So I know I said I had given up on this, but I couldn't just throw it away! I've decided to have another go; no promises! I also went back and edited the other chapters, so hopefully they don't look so bad. As with all my other stories, don't expect anything soon, but as always, I will try to work fast. I'm really not good at deadlines.

Wind ripped around Coraline's hair as she plunged downward. The young girl had to bite her tongue to stop from crying out, and she fell into the ice-cold lake with barely a splash. Dripping wet and shivering, Coraline clambered out of the water. Looking up, she noticed the three had nearly reached the gates. She sprinted forth as fast as she could, until she reached the black-haired one. Tugging on her sleeve, she whispered firmly "Stop!" Whipping around, the girl stared at her.

Coraline stepped back in shock. Her eyes were lit diamonds, bright blue as they were. This girl certainly wasn't Enderian, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet the wall of the city caught her vision. The citizens of Narglì wouldn't be so accepting. They would see her hair and skin, instantly attacking, perhaps killing, this unknowing girl.

A strange sensation of protectiveness swept over the girl, and she knew she had to get the three away from here.

The sunset-haired girl came up to her. "What do you want?" Her voice was harsh and suspicious, her dark eyes narrowed.

Holding back her fear of this ferocious girl, she near whispered, "don't go into the city, it's not safe."

"Why?" This question came from the black-haired one, her voice sweet and innocent.

What they must think of me, just a little girl. Coraline thought, uncomfotrable under the gazes of the three teenagers.

"You... you look like an Enderian. The city would have you killed," murmured Coraline, finally finding her voice. The black haired and brown haired girl exchanged a meaningful look, after which the latter blushed.

"My name's Zia. These weirdos are Asriel and Eria."

Eria scowled at Zia, but Asriel sighed, shaking her head in amusement.

"I'm Coraline." Coraline smiled weakly.

"Well then Caroline, what do you suggest we do? We're trying to find one girl out of a million, and that city over there is as good a start as any."

Coraline frowned at Eria. For Asriel to slip away now would be too suspicious. They had to find an excuse to get her out of sight immediately. Coraline wet her lips, a plan forming in her mind.

(O}====§‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›

"Welcome, welcome!" The mayor, a slim man in his late forties, waved forward the four guests. He embraced three of them, the other claiming a cold, sinking inside her hooded cloak. The guards around him were relaxed, positive that four young girls could do the city no harm.

"Is there a place we can sleep for the night? My companions and I are weary-"

The mayor cut Eria off, informing them that they'd be more than welcome in the inn. Zia and Eria shared a secret frown, they had nothing with which to pay the innkeeper. Coraline, watching from the edge of the crowd, whispered up to them. "I'll get you money, don't worry."

"Coraline!" The girl froze at the sound of her nursemaid's voice and whispering an apology she slipped away. Turning down an empty street, she waited a minute, calmed down her hair, lowered her hood and briskly waked back into sight.

"There you are!" The nursemaid rushed to her, a scolding forming on her lips. Coraline did not pause to listen, walking over to the crowd and blending with other citizens. The old woman chattered in her ear; it was background noise to Coraline as she plotted how to get some gold coins from her father's purse.

(O}====§‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›

"So. How can you fly?" Skye started at the unexpected question; Susan had been silent for a good few minutes whilst they ate their lunch -two warm steaks from the cows killed earlier. Now she watched the Mage curiously, her emerald eyes searching Skye's blue.

"Uh, I've always been able to control air. My tutor showed me how to condense the air in a way that held my body up."

"Tutor?" Questioned Susan, clearly confused.

"Her name was Aryna, but I was always told to simply call her tutor. She looked like a typical Enderborn; purple hair and blazing magenta eyes... but her skin was blacker than obsidian."

"Odd," murmured Susan. "Like the opposite of albino."

Skye nodded, unsure what an albino was.

"So you can control air as well as fly, and you don't know why?" Skye murmured agreement, somewhat disinterested in the conversation. Her past lay behind her, and she saw no need to look over it again.

(O}====§‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›‹›

Lunch passed with little event, except that I managed to grab a gold and lapis brooch that was only a grain of dust in the piles of jewelry my mother had. My mother, as usual, was as far away from the house as she could possibly be, leaving my nursemaid to guard the fortune of jewels. I had gotten rid of her asking for a new embroidery needle; she would take at least ten minutes to hunt for one, half-blind, then spend the next thirty bragging to other servants that she had managed to get me to want a needle. Sweet idiot.

Brooch carefully tucked in an inner pocket of my cloak, I headed to the market, which lay sprawled by the front gate, and was packed, war or not.

"Hey little girl, fancy a diamond necklace to adorn your pretty neck?" Used to the sellers somewhat perv-ish comments, I walked up to the jewelry vender.

"Do you buy as well as sell?" My voice had a professional sound to it my mum always used, especially when talking to me. The trader instantly took me for someone a lot richer than I looked, saying that he bought only what he sold; the very best.

"How much will you pay for this?" I brought the brooch into the sunlight; gold shone as bright as the sun. I studied the man's face; greed and want were clear all over it.

"Fifty dollars." I stared at him; that wouldn't be nearly enough to pay for three people's stay for more than one night.

"Three hundred, it's pure gold." The seller shook his head

"No more than two hundred. I'm not spending that much on a girl's promise.

"Two hundred and fifty; take or leave it." The trader's expression was that of defeat, yet he seemed somewhat happy with his purchase as he handed over the money. Triple counting, I thanked him politely, and made my way to Narglì's only inn.

I hope you liked this chapter; over 9 months since I last gave you one for EI (O.O) Please tell me if there are any errors, OC's are wanted, (especially for Enderians) and I'll get to work with chapter 10.