Preview

He clung to the dragons neck as it began to fly straight. "I like it!" He said doing another backflip. "ARHH! Lively guy aren't you?" He yelled more than asked. "Shall we head back then?" Kojuro asked coming out of the flip. Kevin's eye's snapped open, "C-could you take me back? Back to my sister?" Kojuro nodded. "I can and will." With that Kojuro took off to the school. 'Hang on sis... I'm on my way.."

..oo000oo.. Meanwhile ..oo000oo..

Alexis still slept in her bed. Matthew and Arron were sitting at her bed side. "When do ya think she'll wake up?" Matthew whispered to his red headed friend who shrugged. "No clue." Short, quick and to the point. That's how Arron was, he didn't like to talk much so when he did it was short and sweet. Matthew, however... Was the complete opposite. He loved to talk, make jokes, and laugh. Makes it kinda weird that all of his friends were completely different. Before he could muse on the thought any longer Alexis sprang up from the bed into a sitting position like a catapult and screaming as she did. "IDON'TWANNABURN!" It happened so quick the boys didn't know what to do at first. Luckily Arron, the more collected of the two, quickly grabbed her as she tried to get out of the bed. "Alexis! Relax! You're safe, you're not in the maze!" Arron said rasing his voice slightly to be heard over her thrashing to get out of his grip. "Wha-where am I?" She said more calmly and quietly now and stoped her thrashing. Arron let her go and cupped her face in his hand's making her look up at him. "It's alright. You're in the female dorm room of our school. You're safe." Alexis stared at him wide eyed, a slight blush and pulled away. "Right... Um.. Ah! Where's my brother?" She yelled trying to get out of bed again only to be stoped by Arron again. "Looking around the school. Back in bed." He said laying her back down and pulling the covers over her. "B-but..." He placed a finger to her lips. "No buts. You need the rest. Trust me." Matthew watched in shock. Not only was this the most he's ever talk EVER but he was actually being... Nice... He was nice but.. Never so.. GENTLE and nice... It was just weird... Maybe Alexis being around would be a good change?

Alexis pulled the cover up to hide the bottem of her face. "Kevin..." She sniffed quietly, teary eyed. She looked so sad... This really surprised the two boys. She was so lively and determined. Now she seemed sad and broken... They didn't like it. "H-hey now! It's okay... I bet you're brother's on his way back right now!" Matthew said petting her forhead gently but she only sobbed quietly. "They probably have never been apart." Arron said quite matter-of-factly. It's true. Alexis and her brother have never really been apart. They hung on each other for support they never got from their parents, teachers or friends. They all jumped when the door swang open to show Kevin and the rest of the group of boys they met. "Alexis you'll never guess- OOF!" Alexis had cut him off mid sentence by tackling him and clinging to her brother and suprising the others. "Where did you go?" She said through her light sobbing and hugged her brother tighter. "Ha ha.. Sorry I left you for so long. I didn't mean too really." He hugged her back and patted her head making her smile lightly. "There's a smile! I got somethin' to tell ya!" He grined as she tilted her head. "C'mon! You have to see it!" He said grabbing her hand and practically dragging her down the hall and out the door. The group of boys looked at each other, shurgged and ran after them.

..oo000oo..

"Ahhhh!" Alexis stared up at the huge icey blue colored dragon in awe. "He... He's.. AWESOME!" She stated making him puff out his chest and hold up his head. "Glad you think so." He said making her giggle and run up to him. "So you're my brother's dragon? That's great! It means we can stay together! Since we're sibblings are you and Tsunami sibblings too?" She asked bouncing on her heels grinning widely. "I believe so. Where is she?" Alexis blinked then turned to the boys. "That's a good question... Where is Tsunami?" The boys shurgged their shoulders making Alexis twitch. "HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW WHERE SHE IS?" She yelled at them. "Relax! She probably didn't go far!" Noah waved his hands nervously. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SHE PROBABLY DIDN'T GO FAR? WHERE COULD SHE HAVE GONE?" Alexis was now in a panic! She was looking back and forth as if Tsunami would just pop up out of no where and fanning her hands up and down, repeating in her mind, 'I have to find her! I have to find her! I have to find her!' The scene was very animated for the others. Good thing Kevin was used to it. "Alexis, relax! I'll help you find her." She gave him her famous puppy eyes. "Really?" He nodded and smiled at her bright face. "Thank you!" She hugged him briffly then turned in deep thought. "Water!" She said after awhile ploping her fist in her hand and turned to them. "Is there a body of water around here? One that seems isolated and quiet?" She asked as the boys looked at each other and talked amongst themselfs. "Not that we know of, no." Kayden said making Alexis slump. "Damn..." She growled crossing her arms. "There has to be something.." She said looking up at the sky. "Oh! I know!" Everyone looked at Kevin. "When I met Kojuro, it was by this lake in the middle of the woods! Maybe she's there?" Alexis put her hands on her hips. "It's worth a shot! Let's go then!" She said turning to Kojuro and jumping onto his back holding her hand out for Kevin, he took it, sat up on Kojuro's back and looked to the others. "Coming?" They nodded and Kojuro took off.

"Isn't this awesome, Kevin?" Alexis said shouted over the wind as they sored through the air. "Yeah! But it'll take some getting use to for me!" He laughed keeping a hold on his sister, fearing she might fall off. "Don't worry bro!" She shouted. "Kojuro won't let us fall! You have to learn to trust your dragon, they're a part of you after all!" Kevin laughed. "Yeah, I know you're right!" Kevin looked out and pointed toward the lake. "There! it's just over there!" Kojuro flew faster toward the lake and circled around the area. "Do you see anything?" Kevin asked as they flew around the lake. Alexis looked just in time to see a large blue, thin looking dragon come from the lake. "Tsunami!" Alexis shouted fighting out of her brothers grip and jumped off Kojuro's back. "Alexis!" As Alexis fell toward the ground she eyed the dragon closely, it was Tsunami! She breathed a sigh of relief, she didn't want to think about what would've happened if she was wrong... "Tsunami!" She yelled as loud as she could and the dragon looked up. "Alexis!" It said and jetted straight toward her, catching her and flying up right past her brother and his dragon. "What are you doing here?" Tsunami asked slowly spinning to a stop, Alexis in her arms. "Looking for you!" Alexis said nuzzling the dragons chest gently. "Were you worried?" Alexis nodded looking up at her. "Of course I was! When your friend goes missing, you worry!" Alexis laughed as Tsunami moved around so Alexis sitting on her back and flying back to her brother. "I am sorry I worried you." Alexis hugged her neck and smiled at her scent. Rainwater. It was the best smell Alexis has ever smelled. It smelled like freedom to Alexis. Freedom... Something the twins never had... Alexis wasn't going to let it go without a fight, she was going to hang onto the feeling of being free for as long as she could. "I swear you're going to give me a heartattack!" Kevin snapped as Tsunami and Alexis reached them and Alexis laughed nervously. "I'm sorry... You know I'm impulsive!" She laughed waving her hand. "That's something we both can live without!" They both laughed and looked over at the five boys staring at them. "You guys are so weird!" Matthew laughed and was joined by the other's. "Do you guys ever fight?" Noah laughed. "Nah!" Said both twins. "If we do-" Said Alexis, "it never lasts." Said Kevin continuing her sentence. The boys laugh, joined by the twins. Alexis noted that even Rick cracked a smile, which looked more like a smirk but a smile none-the-less. "C'mon you crazy twins! Let's head back and feed Alexis before her next trial!" Kayden said taking off toward the school with the boys following him. The twins looked at each other and nodded following him. 'The next trial huh..? I wonder what it could be...' Before she could think about it for too long Alexis had Tsunami push past the boys in a race to get there first.

..oo000oo..

Alexis sat in that same chair, in that same room with the same spotlight shinning down on her. All ten elders stood in front her, just staring at her. "Alexis." The oldest looking one said. "You have won your first trial. Now that you have rested and been fed, it is time for your next trial." He said, the coldness of his voice sent chills down her spine. Another elder walked up to him handed him something and went back to his post. "Alexis. You're next trial is..." He said opening the peice of paper in his hands, it was like a really bad game show. "The Cave of Echos." Okay, that didn't sound to bad. "Cedric. Take her to get prepared." Cedric, also known as Grandpa, walked past Alexis who followed closely on his heels. They went through that old looking door again and Alexis let out a sigh. The tension finally lifted a little. It was a strangling feeling! But now Alexis walked beside Gandpa and was glad for that, really she was. "Grandpa, what is the Cave of Echos?" He stayed quiet for a bit most likely gathering his thoughts. "It is a test of mind and hearing." Mind and hearing? How did that work? "Hearing, can trick your mind into thinking something that is not relevant. Just like sight, smell, touch and taste can." He said as if sensing the question that Alexis had yet to voice. They walked through the second old looking door. "Ahh, this room.." Alexis mused. It was large with all kinds of weapons on the walls and on racks, with the armor she had inspected from before. Not a thing different, except the old cat sitting on the table at the end of the room. Other than that nothing was different.

"Okay Grandpa! What do I need for this trial?" Alexis said turning to the old dragon elder. Again, he was silent for a moment collecting his thoughts. "The Cave of Echos, is a water based trial." Alexis tilted her head at him. "That's good isn't it? I'm water right?" She said smiling. "True. But water is more than it looks. It can be calm then turn and be as rough as a stormy sea. It embodies such emotion and power you can never predict it. Just because you are of water doesn't mean this'll be easy, young one." Well, that was a mood killer... "Okay... So, what do I do or what do I need to know?" Grandpa put his hand to his chin for a moment then looked over at Alexis. "I took this same trial." He said surprising Alexis. That was good right? Maybe he can tell her how to beat it? No... That would be cheating and Alexis was never one for cheating... Maybe a tip or two, but that's all either of them would allow. "This trial is very, very unpredictable. As it should be, the best way I can help... Is not help.." He said with a sigh. What? Not help? WHAT? "What do you mean?" Alexis asked pulling on his sleeve wanting farther details from his mind. "This trial is best done on your own. I would be of no help." Alexis walked around him to face him. "Even the littlest info is help but... I want to do this on my own also so," She said looking down for a moment, "just try to teach me a power I can use!" She said looking back up at Grandpa and fisted her hands. "Something that will be of use to me! It's not cheating if it's just a tip! Just tell me how to and I can handle the rest." Grandpa stared at her for awhile in, not really shock, but surprise. He smiled to him self and cuckled lightly. "What's so funny?" Alexis asked, her shoulders relaxing slightly from their tension and staring rather stupidly at the old man.

"Nothing young one. I do have a tip that will help." Alexis blinked and her shoulders tensed again. "Well?" Grandpa walked past her to the table at the end of the room with Alexis close on his heels. Shooing the old cat off of it and looking over the various items on it. Alexis watched from over his shoulder, knowing full well she could've just stood beside him, and waited for him to turn back to her. When he did it didn't surprise her to much to see him holding a choker necklace a flat blue stone embedded in the middle of it. They sure liked these stones. Grandpa pulled up her right hand and placed the choker in it and closed her fingers over it, holding her hand he looked her dead in the eye's. "Alexis," he started using her real name instead of young one to emphasis the importance of his words. "This necklace allows the user to breath underwater. In time you will be able to do that without the use of this but... Right now there is no time to learn. Rules say you cannot wear it until it is needed. So be careful not to wear it until then." Alexis nodded clenching her fingers around the choker. "Thank you Grandpa, really, thank you." She placed her left hand over his and smiled. "You are welcome. Come, let us be off now." He said releasing the hands and leading them toward the same the door they entered. Alexis grabbed onto his sleeve as they walked out into the halls and out onto the grounds.

..oo000oo..

God did Alexis feel anxious and what's the word? Self conscious? Yeah, that's probably it. Why? Because, in order to get to this cave they had to go through the school grounds... And it was after school apparently! Everyone, ahem, every BOY they passed stared and whispered as they passed by. Alexis, being who she is, put on her brave face. Head held high, eye's set forward, her back straight and her arms swung slightly as she walked behind Grandpa. Inside herself however, she was freaking out. She didn't like the attention they were giving her. Some shouted at her, she didn't hear them over her frantic thoughts until one got to her. "Hey girly! You the new maid or something? Hahaha!" Alexis stoped mid-step and turned to the laughing boy and his friends. "What was that?" They looked up and grinned. "You heard me." Alexis glared. "Maybe I shouldn't have." She turned to him and crossed her arms. "I believe you owe me an apology." She said still glaring as he stepped forward. "I owe you nothing." He went to shove her and Alexis reacted accordingly, quickly grabbing him by the forearm and bicep and flipping him onto his back, then turning him on his stomach and twisting his arm behind his back and placing her foot inbetween his shoulder blades. "Argh!" He practically yelped as she held him there. "Are you sure you have nothing to say to me? Huh, punk!" She said pulling on his arm slightly gaining another yelp from him. "Argh! Okay, okay! I'm sorry.." He said quietly making her pull his arm again. "I can't hear you!" She barked. "Ah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She let him go and steped back as he collected himself off the ground. By this time they had drawn a fairly large crowd around them. "You better watch how you address people in the future. They just might be the end of you, punk." She snaped and steped backward three steps away from him and turned around to see a wall of boys blocking Grandpa from her. "Move it." She barked at them and they quickly cleared her path as she moved quickly to stand by Grandpa. "She is going to be one of us soon. Treat her with the same respect as each other!" Grandpa said and all the boys flinch. "Yes, Elder!" They said and Grandpa lead Alexis from them lingering a glare on the boy that challenged her before turning her back and walked away.

Once they were out of sight Alexis slumped her back and groaned. "This was not how I wanted to meet everyone..." She sighed straighting her back and looking up at the sky. "At least I'll know you can hold your own against a male that threatens you." Alexis half laughed. "Pfft! Please! That guy was no different than the boys I used to fight back home! Just another punk to add to my butt kick list!" She said crossing her arms and gainning a surprised look from Grandpa. "You used to fight?" Alexis waved her index finger. "I still fight." She corrected him. "Guys picked fights with me and my brother all the time at our old school, the place I used to work, the mall, skate parks, anywhere they thought they could jump us and beat the hell out of us. We showed them everytime, sure we'd be a little beaten up too, but we were the winners." Alexis half sighed as she spoke letting her arms hang loose at her sides and stared forward. "You've had to fight all your life, haven't you?" Grandpa asked and Alexis nodded. "One more fight on my belt doesn't really mean anything to me. Just another day to stay alive." They remained quiet the rest of the way to this cave. They really didn't know what to say to ease the tension. It didn't matter anyway, Alexis was to tense about the trial to relax now. "How much longer till we get there?" Of course she had to ask. "It's just beond these trees." When had they reached the forest? Alexis must of really spaced out to not have noticed.

Alexis had a rough time getting through the under brush that lined the trees they were passing but luckily Grandpa would help her. He laughed to himself. Seeing her struggle with the bushes as they snagged her clothes and hearing her quiet cursing, you wouldn't even think you had just seen her grab, flip and restrain a boy twice her size! 'What an odd ball.' He laughed as she nearly fell over after freeing her shirt from the branches. "Got it!" She looked over at him and glared. "What are you laughing at?" She almost hissed as Grandpa laughed slightly louder. "Nothing, nothing. Come, we must get going." He said shooing her to walk beside him. They were now on a beaten path. Alexis put her hand to her forhead and squinted her eyes, she could just barely see what she thought was the cave in the distance and a few figures around it. It didn't take them long to reach it either. Five minutes at the most. "Lexie! There you are!" Kevin said jogging to his sister and hugging her breifly. They walked up to the elders, they turned to her and cleared a path to the entrance to the cave. "Are you ready to enter?" Trick question. They were going to make her go into the cave weather she was ready or not, but she replied anyway. "Yes." They guided her toward the opening close enough to hear a water drop echo through the cave. "The dripping sound you hear is the very meaning of this cave." One of them had said. "The echo of this single drop can be heard through out the cave." Said another. "Until you reach the main sorce of water within the cave." Said another elder. "To beat this trial you must find the main sorce of water and bring back an item that is out of place there." Alexis nodded and turned from the cave. "Well, no use wasting time just standing here." She said looking over at her brother. "Don't look so worried Kev! I'll be just fine!" She said smiling at him and waved before turning and walking into the cave. "You had better be Lexie!" She waved her hand before disappearing into the dark cave.

..oo000oo..

It was so dark Alexis could barely see her hand in front of her face! Not a sound either. Just that driping water. It was spaced apart about ten seconds, loud and consistent with no sign of stoping anytime soon. "Okay..." She whispered to herself. "This is a test of hearing and mind right? I just have to stay calm and focus on the path ahead." She sighed taking in a deep breath. Feeling along the wall to help guide her way farther into the cave. "Is it a straight away, or will there be twists and turns like in the maze?" She question herself and sighing knowing she'll have to find the answer on her own. However, it seemed to be straight away. No turns at all. Yet. Alexis knew it was only a matter of time before this cave threw a curve ball at her. "How far have I gone I wonder.." She whispered to herself again. She walked for over twelve minutes so she had to have gone a bit far. She stuffed her free hand into her pants pocket with a huff. "Hmm?" She pulled her hand out of the pocket to hold the choker she was given, even when she held it up to her face and squinted she couldn't see it. "Oh well, I don't need it right now." She said stuffing it back into her pocket savely. "Gurgle..." Alexis stoped dead in her tracks. 'What was that?' She thought to herself. 'It sounded like a gurgle but... Not like any water I've ever heard... Or animal...' Alexis looked around but only saw darkness and groaned inwardly. There was no way she would see anything even if something was there. "Gurgle... Grrr..." Okay! Something was really there for sure now. 'Where is it coming from?' She thought franticly. 'Wait... I can't get rild up like this.. Stay calm... Deep breaths...' Alexis mentally calmed herself, closing her eye's and taking in deep slow breaths. She listened carefully... It was quiet. Drop... Drop... Drop... The drops were all that could be heard. "Gurgle..." There it was! The sound she'd been hearing. It sounded like it was coming from behind her. Alexis stood there for a minute before turning around in the darkness, hearing the gurgle grow as she did. When she fully turned around, she was met by a pair of glowing yellow eye's and against her better judgment. She screamed. "AAAAH!"

..oo000oo..

"AAAAH!" The group of males heard from deep within the cave. "Alexis!" Kevin made a dash for the cave only to be snatched by the arm from Grandpa. "Let me go dammit!" He yelled trying to pull his arm from the old mans grip, he just held onto his arm and tightened his grip. "I said, LET GO!" Kevin demanded. "If you go into the cave while her trial is in effect than she will automatically lose and will be tossed out." Kevin stoped trying to pull his arm from Grandpa and stared at him, concerned, then angry again. "I'd rather her be alive and not here than be dead and in a cave! Let go!" He shouted pulling on his arm. "She said she wanted to do this on her own!" Grandpa barked making Kevin and the younger males flinch. "If you know her as well as you say you do, then how would she feel if you stoped her from completing this trial?" Grandpa chanced letting go of Kevins arm, luckily he just stood there. Not that Grandpa couldn't catch him if he tried to head for the cave. "Fine. If anything happens to her..." He paused not really wanting to jinx it so he just left the rest to hang. "I CALL BULLSHIT ON THIS!" They heard from the cave signaling she was still alive.

..oo000oo..

As soon as Alexis saw those bright yellow eyes she had turned tail and ran as fast as she could through the cave as possible. Which was very hard by the way. She was tripping over what she assumed to be rocks or slipping on the damp flooring of the cave. When did it get damp? Where was the water coming from? "Gurgle..." Oh yeah, like THAT was the most of her worries. She dared to look behind her. Bright yellow eyes. Whatever it was, it was definitely chasing her! Then a sound hit her ears. Rushing water. 'Where's THAT sound coming from?' Alexis thought trying her best to keep a fast pace ahead of the thing chasing her. She couldn't think for too long though. Because as she took the chance of trying to put more distance between them by leaping forward, she soon regreted it. Feeling nothing under her feet, she started falling downward. "Oh, fuck ME!" She barked grabbing blindly for the edge she couldn't see. "Got ya!" She snaped gripping on a slightly jagged edge of cave wall.. Floor... WHATEVER. She held onto it with a death grip and tried pulling herself up over it... "Gurgle..." Alexis groaned outloud. Perfect! Just perfect! She was hanging on the edge of a possibly deadly hole in a dark cave and now this... This THING could get at her. Perfect. Alexis was met with those yellow eyes staring down at her. "Uh, hi. You wouldn't, by chance, be here to help me would you?" She joked darkly as the thing growled at her loudly. "I guess not." The eyes started lowering toward her and Alexis had to think fast! "Fuck it!" With that last curse she let go of the wall and watched the eye's get farther away. "I CALL BULLSHIT ON THIS!" She screamed before her back made contact with the wall behind her. "Ark!" The blow made her turn in the air and her back contacted the other side. "Dammit!" The hole must only been slightly larger than she was!

As she fell Alexis put her hands over her head as her shoulders and back made contant multiple times. "What is this? The hole to wounderland?" She shouted bitterly. Then Alexis was consumed by the chilling touch of water. She gasped taking in a mouth full of water when she did and clasped her hands over her mouth. She looked around her in vain as it was to dark so she swam upward, only to hit her head on the cave ceiling, placing her hands on it as she began to panic. 'Where's the hole?' She inwardly coughed desperate for air. 'Oh god...' She placed her hand over her mouth and throat the lack of air getting the best of her, as it would any air breather. 'Wait..!' She thought digging a hand into her pocket and pulling out the choker. It could let her breath underwater! Fumbling with the accessory blindly the water making her movements slugish and difficult. She finally slipped the choker around her and fastened the buckle tightly and then the clasp that went over the buckled part, most likely to keep it on in battle or something. Once it was secure around her neck Alexis felt air fill her deprived lungs once again. She took in a deep breath, then another, panting softly she regained her composure. She sank away from the ceiling toward the bottom, which didn't take long. This place must not be very tall... Maybe about as tall as three and a half of Alexis's 5"3 height. But than again, she was only guessing. For awhile Alexis just floated there, thinking. 'What will I do now? I haven't the foggiest idea where to go... IF I can go anywhere...' She sighed closing her eye's as muffled sounds of bubbles were made. She decided that just floating there wouldn't help anything so she started swimming to her left. She didn't know where it went but it was probably better than staying there.

It wasn't until after three minutes of swimming did Alexis see a little blue dot in the darkness of this cave. 'What's that?' Alexis kicked her legs faster placing her arms tight to her sides so they weren't in her way as she swam. As she got closer she saw the dot get bigger. It wasn't just blue, she noted, but a mixture of pink, green, yellow and white. If she didn't know better she would think it was beautiful but she knew just because it was pretty didn't mean it wasn't dangrous. After and good 4 minutes Alexis was blinded briefly by the light she was swimming towards. "Damn... What would be so bright down here?" She blinked sluggishly and continued toward the light. "I wounder if I'm dead? Haha, If I am then is this the light at the end of the tunnle?" She thought darkly stopping at a small opening in a wall that was no bigger then that of a tunnle slide at a park if not a little smaller. It was just big enough for her to fit through. "It's gotta lead to something..." She thought ducking her upper body downward to wriggle her way into the cave hole. Luckily, the light didn't kill her eyes as she though it would. It was fairly easy to grab onto the sides and make her move quicker through the tiny cave. After a few minutes of quiet cursing and small cuts from grabbing onto sharp cave rocks she pulled herself out of the tunnle and braced herself onto it to catch her breath. Haha, that's funny. Trying to catch her breath underwater, HA! But, she was getting tired. All that running before was starting to take it's toll on her. She let out a big sigh and turned herself around to continue onward. 'Oh wow...' Alexis looked on at a huge underwater cave filled with large colorful crystals that seemed to light up the whole cave. She swam out toward a large crystal that must have been three times her size! Carefully, she placed her hand on the crystal and pulled it back. The crystal was warm! Pulsing even! Placing her hand back onto it she inwardly sighed, it was very pleasent. 'Okay... These aren't out of place since there are so many of them...' Alexis thought swimming around the crystal to look around the cave. 'What could be out of place here?...'

Alexis turned her head toward a muffed sound of rocks falling down, peeking around the crystal she was in front of she saw a black figure looking around itself and it looked in her direction. Yellow eyes. 'Fuck!' Alexis quietly cursed ducking behind the crystal. Looking around her quickly she noticed a tiny wall of crystals leading toward the cave wall to a cluster of crystal she could easily hide behind. She had just ducked down behind the tiny wall in time the figure sped over her. 'Fuck! That thing is fast! There's no way I can out swim it...' She thought swimming along the little wall toward the cluster of crystals. Luckily she reached it without the black figure noticing her and tucked herself between the cluster and the cave wall tightly to think of a plan. 'Okay... Fleaing is out of the question, It's just to fast. There's no telling how strong it is, so offence is out.. That only leaves defensive... Okay, but I have nothing to defend myself with...' Alexis looked around her little hiding spot for something, anything that she could use to help her. 'Hmm...' Alexis eyed a piece of crystal that was about half the length of her forearm but it was slightly thinner and looked strong enough... Only question was, could she break it of the cluster and with out it shattering? 'Worth a shot.' With that final thought Alexis grabbed the crystal and started to pull. It was on there good! But luckily Alexis was stubborn and kept pulling.

Chunk

'Got it!' Alexis beamed clenching her fist around the crystal to get a good grip on it. 'Alright, now I just have to find the - AHH!' Alexis hadden the time to even finish that thought before a clawed hand grabbed her by the bicep and yanked her from her hidding spot. The claws, along with the crystals, dug into her hoodie and skin under it. She yelped out before being flung out into the open water. She quickly righted herself from her spinning and stared at the yellow eyed figure. This was the first time she really got a good look at it. It was tall, like eight feet tall, inhumanly thin but no visitable bones. Skin as black as oil, what she guessed to be pointed ears and long talon like fingers and feet with a flat spike on the top of its head like a shark fin. Alexis shook her head and swam as fast as she could toward the center of the cave. When Alexis was struck in her left side she let out a gasp taking it a mouth full of water. A red cloud. The thing had cut into her side, not badly, probably a warning. Holding her side she glanced around. Nothing but crystals all along the wall's, but on a pedestal like arch in the middle of the cave floor is a huge pearl. Like, soccer ball sized. 'THAT'S why it gave me that warning! It's probably protecting that pearl... Well, if it is then that must be what I'm looking for in here...' It did look out of place here. A huge pearl in the middle of a crystal cave? Might as well put a huge neon sign on it saying, "HEY! I'M WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR!" So despite the attack she just got Alexis swam for the pearl.

Bad idea. Since Alexis was struck in the back by yellow eye's. Thats what she's calling it now. Yellow eye's. As Alexis was surrounded by a watery cloud of her own blood, thus creeping her out. She woundered how she could get close. She didn't have time to think since Yellow eyes dug its claws into her arm and effectively slamed her into a cluster of crystals, crushing them as it did so. It held her there, just staring until she looked up to face it. "Leave." It said to her. If she wasn't in so much pain she would have thought it sounded worried. "I can't..." She answered back. Bubbles leaving her mouth and somewhat muffling her voice underwater. It growled at her and dug its other clawed hand into her other arm and pulled her back from the broken crystal wall only to slam her back into it. "LEAVE!" Alexis gave a choked yell and glared weakly at it. "I said I CAN'T!" Alexis has had enough! Griping the the chunk of crystal she still had in her hand tightly she bent her elbow and struck yellow eye's in its arm as hard as she could. A cloud of green came into Alexis' view, she blinked then stuck again. This time in yellow eye's shoulder then slashed at its chest for good measure. Pushing herself off the wall she swam as fast as she could toward the pearl. She was going to be damned if this thing was going to stop her now! Once she reached the pearl she wraped her arms tightly around it. "I've got ya..." Using her legs to push off the cave floor she swam upward. Maybe if she could get out onto dry land she would have a chance.

Sadly, she didn't even get that far before she was yanked back down by her ankle and slamed into the cave floor struggling to keep the pearl in her arms as yellow eye's clawed at her to get it. "GIVE IT!" A mist of red and green floated around the two. Alexis yelled out as yellow eye's claws dug into her arm, shredding the soft flesh as it went. Rising her leg for a sluggish but strong kick and detached the attacking monster off her for some distance. The mist of her blood and yellow eye's blinded her sight. Clutching the pearl to her chest she swam upward again. And again she was yanked down by her ankle only this time yellow eye's held her tightly with one skinny arm and tried to pry the pearl out of her vice grip. Alexis gave an animalistic growl and once she could she bit into yellow eye's wrist. The foreign taste of salt mixed with copper filled her mouth but she didn't let it go. Now its focus was on getting Alexis to let it go, tugging and grabing her head with it's other hand to try and get loose but the more yellow eye's tried to get free the harder Alexis bit down. Luckily she had good teeth. She wasn't sure what she was going to do now, but she's the queen at thinking on her feet. So her brother say's.

That's when an idea hit her. Quickly she let yellow eye's go as he swang her out to smash her against a crystal cluster and held out a hand. "Wait! Wait!" Yellow eye's stoped staring and waiting for her to continue. "Okay! I'll... I'll give it back..." She gasped swimming back when yellow eye's reached out toward the pearl. "Wait! Before I do, I want to get onto the surface! So... So I know I can leave!" She waved away the mist of mixing bloods and water to keep her eye on her monstrous attacker. It looked like yellow eye's was thinking about her offer. If it could think. In a blink yellow eye's rushed her! Hooking an arm around her stomach and swam upward with a speed that could only be compared to a speed boat. With a large splash Alexis was flung onto the surface floor gasping for a breath and with one hand she reached for the clasp of the choker. After it was open she tore the accessory off her neck and gasped in the damp air for her lungs. Placing the choker into her pocket Alexis lifted herself up along with the pearl. It weighed about as much as a cinder block! She looked up at yellow eye's as it narrowed it's eye's at her and held out it's hands. "Give it." Alexis laughed and stood up weakly with the pearl in her arms. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to trust a human?" She grinned and by the time yellow eye's realized she had tricked him into getting her on land she had already raced past him into the cave hole behind him with the pearl.

"Just as I thought.." Alexis said to herself. "He's made for water.. Not land." Alexis looked behind her to see yellow eye's a good distance behind her. She couldn't give a good measurement on how far behind he was but it was far enough that he couldn't touch her. This gave new power to Alexis' weaked body pushing her forward. Everynow and then yellow eye's would get close enough to claw her back but then he'd fall back as Alexis swerved by rocks she would spot at the last minute. "Couch, you were SO right!" She yelled to herself as she pushed forward.

Drip... Drip... Drip...

The dripping! She was close to getting out of here! Just a little longer...

..oo00oo..

Kevin was pacing. Pacing back and forth. He had been ever since Alexis disappeared into the cave counting the minutes she spent in there. 54 minutes and 49 seconds. And that guy Rick, oh was he getting on his nerves... Last time he said something Kevin threatened to stap him in the mouth with a stick. He hasn't said a word since. Sometimes Matthew, Noah and Arron would try to calm him down and tell him everything was fine... But he would just tell them he won't be calm until Alexis comes back out of that cave. He did try though, he learned a little bit about the guys. He learned that Arron talking and interacting with anyone other than their group was strange. That Noah was Kaydens younger brother by a year and that Noah was adopted. Rick was from a rich family and had daddy issuses. Matthew was pretty much normal with a bipolar attitude. This was all fine and dandy but it didn't help him worrying about Alexis. Being twins, Kevin just knew she was still alive but the fact that her dragon, Tsunami, was curled up in her small form in Matthews lap and shaking and whimpering told him she was in pain. This fact alone made him bite his nail's unti it hurt and pace faster, until he snaped. "URGH! I can't stand it anymore!" Kevin shouted ruffling his fist's in his already wild hair. "How are we supposed to know she's not lost? Or worse!" He snaped pointing at Tsunami. "Calm down." Was all that came from Arron along with a sigh. "Stop telling me to calm down! You really expect me to be calm when my only sister, my TWIN sister, could have been sent to her death?" Kevin panted from his shouting and rest his head in his hands. "I can't keep standing here and waiting..." Kevin looked up from his hands when he felt someone patting his shoulder. "I understand that you are worried." Said the elder Cedric, the one Alexis came here with. "But you must understand... That this is what must be done. It's our way." Kevin sighed and removed Cedrics hand from his shoulder walking away to stare at the caves mouth.

"KEVIN!" He blinked. Kevin squinted to see into the cave to see the darkened figure running toward him. It was Alexis! She's alive! "ALEXIS!" Kevin went to meet her but was quickly grabbed by Cedric. "She must walk out on her own." He said against Kevin's struggling. Everything seemed to stop when she came into view, like it was in slow motion. The moment Alexis steped out of the cave and stoped she was tackled by an ugly black creature and was now wrestling with it. "Alexis!" He tried to get out of Cedric's grip but he only held him tighter.

..oo00oo..

Well, this isn't what Alexis was expecting when she left the cave. Being slashed to hell again as yellow eye's tried to get the pearl. "Get off me you fucker!" She cursed loudly kicking it off of her now that she wasn't slowed down by water. Getting back to her feet gave yellow eye's a good round house to the head and effectivly knoucking it on its back. She gave it a good kick to the side and ran over to the Elders gaving one of them the pearl. "If this isn't what I needed to find... I'm going to be sooo pissed off..." She said between pants as she turned to watch yellow eye's getting up and glaring at her. To her surprise he looked from her to the Elder holding the pearl and turned heading back into the cave. "That sonova..." She didn't get to finish as an Elder cleared his throat. "You have done well." Alexis sighed heavily and slumped her shoulders. "You have found the needed item to pass." The elder said turning and walking away. "Wait a minute!" Alexis said making him turn back around. "After all that hell I just went through I don't even get to keep it?" She half laugh not really serious about the pearl. To her surprise yet again the Elder threw the pearl to her. With an 'umph!' Alexis caught it and tilted her head at the Elder. "You may have your prize." He said and walked away. "Thank you..."

Alexis turned toward her brother and grined giving him a thumbs up before falling to her knees. This time when Kevin went for his sister he wasn't stoped. Droping to his knees he pulling the pearl from her arms and set somewhere to the side and grabed her face gently to look her over. Her trade mark black and white hoodie was drenched in blood and something green and torn badly. It was ruined. Large cuts and gashes marked her skin alover her upper body. No surprise why Tsunami was whimpering and shaking. "Alexis. Alexis stay awake! C'mon, you have to stay awake..." Kevin said shaking her a little as her eyes began to close. "I can't... Lost.. Too much blood..." Was the last thing she said before her head fell back and she was out. "Alexis! Alexis wake up!" Kevin paniced shaking his twin trying to wake her. "Kevin, it'll be alright." Kayden said putting a hand on his shoulder. Taking Alexis from him Kayden lifed her up and made his way back to the school with Kevin close on his heels.

..oo00oo..

Writer: I'M SOOOOOO SORRY FOR THE WAIT! My love helped me out with this as always, thank you! Okay so R&R! Thank you for reading!