly put away her bow, but kept her eyes fixed on the thrashing animal. "Why is it here?" she growled, stepping back.

"Because you're intruders." A mysterious, deep voice came from one of the trees. The animal immediately stopped bucking - the sudden silence unnerved the nine elementals.