The Jem

~44~

The sun smiled as it slid from the horizon and the moist grass hissed soothingly as it tittered in the wind. A rainbow shot out from the refreshing rain, a beautiful morning in such a god forsaken place.

Jermine had shifted into a chocolate brown horse that was much more majestical than the other two stallions. Ember and Autumn were seated on his back and although silent, he could tell they were communicating in some other adorable way. But he mostly kept his eyes on Deeja who would prowl around in front of him every once in a while, beckoning him to come play, to come mess around.

He would sadly decline even though he very much wanted to jump around through the endless woods with her. Crimson had given Autumn some fresh undergarments and a thin red vest with leather pants so that she wasn't only covered by a blanket on his back.

"You know Jermine , you could take a break Hunter and I could get off our horse and give it to Ember and Autumn for a while, I want to stretch my legs anyway." Crimson suggested as Hunter climbed off their horse and helped her down.

Although Jermine didn't want to admit how tired he was getting, he could have kissed Crimson and Hunter for their generosity. He shifted back to his real form after the fae and the fire holder had dismounted him. He rubbed at his aching back and went off to find Deeja.

~
The Jem could no longer lead the way, they had all the element wielders at their side now. So they trudged through the leaves, plants and trees without a single clue where they were heading. They had passed a village with horrifying beasts wrestling in a cage and fairies having their wings clipped off for entertainment, Darya had protested that they go help but Ember had said if they wanted to die right there and then, they could go ahead but if they still wanted their heads he'd doubt that was a good idea.

Then they had came across a town of elves who weren't as friendly as the ones in the previous realms. Autumn had told them stories, some true, some legends and some obviously false about the beings here and about how kind her people truly were.

And then-and then Crimson had told the others, who didn't know, that she was the Heir of Camalla. Autumn had whimpered a noise that only showed how even more frightening that place was, and Ember had informed them what he had read about it (non of it had sounded pleasant)

~

Dawn now turned to dusk as the puple-pink sky turned darker and the stars were sugared all above. The eight of them began setting up camp and making a fire deep in the woods. Crimson sat before a lake, playing with the ring her 'mother' had once given her. The lake was a shining, luminescent blue and little specks of sparkling glitter and floating water danced around it. She hugged her knees and gawked at the sight of it. Sighing through her nose, she listened to the relaxing sounds of nature.

The water in the lake reminded her of Kazili, she had the same colour of skin and hair. And her eyes were filled with that floating glitter. "Crimson?" She was now used to that strong female voice of her turquoise-haired friend Darya. "I thought you might be here." She sat beside her, her sliver eyes looked like they were apart of the lake.

"Yeah, well I just wanted a little while to think about everything." Crimson admitted as she sighed again.

"Would you like to get something off your chest? I'm a very good listener." Darya smiled sweetly, her straight white teeth flashing.

"So first I was raised by a kind family with a loving sweet father who used to sing me lullabies and play with me and a beautiful mother who would dress me and brush my hair softly and care for me so dearly and I had two friendly brothers as well. But then-

Darya told her to go ahead, "But then I get ripped away from my family and am told that the past ten years of my life had been a lie. And what I had believed in for eight years more had been a lie too. Then I get told that the queen had found me and people are trying to take my powers and now a fauth thingy tells me that I'm an Heir to a despicable throne. And related to people who probably whip civilians who merely smile." Crimson twsited the crimson star on her finger, trying to look anywhere else but at Darya's understanding face.

"Oh how our lives are messed up!" Darya laughed and hugged Crimson. "It's alright, we will get through this all together. You know I never thought I'd find friends like you or Hunter or even Deeja, Jermine and Brice, Autumn and I'm even starting to like Ember a little more. That freckled little flame makes me laugh." She added. Crimson laughed too.

"I'm glad to have you guys as my friends too." Crimson beamed. Suddenly a little flying creature appeared from the lake. It's shiny blue skin turned purple and it smiled. Then others like it emerged from the water.

"An enchanted lake." Darya whispered with amazement and surprise in her tone.

"We are the mini water wraiths of the lake of dreams." The purple one squeaked and the rest began to change colours and fly around.

"Guys you have got to come see this!" Crimson yelled and they came running. What a shame Autumn could not witness such beauty. She came and sat on the grass beside Crimson. Her face a picture of disappointment.

"What is the matter?" A lime green wraith asked as she held Autumn's face.

"I wish to see you like everyone else. I've only heard of how beautiful you really are." The fae said.

"This is the lake of dreams my dear and I know you dream to one day see your loved ones. Your dream will come true." It danced around her and then flew back to her friends.

Autumn stood slowly and turned to Ember.She blinked once. Twice. "I can see you Ember. I can see!" She bellowed in such delight.