Penn looked around in horror at the gruesome scene unfolding right in front of her. Faeries, werechildren, a group of Star Warriors and many sprites as herself were being slaughtered by thousands of Dark. Their attempts of attack, amazing in circumstances besides these, were feeble against the Dark, whose powers had grown over the weeks. The air smelled of death, ash and the sickly sweet smell of a sprites' blood once slaughtered. Deep red blood trickled down the streets into the clear stream at the far end of the street, mixing with the rain that was now pouring down over Cashlante. Penn stifled in a shriek when the head of a werechild rolled inches from her toes. Stepping farther back into the shadows of Cashlante's castles' pillars, Penn shook her yellow wings of water. She looked around for Justin. She remembered a few hours ago when he had told her to stay close to him at all costs…those few hours seemed like days ago. She scanned the crowds, looking frantically for any sign of his mess of curly brown hair, and unmistakable bright red wings. She saw no trace of him.
"Justin!" She cried out, biting her lip. If anything happened to him…
Suddenly she heard a familiar voice behind her. "Penelope!" Penn whirled around to find Justin standing there sopping wet, though his hair fell down over his face in wet stringy strands, yet his green eyes still sparkled. "You've never been very good at following directions have you?" And now any trace of happiness to have located her was gone, unless she had just imagined it was there, for once.
"I-I've been looking…everywhere..." Penn staggered. Justin only rolled his eyes.
"It doesn't matter now; we're got to get you to safety." He took her by the wrist, his strong and hard hands, almost daring her to resist his grip. "Now."
Penelope hated when he acted as if she was some pitiful damsel in distress that needed saving and constant watch and attention. As if she of all people needed saving. She was the daughter of Elsie and Doren Earmond, the highest Sprite warriors in Cashlante. But of course Justin would be the type to hold over her the fact that he was 17 and bound by the law of Cashlante to fight, while Penn was 16, and not allowed to take any part in the battle. (Though she often went anyways.) Despite his ice grip, she managed to jerk away from him.
"I think I can handle this for myself thank you." She fluttered her wings, faster and faster until she was at least a half mile over the capital city, flying a few inches behind Justin, already in the air. Being of the Light, it was extremely hard, and not to mention dangerous, for Penn to fly in this heavy rain. She envied the way Justin could weave in and out of the storm clouds low in the sky. As he was of the Forest, it was only a part of his nature; the rain served no obstacle for him. Penn struggled now, to keep up. She fumbled in her sack for her pendant, an extremely rare necklace that gave the wearer any ability they lacked for a very short period of time. Though the pendant's powers were very limited, letting her fly through the rain was within its reach. Clasping it around her thin neck, Penn raced ahead of Justin, the rain no longer a threat.