7. Gemstones and Starfire
Ember came back out of the cave, clutching a bulging leather bag. Jumping back up onto the rock she sat herself down between Liam and Alanna and fumbled around in the bag. Finding what she wanted she pulled it out and offered it to Alanna.
-For you,- she said
In her outstretched palm she held a perfectly cut amethyst the size of a quail's egg. The others gasped in astonishment.
"For me?" echoed the Lioness incredulously as she stared at the offered gem. Ember nodded and motioned for her to take it. Alanna did so and turned it round in wonder.
"Where did you get that?" breathed Thom, looking over at it in awe.
- I found it,- Ember replied, turning to look at him –Would you like one?- she offered to the others without hesitation. Proceeding to take out her stones and lie them on the rock. –You can have any one you like…except for these three, they're my favourites.- she said, picking up a flawless, deep green emerald, a tear-drop shaped diamond and the sapphire she had cut herself not long ago.
"We couldn't possibly," protested Daine, while Kit sat herself in the middle of the gems and picked them up, examining them.
-Why not?- Ember asked.
"They're far too valuable!"
-Not to me, I have lots of them. I only wanted to give you a present,- she sounded slightly crestfallen. So much so that the others all obliged her by taking a gem, even if they did chose the smaller ones. Ember smiled brightly as they all thanked her, -my pleasure- she replied. And began to gather the rest back up into her bag.
"Is that where you live?" Liam asked, pointing back to the cave.
Ember nodded, -do you want to see?-
She led them all up into the entrance of the cave and moved to let them walk past her.
"It's quite dark in here," Jasson said quietly, from where he stood by Alanna. Ember walked over to stand next to them and placed her hand on the wall. Only Daine and Kitten heard the words she muttered in her mind before light began to blossom from under her hand, spreading out like vines and crisscrossing over the roof of the cave until it glowed a soft yellow colour.
-Better?- Ember asked Jasson. He nodded mutely, giving her a shy smile.
Alanna and Thom both were examining the light structure interestedly while Neal stood at to opposite mouth of the cave, looking down over the valley. She walked over to him.
-It's beautiful isn't it?- she said, ducking under the arm he was leaning on against the side of the cave and standing so she was gently brushing against him. She squinted at the skyline then pointed to a dark shape on the horizon. –I think that's Starfire,- she told him. –There must be good air currents, Blaze's a very lazy flyer.-
He laughed, "Why do you call her Blaze if her name's Starfire?"
She shrugged, -I don't know. I guess when I was younger Starfire was a bit of a mouthful. I probably had a good reason for it when I first called her that, but whatever it was I've forgotten now.-
She sat down on the edge, her legs dangling over the side.
"Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Faleron asked, coming over to stand next to Neal.
-Not really, I've done it lots of times before.-
"But that doesn't mean that next time you couldn't get hurt," Alanna said, spotting the three of them.
"You can tell she's a mother can't you," Thom said dryly.
"And he's her son," Daine added.
-Is that why you both have red hair?- she asked, getting up and walking over to them. –Is it unusual?-
"Quite," Liam said from where he stood holding one of her more recent creations.
-I like it,- she said decisively, stepping up onto small rock that served as a chair from time to time and reaching out to pet his hair.
"Welcome to the Trebond petting zoo," he said sardonically, grinning all the same.
"Did you make these?" Liam asked, holding up a large bowl.
Ember nodded and went over to him, -I made all of these. Some of them aren't very good though, they're from when I was little.-
"How old are you now?" Daine asked curiously.
-Erm maybe sixteen, seventeen,- she replied doubtfully, -I've been with Starfire fifteen years, but I could just about walk before she found me, so I don't really know.-
"But that means you don't have a birthday!" Jasson said in surprise.
She shook her head unbothered by this, -So?-
"But then you'd not get any presents-" he paused realising that she didn't really have anyone to give her presents.
She shrugged and turned to Liam, -What was that shiny stick you had before?-
"A sword?"
-Will you show me? It looked interesting.-
He nodded in agreement and led her outside to where their things lay on a heap on the ground. Finding his own sword, he picked up the scabbard and drew out the blade. She reached out to take it by the blade and he drew it back above his head, saying,
"Careful it's sharp!"
There was a loud scream which brought the others running out the cave. A bolt of green light shot down out of the sky. Ember whipped round and stared fiercely at it, it exploded in a shower of green sparks. Another bolt pelted towards the armed prince and Ember ran forwards, arms still outstretched. A domed shimmering barrier in a deeper shade of green went before her. She looked cross.
-Starfire, what do you think you're doing?- she demanded crossly, -these are my friends.-
-Not friends, the black haired man was going to strike you!-
-No, no, you've got it all wrong!- Ember insisted, blocking another series of green flashes that blazed against her shield. A sudden burst of light directed at her caught her off guard and she tumbled back hard onto the ground, a little dazed, -hey! That hurt!-
Starfire snorted and materialised on the ground in front of her, alighting gently. –Nice to know I can still best you in a fight, kit.-
Alanna and Thom advanced towards them, violet fire sparkling round their hands.
-No don't, it's ok!- Ember called from where she lay, shaking her head in an effort to clear her vision.
"Are you alright?" Faleron asked, helping her sit up while Neal checked her for injuries.
-I'll be fine,- she replied, leaning against his chest, -I shouldn't have let my guard down.-
-That's right,- Starfire put in so only she could hear. Ember grimaced.
"Oww!" she winced as Neal ran a hand through her hair.
"Just a bump on the head," he reported to the others as he proceeded to heal it.
"Don't tell me you two were playing?" Alanna said as she walked over to see them, an amused expression on her face.
-Sort of,- Ember explained, -sometimes we do that for practice. I'm really much better than I used to be!-
"I don't doubt that," Alanna agreed, grinning at the girl's earnest expression, before returning to stand by Daine who was talking to Starfire, Kitten on one side and an awestruck Jasson on the other.
"Did she think I was going to hurt you?" Liam asked, coming to crouch on her other side.
Ember nodded, -I told her it was ok, but by then I think she wanted to fight.- she grinned. Then, to Faleron, she added, -You smell nice.-
He smiled, the tips of his ears turning pink while the other two laughed.
"Bet that's the first time you've heard that hey Faleron?" teased Neal.
-Kit,- Starfire called.
Ember got to her feet unsteadily and staggered forwards into Neal's chest.
"Easy," he said, "you're supposed to lie still for a while."
-But Blaze wanted me,- Ember explained, clutching the front of his shirt.
"Alright, we'll go and see them then," he replied, putting an arm round her waist and supporting her over to the others.
-I didn't really hurt you did I, kit?-Starfire asked, in a concerned tone.
Ember shook her head, -No, I'm fine, just hit my head a bit too hard I think.-
-Oh good. The two-leggers want you to go to their capital. Do you want to go?-
A/N: Ok, next chapter is obviously up ;) A bit longer than usual I think. Hope you liked it, I doubt I'll continue this further than the next chapter or so I've already written, but if anyone would like to take the story on where I leave off leave a review with your email address. I might not do this, just interested to know if you think it's a good idea/ want to do it etc. Well let me know.
xxx