(Seven Years Later)

Devan

I jumped over the small fence in front of me. I frequently looked over my shoulder, seeing if I had lost Eumalia yet.

Nope.

I saw the slight movement, telling me that my older cousin was still on my trail. I continued to run along the trail that the two of us had played along so many times when we were younger, before either of us discovered our Elemental Powers. As I was running, I was thinking about the hiding places that I knew, but then remembered that Emuelia would always find me whenever we played together.

"Hiding place... Where's a good hiding place...?" I asked myself.

Wish I had asked myself that sooner.

Eumalia was now standing in front of me, looking rather proud of herself.

"I win."

"I can see that." I said, sighing. "Wanna head back?"

"Yeah." The two of us walked back to the monastery, Eumalia looking at the trees and birds like they were the most amazing things ever.

"Hippie." I muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing!" We continued to walk back to the monastery. I walked into the courtyard, seeing if dad had brought Micah outside. I saw the six-month-old sitting on a blanket on the stone, a small dragon stuffed animal in his tiny hands. I walked towards Micah, picking him up and kissing his forehead.

"You wanna see something?" I asked, putting Micah back on the blanket. I sat down in front of him, taking my sketchbook out of my bag. I opened to a page where I had drawn a small dragon, and thought of it coming to life. I few seconds later, something nudged my hand, and I saw the dragon. It was the color of the paper because I hadn't colored it in. Micah smiled, reaching towards the animal, which happily nudged the baby's hand.

"You're becoming very skilled with your power." I turned around, smiling at my dad.

"Thanks." I looked down at the page, which was now blank. "I wish that the picture would stay so I didn't have to re-draw them."

"Yes, that is a downside." Dad said. "But the more you practice with you power, the better you will be able to control the drawings." I tilted my head to the side.

"How?"

"In time, your drawings will listen to your commands, and even protect you." I looked down at the small paper-colored dragon, and it looked back up at me before going to play with Micah again.