The Jem

~22~

The girl was beautiful, her dark tan skin gleamed in the sun light, she had rosey lips, eyes that were plated silver and her cheekbones were strong. Her hair was a royal blue at the top then it descended to a turquoise, it was in a long braid. What she was wearing on the other hand, was atrocious. It was a raggedy brown and dirty white dress that was full of dust and she was barefoot.

"I'm Crimson, that is Deeja and he is Hunter." Crimson gestured towards her friends as she still sat upon her horse.

"Well I'm Darya, what exactly could I do to help you?" Darya asked.

Crimson jumped down from her horse and walked closer to her. "You can help a lot more than you think. You see we are both element wielders, you and I." Crimson began to explain.

"And what's your point?" Darya crossed her arms and rose an eyebrow.

"That we can help end the war that is being conjured up as we speak."

"How do you even know I'm an element wielder thingy?" She frowned.

Crimson opened her pendant then took out a little purple stone. After a little moment it began glowing then it danced around Darya and retreated to Crimson.

"What the hell was that?"

"The Jem helped me find you." She smiled then placed the Jem back into her necklace.

"Well it didn't help me with my magic." Darya huffed.

"What you did to the guards was cool." Deeja grinned as she and Hunter walked closer too.

"Thank you, But I still don't know how to control it." Darya dusted off her dress.

"Well we can help you control it and in return you can help us find the other element holders then we can fight together." Crimson bargained. Darya paused for a moment as she pondered the suggestion.

She didn't know these people, but what could she lose? She had nothing left to lose. And she was a wanted thief, she was no longer safe here.

"Why were you running from those guards?" Hunter asked, Darya eyed him suspiciously as she took in the broad shoulders and emotionless facial expression.

"Because I stole something from the market, in my defence it was mine to begin with. It's the last thing I had of my mother's then it landed into the wrong hands." She gripped the bracelet harder.

"So are you coming with us or not, I'm starving!" The feline groaned.

"Alright I'll come, but if any time you guys try to double cross me I'll gag you with water, also here you go." She opened her brown satchel and tossed a loaf of bread at Deeja.

"Is it stolen?" Deeja asked as she stared at the bread then back at Darya.

"What do you think." She smirked. Deeja shrugged.

"Ok we have to take her, she has food!" Deeja licked her lips then gnawed at the bread.

"I'll give you some shoes and fresh clothes too." Crimson offered.

"Where are we going?"

"The 4th realm." Hunter mumbled.

"Luckily I know a short cut, it was handy to escape a few times, but weirdly I always come back to this place." Darya began walking closer to the horses.

"That's going to be helpful." Crimson smiled.

Then they were off.

~

Hunter had gotten onto Crimsons horse as Darya took his. He had his arms wrapped around her waist the entire time but she would still sometimes lay her head back onto his chest to make sure he was there. His heartbeat still accelerated when she did it but he would stroke her hair gently.

Deeja was savouring her bread as she kept pace with the two stallions.

And Hunter was still surprised that Darya had even agreed to come with them but at least they had one of the element holders and he could feel the atmosphere cooling down again and he knew Crimson was happier too.

As they rode through more forest and trees Deeja would sing from time to time, and Crimson would joke around, and surprisingly Darya would join in sometimes as well.

They were now getting a little closer to the 4th realm when suddenly, an old woman limped in front of the horses. They came to a messy but immediate stop. The woman was cowering behind her hands and even shivering a little.

"Please-please help me." Her voice was scratchy. Weirdly, Deeja began sniffing the air and approached the old woman. She sniffed her again. "That's not an old woman!" Deeja bellowed angrily.

Then leaped on the poor old lady. "Show them who you really are!" She hissed.

"Fine!" Her voice turned masculine as the old woman before them transformed into a man.

~

"How did you know I was lying, kitty cat." The handsome guy flicked one of Deeja's ears then winked at her.

"Because I could smell you, asshole." Deeja stared deep into his marble green eyes. He kicked her off with his feet and he sat up.

"Is that his real form?" Darya asked.

"Yh that's his real form." Deeja got back onto her feet and analysed the shifter. His dark curly hair was in a high fade cut and his light chocolate brown skin was flawless, maybe that was a lie too. Shapeshifters didn't have to alter their intire bodies they could change bits and pieces of several things.

"Why did you lie?" Crimson said with a stern tone.

"I didn't lie about needing help, there is something huge coming!" He panicked.