Maya walked towards where she and Magena had talked the night before. She smiled as she remembered the chant. As she stood up, she saw a glimpse of Magena's snow white fur, standing out in the dark greens, browns, and blues of the forest. Maya didn't hear Ky walk up behind her.

"Hey, Maya. What are you doing here, away from the rest of the group?" Ky asked.

"Oh, just... thinking I guess. The colors of the forest really match my dress." Maya answered.

"Even when it gets caught on braches and twigs?" Ky said smugly.

"Yes, even then. Ky, do you believe in spirit guardians?" Maya asked, making eye contact and holding it with Ky.

"Why do you ask? And for your answer, yes. I guess I do." Ky answered, breaking eye contact with Maya and laughing.

"I met mine last night. She was in the form of a white wolf. And she was beautiful and-"

"Wait, hold up. Don't tell me you actually believe all this stuff. It was probably just a dream. Don't worry about it." Ky said, walking away from Maya and towards the group. He waved as he went to stand next to Boomer.

"Magena, please, make him understand. I'm not lying. You're right here beside me." Maya said.

"Yes, but they can't see, hear, or feel me in this form. Only you can. Only when you chant that chant and when you need more power. Remember, dear Maya, things aren't always as they seem. Maya, I must go now. Someone is coming, right over...grrr!" Magena said as she walked to the right and jumped over a big log and disappeared.

After Magena left, Maya froze for a minute and a half until she relaxed. 'I guess Magena's right. Things really aren't as they seem, no matter how real they appear to be. I guess there's no time to think it over now. The others are leaving without me!' Maya thought as she ran to catch up with her friends.

~2 hours later~

Maya ripped her dress from a twig for the millionth time. She was starting to get annoyed with the dress. As her friends waited for her to catch up, she felt as if she was slowing them down.

"Guys, sorry for being such a burden with my dress. I know it must be annoying." Maya said.

"No, not at all. In fact, we don't mind at all!" Zylus said.

"We don't?" Bash and Rynoh asked. Zylus shot them a look. "Oh, yeah. We totally don't mind." Maya giggled at the way they were afraid of Zylus.

"Well we better get going." Ky said, getting a little jealous.

Ky walked behind Zylus and Maya who were talking. Boomer walked up to him.

"Hey, are you okay, bro? You seem a little jealous." He said.

"I am not jealous, Boom. Just a little...um...okay, fine. I'm jealous. I don't know what Maya sees in him though." Ky said

"What do you mean? I pretty sure Maya only thinks of him as a friend." Boomer said. "Don't worry."

"If you say so."

"And then I said No, it's the other way, man. Not that way. Unless you want to be crushed." Zylus said. Maya laughed. "See. At least someone thinks I'm funny."

Then both teams came to a fork in the road.

"Uh... which way?" Zylus said.

"We could split up." Maya said.

"No. Then we might never be able to find each other again." Ky said. "Left or right?"

Maya kneeled and tried to find out which way to go but couldn't. She shook her head. Ky nodded. "Well," he said. "Which way?" While everyone was deciding, Maya saw Magena on the left path. She walked towards her. "Hey, Maya! Where are you going?"

"To the left! The right path! Follow me!" Maya said.

"What? Why?" Ky asked.

"Just trust me! You'll find out later!" Maya said, picking up the hem of her dress and running off deeper into the forest.

~To Be Continued...~