Recalling the Spirit #38

A Note From The Author

Hello! I'd like to, first of all, thank you all so much for reading! Second of all, my computer had this HUGE virus on it, so we had to reformat it. This isn't a problem, but it means we no longer have Microsoft Word on the computer. Therefore, I am using WordPad to type out this chapter of the story. So if the spacing is odd or something, please forgive me.

Also this chapter holds the climax, and quite a bit of gore. If you are a person who is unsettled by this, or find it grotesque, or your stomach simply can not bear it, please do not read this chapter, or if you choose to persist, please do not blame me if you are troubled by what you read.

Thank you.

Another Note From The Author

Due to the length of this chapter I will be cutting it in half for easier reading, and posting them in separate chapter slots.

A Third Note From the Author ?

Stole the idea for one line from…..what was it called. X-men. Anyway, a relative was watching it, and there's a line that Storm says that I thought would be interesting and fitting if Jake said it. So I took it, and altered it a little. (This applies for part two)

The Author It Seems Just Doesn't Want to Shut Up…

I'm so sorry for taking so long to update everyone! I have been very busy! Now, let's move forward out of the author Notes, shall we?

Replies to Reviews

Taiy-chan: Climax is coming...lol, beached whale, beached whale!

M.S.K: I hope you enjoy the action too! As for Tamiko, well you'll see! Thank you for your nice review!

Ai Tennishi: Agreed. I'm going to buy Howl's Moving Castle the second it comes out! I hope you enjoy the battle, and I cannot say how many deaths there will be. However, it is a battle, so there's bound to be some, right? Thank you very much for your review! I always look forward to replies from you.

annatheitako: I read your story. An interesting premise. Thanks for reviewing!

Foxglove Nightshade: I try my hardest to update but it's difficult. My computer has been really screwed up lately. Thanks for your review!

Demdova: It took you that long to write that? Sad, sad, sad. Thank you for reviewing. (lol). You never killed old hickory)

burningfate: July 25th. Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! I completely forgot! Sorry I wasted five minutes of your life, you pathetic thing! lol. What suggestion? And I think it is sad that you time how long it takes you to read my chapters! What do you mean by too calm before the storm? Too mushy? I feel that I had to make it that way, because of the death and destruction (I don't think I told you about my plan, but I told Taiy-chan) coming in this chapter. Did you know that the goddess Morrigan is the Celtic goddess of death and destruction? …muahahha…Yes random I know. I'm sorry. I'm so very tired. And confused. sigh Must…force…myself…to…write…more…

Yeah, I missed you and the rest of our friends soooooo much. Camp sucked. I mean, it was really terrible. And I did write you a letter. Unfortunately, I forgot to pack my envelopes. The original without extra is five pages long. I'm warning you, it might be really whiny.

…Wow it has taken me a long time to finish this story chapter. It is currently August 29th. Can you believe that I almost gave up on my story? Worse then that, on writing in general. I have almost convinced myself that I am a terrible writer! I've put too much into this story to back out now however, and there are only two more chapters left. This and the epilogue. I have to finish what I started…two years ago. Gah.

…..it's now October 9th. It's rather sad how long this is taking me, eh?

Now October 20th: Still not done………dangit………

KatsyKat: Thank you so much for your review! You write the most wonderful things. I feel truly happy reading your reviews. I have affected someone in the way that I have always wanted to with my writing. Thank you so much. You have paid me one of the highest compliments I will ever get.

-lonerartist-: I absolutely loved your review! I am glad you enjoy my story so much, and that you love Morgaine-Ferio. So do I!

Lily: Hey Lily! Thank you for reviewing! Have you talked to Mari yet?

Yoshi: Actually no so much anymore. I actually started writing this about two years ago. And though I still greatly enjoy anime by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, etc.), Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma ½, Mermaid Saga, and Inuyasha are the best, but Uratsei Yatsura is okay, and I can't stand Maison Ikkoku), and Satoshi Kon (Millenium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers etc.) I'm over that phase of my life.

Ahara Musica: Thank you very much for your review. The climax will be in this chapter.

CxHforever: Thank you.

Yessika: thank you very much, and I'm glad you like Haku…I mean, the story. winks

Squish: You…just apologized for something! Goodness. This is a memorable moment! But thank you. Apology accepted. And btw, Pop was right.

-Six

umeboshi23: Thanks! I know, I know, it takes me FOREVER to update. This chapter especially.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this chapter my friends. The ones who do read this story, and the ones that roll their eyes in exasperation every time I start talking about it. They help me through the rough times, and we all have a good hard laugh when one of us does something stupid. Ma sistas are the best! I love you all!

BTW I don't own any non original characters.

And now, for the story.

Recalling The Spirit #38 - The Tempest

She was a wolf, stalking across a warm beach, the sands hot under her feet. The midday sun beat down on her back, though it made no difference to her. She did not mind the heat, since her fur was a mass of crackling fire. She was searching for something. But for what?

Above her a red tailed hawk soared, it's russet red wings catching warm thermals, circling in the humid air. It too seemed to be searching.

The wolf looked to her left, into the ocean. A dolphin erupted from the soft, rippling water, chirruping gleefully. It dove gracefully back in, only to once more emerge, clapping it's front fins.

A chattering from the trees distracted her. The wolf looked, to find a squirrel watching her, while stuffing it's face with a walnut. The squirrel froze when it realized it had been seen, and then relaxed, deciding this intruder was no danger to itself. It chomped down on the rest of the nut, and began scurrying up braches, jumping from tree to tree.

The wolf felt content. This was how things should be.

Suddenly, an arrow constructed of pure white light burst out of nowhere and punched a hole through the hawk's wing. It let out a screech of pain as it dropped from the sky. The wolf howled, as its front leg began to hurt. She looked down to find it bubbling blood.

The squirrel was hit with another bolt of light. Falling from its tree, it fell with a sick thud, and was unable to stand. The wolf's legs collapsed under it. Both wolf and squirrel scrabbled in the sand to stand, but neither could.

The dolphin let out a high keening noise. The water around it was slowly freezing, icy patterns skittering across the surface. The wolf shivered from the cold that began to encompass its' body.

The squirrel shuddered and went still. It was dead. The wolf could feel itself slowly dying, it's mind fading away, and it's vision blurring.


"Caitlyn. Caitlyn! Wake up!"

The teen muttered something inaudible, curled up in her sleeping bag, and once again went still.

"Caitlyn! Wake up! Akira is going to be speaking with our assembly of Elementals in twenty minutes."

Caitlyn was half awake now, gummy eyes seeing gray shapes in the dusky gloom.

"I'll sit on her if she doesn't wake up." Another voice threatened darkly. The female Elemental of Fire's eyes shot open wide as she bolted up in her makeshift bed.

"Don't you dare Pauline!" She exclaimed, throwing off the covers.

Pauline and Linda were sitting beside her solemnly. Seeing her reaction, Linda snorted, then began to giggle. The Elemental of Water grinned. "Well, that seemed to have worked." She laughed.

She gave a thumbs-up to Akira, who paid no heed. He lay on top of the marble kitchen counter, which rose like an island from the middle of dim the room. He stared at the ceiling, no doubt thinking about the upcoming war, and what part he would play in it. He pushed himself up suddenly and looked over at a figure leaning against the wall.

"Who do you think I should bring with me?" He questioned.

Pauline made a tsking noise. "It's too dark in here." She complained. Leaving Caitlyn's side, she strode over to the other side of the room and threw back the rough green checker cotton curtains, sending light cascading in the room. Under the glare of the harsh sun, the figure was illuminated. His emerald hair was once again smoothly pulled back into his characteristic short ponytail, and he was calm, his brow unwrinkled by worry about the battle.

"I suggest you should take that African woman that Morgaine was talking about last night. The Elemental of Metal. Also Pauline, Linda, myself, and that Italian man in his mid-fifties. The one who can create illusions." Ferio replied to Akira's questioning.

Akira made a hmming, noncommittal noise. "What makes you say that?"

"Pauline and Linda are both powerful, and where we are meeting with the representative from Kyu's side, they are both close to their Elements, the forest on one side and the lake on the other. Myself since I can control darkness, and if anything should happen, I can cover for us and we can get away, The Elemental of Illusions I think we should bring because...well, if you would approve of it, he could hide the rest of our army from our enemy's view and we could hide them in the forest, in amongst the trees. Just in case."

"Just in case. I see. But why the African woman? And you're lacking another Elemental. We need one more."

"So we can have a diversity of cultures. Also, there is a lot of steel alloy below the surface of this island. She would be useful if anything happened. And I'm lacking because I don't know anyone else here."

Pauline openly stared at Ferio. "How do you know about metal under the ground?"

The green haired teen shrugged. "When you hang around with the Elemental of Electricity for a while, you tend to find these things out."

Caitlyn raised her eyebrows. "Where am I in all of this? And who is the representative of Kyu?"

"You can't always be in the front of every battle, Caitlyn. For this one, you're hanging back." Akira said sharply.

"What?" Caitlyn screeched.

"And the representative is Guenivere. We got a message from Kyu today." Akira pulled out a piece of crisply folded paper from his pants' pocket and waved it in the air. "Kyu has something to attend to, so Guenivere will talk to us in his stead. As an act of faith, since we are meeting on their grounds, she comes with one guard."

"Like that matters. She's got enough power to wipe us all out:" Linda commented dryly.

"Yes, but that means she doesn't know who the real Akira is! She doesn't know that there are two Elemental of Fire's! She thinks I'm the only one! Please, Akira! Let me go in your stead!" Caitlyn exclaimed excitedly.

Akira's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't think that's wise..."

"Why not? I'm not about to stay behind! Besides..." The realization struck Caitlyn like a lightning bolt and she grinned. "You have to. If you go, she'll think you are a fake and a decoy and attack on site."

Akira blinked, cursing underneath his breath. "I suppose you are right. I think we will also take that girl who came with Liam. She seemed to be a bit of a natural leader. What was her name?"

"Michelle." Morgaine put in. "I've chatted with her. She's the elemental of...well, I'm not sure what element she is, she never said. All I know is she has a bit of a natural gift with animals."

Akira nodded his agreement. "But there is one other thing I disagree with." He put in. "Why not send Morgaine instead of the Elemental of Metal, Shanice? Morgaine is a healer, so if any harm comes to anyone, she can be there to fix it up. In addition, her coming to Guenivere open handed and vulnerable will please the Elemental of Light."

Something twitched in Ferio's face, unnoticed by the others. He had hoped not to get Morgaine involved in this venture. He was worrying unnecessarily, he knew. After all it was only a war council, right? Talking about when and how the battle would be fought, no big deal. But he couldn't help it. Maybe he had a tingling apprehension about the whole deal...Guenivere coming with only one guard was rather fishy...or maybe he was once again letting his emotions rule, instead of his head. She had already been nearly killed...

"I don't mind, either way." Morgaine commented from where she was setting plates with scrambled eggs and toast out on the rickety table for their group. "Breakfast is ready everyone. Be glad we can have hot food."

Like moths to a lantern, they all gravitated to the table, save for Akira, who seemed once again deep in thought. He slowly let himself lie down again on the counter.

"Watch you don't put your head on the oven." Morgaine said mildly. Akira threw himself forward as she continued. "It's off, but it's probably not cooled yet." She sat down herself, pulling over an old wooden chair. Like the table, it once had been painted vibrant red and blue, but now the paint was chipped and faded, showing the cheap pine underneath.

"Make sure you eat. This may be the last good meal we get in a while." She warned. Contradictory to her own words, she took up her own fork gingerly and began picking at her food, pushing it around the plate, not really eating any of it.

"There's more if you want it." She added. Akira joined them, taking the last seat.

Linda ate bite after bite of the food, scooping the bits of egg of her plate and stuffing them into her mouth, smiling happily. "Yum, this is great!" She said cheerfully, as she stood to get seconds from the big pot on resting on the far side of the long counter, where Akira had not been sitting. No one else had finished their first serving.

Caitlyn silently passed an empty cup to a full-mouthed Pauline, who, without taking much notice, pointed her finger at it. Water began to bubble and slosh in the plastic cup, as fresh and cold as if is had just been drawn from a stream. Caitlyn nodded her thanks as she took a huge gulp.

Ferio, who had sat beside Morgaine, touched her forearm and said quietly, barely heard under the bustling of breakfast. "You should eat. You've just recovered from a critical state."

Morgaine shook her head almost imperceptibly, and whispered. "I'm not hungry."

"Morgaine, eat."

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"I...I'm just not hungry." She wouldn't admit to him, or anyone that she was scared, that she knew if she ate her uneasy stomach wouldn't be able to handle it.

"You need whatever strength you can get. I have a bad feeling about today." Ferio insisted. He held her gaze with his golden eyes. She looked back, her gold and amber-flecked brown eyes not turning away, stubbornness showing in her very expression. Conviction and worry showed in his. Finally he said "Please?" and something in his voice, a pleading note, the honesty in his look, made her turn away.

"Fine," She agreed with a sigh. "If it gets you off my back. But only a little." She speared a chunk of egg with her fork and put it into her mouth, uninterestedly. She winced as the rubbery texture slid across her tongue, and forced her stomach to hold it down.

"Now chew...and swallow!" He whispered. She stuck out her tongue, and did what he said. "That's better." He muttered, under his breath, so noone else would notice.

"I'm not your baby, you know." She hissed, pretending anger.

"Nope, you're my babe." He replied without a moment's hesitation, keeping his face serious.

She turned crimson. Ferio grinned at her. "You're such a flirt!' She exclaimed, keeping her voice hushed, and punching him in the arm. He smiled, and ruffled her hair vigorously, making a mess of it.

'Hey, don't punch me!" he retorted

Morgaine sat up straight, and said in her most dignified voice. "Excuse me, please leave me alone. I'm trying to eat."

Ferio chuckled.

Pauline and Caitlyn exchanged glances, and then started giggling.

After that the chatter was light and brief at the breakfast table. But when Morgaine announced it was time to clear the dishes, a solemn air fell upon the group, as if it had finally registered that the war that they had been readying for, for so long, was finally beginning.

No one spoke as they cleaned and dried the plates and utensils, or filed out the door, down the dirt road, and onto the roof of the once-upon-a-time bakery where Akira would stand to make his speech. They clambered up a rusted ladder, climbing past the empty, darkened windows, and onto the roof. Caitlyn, the first to the roof, tested the safety of their platform. She let out a stifled scream as a loosened, weathered black shingle slid underneath her feet and she lost her footing. Only the quick thinking of Pauline, who grabbed her wrist, saved her from falling over the edge. The rest were cautious as they walked along the weathered roof.

Below them, hundreds of Elementals crowded, their faces upturned to their leader. The hope in their faces saddened Akira. Guilt rushed through his body. Could he lead these people to their deaths? He took a deep breath.

"Fellow Elementals!" He announced, his voice loud and clear. He was no longer the boy who had first come to the spirit world, abused at home, afraid of his pyro powers. Nor was he the teen who had returned a second time to this place, upbeat and innocent. He was a man. He had seen the hardships of those around him. He had seen betrayal. He had heard the starved, malnutrition Elemental children wailing in the night, and could do nothing. He knew heartbreak, as the one he loved left him.

And before tomorrow's dawn he would see death.

"As you know we are going to meet for the war council with the other side just before noon! As for those going, it will be Caitlyn, Pauline, Ferio, Morgaine, Marco, and Michelle. Those names that I have called will meet me at the bridge in one half hour. Remember to come unarmed.

The rest of you have a job just as important. Fifteen minutes from now, Marco will cast an illusion of invisibility on you all. Then you will go and scatter yourselves amongst the trees by the beach, where the war council is to be held. If anything goes wrong, then you will come out and attack. But only if is something that the six going can't handle. If it is just Guenivere or her guard, don't blow your cover.

Now, remember what we are fighting for. Kyu is tired of having Elementals being feared, of having to hide who they really are. He wants to storm the globe, using his powers and those of his army to bring down mortals, so they will have to honor him, listen to his every whim, and cower before him and the other Elementals. He will do this by first of all taking over the spirit world, namely this place. He plans on doing so by the only means possible: killing the ruler of the bathhouse. And then, to weaken each country, he will kill every Dragon this world has to offer. The only possible time that we would be able to rescue the Dragons is during the war. I want-" He sectioned off a group off people in the crowd. "-you to go overpower Kyu, who will no doubt be near them, and rescue them. Take them to the back lines, out of danger. If they are hurt, bring them to Morgaine, who will also be at the back, and she will heal them."

Morgaine's lips pressed together, and she was about to say something sharp, but a splitting pain from her back stopped her, causing her to wince instead.

"At the back!" she hissed, her voice venom filledto no one in particular.

"Keep in mind this is only to be done if this go wrong. It could just be that this is a war council, and nothing more. But I don't want to be foolish. So, everyone, go prepare. And good luck to you all."

"Now we have to get down?" Linda quavered. The whole time that Akira had been making his speech she had been doubtfully been looking down, backing away from the edge.

"Don't be scared Linda, we're not going to jump." Morgaine said easily as she got on the ladder and began climbing down. She was only afraid of heights when she was pushed, or fell off of them.

"Me? Scared? Nuh-uh!" Linda proclaimed, shaking her head resolutely back and forth.

"Then come on!" Were Pauline's last words as her head disappeared over the edge of the roof and down the ladder, rung by rung.

Linda, looking around and seeing she was alone, swallowed and got onto the ladder.

"Now." Akira said when they all reached the ground, he pitched his voice loud so he could be heard above the bustling of dispersing Elementals. they stood in an alleyway, a side of a shop on either side of them. "Does anyone have any questions?"

"Yes." Morgaine snarled, and her voice was taut with anger and scorn. "Back?"

"You're the only one out of all the Elementals here, on both sides, who can heal. You're indispensable. We need you." Akira explained, weary of complaints.

Morgaine gritted her teeth. She knew it was true. "I can do more then just heal you know. I'm fully recovered. I can fight!"

Akira rubbed the bridge of his nose.

The Elemental of wind let out a sigh. "Look, Akira...how about if there is an Elemental that I would be most effective against , then I can fight them. Other then that, I'll stay at my post as healer."

Akira nodded. "Only if you are very careful not to get yourself killed."

"All right."

Suddenly, Akira, and all the other Elementals disappeared. Pauline screamed. Morgaine peered around, and slowly took one step forward, then another, her arms out before her like ablind person.Caitlyn frowned. "Akira, what's going on? Where'd everyone go?"

His voice came from thin air, from the space where he had been standing a moment before. "It seems that that Italian man, Marco has cast his illusion to make us invisible. It's time for us to head out. Wait for ten minutes, and then go down to the war council."

Caitlyn gave him a thumb's up. "Got it."

There were sounds of people moving away. Then all was quiet.

A chill of fear crawled up Caitlyn's backbone. "Oh God, it'sfinally happening." She said, her voice hushed. She raised her head andher panick stricken eyes met her compainions."What if we don't come back?"

Pauline hit her around the side of the face. "Don't say that!" She ordered gruffly. "We'll be all right!" Caitlyn brought up her hand to where her cheek stung. It hurt, but she forbore to comment. She knew what the black haired girl was feeling. The same thing that they all were. The tight squeezing pressure on their stomachs.The overwhelmingfear that seemed to stifle them.They all had different ways of dealing with it.

"And if we don't...at least we have ten more minutes together." Morgaine added. Pauline neatlyreached over and put her in a rough headlock.

"Stop talking like that! We're not going to die!" She yelled. Instead of fighting back, Morgaine just sagged in her grip, her eyes staring at nothing.Pauline let her go.

Amid all of this Ferio was leaning against one of the shop walls, staring at the sky.

The thought of impending death spead a feeling of comradie spread throughout the group, and Caitlyn reached over and gave Linda a hug. "You take care of yourself out there, okay Linda? Don't do anything stupid."

Caitlyn went to go and hug Pauline, but she pushed her off. "My God, Caitlyn, this is a war council! Nothing's going to happen. Stop worrying! There's no need to say goodbye!"

"Fine. Good luck, Pauline."

Caitlyn turned to Ferio. "I'm glad to have you on our side." She grinned. "You're a lot nicer then that powder-puff Guenivere! Isn't he Linda?"

"No, really?" Pauline pointed out, her voice dripping with angry sarcasm. "Guenivere only tried to kill Morgaine."

"I like Ferio better!" Linda smiled cheerfully. Pauline slapped her forehead.

"Me too." Morgaine said quietly. Ferio's golden eyes shifted from the sky for the first time since they climbed down and met Morgaine's gaze. Realizing that she had put more meaning into her words then she had meant to, she could feel herself starting to blush. Luckily, like always, life offered a distraction, in this case in the form of a curly haired girl of about fourteen.

"Ah, Michelle, there you are." Morgaine said, stepping forward so her back was to her friends, happy to get out of the awkward situation. "Have you seen Mr. Marco Piertrio? We're going to be leaving in a couple of minutes."

"Marco's right behind me." The young teen said. She smiled widely at the group. "Hi. I'm Michelle. Apparently I'm accompanying you."

"Hello, Michelle." Ferio said warmly, trying to make her feel welcome. She was younger then the rest of them by about three years, the remainder of the war council attendees being roughly sixteen or seventeen, or in his case, eighteen and a bit, not including the absent Marco, who was apparently middle aged. He didn't want her to feel intimidated.

However the girl seemed not to care. She walked right up to the ladder and sat down on one of its rungs, grinning openly at the group. "I've seen you lot around the campus. Aren't you all really powerful? Why am I going then?" She began to pick at the torn sleeve of her faded green sweater.

Caitlyn opened her mouth to answer, when they heard a male's voice. At first they thought it was Marco, but as the voice got nearer,one by one theyrealized it was conversing with a woman. There were two people, maybe more. Linda paled.

"Chihiro, honey, remind me why we came here? Why are we in the spirit world?"

"Because our daughter is here. I can sense it."

"Wha..."

"Don't look at me like that! I just know she is here, somewhere."

There was silence, and the Elementals in hiding looked at each other, daring not to make a noise. Parents looking for their child? The tense silence held for a couple of minutes. Then Michelle sneezed.

"Did you hear that?" The female voice demanded. The curly haired girl winced, and mouthed the word Sorry to the others.

Footsteps drew nearer, and suddenly a middle aged Asian woman popped her head around the corner. "Oh thank all the kami!" She exclaimed. She hurried towards the group of teenagers. She was average looking enough, with dark chestnut hair dulled by age, wrinkles creasing at the edges of her mouth and her glimmering chocolate brown eyes. She seemed worried.

"Onigai, please, have you seen my daughter? She's disappeared." She held up a picture, showing it to Morgaine. The Elemental of Wind smothered a gasp with her hand, and her dark eyes darted to the woman's face.

A middle-aged man, not much taller then his wife walked into the alleyway. His ebony hair was streaked with gray, and his almond shaped eyes were a sparkling green. "Chihiro, they don't know her. Let's move on."

Ferio saw Morgaine's shocked look, as she looked from one spouse to the other, as if searching for something in their faces. "What is it Morgaine?" He asked quietly, laying his hand lightly on her arm.

She pointed at the picture, shock evident on her features. "It's Tamiko!"

"What?" Pauline exclaimed. "Let me see!" As she grabbed the picture a cloud drifted across the sky, sending the alleyway into shadow. "Oh my god!"

Joy spread over Chihiro's face. "You know her?"

"Yeah!" Pauline replied. Then a shadow crossed her face. "But..."

"Look, um, we're about to have a war council with the other side, because there's a war going on, and your daughter is fighting in it. You won't be any use in either the council or the actual war starts, since you're both mortal and all of us have powers. So, if you wait here, at the main bathhouse compound, we'll come and help you later, all right? But we have to go." Caitlyn said hurriedly, then turned to the others. "We're already late."

"You left out the fact that she's not on our..." Pauline began.

"Excuse me, but are we leaving?" Marco had finally arrived, a portly figure in a waistcoat. Morgaine nodded. "Let's go."

Kyu sat on his throne of ice deep into his cave. The sound of him sharpening his ornamental axe echoed in the frozen lair.

One of his elementals... he didn't know his name...approached him. "Everything is in order, sir. We are ready to begin."

"All the Dragons lined up and chained?"

"Yes, sir."

"And the stone alter?"

"Ready, sir."

"Good." Kyu smiled. He believed he was doing something right for Elemental kind.

"Let's begin, then."

Slowly, the group of six headed down the wooden steps to the beach, Caitlyn in the lead, Pauline and Linda directly behind her, Michelle after them, then Marco, and Ferio and Morgaine taking up the rear.

Pauline grinned wickedly. "Let's do this thing."

"Remember, we're only negotiating at this point." Marco put in, his tone fatherly.

"And you remember that they know more then us about this war, so don't boss them around just because you're older, Marco." Michelle said frowning, putting her fourteen years up against his fifty-four.

"Frightened?" Ferio questioned the girl beside him, her face impassive.

Morgaine began to lie, then realized there was no point. "Witless." She replied sheepishly, her lips barely moving, her eyes set on the horizon, not wanting to see the disdain or laughter in his face.

Instead she felt his warm hand grasp hers, fingers intertwining. "We'll be okay, don't worry." His voice was soothing.

"I'm not worrying. If something happens, something happens. And I don't need your comfort."

He shrugged. "Whoever said I'm offering you comfort? Maybe I need it."

She smiled, leaning against him for a moment, as they continued to walk. Their feet hit the sand of the beach warmed by the afternoon sun, and Morgaine frowned. "There she is." She whispered. Ferio squeezed her hand.

Guenivere stood before them, facing parallel to the water. Behind her were the tents and caves where her side resided. And before that, distanced farther away so that the eye could barely make out details, a line of people before a great stone made of granite. Behind the stone, a lone figure stood.

The Elemental of Light's hair had two small braids by both temples, pulled back to fasten together at the back of her head. The rest of her golden honey hair spilled down her back. She held herself regally, though her once white dress was a-tatters. She was stunning, looking like what every human picture an angel as looking like. Perfection personified.Behind her and slightly to her left, stood her guard. Smaller and finer boned then European Guenivere, her accompaniment was Japanese. Her jet-black hair hungloose, tangled and unkept,down her back, her almond shaped eyes were like two emeralds. Her tiny hands bore not nails, but claws, and two fangs pressed into her crimson lower lip. A pattern of scales ran down her cheek and neck.

Pauline gasped, Caitlyn bit her lip, Morgaine took a sudden intake of breath.

Tamiko was Guenivere's guard.

The Elemental of Light smiled at their faces. "Well, shall we get started?"

Recovering first, Caitlyn nodded.

"Ah, the Elemental of Fire. How are your leadership skills today? Your choices will affect your people." Guenivere looked down at her nails, pushing down the cuticles. "First of all, we offer you the chance to surrender. We will do great things for the world, for Elemental-kind. Are you sure you do not want to be part of it?"

"No." Caitlyn replied, her tone smooth.

"Foolish, foolish." Guenivere said, her voice silky. "You will soon regret that answer. War it is, then?"

"So it seems. Where's Kyu?" Caitlyn demanded.

Guenivere smiled. "He's...busy." She gestured at the figure by the slab of rock. Dramatically enough, a cloud that had been covering the sun moved, showing the entire scene that was unfolding.

Kyu stood behind the rock, an axe in his hands. He beckoned to the first in a line leading away from him, which was composed of the dragon sacrifices. Clothed in the purest of white, hopelessness and despair radiated like a beacon from their faces. A young Korean boy stepped forward, trembling, and laid his head on the rock. Kyu raised the weapon above his head, brought it down and-

Thunk.

Morgaine had turned a violent shade of green and she clutched onto Ferio's arm, Caitlyn had covered her eyes, Marco had turned away, wincing, Ferio's eyes filled with tears, Michelle had screamed. Linda stood stock-still. Pauline had fallen to her knees, and started retching as bile rose up her throat.

Guenivere shook her head at their reactions. "It has to be done. We Elementals should be honored, revered! Their lives will be nothing for the future which we will receive."

"Nothing? You monster!" Linda's chipper maner was torn apart by the suden rage that enveloped her.Forgetting that she was an Elemental, forgetting that Guenivere was half human, anger boiling in her veins, Linda launched herself at the Elemental of Light, swinging wildly with her fists. Guenivere reached into her wide sleeve.

Linda landed one good punch on Guenivere's cheek before Guenivere drew the hidden knife she had strapped on her arm, hidden by the sleeve, and slashed it across Linda's throat.

The Elemental of Wood stumbled back, her hands to her neck, blood spurting from her throat, staining the sand. Someone screamed. Linda fell to the ground.

"Linda!" Morgaine shrieked, stumbling over and collapsing to her knees beside her Vietnamese friend. "Linda!" She touched Linda's wound and closed her eyes. Green light sparkled at her fingertips, but nothing happened.

"Heal." She whispered, and pushed the magic harder, but the wound did not seal. "Heal!" She screamed, panicking, tears running down her cheeks, using all her strength to force the magic from her fingers and into her friend's body. Unknowing, uncaring, she didn't realize her hands had been submerged in Linda's blood, and that it has squirted all down her shirt. "HEAL, DAMN IT!" She screeched like a banshee. She tried again and again but the fatal slice would not seal. "It's not working!" She yelled, to Pauline, Caitlyn and Ferio, her voice trembling. "It won't take!" She tried to stay calm, but she couldn't, Her mind was spiraling away on waves of anguish.

Anger flecked in Guenivere's face, and she took a step forward, raising her knife to stab Morgaine's back, to kill her when she was distracted, but as she swung down, someone caught her knife. She found herself looking into furious golden eyes. "If you so much as touch her, I will kill you where you stand." Ferio hissed. Guenivere stared at him. The knife had embedded itself deep into his hand, hitting his bone. Blood was streaming down his forearm. How could he not be crying...or screaming...or something?

She yanked out the knife with a shudder and backed away.

Linda reached up and gently touched Morgaine's wrist. "I'm too far gone, you can't heal me now. Don't worry, Doeby. It's not your fault." Her voice was weak, faded, and it seemed to take all her strength to talk. With every heartbeat, more blood was forced out of her body. Every word she spoke only made the blood spurt faster, sending it bubbling, dripping down her neck.

Morgaine grabbed her hand and held it, tears pouring down her face. "Linda, don't talk. You'll make it worse."

Linda let out a weak laugh that sounded like a cough. "I'm dying. I don't think it can get any worse."

Pauline knelt on her other side, crying. Her voice quavering, she tried to sound brave for her ghost white friend lying in the sand. "Don't be afraid, Linda. We're with you. We'll always be with you. Don't be scared."

Linda smiled gently at her friends around her, her eyes filming over. "Me? Scared? Nuh...uh..." She shook her head slowly, just once, and then it fell back, hitting the sand with a soft noise. She was gone.

"She's dead. She's dead." Caitlyn muttered, tears dripping off her face into the sand, mingling with Linda's blood. She sunk to the ground beside her friend's body, beside Pauline. "Oh god!" She threw herself into the sand, her shoulders shaking as sobs wrenched through her body. Pauline did the same. Together they clung to each other, two best friends who had lost a third.

Morgaine knelt alone, staring at her blood covered hands, unmoving. Just staring, motionless, the tears streaking down her pale cheeks. I should have done something more. I should've healed her. I let her die.

Ferio too, was sobbing. Though he had only known Linda for a short while, he still felt the hard loss of the cheerful upbeat girl.. He walked up to her and closed her eyes. Then seeing how much Morgaine needed someone, he went over and cradled her in his arms. She didn't say anything, just buried her face in his shirt and began crying in earnest.

Amid all of this, Kyu's sacrifices went on, and the screams of the Dragons echoed in the day...

Guenivere took another couple steps back. "She deserved it!" She called out, staring at the red stains on her sleeve. She didn't know that one person could hold so much blood.

Ferio stood. "I advise you take that back." he said, taking wide, striding steps forward. Guenivere stumbled back, fear pounding through her veins.. "Take it back." He said, his voice harsher. "Now!"

Black nothingness whirled up his arm like a snake. Without a cry or yell he shot the shadow at her. With a scream, a shot of pure white light burst from her palm. The two blasts hit one another, ricocheting off to the sides.

Guenivere stumbled back. "Help!" She screamed.

With a roar, Kyu's army burst from the trees, headed for the small band of grief-stricken Elementals huddled around the corpse of their fallen friend.

With a sweep of his arm, Ferio sent darkness cascading over the upcoming army. "Get back!" He yelled at the small group that was Akira's negotiators behind him..

Morgaine, Pauline, and Marco ran, the Italian man stopping only for a moment to scoop up Linda's dead body. Their feet slipped on the shifting sand. Pauline, realizing someone was missing, dashed back and pulled on the stunned fourteen year old's hand. "Michelle, come on!"

"But...that lady...just died..." She was as white as a sheet. Pauline gulped as she ran, tugging the girl behind her. "We can't grieve now. We can't afford it. We have to fight."

Akira peeked out past his tree, keeping a watch out. He saw Linda fall and rested his head against the tree for a moment. He couldn't cry. He was the leader. he couldn't lose his cool now even though it hurt him deeply that Tamiko would guard Linda's killer, and that every time Kyu slaughtered another innocent Dragon, bile rose in his throat.

Oh, Tami...why are you doing this?

Even now, even after all that had happened, all he wanted to do is break cover, run down to Tamiko and sweep her in his arms.

But he couldn't. I'm sorry Tamiko. I would if I could. But I have a duty to my people.

He looked out at the sky, and the lake. It's such a beautiful day. He thought to himself as the gentle breeze played with his hair. Who would've thought that a great battle could be fought on a day like this...how ironic.

He watched Kyu's army march right past them and into the fray when Guenivere screamed for assistance.. He held his tongue for the order to charge. We need some sort of cover.

Ferio, as if reading his mind, made a motion, and darkness swept over Kyu's troops. Akira smiled grimly, then waved his arm...the single to go. A sixth of their fighting force, still invisible, broke off to rescue the Dragons. The rest ran down into the fight.

Suddenly invisible opponents were attacking Kyu's Elementals. Kyu himself began yelling as two of his Dragon sacrifices disappeared from the line. He began killing them faster and faster, unable to understand what was going on.

"That man!" Yelled Jake, as he was whiplashed by fire. "He's controlling their invisibility!" He pointed at Marco, who stood stalk still, his hands raised to the sky. Out of his finger erupted a bolt of lighting, hitting Marco square in the chest. The Italian man crumpled to the ground, dead, his corpse burned to a husk.

In a split second, everything had gone horribly, horribly wrong. Akira's army had lost the upper hand. Suddenly, Kyu's Elementals could see their attackers, and they fought back.

Even worse, though, was the fate that awaited those who were in the rescue attempt. They found themselves visible, right in the middle of Kyu's stronghold. With a screech of fury, Kyu raised his hand, and sharp shards of ice plunged into soft flesh, killing all those they pierced. Surrounded by the bodies of those who had tried to stop him, Kyu smiled grimly, picked up his axe, and continued his deadly work.

Morgaine let out a strangled gasp of horror. "Did...did you just..."

Pauline swallowed, forcing her body not to reject any more of her earlier meal, and managed to keep her voice level as she said "Well, Caitlyn? Shall we go kick some butt?"

Caitlyn snarled. "Yes, I think we shall."

Morgaine took a step forward. "Wait, I'm coming with you!"

"Morgaine, you can't. You know you have to heal!" Pauline exclaimed.

"I don't care! I'm coming!"

"Morgaine Faye! You know your orders!" Caitlyn barked. Morgaine's eyes narrowed in anger as she met her friend's gaze, then she hung her head.

"Yes." She muttered meekly. A tear rolled from her eye to drip off the end of her nose. "I know." Her hands suddenly curled into firsts, and she exploded.

"It's not fair! I can't let you both die! How can you expect me just to sit here safe when you both are out risking your lives? This is...this is all SHIT!" She screeched at them, her eyes burning with rage. The pair looked at her, stunned by her outburst. Finally, one ventured to speak.

"Think of healing as repaying all the lives that will be lost." Caitlyn's said softly. "This is one thing we can't do together, Morgie."

"I'm...I'm sorry." She was trembling.

"Don't be." Pauline said. She grinned. "We'll kick plenty of butts for you. Muhahaha…."

Morgaine nodded, and forced a smile. "Just...please don't die. Be careful. Please."

The three friends joined in one final hug, then Caitlyn and Pauline ran from their safe spot at back into the fray.

Morgaine watched them, twisting and turning her clauddaugh ring on her finger, not noticing the crusty blood covering it. She watched them until her title being yelled out called her attention away from her friends.

A tall, muscular Spanish man carried a blond haired, blue-eyed girl in his arms like a broken doll. Her head was cut badly, and two of her fingers had been sliced off. Blood was gushing from where the digits once had been.

"Elemental of Wind, Miss...she was facing some bastard who could control stone...he threw rocks at her, didn't even give her a second thought...so fast...they hit her like bullets." He was gasping heavily, and Morgaine realized that it was from him running out of the battle with one leg mangled.

"Let me see her." She said levelly. He lay the child on the ground. She brushed her hand across the girl's forehead. A light green glow encompassed the girl, and a slight breeze picked up, blowing Morgaine's bangs out of her eyes. The cut on her head healed, and new pink skin grew over the bloody places where her fingers had once been. Morgaine bit her lip out of sympathy for the girl. She could only heal, she could not replace missing body parts. She couldn't afford to be abhorred now...it was almost assured that she would see worse before this was all over. The child's eyes opened. Morgaine decided to check for brain damage. "What's your name?" She asked gently.

"Emily Lindsey" The little girl replied. "Who're you?"

"Morgaine Faye. I'm your healer. How old are you, Emily?"

"Seven."

Morgaine sighed. So young? "You've just had major healing. Would you like to sit with me for a little while?" I can only heal her body, not her mind or heart. If I can just spare this girl and others like her from the horrors of this bloody massacre...let her stay with me...

"No thank you, Miss. Faye. I've got to go fight." With flashing grin, the little girl ran back off into battle before the auburn haired healer could stop her.. Morgaine covered her face with her hands for a moment, resisting the urge to cry. She then smiled up at the Spanish man. "I can heal that leg for you, if you'd like."

He shrugged. "It's not too serious, Miss. Faye."

She gently rolled up his pant leg and laid her pale fingers on his hairy skin. Green sparks floated around the slash as it sealed. For the first time, Morgaine realized her arms were covered up to the elbows in blood.

"Be more careful next time. Don't underestimate them." She warned, before letting him go. Three more Elementals stumbled towards her, followed my one elderly man dragging himself across the sand, leaving a trail of blood behind him. His legs were blown away.

She took a deep breath, settling her mind. "The most critically injured first, please."


Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Heaven and Hell battled in the center of it all, paying no mind to those surrounding them.

Ferio flinched as an arrow constructed of light sliced across his nose, biting deep. That's gonna leave a scar.

He hit her again and again out of a whip made of darkness, causing her to scream in agony.

Something deep inside him spoke, growling eagerly, thirty for blood. You are the devil's son, you can do something far more then this! Kill them! Murder them! Boil their blood in their veins! Burn them in the eternal flames! If they so much as attempt fighting you, let there be hell to pay!

Ferio gritted his teeth. I...can't. I don't have to be a monster.

Guenivere laughed. "What's wrong, demon? Afraid?"

He tried to envelop her in darkness, but it dissipated. "Is that all you got?" She cried.

It wasn't, but he daren't unleash what he knew he could do, not with the voice whispering in his head: kill, kill, kill...

"Can't keep up, can you? You're pathetic. Think I'll take a few of your pesky little people down while you decide what to do."

With a smile, she made a passive wave, and wings appeared and unfolded at her back. Huge and white, they were the wings of an Archangel, beautiful and pure. She flapped them a couple of times, rising into the air. "Can't catch me now, can you?" She smiled, and raising her arms, brought a deathly light flashing from her. Twenty Elementals that she pointed at died in an instinct, collapsing to the ground, their bodies untouched. She smiled. "Come on, Ferio? I'm waiting...or do you not mind if I kill your people?" Another flash of light, another twenty of Akira's Elementals dead. She flew away, across the battlefield like an avenging Gabriel.

Growling, Ferio raced after her. Why is she flying to the back of our line? There are no people there, only sand and the injured. Why on earth would she go all the way back there?

Morgaine.

Swearing, he forced his legs to move even faster.

Morgaine quivered in fear at what she saw. Guenivere, flying with wings of an angel, circling above the battle, bringing death and destruction on whomever she chose to look at. And no one can reach her! She's too far out of their attack range. Only another flying elemental can reach her now! And my flying powers drain me so fast, I wouldn't be able to. Her mind preoccupied, she didn't realize that Guenivere was slowly making her way towards her.

She looked up again and screamed. Guenivere was swooping down on her, wielding a silver knife, a vicious snarling look on her too-perfect lips.. A roaring filled Morgaine's ears. This is it. I'm going to die. She couldn't hear, but just before she ducked, she made out the words on Guenivere's lips. It's finally time to finish you off.

Morgaine screamed soundlessly one last time, then felt something hard hit her stomach and she smacked into the sand with a thud.

Am I dead? Injured? But why doesn't it hurt? Groaning, she forced herself to open her eyes, and found herself looking into Ferio's face.

"You okay?" he asked, getting to his feet and pulling her up.

"How often have you save me from flying objects? I've lost count. There was the knife, and the stone, never mind the drowning and now thi- " Morgaine said dully, rubbing her head. Ferio's eyes widened, and he yelled out, interrupting the disoriented woman. "She's coming back!" He pulled her down again.

Guenivere flew a scant inches past them. Morgaine could feel something sharp rake against her head and she let out a screech. She reached up and touched it. Her hair was tacky with blood. "Ferio? You get hit?"

"No, I'm good." He winced when he saw her head. "You okay?" She nodded. He continued. "She's toying with us. We've got to do something about this before she kills is, but no one could reach her." An idea seemed to occur to him. "Can't you fly up and attack her?"

Morgaine shook her head, trembling, trying to stay calm under pressure. "It takes up so much of my elemental energy just to levitate myself for a few minutes, and even then I wouldn't have any magic left over to be of use to attack her or heal afterwards. I wouldn't even be able to get close to her!"

He stared at her in shock for a minute as he realized there was no escape, that the flying half-angel's next strike would be fatal, then his face softened. "Then I guess I'll see ya in the next life."

"Pardon?" This took a moment to sink into Morgaine's brain. She put her hand to her head, and, to Ferio's surprise, started laughing hoarsely. "This has got to be a dream. All of it. I've been reading too many books! I mean, come on, I swear this is straight from a novel I read…or maybe it's from that story I've been writing…it's all so cheesy...I die in all my dreams, and I haven't had one for a while, so I guess I'm due for an extra freaky one…I mean, it's not even following logic…I mean, jeez, this is so cliché…" A pinch of pain up her arm startled her. She brought her head up and stared at Ferio. He had pinched her, hard.

"That hurt." She whispered. It hit her like a gale. She startled to tremble, then forcefully stopped herself. "It doesn't hurt in dreams…normally…well, I've had a couple…"

He smirked. "You think you could dream up me?"

"Aww, isn't this adorable?" Guenivere questioned from above, her voice mocking. "Hey Romeo, Little Miss Priss over there can watch you die." Her eyes narrowed. "Then she can know what it's like, thinking that a loved one is going to pass away, and unable to do anything about it."

Light began to pulse at her fingertips. Morgaine stared her mind panicking.

I can't do anything to save him! The light goes so fast!

Even if this is a dream, I can't let him die like this!

I…love him!

Just as Guenivere was about to let fly her deadly luminescence, Morgaine let out a cry of agony, and crumpled to the sand, her arms wrapped around herself, fingers, clutching, scratching at her back. Blood began bubbling at the corner of her mouth.

"Morgaine! What's wrong? Guenivere, what did you do to her?" Ferio yelled, kneeling beside the auburn haired girl.

Guenivere herself had froze, the thought of the attack vanished from her mind by sheer curiosity. "I didn't do anything!" She replied, staring at the Elemental of Wind.

Elementals are humans, born with powers needed to keep the world from spinning out of control. Dragons are defenders of the people, Elementals, unknowingly, are defenders of the balance of the Earth. They control the powerful winds, the pouring rain, the fertility of the soil, and the growth of the wild. They keep everything in check. Each Elemental is one with their element. They, in fact, are their element, gathering their power from the one they coincide with. Their limits are as high as the power of which they use. They are channels for the Energy. Without them, the elements would be out of control, creating disasters at every turn. Elementals, being human, are not perfect.. Every earthquake, every powerful storm, every hurricane is the mistake of an Elemental. The bigger the mistake, the worse the reaction. This is the way it has always been, and always will be.

One thing that has not been known for the past five hundred years, nor in fact has rarely been discovered before then, is that the possessors of the four high Elements: Wind, Water, Fire and Wood, all have a higher form, deep inside of them, that can only be released when the Elemental has someone they want to protect, someone in the gravest danger.

Ferio turned Morgaine so he could look at her back and stared, bile rising in his throat. Something under the surface of her skin was bubbling, churning. Her shoulder blades suddenly jutted out, and Morgaine let out another scream.

"Morgaine." Ferio said, grabbing her hand. Unknowing, her teeth clenches, her feet pressing against the ground, her body writing in pain, she clutched his hand, so deep as to leave bruises.

"Get...away." She grunted. "Do it!"

He let go of her hand and took a couple of steps back. Morgaine staggered to her feet, leaned back, and then convulsed, bending forward at the waist, clutching her sides. Her shoulder blades jutted out to a grotesque length of a foot, and then...

There was an explosion of blood as her flesh ruptured.

Guenivere flew back in disgust, and Ferio yelled out. "Morgaine!"

He could see her on her hands and knees on the ground. Blood was everywhere: on the ground, in her hair, staining her clothes, on him, dripping from her...her…oh my God…

What the Hell?

Morgaine stood, still shaking a little, pain flickering in her eyes. Her eyes opened wide for a moment in panic and shock, like two ping-pong balls, and then slowly, a grin spread across her face. She took a step towards where Guenivere was flying, and then another, the sounds of battle and people's death screams surrounding her. She left a trail of blood behind her.

"You thought you were the only one?" She questioned the flying white winged angel, cocking her head.

Ferio goggled at her, standing stock still like a deer caught in headlights, wordless, suddenly scared beyond belief. Sensing this, Morgaine turned and gave him a gentle smile. "It's all right." She said softly. "I won't hurt you. This is who I am." Her eyes were sad as she realized he was frightened...frightened of her. I have saved him...but I have lost him. He'll be terrified of me forever now. Goodbye, Ferio.

Dashing tears away with her forearm, she tilted her head up and looked at Guenivere. "You thought you were so special. Didn't it ever occur to you that the Elemental of Wind would..."

Without looking away, she spread her wings from their furled position for the first time. A vague, dreamer's look entered her eyes as she flapped them once, twice, to send most of the red liquid cascading off of them. They were a beautiful russet brown-red, with half white feathers at the bottom. The wings of a red tailed hawk. Not quite as large or as showy as Guenivere's, of course, but who needed flamboyance? She still bled from the two huge holes punctured through her skin, and her the edges of her shirt where the wings has torn right through the cloth were the glistening red of slick, fresh blood. "...have wings?"

Morgaine took off, flapping her wings again and again. This wasted none of her Elemental powers, and for this she was glad. It meant she wouldn't have to divert her powers and concentration.

She took off, leaving Ferio staring behind her. After a couple of moments a courageous and entirely foolish Elemental of Kyu's attacked him. Without thinking, Ferio strangled him with the darkness. The man fell to the ground, starved of air, dead.

The joy of the kill pounded through Ferio's veins. He didn't care about the battle, he just wanted to kill, slay everything in sight…so he could forget what he had just seen.

He could feel himself losing control, but he didn't care anymore. He was frightened, afraid. He wanted to forget. And this would help him.

His eyes glinted cruelly as he surveyed those around him.

Caitlyn ducked as a jolt of Electricity shot past her head, and shot a torrent of fire at Jake. "Pauline, you hanging in there?" She yelled.

"Yeah! Somehow!" Pauline nimbly dodged her attacker's attack, hit him with water full in the stomach, then turned and blasted two more opponents.

Farther away, amid the chaos, Tamiko was again and again slashing down whomever came near her. A figure clothed in white, one of the sacrifices, was running away from the bloody alter, trying to escape. Tamiko moved to intercept. She raised her claws to deliver a final blow, when she looked into the woman's face.

"Nile?" She whispered. And it was the Egyptian dragon, the kohl around her eyes smearing down her face on one side, her black hair a mess. Her wicked almond shaped eyes glinted in the sun. She was a little bloody, but otherwise unharmed. Her scarab beetle necklace glinted around her narrow neck.

"Are you going to kill me?" She asked softly. "Kill your own aunt?"

Tamiko hand trembled. I almost killed her! She noticed for the first time that there were gray haired in amidst the ebony on her aunt's head.

"Go ahead, if you will. I'm not in my dragon form." Nile spoke, spreading her arms.

Tamiko shook her head, like an unwilling child.

Nile reached out to stroke her hair, and as she did, she transformed. Green scales ran up her arms and face, her teeth and nails elongated and sharpened, her eyes slanted.

"That's a good girl." She whispered. "Now, go do what needs to be done. Make your choice." With that, Nile was off, skirting her way around various Elementals to get to the back of Akira's line. To safety.

Tamiko felt confusion run over her, emotions churning in her body that had been dormant for too long. Inside, a battle: beast against human. Shock ran through her as she looked over the battle with fresh eyes. She smelled the stench of decomposing flesh as the dead bodies lay in the sun; saw children being killed mercilessly at Kyu's whim, so he could chase a dream. She saw Kyu with his axe, slaughtering helpless people.

"I have to go stop the sacrifices." she whispered, and began to run towards the blood covered alter, towards the line of helpless Dragons, and the pile of white clad bodies slumped on the ground.

Pauline's mind whirled as she continued to fight. Linda is gone. Her brain had gone numb, unable to absorb this simple fact. She's dead.

Warm tears spilled down her cheeks as recent memories flooded into her mind. Linda smiling cheerfully, Linda telling jokes around their fire pit, Linda sketching a picture of the four of them…

Lost in memory, she didn't see the attacker sneaking up behind her.

"Pauline! Watch out!" Caitlyn screeched, sending a torrent of flame towards her friend, burning Pauline's would-be killer to a crisp.

Pauline shrieked, then laughed. "Thanks Cait!"

Caitlyn stuck out her tongue. "Be more careful. How many did you get?"

"So far? I dunno. Were we supposed to be counting?"

"Ya!"

"Not fair."

Something zipped past Caitlyn's face, and she turned her mind back to the battle. Pauline grinned, and dodged a wildly swinging arm. "You want some? Bring it."

"You're awfully cavalier about all of this." Caitlyn shouted to Pauline as they continued to fight.

"You have to be!" Pauline replied.

They continued on.

Guenivere grinned at Morgaine, pain creasing her features. The Elemental of Light had lost an arm, Morgaine's wind blade attacks sending it spiraling down into the crowd. Morgaine was quite better off, having a nasty cut running right in between her precious wings.

They both flew around each other, dodging, parrying, and attacking. They began to circle warily. "You ready to give up?" Guenivere asked.

Morgaine had thrown up when she had accidentally cut off Guenivere's arm. She was not used to such violence, and hated thought of killing another person made her ill. She stared the stump now, blood gushing from it, it's hot droplets falling on the heads of those battling below. But she knew what she had to do.

"Are you a fool Guenivere? You should be the one to give up! You may be more powerful then me, and you may be half angel, but you are in my element. And that is why there is no way you can ever win."

Nevertheless Guenivere tried. She used all of her power and shoved it into a blast of killing light. Morgaine threw up a wind shield, though it did little good. However it blocked some of the attack, and that was all that was needed. As she fell from the sky, Morgaine blasted a powerful wind attack back, picking up Guenivere and throwing her far, smashing her into a cliff that rose up from the beach. Guenivere crumpled and fell, dead, her wings ruffling in the wind, her golden hair streaming behind her as she fell into the sand and hit with a sickening thud full of finality.

Morgaine spiraled down, down. Managing to gain hold of herself right before she too hit the ground, she opened her wings as wide as possible and glided a few feet, before flapping again to gain altitude.

A multitude of screams from below distracted her, drawing her gaze. What she saw hit her like a punch in the stomach.

There was a throbbing darkness a couple of inches away from her face, and then Caitlyn's eyes cleared. "What in all the...oh my God...he couldn't have..."

Dead...dead from both sides, toppled around the Elemental of Darkness, the life sucked out of them. But something had changed. His skin had taken on a reddish hue, his hands were topped with long, deadly claws, and his ears were pointy. His hair had fallen out of its ponytail, and embedded in the strands of emerald green were two horns.

The battle...the deaths...it must have been too much for him. He doesn't care who he kills, as long as he does kill. His devil half must enjoy it. Caitlyn skittered away, out of his range, knowing deep in her heart that Ferio could murder everyone here if he chose. Just let our people have the sense to get out of his way.

Tamiko was oblivious to all of this, as she reached the Alter. As she came close, she realized Kyu was quarrelling with someone.

"I won't let you hurt her! No!" The wailing of a babe. "Not this child! You already killed the child of my blood. Let this child of my heart live, I beg of you! She may be the Dragon of China, but look at her! She has done no harm! Nor will do none to you! Please!"

A tall African woman was clutching to a bundle that Kyu was trying to wrestle away from her. Tamiko stepped forward.

"Allow me to take the child away, Kyu." She said softly. The Dragon of Africa's eyes widened, and she clutched the babe close to her. Kyu nodded his agreement. Tamiko turned her back to Kyu so he could not see her face. It was imperative that Kyu was not aware of what she was doing at this point. She said quietly to the woman, her voice almost imperceptible. "Don't worry. I'm not sided with Kyu or Akira anymore. I'll take good care of her."

The woman smiled, tears in her eyes, and handed the Chinese babe in her arms to Tamiko. "Her name is Bou Lee. And I'm Binti."

They both knew that she would be sacrificed in a matter of moments. No fear showed on the Binti's powerful, high cheekbone face. Tamiko clasped the older woman's hand.

"I will kill him for all that he has done." Tamiko murmured, her voice barely imperceptible.

Binti flashed Tamiko a white grin. "Give him Hell, girl."

With a final kiss on Bou Lee's plump cheek, Binti strode forward and promptly attacked Kyu, dragging her nails down his face, kicking and screaming like a wild animal. Shocked by the attack, Kyu was almost overpowered. He pushed her off of him with a grunt of exertion. Panting, he stood, leaving her on the ground, and swung the axe up and over his head, and back down across her neck. There was an explosion of blood. Kyu's kicked the body out of the way. "Next!" He cried out, angry now.

An older woman, plump and doughy, clad in an ill-fitting dress of white stepped forward.

Tamiko walked away calmly with the child, then once far away enough, began to run, dodging people and attacks. She had to take this child to safety, then she would go back for the other dragons. She tried not to listen as the thud of the axe hitting flesh reverberated behind her. She wasn't aware of the tears streaking down her cheeks. Seared into her mind was the sight of Binti's lifeless body slumped against the sacrificial roc, broken like a rag doll.

The baby in her arms was quiet, staring into the noon sky with dark, sad eyes, her adoptive Mother's blood splattered across her face.

Another hundred people died to Ferio's shadow attacks, the darkness eating away at their live bodies like rot.

"There's no way to stop him." Caitlyn hissed, watching the grotesque deaths and the look of glee on The Elemental of Darkness.

"Ferio, stop it!" Pauline yelled out as she continued dodging her opponent's relentless attacks nimbly, making sure she never came near the man turned devil.

Elemental attacks converged on him, but he wiped them away carelessly, like chalk from a chalkboard.

Caitlyn looked around, suddenly afraid. He's so powerful... She looked across the battlefield, and caught sight of Pauline's pale, drawn face. She too knew what would happen if he wasn't stopped. They would all die, turned to black ashes on an old beach, to be washed away by the tide...

She looked up, to see Morgaine circling overhead, watching with large, frightened eyes.

Caitlyn made her choice. I'm sorry, Morgaine. She stepped forward, over the dead bodies, so she was facing the Elemental of Darkness.

"Fire torment!" She screamed. A funnel of fire blasted its way towards Ferio, and went around him, as he created a shield of darkness. Then both fire and shield were gone, and he was looking at her with those golden eyes filled with madness as he lifted up his hand to kill her. Caitlyn had taken a chance that her magic would be powerful enough to finish him off, and she was wrong.

"Caitlyn!" An animal screech, a whoosh, and suddenly Caitlyn was off of the ground, out of harm's way, her feet dangling. She looked up.

Morgaine had grabbed her at the last possible moment, supporting Caitlyn under her arms. She flew in a power climb, knowing, Caitlyn was sure, that Ferio would send the killing shadows after them. She could feel tingling on her feet, and looking back, she saw the darkness was coming right behind them. She felt Morgaine picking up the pace, flying all the faster, to outrun the death chasing up in tendrils behind them. She looked up. Morgaine's mouth was set in a determined line, her eyes staring straight ahead, determined. Her eyes had a hint of sadness pulling down at the corners. They arced straight up.

Finally after it has seemed like forever, he gave up, and the shadows peeled away from their chase. Caitlyn sighed with relief, as she felt Morgaine slow to a glide. Then she looked down. And farther down.

"Holy crap!"

They were far above the beach. So far that the battle itself seemed like a speck.

"Stop thrashing!" Morgaine commanded, panting slightly, out of breath. "This is hard enough as it is, without you squirming. I'm liable to drop you."

"Don't you dare!" Caitlyn yelled back. Morgaine swooped around and began to gracefully descend. Caitlyn stared out at the lake, the noon sun playing on the lapping waves. "It's so beautiful from up here." She said quietly, stunned, her voice hushed. "You could almost forget that hundreds are dying below us."

Morgaine heard her. "You try drowning in it." She retorted wryly, shivering. "It's not so pretty then." There were a couple of moments of silence. Caitlyn didn't know what to say. She looked away, over the lake again.

"Where are we going?" She asked finally.

"The back lines of our side."

"What? Why?"

Morgaine didn't answer as she swooped down, and they came in for a landing out of harm's way. Caitlyn's toes brushed the sand, and she stood for a moment on her wobbly legs before she fell to her knees, breathing deeply. "That was frightening." She commented.

Morgaine gently landed, furled her wigs, and walked over to Caitlyn. Offering her a hand, she pulled her to her feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I think." Caitlyn took a couple of deep breaths, then, as she looked up, her eyes gleams. "Actually, that was really fun!" She went silent as she saw the burning fury in her friend's face.

Morgaine brought up her hand and hit her across the cheek. Caitlyn bowed her head. "That's for doing something so stupid..." The Elemental of Wind growled, her voice was taut with anger. For a minute Caitlyn was frightened she was going to blow. She gritted her teeth and waited. "And this is for not dying" Morgaine said, hugging her tightly, taking Caitlyn by surprise. "I thought you promised to be careful."

"Sorry." Caitlyn hugged her back, and for a moment felt the overwhelming urge to start crying for all she had lost. For Linda. But calling up a reserve of strength she didn't know she had, she forced the compulsion and the sadness down.

"Now, why did you take me all the way back here?" She asked casually, trying to say calm.

Morgaine's eyes shone with tears, but they didn't spill. "Because I know what I have to do. And I know you would interfere."

Caitlyn stared at her for a moment, uncomprehending. then, as Morgaine began to beat her wings to take off, she understood. She wouldn't!

"Morgaine, no!" She cried, grabbing onto her wrist. "It's too great a danger! He's not human anymore! He doesn't know Pauline, me, any of us! He won't recognize you! You will die. I've already lost one friend, I'm not about to lose you!"

Morgaine swallowed, then raised her head. "I have to try. I'm sorry." And, in one motion, she pulled her arm out of Caitlyn's grasp and flew off, the wind from her wings knocking Caitlyn back, leaving the Elemental of Fire calling her name helplessly behind her.

Morgaine, you're going to die. You know that, don't you? I should have known, I should've seen it coming: you don't take love lightly. We should have let you anywhere near that no good...

The sound of pounding feet distracted her, and when Caitlyn's watchful eye found who was approaching her, she reacted automatically. Spirals of flame circled around her body like a snake.

"Tamiko, you really don't want to mess with me." She growled, her hackles rising.

The scaled girl's face contorted. "Caitlyn, please, take this child. She's the Dragon of China. Protect her..."

"What?"

Tamiko took a step forward, and Caitlyn threw herself back. "I can't trust you. Are you kidding me?" Akira's twin asked incredusly, still aggressive.

Tamiko knelt and, brushing the Chinese baby's cheek with her lips, she gently lay her on the ground. Bou Lee did nothing but stare at Caitlyn, then back to Tamiko, then gurgle.

"No time to explain. Don't let her come to harm." and with that, Tamiko left, running back into the battle.

Caitlyn knelt down and scooped the little girl up. Bou Lee smiled, and Caitlyn felt the corners of her mouth curve up. "Guess I'm stuck with you." She said, her voice impatient.

Bou Lee's only reply was to reach up with one chubby hand and grab Caitlyn's nose.


Morgaine swooped down, coming to a landing on the edge of the circle people had formed around Ferio. Though everyone was still fighting, they had all realized they had best be wary of this troubled teen, and stayed as far away as possible. Therefore, there was seven meters of empty sand around Ferio in every direction.

I'm sorry Caitlyn. Pauline.

Something grabbed the Elemental of Wind's ankle. Whipping her head around, she screamed. It was Liam, the so-called 'leader' of the first group of Elementals that had come to join Akira. His entire body from the torso down was gone, blown away by some explosive. He clawed at her. "You gotta help me!" He gasped, his voice rough and hoarse. His eyes were filled with so much pain and fear and agony. "Heal! Heal!" A crazed look in his eye, he pulled up his other hand as if to grab her ankle, but then he flopped down, dead, like all the others. Morgaine yanked her ankle out of his grasp, breathing heavily, forcing herself not to vomit. She noticed for the first time how many dead lay around her, knowing that most of them were by The Elemental of Darkness' hand.

She turned her attention towards Ferio, who seemed to be focusing his glassy eyed stare on some sixty-year-old man slowly backing away. Ferio raised his hand and the dark began gathering in his palm.

"Ferio, no!" She screeched, running forward, cursing the sand that dragged on her feet. Pushing herself forward, she snatched his wrist and stood herself right in front of him, so that, if he used his magic it would hit her in the stomach.

Morgaine looked into his eyes and saw the madness there. "Listen to me! You've got to stop this! Can't you see?"

He threw her aside like a rag doll. She hit the sand with a thud, and sat up hurriedly after hearing a cut off scream. The old man's corpse lay on the ground, being devoured by slugs made out of shadows, crawling on his pallid flesh.

Morgaine pushed herself to her feet and stepped in front of Ferio once again. "Can't you see all the people you've killed? This isn't you!"

He looked back at her, a snarl forming on his lips, his red, scaly hands curling into fists, the claws digging into his own flesh.

She curled one of her own fists and punched him hard, hitting him under the jaw. "Stop it, damn you! No more killing!" He had stumbled back, but had recovered quickly. He took two steps forward, so he stood right in front of her, anger blazing down on her from his golden eyes. He was trying to intimidate her. And it worked, for a moment. Morgaine cowered, then looking up at him, she straightened. She reached out and touched his horns. "What has happened to you?" She asked softly.

Hot tears bubbling in her eyes, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, putting her head on his shoulder.

"You are not the devil. This isn't you. Fight it." She murmured, like a mother consoling a child. She felt his arms go around her and sagged, relieved. "Ferio?" She said her voice soft. "Are you all right?"

Crippling pain split into her sides, causing her to gasp out a hoarse breath full of agony, wincing. Ferio had embedded his claws into her skin, just above her hips. He pulled them out again. Morgaine started to pull away, then, deciding, hugged him once more. She could feel the blood trickling out of the punctures in her skin.

"Ferio...come back. Do you really want your whole life to be like this?"

"Least I don't have to hide who I am! I won't have to feel insignificant anymore, just because I'm different! I'm the Devil's son! Let them fear me!" His voice was a mass of snarls and howling rage.

Morgaine let out a laugh that was a half sob. "Now I know something's wrong: you're never this open with anyone, let alone me. Listen, haven't you figured it out yet? Everyone's different. Everyone's got something to hide. I can't pretend that you're like everyone else, but why does that matter, as long as you've got people out there who care about you."

"Care about me?" He said, and a bark of laughter followed, filled with a violent self-loathing that took Morgaine by surprise.

She buried her face in his shirt. "Yes..." Then she threw all pretence to the wind. "This isn't the real you! This isn't the Ferio I care so deeply for! You, dammit! I like you! A lot. But not like this! I like the real you!"

Once again she felt his arms go around her, and she winced in expectation. Maybe I was wrong. He's going to kill me. He doesn't even recognize me...

But his caress was gentle. She pulled away and looked into golden eyes as calm as the sea. His skin had once again turned its normal tanned colour, and the horns on his head were gone, leaving as he returned to his old self. He reached out as if to stroke her cheek, but then dropped his hand. "You idiot, I could've killed you!"

She just looked at him, watching him carefully as he slowly surveyed all those he had murdered, and took a deep, shuddering breath.

"I could hear everything...see everything...I heard their screams, felt their lives slip away..."

Morgaine bit her lip.

He turned, and his eyes were red rimmed. The deep slash across his nose was red and puffy, blood still oozing from it.

He looked at Morgaine, and his face convulsed. "How can you stand to be near me? I killed so many people..." His gaze drifted away...at the dead.

Morgaine's face hardened. "Yes, you killed them, and you're going to have to deal with that. We still need you in the war, Ferio. Don't wimp out now, just because of one little mistake. Cry after."

He lifted his tortured face up. She held herself up. "I crushed Guenivere against a rock. She's dead. I've killed." Her body convulsed, and she dry-retched once, and then got control of herself once more. "My best friend is dead because I couldn't heal her in time. You think I don't feel that? But I don't weep. I wait. When this bloody battle is finished, then I'll cry, but not yet. Save it for a more appropriate time."

Ferio caught sight of the claw mark on her sides. "You're bleeding…Morgaine, I almost killed you. Why didn't you leave? "

She turned, her face was distant. "You're wounded too. You should've come to me sooner: It'll leave a scar now." She reached out and her cool fingertip ran down the bridge of his nose, as she purposely changed the subject. Magic scurried from her fingertips to sink into the wound. It healed in seconds, leaving a semi-thick white line across his tanned skin.

"The chicks dig scars." He said, grinning half-heartedly

She went to move away but he grabbed her by the wrist. "Morgaine, why are you acting like this?" he demanded, all serious again. She looked at him with calm, gold-flecked brown eyes. The mask of cocky confidence that he wore cracked, showing the bewilderment and lost look in his eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

Because I can't forget your face when you looked at me with my wings. "Perhaps it's best to pretend that we never knew one another." Save us both some heartbreak.

"What?" He was momentarily stunned. She took the opportunity to unfurl her wings and try to fly away but he stopped her. "Wait. What is your problem?"

"This is who I am Ferio, and if you can't accept that..." She gestured at her wings and then attempted to fly away again, but he kept a firm hold on her wrist. Letting out a sigh, she let her feet touch the ground, and folded her wings.

"What? Oh...I see. Yes, I'll admit it: I was frightened. But only because I didn't know you could sprout..." He gestured at her wings.

Morgaine waited for him to finish speaking, her face unreadable, and her eyes giving away nothing.

"...And..." You looked so much like an angel, and I felt so far away from you, so distant, so worthless, the devil's son. "Never mind. It's not a big deal anymore. It just was a bit of a shock."

Morgaine seemed to consider this, and then seeing he had something else to say, nodded for him to continue.

He seemed distracted. "Look, I heard everything you said, when I was...well...and you were right. Everyone is different. I also heard you say..." He drifted off, his eye focusing on hers. Morgaine blushed. With strength of will, she turned her back to him, and flapped her hand as if it was no big deal as she began to walk away.

"Well, I meant it." She said factually, surprised at finding herself so calm. "And I'm glad it helped you quell the devil in you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go see if there are people in need of healing."

Ferio was shocked for a moment, expecting her to have protested saying what she did. "Morgaine."

She looked at him over her shoulder. "Ferio, is now really the time? We're in the middle of a battle whose repercussions are probably going to be the most catastrophic our world has ever seen. Even if we win, there will be drought, blighted crops, huge storms, massive illnesses..." She began to chatter to cover her nervousness when she felt him walk up behind her, and stopped when he put his hand over her mouth.

"You're babbling." He whispered. Goosebumps rolled up her skin. "I just wanted to tell you, before you left...well first of all, I wanted to thank you for never shying away from me, or being scared of me for what I am. And for stopping me from…" He swallowed. "Killing more people. But mostly, I wanted to tell you...that I feel the same way."

Morgaine sat a moment, stunned. Then she said, jokingly, breathlessly. "About yourself? That's rather egotistical, isn't it?"

"About you."

She turned bright red, and stammered for a reply.

"So, you be careful when you're healing. You don't know who'll attack you." Morgaine, you could do so much better then me.

"Just you don't die on me." She replied, calming a little. She turned around to face him.

"Die? And risk your wrath? I wouldn't think of it." He said solomnly.

Morgainesmiled faintly,thenshuddered as she heard the screams of the dying, and the reality of the situation hit her again.Her fists clenched and unclenched..

It was about this time that the masses of Elementals realized that Ferio was no longer a huge threat. There was a sudden eerie silence, as they began to inch forward as a group, hundreds of them.

"Oh, lord." Morgaine whispered. "They're about to attack."

"Go." Ferio muttered, pushing her away. "I'll be fine."

She bit her lip, unsure of what to do.

"Aren't you supposed to be healing?" Think of all those people dying as you waste your time with me."

The screams she had been blocking out suddenly hit her full force over the sudden quiet that had surrounded them. Injured people…dying. Morgaine closed her eyes in consternation, forcing herself to make a decision.

"I have to go…" Her eyes opened, and flecked brown met gold. "But be careful."

He grinned at her reassuringly. "C'mon, this lot? All lower elementals." Ferio…it's now or never. You know you'll never get the courage to take this step ever again. It's only because you know you might never see her again that you can do it now.

Her smile was half-hearted as she spread her wings and flapping them, slowly rising off the ground. Two feet in the air, she began to glide forward, ready to power climb, when she felt something grab her wrist, pulling her back. She gasped, panicking.

"Wait." It was Ferio.

Landing on the ground lightly once more, Morgaine let out an exasperated breath as she folded her wings, and asked peevishly "Ferio, what do you wa-"

Their eyes met for breathless moment as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and then, pulling her close, he pressed his lips softly against hers.

Morgaine's eyes widened, startled, as a dark crimson blush spread across her cheeks. Then, slowly she relaxed. Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned in and kissed him back, her arms going around his neck, forgetting for a moment everything else that had ever mattered, forgetting that around her, hundreds were dying. A gentle breeze blew, caressing the pair, and their melding shadows faded in and out of sight.


Pauline let out a cry of agony as electricity tingled through her, wincing, as she smelled the ends of her hair burning.

She was crumpled on the ground, dirt smearing her face, blood oozing from a savage burn across her back.

She stumbled to her feet, and met Jake's gaze with ferocity, only to be struck down by another of his lightning bolts. She crumpled, gasping, trying to gather enough strength to stand once more, to defy him.

How unfair is it that I'm being attacked by my weakness! If I lash back with my water attacks, he'll send a jolt through that and I'll get myself killed, and if he steps up the voltage I'll die. But he won't do that just yet. He's playing with me.

With an effort she put her raw hands onto the ground and gasped, shocked and abhorred at how much energy that took her, and how fatigued she was now. She winced, feeling how burned the flesh on her face, arms, back, neck and legs throbbed.

From above she could hear Jake speaking to someone.

"Hey, look who I got." The Elemental of Electricity was saying. "Want a chance to beat her up? It's fun."

Pauline pushed herself off the ground, and stood, her legs feeling like jelly. She shut her eyes, not wanting what she saw to be true.

Taiy stood beside Jake, looking at her, his face devoid of emotion. "She'll die if you do anything else to her."

Jake shrugged. "Then I guess the game's over." He seemed disappointed that he couldn't draw out Pauline's pain any longer. Lightning crackled around his body as he prepared to send the finishing blow.

Tears streaked down Pauline's cheeks, making tracks through the grime that covered her face. She reached out to the Elemental of Rock. Emotion flickered in Taiy's face.

"Taiy…I still…I...love you..."

There was a huge explosion of lightning, crackling in the still air. Pauline was knocked off of her feet. As she hit the ground, she squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the deathblow of electricity.

It never came.

She opened her eyes to a world filled with smoke. What happened?

She began to crawl forward, rubbing her stinging eyes with swelling, burned hands. She could hear clattering noises around her, and realized that pieces of sharp, hot, burning rock were shooting everywhere, like shrapnel. She could hear screams distantly, as they hit flesh.

She tucked herself into a tiny ball, covering her head with her hands, making herself a smaller target. She prayed that she would not get hit.

After what seemed like forever, the sound of the deadly missiles drumming on the ground stopped, and Pauline felt it was safe to open her eyes.

She was relatively unharmed, compared to other moaning people around her. One flying shrapnel rock had embedded itself into her foot. With a gasp of pain, she pulled it out, and then looked around.

The smoke had all but cleared. She looked around for Jake wildly for a moment, but he was gone.

How am I still alive?

She made out a burned body in front of her, and shrieked when she realized whom it was.

She scrambled to its side, and realization dawned. He had taken the blow for her, sacrificing himself.

She lifted one hand and put it to her cheek as she began to weep hot tears. "Taiy? Damn it! How could you?"

His eyes opened, and he gently, wordlessly, stroked her cheek. Just once, as a smile spread across his face. And then his hand fell, lifeless, to the ground.

Pauline screamed an incoherent cry of rage and sadness as she bent over his body.


Ferio and Morgaine broke apart, the latter a faint blush on her cheekbones. She was stunned, wordless.

Ferio, too, had turned a pale pink, although his was almost imperceptible. He looked out at the incoming crowd to hide the emotions in his eyes. "You'd better go now." He murmured, catching sight of someone in the crowd that would be somewhat more difficult to fight then most of the surrounding hostiles.

"Ferio..." She whispered, pressing a hand to her lips.

Morgaine turned to look where Ferio was gazing, and spotted the Elemental. "Jake." She looked at the green haired teen beside her. "Ferio, I'm not leaving you!"

"You have to. Do you really think I want to risk you getting hurt?"

The Elemental of Wind saw the sudden fierce protectiveness burning in his eyes, and knew that it was in hers too. New emotions welled up within her, and she forced herself to stay calm, and to keep her voice from shaking and trembling. "I'm not a weakling, I can fight!" She argued. "You'll die without help!" Her hands curled into fists. Everything in her stubborn stance showed that she wasn't going anywhere.

Ferio searched for an argument to get her out of this mess. Suddenly a loud, animal scream echoed over the beach turned bloodbath. "Isn't that Pauline?" He questioned. Morgaine nodded, worry tensing her every feature.

"Go help her." He coaxed. Morgaine was once more torn. Protect Ferio or save Pauline?

"I…" She felt his hand smooth her hair away from her brow, and cup his hand under her cheek.

"Be well." He whispered.

Roar, the crowd charged, ready to kill the Elemental of Darkness. With a sudden decisiveness, Ferio made a motion with his hands. Suddenly, Morgaine was flying, her wings flapping, carrying her off the ground…against her will.

Looking back, she realized that her wings had been covered with shadow. He was controlling her wings! Making her fly back to the back lines! Away from him!

"Ferio!" She screeched at him, looking over her shoulder, struggling, trying to fly back. For a split second, their eyes met. Then Elementals swarmed over Ferio like ants to an injured wasp, and Morgaine, tumbling in the air, lost sight of him.

Let him be all right!


I'm so sorry for the abrupt halt. This is the first half of the chapter. The second half will be done soon also!

Elemental of Wind