She stared hard out to sea trying not to cry. Suddenly she reasized the pirates were closer. They must be damaged to go unmasked but they were still dangerous. She shoved her feelings aside and the winds subsided.

She shook Fi and the barriar between them collapsed. Fi's theoughts came tumbling into Ellies head.

"Fi, it'll be ok but there's pirates remember.I theink it might be time to leave."

Yeah" Fi nodded, her blue eyes swimming.

She stood up and the two girls began running up rhe beach. Fi ducked into a tent and came out with and armful of food. Ellie took some and pointed to an animal path up the cliff. They ran as fast as they could and soon Ellies legs ached and her breath came in gasps. She looked behind at the litle life boats going to shore and ran with a burst of speed overtaking Fi. She fell over, spilling her food and cutting her arms on stones and brambles. Fi yanked her up and they picked up most tof the food. Together they dragged each other on.

Ellies pack weighed more and more untill her shoulders ached and the straps cut into her skin.

"just put one foot in front of the other" panted Fi. She forced her aching limbs to move and they went up the cliff agonizingly slowly. At ;ast they reached the top and collapsed gasping for breath. Ellie closed her eyes and rested her head on the cool grass.

She heard indignant splutters from Fi and her voice screaming in her head.

"El El, look what they're doing, get their filthy hands of our stuff!"

Reluctantly she opened her eyes and crawled to where Fi was lying neat the edge of the cliff. Men in black were goin in and out of he tents, setiing them on fire once they were done. Ellie gazed at the blazing camp and swore under her breath, thumping the ground.

"How dare they, that's our stuff!" She glanced at Fi. Her curls were on end, lightning nesting in it. She was glowing, scorching her clothes. When she looked at herself she was surprised to find that she was sparking too. She shook Fi and pointed.

Fi looked down surprised.

"Why don't they make these things fire proof?"

"Because most people don't breed lightning"