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Disclaimer: The Di Gata Defenders are property of Greg Collinson and Nelvana Unlimited. Not me.

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Chapter Three

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The sun was nearly at the end of its day long journey when the defenders stopped to set up camp.

Seth stood in the middle of the clearing, issuing orders, "Mel, Kara, I want you to stay here and set up camp." The girls nodded as they got off their stormers. "Adam, Erik, could you guys find us something to eat?" Erik nodded as Adam took of his helmet and shot Seth a glare.

"And what are you going to do oh fearless leader?"

"I am going to go get us some firewood. Or do you have a problem with that Oh great Lord Adam?" Seth replied in a mocking tone.

"Nah. I'm okay with it. No need to be rude Seth, I was only asking a question," he picked up his bag and started sorting through it, "Mel, do we have any string?"

" I'm the one being rude?" Why I oughta-"

Mel put a hand up to stop him from doing anything rash, "Seth. Stop it. He only bothers you to get a reaction. Just forget about it."

"Ya, sure," He sent an angry glare in Adam's direction, "I just wish I could forget about him ." Mel watched him leave.

"You know," Adam said walking over to her with a ball of string in his hand, "I really wonder why that guy hates me so much."

Mel looked at him with her 'You have got to be kidding' face.

"Sure I bug him sometimes-"

"All the time is more like it," Erik interrupted.

"But that's no reason for him to snap at me every time I turn around," Adam finished, ignoring Erik's comment.

Mel put a hand on his shoulder, "He's going through a rough time right now Adam. You should apologize to him; show him that you're the better man."

He nodded reluctantly, "Ya, sure. Later. Come one Erik, I'm going to teach you how to catch a fish."

"Fish?" Erik asked following Adam into the woods, "You can catch them? With string?"

Mel watched them leave, "Do you think Adam and Seth will ever get along?"

Kara shrugged, "Maybe one day, But then the realm would cave in on itself and we'd all die."

"That's not funny Kara!"
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"Ok Erik. All you have to do is throw the little hook into the water and wait for the line to tighten, that'll mean you've caught a fish."

Adam and Erik stood on the bank of a slow moving river, both held a sort of makeshift fishing rod made from string and a barb. Erik stood up, swung the string around and threw it into the middle of the river.

"Nice throw," Adam commented, "but try hanging onto the other end of the string next time. Okay?"

"Right. Sorry."

Adam smiled and handed Erik the second fishing rod, "Here. Try again."

Behind them, hidden by the trees stood Kali. In her hand she held a canteen filled with water and the poison, she knew how easy it would be to simply morph into one of the female defenders and offer Adam something to drink but she just couldn't do it. Something was holding her back.

It's that Erik boy, if he took a sip from the canteen first then everything would be ruined. It was clear that the wizard cared for her friends but Kali highly doubted that she would give up her freedom for him. Even if he was dieing, his sister would beat her to it.

She spun around as the sound of someone approaching reached her ears. Well, she thought to herself, this could prove helpful.

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Seth wiped the sweat of his brow as he looked up at the darkening sky and realized that he should start heading back to camp. However, he didn't get very far.

"Hey Seth! Wait up!"

Seth stopped, put his load of kindling on the ground and waited for Adam to catch up, "what do you want Adam?

Adam stood leaning on a tree, "Uh. I just wanted to say," he took a deep breath, "sorry. I'm sorry for bothering you all the time."

Seth raised an eyebrow, "Go on."

"I never had any really close friends and whenever I see how close Mel and the others are I guess I get sort of jealous. I want to call a truce." He held out his hand, "Friends?"

Seth smiled and shook Adam hand, "Close enough."

Adam looked at Seth for a moment before pulling out his canteen, "Here. You look thirsty."

Seth took a long drink before handing it back, "You know what Adam, I guess I was sort of jealous of you too. You just bounded out of no where and everybody liked you. even after we found out you were a no good thief."

Adam nodded as he watched Seth sit on the ground, "I'm touched. Or at least I would be if I were the real Adam." He stepped back and morphed back into Kali before Seth's eyes.

"FLASH BLAST!"

Kali was thrown backwards as Erik and Adam burst from the undergrowth. "Seth, are you all right?" Adam asked as he tried to lift Seth from the ground.

"Ya. I just feel really weird right now."

Adam ducked, as Erik was thrown into a tree by Kali, "Greetings Adam."

Adam's eyes widened as he recognized the shape shifter, "Kali! What are you doing here?"

"Nazmul's bidding of course. Though now that your friend has been poisoned I might take you back to your father. He's very worried about you."

Adam smirked as his hand closed around his stones, "I highly doubt that. BLACK BOLA!"

Kali was sent flying, as Erik climbed down from the tree, "Your father? What's she talking about Adam?" Adam shrugged as they carried Seth towards their camp.

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Kara gasped as Erik and Adam carried Seth into the clearing, "What happened?"

"Kali attacked him," Erik answered as he put Seth down, "Mel. Can you find out what's wrong with him?"

Mel knelt next to him and chanted for a moment before standing up quickly, "We have to get him to the Nexus. He's been poisoned."

Kara and Erik nodded as they pulled him onto Erik's stormer. "Adam. You'd better come with us, you can ride Seth's stormer," Mel said, passing him his helmet.

Kali watched as the defenders packed up their sleeping bags and rode off, she turned to her communicator as Nazmul's face appeared, "Mission complete my lord. However complications arouse and Seth was the one to be poisoned."

Nazmul nodded, "That is fine Kali. I will contact you again later." She turned off the communicator.

"I am sorry Adam," She said to herself, "But Brakus must know where you are. If you continue to side with the defenders the Order of Inifnis will label you a traitor." She morphed into a bird and flew off.