The Elements

Chapter 1

She splashed through the small stream blocking her way, sending drops of water in every direction. Anger coursed through her veins, and the strong ache of her headache pulsed on her temples. Her footsteps were heavy and quick, not caring what animal she woke from its sleep. She would be there soon, if she just hurried. Branches scraped her elbows and hands as she went, but she didn't feel it, she was too far in her head to pay attention to anything second priority. The sun was gone and the moon was so high, you could hear the smooth brush of an owl's tone through the air. It was late, but it did not matter, not now, when so much was at stake.

Finally, white, artificial light blinked in the shadows far away, once, twice, a third time. She quickly turned the flashlight on that was gripped tightly in her hand and then shone it towards the light.

Once, twice, a third time.

There was Bevyn, leaning against a tree, holding his flashlight and lit cigarette. He took a slow drag before assessing her with his eyes, from her hair matted to her face to the completely beat up brown boots she stole from the mens locker room at one of the local gyms. "What took you so long? I've gone through a third of my pack by now," He said, patting his pack of cigarettes tucked into the back pocket of his pants.

She narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to test her again. She wasn't in any mood to waste time on simple jokes and questions. What she needed was answers. "Lets go," She barked at him in her demanding yet soft voice that granted her a lot of initial respect when it came to meeting new people. "And get rid of those damned cigarettes. We don't want them to smell us a mile away." She walked past him and began walking quickly again, past the tree he was leaning against.

"Cora!" Bevyn spluttered, taking a last drag before smushing the cigarette on the ground with his shoe. "Hold on a second!" He took out his cigarette carton and grudgingly threw it on the ground too.

A glance back was all she offered, before walking even faster. She just couldn't waste time. He caught up with her in a second, since he could run and she couldn't. "Why are you walking so fast? We have time."

"We aren't going to the funeral," Cora said in a cold and firm voice.

"What?!" He said in an incredulous way. "The memory ceremony is important! We can't just miss it!"

She rolled her eyes, "That doesn't matter. The memory ceremony is a way to get us all in one place, to reunite. Anyway, nobody will notice we're gone, and that isn't his memory ceremony. We have no reason to be there if the coffin is empty."

He gasped, his heart slammed against his chest, and he slowed his pace only for a second to realize she was already a lengths ahead of him. He ran up, breathing heavily now. "What? What do you mean? You mean he's not dead? What do you mean?" He grabbed her arm to stop her.

She wrenched it out of his grasp and faced him, her usually hazel eyes seeming so endless and dark in the moonlights path. "I don't have time to explain this to you. You can either come with me or go to the fake memory ceremony. We do not have time." She started off again, trying to walk even faster than before.

He followed her, even though he had no idea where they were headed. All he knew was that she wasn't lying about the memory ceremony. If she said it was fake, it was fake. She knew him enough to know he would follow.

They trudged through the dark forest until Cara stopped him with her hand. "Wait." Her ear twitched, sensing something Bevyn clearly did not. Her nose flared, "Quiet, and follow me. Watch your tread."

She crept up behind a tree and Bevyn followed, noticing for the first time the dull glow of fire in the distance. "Who is that?" He whispered, staring at the glow of the orange fire as it contrasted against the dark night.