The Promise Path

~ Chapter Eleven ~

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Avery sighs deeply before walking to Cassius. The fear she is feeling increases the closer she gets, which Agni immediately notices. Realising that the annoying, short Water Warlock must have done something to his little fire, Agni stomps over, his rage practically taking control. He hasn't known Avery for long, but he already finds himself caring for the kind, quiet Fire Witch. The other dragons start immediately trying to calm Agni down, knowing how disastrous things can get when he is angry, but to no avail. Agni is determined to smite down anyone who has hurt his little fire.

"Cassius, where is your dragon?" Avery softly asks when she is in front of Cassius, deciding to look down at the floor instead of daring to look into his blue eyes. Cassius rolls his eyes and is about to snap at Avery when he feels a powerful, ominous presence looming over him. He looks up past Avery only to see Agni glaring powerfully down at him. Cassius gulps in fear and replies in a shaky voice,

"Don't worry about it Avery, he's nearby. I don't need help like the others." He then reaches into his jacket pocket, where he put the bag that his father gave him. He clenches his fist around it as best as he can, since it is much too large to fully wrap his hand around. Cassius tightly closes his eyes and concentrates on the blue dragon, attempting to force his will onto the mighty beast. However, as it is Cassius' first attempt, it doesn't work. Cassius reopens his eyes and practically growls in annoyance.

Avery joins Agni in staring angrily at Cassius. She knows what he tried to do, and she now knows where the jewels are. She has to get them back as soon as possible. She cares too much for the dragons already to let them be controlled willingly, but especially Agni. Avery has admired the thought of dragons for years and loves that she has not only met and bonded with one, but seen a dragon for each element. She nearly smiles at the thought, but with Cassius there, she doesn't want to. He might think she's mocking him and his failure to summon the dragon, and hurt her again. The idea causes a shiver to run up her spine. Agni lowers his huge head and carefully presses it against Avery's back, sending a little bit of comforting heat into Avery to indicate that she's not alone.

"Good luck with your dragon." Avery says to Cassius in the kindest voice she can muster then walks off, Agni walking leisurely next to her. Lucy and Daniel continue to gaps at Avery and Agni, shocked at how the two are acting together. Lucy sees how Avery is changing, and she's not entirely sure that it's a good idea for Avery to be changing this quickly. Obviously Lucy craves for the day when Avery will be socially confident and people no longer look down on her, but she also knows that's nothing more than the worthless dream of a 16 year old. But, Lucy will still hope. She's an optimist.

Secretly, Avery goes with Agni to find the dragon Cassius is supposed to ride. They walk into the forest and only when they're quite deep in do they take to the skies. Agni flies to the closest source of water, which happens to be a massive lake in the middle of the Water Witch/Warlock village called Aqua. Agni lands in the forest on the outskirts of the village in order to try and stay hidden from any other Witches or Warlocks that may see him. Dragons were hunted to the brink of extinction after all, so Agni is very wary of people.

Avery goes into the village alone, feeling very tense and scared. She moves as fast as she can, going down alley ways and side streets to try and avoid people as much as possible. Luckily, she doesn't run into anyone on the way to the lake. Also, it's around the time where people are getting ready for school and work, so nobody is out by the lake. Avery goes to the lake's shores and puts her hand in the water, attempting to speak to the dragon. She growls in frustration when nothing happens after her many attempts. She assumes it's because water is the opposite element to her own.