Firewind

Chapter 22-Enialis

I heard him coming after me before I saw him. I secured the area with my wind, making a soundproof bubble and turned to face Stor. His gray eyes looked tired and didn't have their usual glint of amusement. His long dark hair was streaked with more gray than I remembered him having at this age.

"Is she the package?" I asked cautiously. I knew how much he cared about his human friend and his family.

"Kathra?" he shook his head. "Mei is the package and she's already been retrieved."

He looked upset and I wondered if he regretted getting into this mess as much as I did.

"I'm so sorry Rocky," I sighed.

"And what about her? Is she the one?" he asked, raising a bushy eyebrow.

"Althaea?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, she's the one alright. But she's heading east. I don't know why yet. Or how I'm going to convince her to head north."

"I'm sure you'll find a way how. And when you get your reward well..." he drifted off.

We both knew what I wanted more than anything in the world would mean goodbye.

"What are you doing here though?" I asked. "Didn't you get the message?"

"Yes, I did. That's why I need you to postpone your trip north for a while. Let Althaea head east and go with her. I need you to deliver something for me..."

After Stor had left, I kept walking through the oasis until I reached the edge of the desert. I sat down, watching the four moons drift across the night sky. I let the blanket of night comfort me until I fell asleep, leaning up against the base of a tree to the night sounds of the oasis.

I woke up to a scream not too long after I had fallen asleep. I found myself running back towards the lake and the hut. I knew it was Althaea who had screamed long before I heard her sobs coming from the small straw building. I heard Kathra's voice whispering things to her. I don't know how long I stood there, but I stayed long after Althaea's sobs had stopped. I sat down against the wall and listened to her deep even breaths.

I felt kind of betrayed and hurt that I wasn't needed anymore. But she didn't need me. I was a complete stranger. But so was Kathra. I was just glad she had another female around to keep her company and talk to. I was also angry. I had to get ahold of my emotions before I did something stupid. I could smell something burning and I realized that where I was clenching the hem of my shirt, my hands were glowing slightly. I sighed and shook my hands out.

I didn't remember falling asleep after that but I woke up the next morning with a sore neck and a sour mood. Althaea, on the other hand, was as cheerful as could be and I wondered if she had actually had a nightmare or if I was just being paranoid and was hearing things.

"Good morning," she said.

"Morning," I grumbled standing up.

I knelt at the edge of the lake and splashed water on my face, clearing my head.

"Did you sleep well? It seemed quite cold. I really am sorry for offering the hut for Kathra and myself."

"I slept fine," I snapped.

She rolled her eyes and sat down at the edge of the lake. Then she smirked and dipped her hand in the water. She scooped it up and splashed me.

"What was that for?" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up.

"Just trying to cool off your temper," smiling slyly, she splashed me again.

"Oh, you are so on!"

I stood up and kicked the water at her. She shrieked and giggled as we kept splashing each other. We were about mid-calf in the water when I decided to pick her up and throw her farther into the water. A tired-looking Zander came to see what the commotion was about.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Althaea just laughed and proceeded to splash him. We were all soaked by the time Kathra came out of the hut with Scymitar on her heels. Scymitar looked petrified at the sight of us all splashing around in the water. A grin broke out on Kathra's face and she picked up Scymitar, running towards us.

I don't think this is a good idea. He said, his voice strained and panicked in our heads. You know what I'll just watch and let you guys have all the fun.

He tried to get out of Kathra's grasp but she threw him into the water. He quickly scrambled out, gasping dramatically. Kathra joined our little fight and pretty soon she was also soaked. The girls shrieked and giggled as Zander and I threw them into the water, all of us laughing and carefree.

We finally stopped when Kathra claimed she was hungry and we all stopped for breakfast. Stor met us with some eggs from an aquatic bird. He didn't question us at all as we sat around in the sunlight drying off while he made breakfast.

"Guess I don't need to bathe anymore," Kathra joked.

"No, I guess not!" Althaea laughed.

Stor brought us the eggs and a basket of fruit. I cut open some coconuts and we drank the sweet water along with our breakfast.

"So what's with the last name Windstone?" Zander asked Stor. "I wish I had a cool last name like that! I got stuck with Liadon."

"Mine's Fezim," Kathra offered. "Your not the only one stuck with a boring name either. Besides," she turned to Stor, "you never did say you had a last name."

"Yeah what is with that last name?" Althaea joined in.

I was starting to get uncomfortable. What would they do if they knew what he was? I know they could never hurt him permanently but it still hurt. We had agreed that my identity would stay a secret and that when the time came he would decide whether or not to tell the rest of our little group.

"I'm a ritskilionoso," he said finally.

"What? Cool!" Zander exclaimed at the same time that Althaea stood up and said: "You are?"

"What are your elements?" she demanded. I felt my whole body tense up.

"Why does it matter?" Kathra asked, wide-eyed at Althaea's sudden outburst.

"Just what are they?"

"Air and earth," Stor frowned glancing at me. I gave a barely perceptible shrug and shook my head.

"Ok," Althaea said and sat down, visibly more relaxed.

"Why does it matter?" Zander repeated Kathra's question.

Althaea just shook her head and stood up. She just up and left.

"I'll go after her," I said and quickly caught up to the fuming brunette.

"What was going on back there?" I asked gesturing to where the others were still sitting in the suns.

"Look, Enialis," she said turning to me, "I don't really want to talk about it in case you haven't noticed."

"Why is it such a big deal that he's a ritskilionoso?"

"I told you. I don't want to talk about it."

She turned to walk away but I caught her hand. I heard her sharp intake of breath and remembered the burns. I loosened my grip on her hands and gently unwrapped the cloth. The burns looked worse than they had the other day.

"We need some eresiela," I said, covering the wounds back up. "And I think I know just the person that can help us."