Chapter Ten: The Right Way

Sky Arena, 11:58 PM – Tuesday, Nov. 28

Azurite sat cross legged, taking in deep breaths.

Inhale for seven, exhale for three..One, two..

He raised his right hand, shooting a burst of energy skyward, disappearing before they had a chance to hit the floor. Andesine sat across from him, her head resting on her hand, and it was obvious that she was bored of watching Azurite meditate.

"Can I go now? I'm really tired.." Her eyelids were heavy and her voice drifting away. She seemed to be doing the same, and collapsed before Azurite could answer. She snored softly, in a way that Azurite thought was cute.

The ground around her shot up, and it looked like something splashed into the water, the impact making the water shoot up a bit – but with stone and quartz.

Azurite touched it with his left hand, burning it. His hand, now slightly lavender-colored, hurt like heck. The spikes around Andesine were now growing and curving, keeping her in a small capsule of sorts, for protection.

A Gem poked her head out from behind a pillar. She was tiny and cat-like, and seemed like a smaller version of Tiger's Eye. Her hair was ombre, too, like Tiger's Eye. Her face was like that of a porcelain doll's – fragile and detailed.

Azurite noticed her. "Hi. Who might you be?"

She left her hiding spot to get a better glance at him. Her eyes widened before she turned and jumped off the Sky Arena, gliding down.

–

Andesine woke up, the capsule falling around her like one of Steven's shields. She had a stupid look on her face, and her heavy eyelids could not stop falling.

"Rise and shine," Azurite whispered, leaning over her.

"Huh... D-did I fall asleep?"

"Surprisingly, yes. I'm astounded that you even did... Gems don't get tired."

The Gem from earlier watched them from the safety of her pillar. Her claws were out – she was to attack them without question. She dashed forward, leaving deep gashes in Azurite's back.

He gasped, but it was cut short. He disappeared in a light blue cloud, his gem falling to the floor. It bounced twice, clinking, before arriving at Andesine's feet.

She shook her head. "No!" She summoned her hammer, avoiding slashes from the Gem, who was about as tall as Ruby and Sapphire were.

She brought it down on her head and she poofed. It looked like a firework – she exploded into brown and yellow particles, with a bit of white in the middle. Andesine walked over to the spherical gem, which also had white running down the middle of it. It was mainly brown with yellow streaks.

She put it in an orange-pink bubble, studying the gem inside. "Hm, it can't be a Tiger's Eye. Too small, too perfect, unlike the personality. Perfect facial features as well. Long retractable claws, all shiny and white. No doubt about it, it's Cat's Eye."

She picked Azurite's gem off the floor and left the Arena, warping back to the Temple.