A/N: So, it's been awhile since I've updated, but I made you guys a really long chapter to make up for it! I even added a tiny bit of fluff for you, so see if you can find it! Here is Chapter 3, and this one is full of surprises, as well as some angst. I thank all my wonderful reviewers for their reviews and suggestions, and please enjoy!
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Tamora.
Chasing Waterfalls: Chapter 3
Travis whirled, only to be confronted by a stranger. He assumed that it was the young man that had ordered Amadahy to destroy the fire, but he seemed much different in the sunlight as opposed to the shadows. Dark brown eyes glared at Travis from within a deeply tanned face, and black hair was ruffled by the wind as the waterfall blew spray against the two. He was dressed in brown breeches that were poorly made and showed some wear, and was also wearing a fine green shirt. He was well-built, and had an air of wildness about him, one that made Travis wary.
The two stared at each other for a moment, silently sizing each other up, and then Travis' gaze was drawn to the glittering dagger that was held unsheathed and ready at the stranger's side. He shifted nervously, and then let his hand stray instinctively towards his belt knife. The young man followed this movement with his gaze, but made no move to attack.
"What are you doing here?" The young man snarled again, his brown eyes gleaming in hatred for this other young man across from him. Travis said nothing as his scar began to sting; something told him that keeping silent would prolong his life.
"I said," the young man said softly, dangerously, his eyes suddenly sparkling with a strange green light, "what are you doing here?" Slowly, he began to move around the other, keep him occupied by constantly moving, never lifting his knife from its spot at his side.
A sudden tugging at his feet made Travis look down, and what he saw made him yelp and jump backwards. As it was, he tumbled backwards and continued to stare at his feet, spellbound. Somehow, the plants around him had risen up to grab hold of his feet, binding them tightly to the ground and continued to wind around his legs, holding him captive to the jungle floor.
His captor paused menacingly above him, his dark eyes sparkling dangerously. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the appearance of a white wolf that suddenly burst of the ferns, panting. Trotting up to the young man, the wolf gave Travis a curious sniff before snorting and continuing to the pool, where it proceeded to drink heavily, its sides heaving.
Muttering a curse, Travis' captor stowed his belt knife away and watched the ferns where the wolf had come from intently, seeming to be listening to something. Moments later, a young woman Travis had seen before burst out of the ferns, running hard.
Taking no notice of either one of them, Amadahy bolted for the waterfall, feeling the water call to her desperately. Pausing for a moment, she dove in, submerging herself completely and feeling the sweet release that the water always gave her.
Surfacing, she didn't even notice Imp and his captive until she emerged completely, dripping dry as her white dress clung to her figure, outlining every curve. Imp caught Travis staring openly at Amadahy, and growled something under his breath. In response, the plants tightened around Travis' legs, causing him to yelp in pain.
At this, Amadahy seemed to see them for the first time, and her blue eyes changed from the shade of the sky above them to a royal blue as her curiosity and bliss became anger and horror.
"Damek!" She snapped, marching over to his side. "What are you doing?"
For once, Imp actually looked sheepish, and he blushed as Amadahy glared at him. "I was taking care of this intruder!" He snapped back, his dark eyes smoldering with anger as he met her gaze squarely, refusing to be cowed.
"Intruder?" Amadahy's incredulous voice was shrill, and Naida looked up, concerned. "Damek," she continued, "what intruder?" Plucking the knife deftly from his hand, she knelt down beside Travis and slit his bonds. Her back was to Imp, so she didn't notice when he winced in pain as the plant's lives were cut short. They grew back, he knew, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
For his part, all Travis could do as the girl knelt next to him was stare. She was so beautiful….She helped him to his feet, and he snapped out it, bowing over her hand while glaring at the other man—Damek, she'd said his name was.
"It's our fault he knows about us in the first place," Amadahy commented softly to her companion, her eyes on Travis and Travis alone, marveling at the color of his eyes. They were hazel, but they were a mixture of brown and green, a color she had never seen before.
"He shouldn't know about us at all!" Damek snapped back, annoyed that he was letting her get away with this.
"Damek, don't fight me on this." She warned, her blue eyes descending into the blue-black they became when she was close to snapping with rage.
As much as he knew it was folly, Imp wanted to see what she would do. He grinned lazily at her now, leaning against a nearby tree. "And what if I do?"
She glared, not surprised that he would challenge her, just merely annoyed. Raising a hand, she called a small amount of water to her as Travis stared, openmouthed, and Damek looked on, nonplussed.
"What are you going to do with that?" He asked calmly, dangerously, getting to his feet again as he surveyed her warily.
Her blue eyes were triumphant now, and she grinned at him saucily. "I'll tell Lady."
While Travis had no idea who this "Lady" was, she must be important, for Damek swore and glared at the girl.
"You wouldn't," he growled, but he didn't sound as certain as before.
"You know I would." Amadahy shot back, head held high, refusing to budge.
Damek knew she had won, but he wouldn't let her go without a fight. "You're making a mistake, you know," he murmured softly, staring at her reproachfully.
"What mistake?" Amadahy wanted to know, "By trusting him?"
Imp turned away, not wanting her to see the hurt and betrayal that was reflected so deeply in his eyes. "Go on." He sighed, and let out a soft "oomph" as Amadahy tackled him from behind, wrapping her arms around his middle and giving him a hug.
"Thank you," she whispered against his back. Imp turned around, grabbing her hands in his and smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Be careful." He cautioned, his brow creasing with concern. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. "You know Lady will kill me if something happens to you."
She stroked his cheek, her blue eyes soft. "I'll be careful," she whispered. She looked deeply into his eyes, making sure he was okay with her decision, and then she slipped out of his embrace, and turned to Travis, who was watching them warily.
Taking his hand, Amadahy smiled. "Let's go." Travis looked up, and then grinned. With a solemn nod to Damek, the two were gone, slipping into the underbrush as Travis began to reveal a whole new world.
Imp watched them go, his face grim. "I know I'm going to regret this."
Amadahy wandered after Travis, her mouth agape. So many of the things he had showed her and acted as if they were commonplace she had never dreamed about. She had followed him through the caravan, meeting other people and having the time of her life.
"There's one last thing I want to show you," Travis told her proudly, taking her hand. Over the last few days, they had gotten close, so he no longer felt nervous about wandering around the jungle looking for her, or acting like a tongue-tied youngster in front of her. The girl nodded eagerly, wondering what he had in store.
A cold nose nosed her hand, and Amadahy glanced down in surprise. Naida was a constant chaperone on her excursions to the caravan, and often, she saw the same reproach that was in Imp's eyes in the wolf's.
Youngling, the wolf cautioned, you may not like this.
Hearing the shouting up ahead, Amadahy quickened her pace so that she and Travis walked side by side, and she kept her eyes fixed on the break of trees that signified the beginnings of a small clearing.
As they exited the steamy jungle into the rather small and open clearing, Amadahy stared in shock, and her eyes filled with tears. Her eyes changed to a blue-gray, and she looked on in horror as Travis looked on with pride, thinking he had shown her something marvelous.
A magnificent white stallion stood in the middle of the clearing, so white he was almost silver. He was rearing and plunging, trying desperately to get away from the men that were tying him down. Ropes were lashed across his body, but none would hold. White foam had gathered at his mouth, and he continued to buck, hoping to free himself.
Amadahy could feel his desperation, and it pierced her soul, calling to her. She watched in horror as a burly man raised what looked like a black snake into the air. By now, she easily recognized a whip, and tears began to pour as the whip lashed out and struck the stallion on the flank.
The stallion leapt forward with a mighty bugle as blood poured down his side, but his quest was cut short by the ropes that bound him. Shivering, he stood still, and in a moment of desperation, swung his head from side to side, teeth bared as he tried to escape.
As he swung his head, a faint gasp escaped Amadahy, and she stared in shock. The horse's eyes were as blue as her own! He seemed to stare at her, pleading with her to help, and then she knew that she had to save him. With one last scream, the white stallion fell to his knees, and the man advanced, whip raised again.
With that, Amadahy could take it no longer. With a cry, she rushed forward to kneel at the stallion's head, tears streaming. With bared teeth and a snarl, Naida kept the men back and away from pulling Amadahy from the downed horse. Humming softly to the stallion, Amadahy loosened some of the ropes and called to the stream nearby.
The water leapt to obey, and many of the men made the sign against Evil as the water floated towards the girl. Pouring the soothing water on the stallion's cuts, Amadahy murmured to him softly, always watching those blue eyes.
"Hush now, boy," she crooned, feeling him shiver under her touch. "Easy now, Misae." She paused, and the stallion flicked his ears back to catch her words, and then sighed, finally relaxing under her touch.
"Is that your name, Misae?" She asked him softly, and he bobbed his head, seeming to understand. The men in the clearing watched in amazement as the girl untangled the final ropes, then coaxed the great stallion to his feet, laying a soft hand on his neck and whispering soft words to him, words they couldn't hear.
By the time Amadahy turned around again, the only one left in the clearing was Travis, looking remorseful. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his gaze on the ground, "I didn't know that taking you to see him would cause you so much pain." He lifted his hazel gaze to her blue one, and then jumped, startled.
Misae's great head hung over Amadahy's shoulder lightly, and Travis noted that both pairs of eyes were the same color. The stallion seemed to eye him reproachfully, but then backed away, walking a few feet away to graze comfortably. Naida laid a few feet away, but the stallion took no notice of her, merely nudging her in a friendly way when he came close.
Amadahy walked up to Travis, her feet silent in the grass. "It's all right," she told him softly, smiling now through the remnants of her tears. "You didn't know." Travis' grateful smile was all she needed, and he pulled out a blanket, offering it to her.
"Here." He gave it to her, but she merely glanced from the covering to him, confused.
Travis smiled at her puzzlement, then explained, "I thought you could spend the night with—what did you call him?—Misae, to let you get to know each other better."
Amadahy grinned at him. "Thank you!" She squealed, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. Travis blushed and gently disentangled himself from her embrace, deciding to make himself scarce.
"Good night." He said softly, smiling, and Amadahy returned the farewell before turning to her horse. They had a long night ahead of them.
She settled down in the middle of the clearing, watching her horse carefully. She knew the language of many animals, how they moved, how they ate, and how their body movements often spoke for them, but she never gotten a chance to see a horse up close, and now she studied the fine stallion before her, wondering what he would do.
She never got the chance to find out. She sensed it in a heartbeat: Approaching rain, heralded by the clean scent that came before a rainfall. Soft lightning flashed nearby, under the cover of the dying sun, a warning. Amadahy stiffened, knowing the signs. When the other Elemental appeared, she wasn't surprised, but she was less than pleased.
"What do you want, Kendala?" She snapped, still staring at Misae and refusing to engage in the pleasantries.
"My, aren't we cheerful today?" A snide voice commented, and Amadahy whirled around to glare at the owner of the voice.
Kendala was one of the few Elementals that inhabited the jungle Amadahy called home, but the storm and water Elemental had never gotten along well. Kendala used to be Lady's protégée until the night Amadahy was discovered. That night, Kendala moved out of the cave Amadahy inhabited now and moved to a dark, dank cave in the heart of the jungle, resenting the young girl, who had, in her eyes, taken her place in Lady's heart so easily.
For reason, and this reason alone, did she enjoy tormenting Amadahy and telling Lady every little she had been up to when she set off on an adventure that could endanger her.
Amadahy rolled her eyes. "Go away," she snarled sourly, and Misae snorted at her tone, shivering.
Kendala regarded the stallion with interest as the sky began to darken, the predecessor to a dark, jungle night. "What do we have here?" She asked in a simpering tone, her gray eyes mocking the other girl with every syllable she uttered.
"He's mine," Amadahy said proudly, lifting her head and gazing back with dark blue eyes—she was trying in vain to control her temper.
"Tsk, tsk." The storm Elemental shook her head in dismay, shaking her silver hair away from her face. "We're sticking our nose where it doesn't belong, aren't we?" She asked in mock concern. Suddenly, she grinned, a sight that filled Amadahy with dread. "But then again," she commented, "maybe you aren't. Maybe you're right where you belong."
"What are you talking about?" Amadahy asked, her curiously set ablaze by this cryptic message.
Kendala merely shook her head, grinning in that malicious way. "I can't tell you," she said, her smile mocking the water Elemental. Amadahy growled under her breath and curled her hands into fists, but she knew she couldn't do anything against Kendala. The two both possessed the ability to move water, but Kendala could also wield lightning—a deadly talent.
"The gods will tell you in time." The storm Elemental said suddenly, and a silver mist grew around her, and without a good-bye, she disappeared.
Suddenly exhausted, Amadahy curled up under her blanket, her eyes drooping close as Misae came over to nudge her. The last thing she heard as she slipped into the peaceful darkness of sleep was Naida's bidding to sleep.
Sleep well, youngling. I'll be here.
Night had long since fallen, and the jungle creatures had retired to their caves and dens and nests hours ago. Even the plants rustled peacefully in the wind, except for a few.
The plants in the clearing where the Smith caravan was located stirred fitfully, sensing that the plant-man was coming. They could sense his green magic as it flowed through all the vegetation and approached them. But this was no calming, slow, peaceful magic, intent on making them rest; this was the pulsing heat that meant only one thing: the plant-man was angry.
Damek stepped from the silver-lighted trees, a slight smile on his face as he noticed how the plants clamored for his attention, asking what had made him so enraged and what they could do to help him. He reached out to touch the plants around him, telling the ones he couldn't reach that he would tend to them later. The smile slid from his face as his gaze fell on the slumbering girl in the middle of the clearing, cocooned in a dark blanket and guarded by a familiar white wolf.
Naida had scented Damek the second he stepped into the clearing. She would have heard him earlier, but she had been dozing, and hadn't heard his approach until he had broken a twig as he approached. She watched with inquisitive dark eyes as he approached, and Misae snorted, not sure of what to make of this new stranger that smelled of earth and plants.
Kneeling beside the sleeping girl, Damek brushed a few strands of raven-black hair off her forehead, the grim expression slipping into one of tender affection. He brushed his hand against her cheek, memorizing the way her serene face looked in the silver moonlight. He drew his hand away quickly as she stirred, but reached out again, this time to gently, slowly, pick her up and cradle her against his chest.
Naida had risen to her feet as he did, her dark eyes wary and her fur rising in instinctive protectiveness. What are you doing? She asked, staring up at him.
"I'm taking her home." Imp whispered firmly, turning around to start walking back the way he came, into the darkness of the trees.
I wouldn't do that, the wolf advised, lifting her ebony nose to the air. Kendala's coming. She heard the whispered curse from the plant Elemental as she smelled the sickly-sweet smell of approaching thunder, along with the clean scent of rain.
Distant thunder rumbled; Damek watched his surroundings warily, and didn't even flinch when a light pattering of rain started to splatter the ground around him. He glared as the rain abated to show a young woman standing there.
While she had the form of a young woman about eighteen, Kendala was as ageless as Lady was. With silver hair that glowed white in the moonlight, and piercing gray eyes—that had nothing on Amadahy's, Damek thought silently—she cut an imposing figure. Her gray eyes matched her temperament, and Damek hadn't seen her for a few weeks. She was reclusive and nasty, and whatever storms that blew through went she was angry and venting her rage were so violent that Damek often had to shelter with Amadahy and Lady for fear that his hollowed-out tree home would blow over.
"Where do you think you're going?" She asked icily with a menacing smile, her gray eyes gleaming. Damek eyed her warily, knowing that that gleam meant that she knew something he didn't, and that was never a good thing.
"I'm taking Amadahy home." He told her stiffly, refusing to move from where he stood. He shifted slightly, wondering, and the girl's only response to this movement was to snuggle into his chest and fall deeper into sleep.
The storm Elemental smirked as she eyed the two. "Are you sure you're taking her home?" She asked innocently, grinning wickedly, and Damek blushed at the implication. Naida, standing nearby, didn't even need to look at the man to see his flushed face—she could feel the heat radiating off of him.
Damek stiffened and eyed the storm Elemental coldly. "I'm taking her back to Lady." He repeated, "I was instructed to fetch her home."
The smirk was gone from the other's face now, and she almost looked serious. "I wouldn't do that," she warned, "she needs to stay here."
Instinctively, the man's arms tightened around the girl, and he eyed the storm Elemental with distrust and the slightest fear. "Why?"
"The gods have willed it," Kendala said flatly, her gray eyes flashing. "They want her to go with these humans—she is needed, and her family is where they are going."
Damek stared but refused to put Amadahy down. "Her home is here," he insisted, "we—Lady and I—are her family." He shook his head, his dark eyes haunted as he refused to believe the truth he could hear. He knew Kendala wasn't lying—his Elemental senses were telling him that much.
Kendala shook her head, and Damek refused to admit that he saw pity in her gray eyes. "She stays here." She told him, nodding to the sleeping girl. "You know as well as I that Amadahy has a destiny to fulfill, and she won't be happy until she finds her family."
Damek's gaze hardened, and he set his jaw, his broad shoulders ramrod straight as he stared down the other Elemental. "Family or not," he forced out, "I am taking Amadahy home." He glanced at the wolf. "Come on."
"Keep in mind what I said," Kendala warned, her gray eyes flashing as she realized she had been spited. "This will come about in time, for the gods have decreed it!" With a small flash of lightning, one that flashed around the clearing and spooked Misae, who reared and leapt forward, the storm Elemental was gone.
Damek stared after her, his heart sinking with dread, and then he turned to the stallion. Walking over to the horse, he made contact with those blue eyes, and under his unspoken command, the silver stallion knelt obediently. Slipping onto the horse's back, and cradling Amadahy to him, Imp set the horse in the right direction.
Sliding off of Misae's warm back, Damek shivered slightly at the cold wind that pervaded the jungle during the night, hurrying towards the roaring waterfall. He was doubtful the horse would go anywhere; he had sensed the stallion's connection to Amadahy, so he knew that the equine wouldn't move from this spot. Naida at his side, he slipped into the cave to find an impatient Lady awaiting him.
At his entrance, the water spirit flew to his side, her blue eyes frantic. "Is she all right?" She asked hurriedly, taking the girl from his arms and gently settling her down on her bed of mats made of cotton-like plants. Covering her ward up and gazing down at her with a tender expression, Lady turned to the plant Elemental.
"What happened?" She demanded, "You should have been back hours ago."
"She adopted a horse." Damek answered, tiredly, rubbing his face and motioning to the faint outline of Misae just visible outside the wall of water.
"She's getting too comfortable with those travelers." Damek growled, his dark eyes flashing dangerously, and Lady laid a restraining hand on his arm, warning him to be quiet.
"What else?" She asked softly.
"Kendala came," Damek confessed, running his hands through his hair, frustrated.
"Kendala?" Lady's voice was sharp, and Naida gave a warning rumble from where she was next to Amadahy. The girl slept on, unaware of what was happening around her. "What did she want?"
"She said some…unsettling things." Damek confessed, gazing at his mentor with haunted eyes.
"What things?" Lady demanded, but Imp merely shook his head, refusing to say more.
Lady. Naida's voice sounded softly. Kendala told us that the gods had spoken.
At this, Lady's ivory skin drained of all color, and she gazed at the white wolf in shock. "You're sure?" She asked hoarsely, shaking, and Damek wrapped an arm around her, concerned. He had never seen her like this, and he didn't like it.
"What?" He asked, worried, but the water spirit shook her head, silent.
"She's leaving." She murmured softly, sinking down next her charge and stroking the damp, raven-black hair that had fallen over the sleeping girl's face. She turned her face up the ceiling, as if appealing to the gods.
"Oh, Yasmin," she sighed mournfully, "have I really failed you that much?"
"Lady," Damek asked, nervous, "what are you talking about?"
The water spirit refused to answer; instead, she reached out and fingered the blue glass flame that Amadahy wore around her neck. "Her family is in Corus." She murmured, half to him, half to herself.
"What?" Damek couldn't believe his ears, and he stared at his mentor with his mouth hanging open. "They're in Corus? That can't be," he continued, "they've long been dead, haven't they?"
Lady turned to him, and in shock, he realized her eyes were swimming with tears. "No, Damek," she whispered, her voice breaking, "Dahy's family is very much alive. That's way she has to leave. She has to go."
"No," Damek mumbled, backing away. "No, she can't leave."
Lady rose slowly to her feet, shaking her head. She reached out to him, wishing to comfort him. "Damek…"
"No!" Damek yelped, then spun, frantically searching for a way out. Bolting out of the cave, he started out for his hollow tree home, biting back tears.
The water spirit that was once known as Amadahy stared after the young man and sighed in hopelessness. She gazed down at her best friend's oldest daughter, and tears began to drop from her dark blue eyes.
"Oh, what have I done to you?" She whispered to the sleeping girl, but only the silence answered her.
A/N: Well, that was Chapter 3! Slightly angsty at the end, but one of my favorite chapters! Please tell me what you think by reviewing, and no flames please!
