Rogen and Leyda were preparing lunch when they heard from Jaden's workshop a scream and metal clanging to the ground. They dropped what they were doing and rushed to the adjacent building just in time to see him falling from the loft.
"Jaden!" Leyda screamed as Rogen flew to catch him. She dashed to them.
"He's unconscious." Rogen stood up, holding his friend.
"What's wrong? What happened? It sounded as if he was in pain. Maybe he hurt himself?"
Rogen stared at her in disbelief. "You know better. He's extremely careful when working. Now, as for what happened? We will just have to wait for him to wake up. Let us get him comfortable. You should probably turn off the stove. I will place him on the couch so we both can keep an eye on him."
"Alright." She ran to the door, only to stop to look back in worry. "Please be okay, Jade."
Night fell. Rogen and Leyda were eating a light dinner when a groan was heard from the couch. Both fell silent, checking if they heard correctly. Another groan had them rushing to their friend.
"Jaden?" they both asked.
His eyes opened to see two blurry friends. "Is that you Leyda? Rogen?" They nodded. He blinked away the blurriness. "What's with the worried expressions and why is my head killing me?"
"We heard you scream in pain and found you falling from the loft, unconscious. That was at lunch, five hours ago."
"Really?" Jaden pushed himself up, but a wave of dizziness hit him. "Ugh." Leyda quickly got him water and helped him drink. "Thanks. That helped a bit. Since I'm blank, could you guys refresh me what we all were doing up till lunch?"
"Well," Rogen began, "Leyda and I checked on Shadow after breakfast. He was reading the information you gave him, until some bat we believe to be his girlfriend arrived. At nine, we checked up on GUN movement, which remains still for the moment. Grocery shopping at 10:30. During all this, you were doing deliveries for people. Few minutes before lunch, you wanted to work on a project. Leyda and I were preparing the meal when we heard you scream in pain."
Jaden sat confused. "I just remember a blinding pain in my head. It was unbearable. Like something or someone invaded my mind . . ." He gasped and stood in sudden realization.
"What is it, Jaden?" Leyda stood nervously beside him. "What did you realize?"
"It can't be . . ."
This mood in his friend unnerved Rogen. Rarely was Jaden this shaken over something. When it did happen, it usually spelt disaster for them.
"But it's . . ."
Both of his friends knew it was wise to give him time to verbally declare whatever he was struggling with. If either spoke, he would shut off and leave.
"After so long . . . but something's different . . . I can't be sure until I see . . . I don't want to lose hope . . . Should I?"
To release this sudden energy of nervousness and fright, he paced back and forth. His friends did their best to ignore and not worry as they finished their cold supper. Meal over, they returned to sit on the couch. Jaden disappeared to his room, only to reappear with a green sphere gem.
Rogen broke the silence. "What do you intend on doing?"
"A test," was all Jaden said without taking his glance off the jewel. "My power isn't the greatest as I left home before my powers emerged. I've had to teach myself. This should amplify my power enough for me to connect."
"Connect?" Leyda asked.
Jaden shook his head. "I don't know for sure which is why I have to check. I must know." He closed his eyes in concentration.
"I hate it when he does this to us," Leyda whispered to her friend.
Rogen nodded. "Hopefully this won't get us in trouble."
Diamond and Blaze stayed up into the night talking about girl things when Diamond stilled.
"Diamond?"
"Hush." Diamond stood, her ears poised for the noise she heard. "Do you hear something?"
Blaze tilted her head in confusion and listened carefully. "Apart from the boys, nothing."
"I was positive I heard . . . Jade!" she exclaimed out of nowhere. "Is that you, Jade?"
"Who's Jade?"
Diamond was brimming with joy. "Jade is my twin brother! "
Jaden dropped the emerald and staggered back in utter shock. His eyes were wide and flowing with many emotions.
Leyda and Rogen were on either side of him to steady him.
"What happened!?"
"Leyda, . . ."
"What?"
His voice shook as he said, "Help me."
She looked to Rogen confused. He shrugged. "With what?"
"To believe that this is truly happening. That the person I just connected to was none other than my sister."
"Diamond!?" both Rogen and Leyda shouted.
Blaze was calming a worried albino hedgewolf. Diamond had felt the connection brake after she confirmed the voice to Blaze. Worry had immediately set in for her older brother. Did something happen to him? His voice had only carried curiosity and suspicion. Why was he suspicious?
"I have to find him." She headed for the door.
"Can't you wait until tomorrow?" Blaze stopped the girl's movements. "We can help you find him then. Would you even know where to begin your search if you went alone? You'd be wandering for days or months searching for him."
"I would be able to find him because he is my twin. Before I disappeared, we were always able to know where the other was."
"That was before. What about now? Can you right now know where he is?"
Diamond stared at the ground as she searched through the bond. It wasn't strong as it once was. In fact there was barely a bond. Was this a result of her disappearance? All she could get was that he was not distant.
"Only a vague idea."
"Just wait then, okay?" Blaze smiled to comfort her. She then pulled the girl back to their bed. "Now let's get some sleep."
"Fine."
The new moon aided a figure, who was sneaking out of town. A few times the person made sure no one was following. A quick getaway was needed. Once the person thought it was safe, the pace quickened immediately. Wind blew hard as the person disappeared.