When Water Turns To Ice | REWRITE AVAILABLE

s e v e n | No Ice Slides For Me

  For some reason we couldn't drive the scary giant ice dozer into a protected nature reserve or up a mountain. Figures, just when I want that thing I have to go on a long hike. It was beautiful after the frick'n flying ship dropped us off we strolled through. I took out my phone and took a few photos. I had joined photography club in high school so I could get good pictures to paint.

  I carefully aligned the camera and stared in wonder a wistful laugh exp,doing from my lips in a way I haven't done in a long, long time.

  Zane was studying me as I darted back and forth snapping pictures and enjoying the walk. It reminded me of Nana's garden.

  I watched as a hummingbird zipped by me and I carefully crouched a good distance away to snap a picture.

  "You are much like your grandmother." Wu commented.

  I smiled at him. "Thank you!" Then I paused. "That's a good thing right?"

  He chuckled. "Yes."

  "Sweet!" I found a large leaf filled with water and bent to examine it. As I did I noticed Wu take Zane gently aside and talk quietly with him. I'm not a snoop if the person isn't my brother, or my parents, or my best friends, or my entire school so I let them have their space before joining them again.

  When I did we made it to the base of the mountain. I did a quick stretch. "Okay," I eyed the rock face. "it's not like two years of cross country was for nothing."

  Zane looked amused as he some how got out a water bottle and handed it to me before starting up.

  After about ten minutes Master Wu was making me look really bad. I tried to hide my pants but it was a struggle.

  "Would you like my staff Gwen?" Wu offered.

  I waved my hand. "I'm good." I huffed.

  "We are almost there." Zane announced from way up top. He jumped easily back down the path to me and placed his hand on the small of my back to keep me from slipping, which was common.

  "When we go down you are so making an ice slide." I told him.

"Alright." Zane's mouth slid into a smile.

We made it to the top and saw the most majestic thing I have ever seen, a crystal coffin edged in jewels and....

Nope.

It was a rock. With more rock. Full of dirt.

"Wow it's beautiful" I said blandly.

Wu chuckled. "Beauty is sometimes below the surface, I would think an artist would know that."

Suddenly he slammed his stick multiple times into the ground.

I stanched in horror as giant plates of the ground I was standing on separated. And then I fell.

I landed hard on my side and could feel the bruise as soon as I groaned and became semi aware of my environment. Wu landed professionally beside me and Zane showed off and dropped down in an impressive ninja pose.

"You may want to change from the sweater vest Zane for this next part." Wu advised him as he pulled me up by the armpits like my brother used to do whine I fell off my bike.

Excuse me?

Zane nodded and suddenly he whipped around so fast, easily sliding a gi on in a whirl of ice.

I blinked. I want to be able to do that.

Wu led us down a hall, still full of rock and dirt, and we came about a dead end. He carefully placed his hands on the wall before doing a complicated tapping pattern.