Wowee. "Done with the hiatus," I said. "Probably will get back into a schedule," I said. Well, that obviously didn't happen. Anyways, I'm back, it feels like it wasn't that long ago that I posted something but a lot of stuff sure has been happening. Got caught up in life stuff, again. School's trying to drown me on land with all the homework they are giving us. But it's almost over. Just got a couple more days to go. Then I'm going out of the country for 10 days and then I'll be able to write this story to my heart's content.
Anyways, I was going to make this chapter super long, but I just can't write out this fight scene that's at the end of the chapter. It just sounded awkward and it was hard to picture what all the characters were doing. Oh well. Maybe when I'm in a more fighting mood I'll be able to write it. I just wanted to thank everyone who's still here after how long it's been. You're reviews mean a lot to me. I just wanted to say thanks.
I'll see you whenever I'm able to get the next chapter out. I've got several essays that need to be done first but I'll try to fit it into the non-existent spare time that I have.
StoriesAreMagic-Ya, Nya and Kai had this a long time coming. I'm working up to things like these because there will be only one winner. I've already decided who it will be and most of the other character deaths are already planned out. Now I've just got to place the stepping-stones and then we'll have a full Tournament of the Elements Hunger Game story.
MidnightLokilover- Rip. You didn't really need that heart, didn't you? Oh, you did? I hope you at least stay alive to read the rest of the story. Ya, Nya's dead. And let me tell you, Kai is going to be really upset. Sorry, Kai.
RandomDragon2.0- *Pats Kai on the back* It's okay buddy. You still have Jay. It was just fated that one of you would die.
Guest- Ahh the "just for a minute" excuse that I tell myself every single time I'm starting to procrastinate. I'm only going to watch this youtube video for just a min-holy moly! It's been 3 hours!?
LLOYD (Day 12)
Lloyd awoke to someone's soft giggling. Blinking, Lloyd turned over onto his stomach to find out what was going on. Cole was whispering quietly to Zane, who was blushing and giggling. Whatever the older boy was saying to him was amusing and embarrassing him at the same time.
"Oh, morning, Lloyd," Zane waved, "I hope we didn't wake you."
"Not at all," Lloyd yawned, stretching without leaving his sleeping bag, "What are you guys up to?"
"Not much. Just relaxing before we get up," Cole said, rolling out from under the blankets he and Zane were sharing.
"Hey!" Zane yelped as Cole took all the covers with him, "You're being a blanket hog, again."
"I have no clue what you mean," Cole teased, rolling further away from Zane as he tried to reach the edge of the blanket.
"That's it," Zane pounced on Cole, trying to wrestle the covers from Cole.
"Hmm, I think Zane underestimated the power of the blanket monster," Cole winked at Lloyd, sweeping Zane up and wrapping the covers tightly around him.
"Look, now you have all the covers and I have a Zane burrito," Cole laughed, as Zane tried to wiggle out of them.
Cole scooped him up and tossed him over his shoulders. He pretended to almost drop Zane, making him shout before shooting Cole a glare. Lloyd felt almost as if he was intruding, the two seemingly 'wrapped up' in their own little world.
"Okay, okay!" Zane giggled, "I give up. Put me down."
Cole unrolled Zane who quite unsuccessfully tried to tackle Cole straight afterward. Even though Zane was straining to push him over, all it took was Cole leaning his hip out to the side to remain sturdy.
"Morning!" Zaddic burst into the tent, Asher floating silently in afterward.
As soon as he materialized, Zane was circling him asking a million questions per second.
"Oh! Cool! You're the master of smoke! What's it like to be able to turn into smoke? Can you fly as high as you want? Can you get out of the dome and escape the Tournament? What happens if you separate? Can you lose a piece of your smoke? What about wind? Does that-"
"Shh, Zane," Zaddic was hushing the small boy, "Asher's not much of a talker."
"Oh," Zane replied looking a little dejected.
He perked up again, "I used to be shy, too. Can you believe that? It's a lot easier to be shy when no one wants to talk to you. But then-"
"How about, we get some breakfast," Zaddic smiled, interrupting Zane.
"Count me in!" Lloyd jumped up from his sleeping bag, eager to fill what felt like a void in his stomach.
"I'm always hungry," Cole laughed, elbowing Zane who rolled his eyes in return.
Lloyd followed Zaddic out of the tent, his knees cracking as he stood up. The day was much warmer. It was beautiful to see something besides snow. Lloyd felt bad, knowing that Zane couldn't help the snow that accompanied him and everyone blamed him for the harsh weather. If he couldn't find a way to control it, he might be doomed to live the rest of his life in snow.
Lloyd glanced down looking at his compound bow. He shuttered knowing he had used the same bow to take someone's life. He knew Zaddic was right. He knew Bo wasn't going to make it, they didn't have the medical technology available to them to fix wounds like that. Although he did it out of mercy, he couldn't help but feel guilty for taking his life.
"You did what was best," Edilio murmured, resting a hand on his shoulder, "It was for the best. Don't feel bad."
Lloyd sighed, leaning into Edilio's touch.
"I just wish I hadn't," Lloyd sighed, "I wish I hadn't."
Lloyd picked up his bow and arrows, slinging it over his shoulder. He understood it's power, how it could easily take the life of someone. How he could take the life of someone.
"Coming?" Zaddic asked, twirling his spear in the air as if it was a baton.
"Ya," Lloyd answered, stuffing a couple of arrows into his quiver.
Zane was twirling a pair of shurikens with a surprising amount of skill for someone who didn't fight. Cole was cheering him on, even though Zane was looking more than hesitant.
"I told you," Cole boasted proudly, "You never believe me."
"That's not true," Zane protested, "I just didn't want it to be true." He added under his breath.
"Let's go," Zaddic was leading the way out of a brush, hacking away at the brambles.
Lloyd noticed that Zane was looking around while Cole steering him around tripping hazards.
"See something?" Lloyd asked.
"I just- Well, usually the Falcon comes with us. I don't know where he is," Zane sighed, despondently, "I haven't seen him since I met you."
"It'll come back," Lloyd assured him, "Probably just stretching its wings."
"Ya," Zane smiled hopefully, "Maybe he is."
Zaddic had led the group over to a pond. He started to wade into the water, tilting his spear into the sky as he waited for fish. Zane wandered out towards him, the water beneath his feet turning to ice. He sat crossed legged on one piece, watching as it froze all the way to the bottom. Cole tried to follow Zane out, putting one foot on a flat piece of ice. It bobbed precariously and Cole pulled his leg back. Cole took a running start and made it across two of the ice cubes before the third dumped him into the pond.
"I can't catch any fish if you splashing around in here," Zaddic huffed, although Lloyd could tell he was assumed.
"Ekch! I think I swallowed something," Cole whined, surfacing with a bunch of lilypads draped across his head.
Lloyd smiled, watching Edilio pluck some of the lilypads from Cole's hair as he trudged to shore. Although there was so much going on around him, Lloyd suddenly felt…lonely. The people standing less than 10 feet away from him didn't satisfy forlorn feeling. Lloyd took a seat watching the scene in front of him with an air of sadness. He tried to pin down the feeling and figure out what would fill the need of longing in his chest. But he didn't want anything. Besides the things that he's always wanted like to live, find a to peacefully get out of the Tournament, and… oh. His family. Lloyd realized that he hadn't thought much about his Father since the Tournament.
He'd thought that he would have been happy. He had met his father-life long dream accomplished. But now that he had a peek at what life could be like living with his father, he only wanted more. His team must have caused this feeling. They acted so much like a family that he wished he could have had experiences like these with his father.
"And this is why you have to win the Tournament," Lloyd reminded himself, "You could have a million moments like this with your father if you just make it back."
The promise of future events like these didn't help the feeling. Sure, it made him feel more determined but that wasn't enough. On the inside, he knew it would never be enough. Precious time had been wasted, time he would never get back. Right now he just wanted to be alone, even though he was already feeling lonely. He just wanted to get away from everyone who would remind him of what he had missed, what he could have had. Maybe he could even sleep the feeling off.
Lloyd sighed and looked on at the four who were now engaged in splash battle. It seemed that Cole and Zaddic where on one side and Zane and Edilio were on each other. He could have been enjoying this moment like the rest of them. But instead, it was already too late. He had fallen out of the moment and into his own thoughts and feelings.
Lloyd turned to head back to the camp when he jumped at the feeling of ice cold water being poured onto his head. Lloyd whirled around only to receive a faceful of water. He sputtered, wiping the water and his hair out of his eyes.
"Zaddic!" Cole whined, "Look what you've done. Now he's never going to join our side!"
"What can I say, I can't help but take a risk," Zaddic replied with a shrug.
Lloyd paused for a second. His eyes flicking between the two groups who were staring at him expectantly. Options, options, options. He could join them even though he didn't feel like it. It might make him feel better. But he really just wanted to be alone.
"Hmm, I'm not really feeling like it," Lloyd said.
"Not feeling like it?!" Zane called, "This is war, Lloyd! If you don't join us, we might die!"
Zane swooned dramatically, obviously expecting Edilio to catch him. Edilio did no such thing and instead watched with an amused expression as Zane splashed into the water. He sputtered, blowing water out of his nose.
"Fine," Lloyd sighed, swashing water as he joined the two.
"Finally a fair fight," Zaddic teased, splashing Lloyd in the face.
Cole splashed Zane in the face but the boy barely reacted. He didn't even blink or tried to wipe the water out of his eyes.
"Zane?" Cole called.
Lloyd looked into Zane's eyes observing the glassy look they exhibited.
"Hello?" Zaddic was waving a hand in front of Zane's face.
Lloyd turned around, searching for what his gaze was locked onto. A dark grey-iridescent white horse was barely visible in the reeds. His surroundings slowly faded as the equine tossed its silky white mane. He had to ride the horse. His eyes flicked to Zane and they looked at each other.
"It's gorgeous," Zane whispered, "Absolutely stunning."
"Race you," Lloyd smiled.
Lloyd and Zane bolted towards the horse, laughing as he clambered through the reeds. Lloyd turned around to see that Cole was holding Zane back, waving his arms and calling out something to Lloyd. Lloyd ignored him and instead ran his hand down the horse's side, feeling it's soft and fluffy hair. The white horse bent it's head down, it's deep breaths ruffling Lloyd's hair. The horse bent down so that Lloyd could climb onto it's back, which he promptly did.
"This is amaz-" Lloyd stopped talking, the horse's silky white mane tangling around his wrists.
"Get off! Get off!" Cole and Edilio were shouting, waving their hands frantically in the air as they ran towards their direction.
"Wha-?" Lloyd asked, not seeing why the hair was that much of a problem.
"Kelpie! You idiot. It's a kelpie," Zaddic hissed, trying to maneuver around the horse without being ensnared himself.
The horse's white coat was starting the change into a smokey grey and it's white mane faded into a dirty grey. It turned around to look at the boy, glowing red eyes boring into him. In a swift moment, it dove into the water, dragging him under. Lloyd tried to breathe before he went down but he only filled his lungs with water.
Lloyd coughed but the action only caused him to inhale more water. He pulled desperately against the horse, as it plunged deeper towards the bottom of the lake. The horse turned its head to look at him again, its muzzle baring long sharp teeth protruding out of the lower jaw. The horse stopped, treading water and watching him with a tilted head.
Lloyd tried to reach out and drain the creature of its energy but it casually swam out of the way. Lloyd turned his attention to clawing at the hair. Before he could get any substantial work on the hair, the kelpie would swim a short distance tugging him forward and ripping his hands off the strands.
HIs head was pounding, his vision literally swimming, and the pressure was building in his chest. Lloyd reverted to plain out kicking, attempting to either kick the kelpie or swim his way out, whatever got him quicker to the surface.
"They'll never be able to find me down here," Lloyd thought, barely catching the glint of the surface through the murky water, "This is how I die, at the bottom of some murky pond because I got fooled into riding a kelpie."
Lloyd suddenly shot through the water, twirling like a kite on a string. He burst above the surface of the water landing on the ground with a dull thump. The kelpie gave an indignant snort, turning to the remaining three. Zane was still entranced by the horse, obvious by the way Cole had to keep holding him back. Lloyd glanced around, noticing the large spire made of rocks sticking above the water. Zaddic was on the kelpie in a second, Cole's scythe in hand. With a clean slice, thick black goop was pouring from a slit in the kelpie's throat.
"Next time," Zaddic hissed, plunging his spear into the creature's chest, "if you decide to abduct my teammates, make sure I'm not around to finish you off."
The kelpie snapped at Zaddic as he cut through the hair, freeing Lloyd. In celebration of his newfound freedom, Lloyd turned over and started to hurl. Zaddic made a noise of disgust while Zane jumped out of the way to avoid any splatter.
"Come on Lloyd," Zaddic sighed, "You were barely under for a couple of minutes."
"I think I swallowed a gallon of water," Lloyd groaned, ignoring him.
"At least it means he's alive," Cole hummed, catching his scythe as Zaddic tossed it back to him, "Better than dead right?"
"What is that?!" Zane yelped, leaping behind Cole.
"A kelpie, your white horse," Edilio answered.
Zane stared at it for a second, before looking at Cole and then back at the kelpie.
"Thanks," Zane hugged Cole, "I just thought you were being a jerk but I take that back. Now everyone just make sure Cole doesn't try to eat it, please."
"Hey! I wouldn't eat that! It's practically all black goop and that certainly isn't good for you," Cole protested.
"Glad everyone's having a blast while I'm dying," Lloyd grumbled, turning onto his back and trying to slow his breathing.
"You're not dying," Zaddic offered him a hand.
Lloyd was about to get up when he felt a shot of energy pulse through him. Zaddic immediately pulled his hand back. Lloyd looked down to see that the foliage beneath him had turned an ashy grey.
"What happened?" Zane asked, looking wide-eyed at the ground.
"Sorry, I just…guess there's no good way of putting this, drained the energy out of everything that touched me," Lloyd said fighting through another wave of nausea.
"Oh," Zane said, not elaborating any more than that.
Lloyd wanted to bestow the energy back but he couldn't let go of it for the life of him. It had made him feel much better. He was tired from his struggle under the water. He was tempted to drain a couple more plants until he felt completely better but he had a feeling that he had unnerved his new teammates enough.
"I swear, if you sap me," Zaddic threatened, reaching his hand back out to Lloyd.
Lloyd grabbed it, constraining his powers as Zaddic pulled him to his feet.
"Ugh," Lloyd groaned, feeling like he had a cup of water swashing back and forth in the chest. He probably did.
Edilio put an arm under his shoulder helping support him as he rocked on his feet.
"Maybe it's smart if you lay down?" Edilio suggested.
"Nah, I'm good," Lloyd shook his head, the water dripping from his hair scattering everywhere.
Asher appeared next to them observing the scene with his trademark frown.
"I don't even want to know what happened. But while you were goofing off, I took it upon myself to get us some dinner," Asher grumped, throwing a couple trout in Zaddic's arms, "I caught them, you carry."
"Hey!" Zaddic proclaimed, shaking the fish at Asher by their tails, "I wasn't goofing off! I was practicing."
Cole gave a muffled chuckled which Zaddic obviously ignored. Asher turned into a cloud of smoke with a 'fwoof' and flitted off into the sky.
"Here, I don't want to carry them," Zaddic threw the fish at Zane, leaving him scrambling to catch them.
"Give me a couple," Cole offered, catching a fish that managed to slip out of Zane's arms.
"He's got ice powers right?" Zaddic said, "So it's better if he carries them. It'll keep them cool and fresh."
Cole gave the notion a thought and with a shrug, he stacked the fish atop the others. The air around them went cold and Zane froze the fish into a thick block of ice. He tucked it under his arm and followed after Cole and Zaddic. Lloyd slid off Edilio's shoulder feeling significantly less nauseous now that he had a chance to breathe. He caught up with Zane and Zane gave him a smile.
"Feeling better?" He asked, shifting his grip on the ice cube.
"Much," Lloyd replied.
Zane fell silent and watched Cole and Zaddic talking in front of them. Lloyd watched him carefully but he couldn't read any emotion off of his face. It remained perfectly neutral, a carefully held face that made sure not to portray the thoughts in his head.
"What you thinking about?" Lloyd asked, knowing that one only pulled a face like that when they were trying to hide what they were thinking.
"Hmm, the Falcon," Zane replied after some thought, "Just hoping that he's going to be back soon."
"I would be glad if that thing never came back," Lloyd thought.
The giant bird honestly scared Lloyd. He knew what it was capable of doing, especially after he had attacked Bo. It was unnatural that Zane was perfectly comfortable with getting that close to it. But Cole seemed like a sensible guy and he trusted the mutt enough for him to tolerate being around it. Lloyd assumed that, as long as he kept his guard up, staying around the creature would be okay.
Zane was grumbling about being frozen, his wet clothes turned to ice. Lloyd pressed the tip of his finger to an ice spike that had clung from the tip of Zane's hair, chuckling slightly.
"It's a nice look on you," Lloyd smiled.
"I feel like an ice cube," Zane commented, trying to shake the ice from his hair to no avail.
"You're not going to freeze all the way over right?" Lloyd questioned, a tad nervous about the amount of ice on Zane.
"I shouldn't if I'm careful," Zane answered, "I'm keeping an eye on it. I just need to get by a fire sooner rather than later."
"If you say so," Lloyd replied, not quite convinced.
The group continued their journey, Cole, Zaddic, and Edilio slowly getting further and further away from the two. Lloyd found that Zane was having a hard time keeping up with the group, as his small stature and short legs made his strides smaller and the underbrush bigger. Lloyd waited for him, resisting the urge to just scoop him up and carry him himself out of impatience.
Lloyd noticed Zane's head flick up, only by the slight bounce of his hair. Lloyd was about to question him, when he lifted a single index finger up, signaling him to be quiet. He dropped the fish ice cube and cupped his hand into a ball, seemingly forming a snowball out of nothing. He turned and hurled it at Cole, watching with a straight face as it smacked him right in the back of his head. Lloyd resisted the urge to laugh, sensing that there was an ulterior motive to his action.
Cole whirled around, looking upset when Zane flashed a couple signals to him. Cole turned to Zaddic and started to whisper into his ear.
"We're going to have a fight," Zane whispered to Lloyd, "I pretty sure there's four of them."
"Pretty sure? How?" Lloyd asked, "I mean not that I don't trust you but I just don't really see anybody around here."
"It's because there is no one around here. At least not yet," Zane explained, only confusing Lloyd more.
At Lloyd's confused expression, Zane added, "I have a sixth sense."
"Ohh," Lloyd mouthed.
The rest of their teammates were cautiously making their way back to the other two, expect Asher, who was nowhere to be seen.
"What is going on!" Zaddic demanded, only to be shushed by Cole.
"We're going to meet some elemental masters," Zane informed him.
"You really believe him?" Zaddic looked at Cole in disbelief.
"I mean, he hasn't ever been wrong," Cole shrugged, "So I don't see a reason not to. I mean we don't have anything to lose really."
"Fine," Zaddic sighed, shifting his spear into his other hand.
Lloyd heard the soft crinkle of leaves and underbrush underfoot. Without even thinking, he had notched an arrow into his crossbow and fired it at the sound. They all were dead silent as they listened to nothing. Lloyd whirled around as he felt a tap on his shoulder. His glance darted all over the clearing but there was nothing there. He felt another tap on his other shoulder and he turned around to the same exact result.
"What is going on with you?" Zaddic hissed.
"Okay, whoever is tapping me on the shoulder is being really annoying," Lloyd grumped, annoyed that they would pick this exact moment to start fooling around.
Everyone lifted up their hands and shook their heads.
"Well if it isn't Zane," Lloyd heard an edged voice call.
He turned to a group of four females who had seemingly appeared into nothing.
"Minerva," Zane smiled.
Minvera scanned the crowd in front of her, eyes cold and calculating. When her eyes fell on Lloyd he couldn't help but feel like she was searching his brain. He tried to change his thoughts into a continuous loop of nonsense just in case his suspicions were right.
"Wow," Minerva snickered, her eyes still trailing on Zaddic, "This is almost like reading a bad fanfiction."
Oh because I'm too lazy to scroll all the way back up to the top I'm just going to write this down here. Honestly moving my two fingers up the mouse pad just to move back down to move them back up. Ugh, where am I going to get all the energy to do that?
Anyways, Nya's death was foreshadowed earlier. I mean, kinda. Maybe it was a little vague to you guys but I can see it. It was in the "Playing with Fire" chapter, in the little bonus chapter where Kai was the last one left after the dragon killed Nya.
