The Elementals

Chapter 19: Change in the Air

Everyone gather at the Headquarter the next day to discuse how they were going to rescue Randolph when Tarah asked,
"Where is Kimberly?" Everyone looked around but they couldn't find her.
"Great now Kimberly is missing," Mercy said in a annoyed voice.
"I will go ask the Guardians if they have seen her," said Tarah as she headed to the door.
"I will go with you," said Wayne opening the door for her. They walked down the steps and headed to one of the Guardians.
"Have you happened to see Kimberly?" Tarah asked.
"Yes, she left shortly after we put up the shield yesterday. She was going to find Adam and get answers about her past and possibly rescue Randolph," said the Guardian.
"She is going to get herself killed," Tarah said starting to head toward the woods. Wayne grabbed her arm and said,
"You can't go after her. You're not strong enough yet."
"Well I am not going to sit around here and do nothing about it," she snapped back at him, "She has no idea how much danger she put herself in."
"If you go after her you have a good chance of sharing her fate too," Wayne said still keeping a hold of her arm.
"It's a risk I am worth taking," she said looking him dead in the eyes. Wayne sighed. There was no way he was going to win this argument.
"Fine, but at least let me go with you and some of the others," said Wayne letting go of her arm.
"Fine," Tarah replied turning towards him. Wayne smiled then grabbed her hand and headed back to the Headquarter.

When they entered the Headquarter, Wayne informed them of where Kimberly went. After he finished he pulled Liam and Leann to the side and asked them to come with them to retrieve Kimberly and Randolph. They both agreed to come. Before they left, Wayne put Paris and Rachelle in charge.

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Kimberly woke up to see Randolph curled up beside her. She was going to get up until she saw his hands around her waist. Not wanting to wake him up she stayed lying down. She slowly turn toward him. What happened yesterday was terrible but she couldn't believe how much Randolph was willing to fight for her. She studied his face. Kimberly had never thought of him as a romantic interest but the longer she look at him the more she realized how handsome he was. His dedication to her yesterday and how he show so much compassion in his eyes when she told him what Adam did to her and yet the anger he had towards him. She felt him grip her tighter, he was still asleep.
"I wonder what he is dreaming about?" Kimberly thought. Though she wanted to stay in his arms, Kimberly decided to wake him up.
"Randolph, it's time to get up," she whispered in his ear. His eyes slowly opened. Kimberly smiled. Noticing that his hands were around Kimberly, he quickly took them back and said,
"Sorry, I didn't mean to invade your space."
"It's okay, but hey thank you for all that you did yesterday. It means a lot to me," Kimberly replied.
"Your welcome, I can't stand to see a friend be treated like that," Randolph said with a smile. He really liked Kimberly even more than a friend but he didn't want another Tarah situation, so he ignored his feelings. Kimberly smiled and said,
"Well it was really nice of you." Randolph stood up, smiled at her, and extended his hand to her. Kimberly grabbed his hand and stood up.
"So what were you dreaming about?" Kimberly asked. Randolph looked at her confused and asked,
"What do you mean?" 
"Well you kept pulling me closer to you and I am curious to why," Kimberly replied back.
"I can't remember," Randolph lied without skipping a beat. Kimberly suspected that he was lying but didn't press him.
"Stay here. I am going to find us some breakfast," Randolph said. Kimberly nodded her head then Randolph took off into the woods. He followed some rabbit tracks until he saw it feeding on some grass. Unfortunately, he forgot to make a weapon to kill it. He quietly climbed up a tree and began to break off a branch when a voice yelled,
"Randolph don't do that!" He looked up to see Wayne, Tarah, Liam, and Leann standing a few feet away from him. He saw that the rabbit was gone.
"Sorry but I really needed that rabbit for me and Kimberly," said Randolph climbing out of the tree.
"Kimberly's alive," Tarah said with excitement, "Where is she?"
"Follow me," said Randolph turning around. They walked about a half a mile and found Kimberly making a small fire.
"Kimberly," Tarah shouted as she ran over to her, "What were you thinking, leaving the Headquarter all by yourself."
"I am sorry, but I had to get answers and it would've put someone else in danger if I had took them with me," Kimberly replied back.
"Well if it was that dangerous then you should have never went," Tarah said half smiling.
"I know," Kimberly replied back. Kimberly turned to Randolph and said,
"I guess you didn't catch anything."
"Nope. It got scared away," Randolph said with a laugh.
"Don't worry, we have food," said Wayne taking his bag of his back, "and we don't need a fire for it." Wayne formed a large drop of water and put out the fire. They all ate their food and discussed all that had happened back at the Headquarter. When they all finished eating, they began heading back to the Headquarter. Wayne and Tarah took the lead and everyone else followed them.
"You know if I were to ever die, I would want Wayne to take over for me," Randolph said watching Wayne grab Tarah's hand.
"What makes you think you are going to die," Kimberly said turning to him.
"I don't know. I just feel like the odds are against us and I got a taste of what they plan on doing to us," Randolph said pointing to his back, "and I don't want anyone else going through what I went through."
"I know you feel like the odds are against us but you are our leader and if everyone sees you like this they will lose hope too and then we will for sure lose. I believe we can win this. Now that we can practice improving our skills, I think we stand a good chance," Kimberly replied back to him. Randolph smiled and said,
"That was spoken like a true leader." Kimberly smiled. Randolph stopped walking and began to brush her hair back, when he quickly retracted his hand. He started to walk away when Kimberly grabbed his shirt. Randolph stopped and looked at her. Kimberly mustarded up her courage and kissed him. As much as he wanted to break the kiss, he couldn't. When the kiss was over Kimberly smiled but Randolph said,
"I am sorry but I am not ready for this yet," Kimberly looked at him slightly shocked. He clearly enjoyed the kiss but couldn't understand why he would say that. His train of thought was broken when Wayne shouted,
"You all coming,"
"We better catch up with them," said Randolph.
"Yeah," Kimberly replied back as they started towards them. Randolph and Kimberly were quiet the rest of the way back. Wayne and Tarah both noticed it.
"I think something happened back there," whispered Tarah.
"Yeah maybe we can get them to talk about it. I don't like how awkward it looks back there," Wayne whispered back. Tarah nodded in agreement.
"We can ask them tomorrow since we are here and it's late," said Wayne. Everyone said goodnight to each other an headed to bed.