Elements: The Powers Within (Book 5)

Oh, Don't We Just Love a Good Fight? (Chapter 34)

"Brenton, are you feeling okay now?" Red rests his hand on Brenton's shoulder, who's gasping for air.

The two of them came back before everyone else. They're sitting on the beach and Brenton feels as though he could finally breathe.

"Yeah..." Brenton takes a deep breath. "Lesson learned; I'm not going underwater again."

"Sorry about that, we shouldn't have forced you down there," Red apologizes.

"It's okay, I'm just acting like a baby."

"No you're not. It's perfectly fine for you to not want to go underwater."

"Yeah, but...Urana's so happy there," Brenton clenches the sand in his fists. "I just want to be there with her."

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll overcome this soon," Red smiles reassuringly, reaching into his pocket to take out his medicine.

"How's your immune system?" Brenton questions.

"Well, besides the fact that I need medicine to act as my immune system, not bad," Red chuckles as he gulps down the pills. His face looks disgusted at the taste and Brenton laughs.

"I'm really sorry you have to deal with that."

"Eh, don't be. I kinda had it coming. Like who goes to listen to what their evil ex-mate wants to say?"

"Apparently you."

"Seems like it for sure."

"What'd you do for Día de los Muertos? Isn't that coming up?"

"Yeah...I got a small table and flowers from Owen's 'suicide' training that he decorated with and so then I put up pictures of Carol and Tyler on it in our room where are bags were. Sasha was helping me out with the food part and I put up the pictures of her aunts or sisters and she cried. And then I cried. And then we both cried and yeah. So it's all ready."

"Hey, we're back!" Amy waves at them and Red waves back. She's followed by the rest of their group, Zhoron's markings on his skin losing their glow from being out of the water.

Zhoron runs his webbed hand through his hair, sending sparkling water droplets to the others faces. Zyler starts yelling and Zhoron simply grins.

"Hey, I gotta keep up my hot image," Zhoron jokes in between laughter as Zyler rolls his eyes.

"You wish you were hot," Zyler laughs.

"Anyway, that was something that never leaves this beach you all hear me?" Zhoron reminds everyone. "Thank you for not destroying anything or causing a ruckus."

"And thank you for taking us down to the merfolks' kingdom," Red shakes hands with Zhoron.

"Of course, you're my favorite," Zhoron grins. "But you all need to come back with us to get back home no?"

"Oh yeah, I'm not dealing with border security, no sir," Amy jumps at the offer. "Alright everybody, let's go!"

"Hold on!" Urana flops on the beach, her tail still there. "Aigoo, this hurts!" She holds her stomach as her tail changes back to legs and then she holds her back and she gets up.

"Haha, embracing the Korean aren't you?" Brenton holds her other hand as she gets up. Everyone else hiding their laughter but the teens...full on laughing.

"What can I say," Urana grins. "I am half-Korean."

So with that, they take off. Zhoron takes them to his office, where they each get a guest room to use for changing.