Big shout out to Frozen Smoke for the review!

Ch.5 Fanfares and Fluff

The week was going by too fast and I could feel the overwhelming anxiety of school starting on Monday. I had gotten the uniform and supplies over the last few days and it left me drained. It was now Thursday, and I wanted to enjoy the last four days of the summer. It felt as though the future was looming and I hadn't had a chance to talk to Shift because every time I did I lost focus on what I was doing, resulting in several bad situations.

I wanted a day away from the stress I had been throwing on myself and the chance to talk to Shift more so I decided that The Copper Kettle would be the perfect place. It was an old tea shop, as I had noticed several long days ago. The inside had a fancy feel to it and I instantly liked that most of the occupants were older, any therefore less likely to approach me.

I walked to the counter and ordered some sort of tea that had orange in it and grabbed a few light fluffy pastries. Walking back to a table with my order I sat and finally relaxed. I enjoyed the flavor of the tea, as I had assumed I would when I found there was orange in it, and sank into the chair.

I peeled layers from my pastry and let the thin sheets dissolve on my tongue.

You awake, Shift?

Hmm... Oh, yeah. I was just meditating.

I still say it's sleeping. I smirked.

But I am aware!

And out of it. I counter argued, my smile growing wider. No harm in our playful arguing.

Agree to disagree?

Of course! Now, I've been meaning to ask. How did you end up in that cave?

The vision of sand in my mind that was Shift seemed to ripple with heat in a hot desert. I was left by my old companion. He was in the Society and was ordered to leave me where I could not form a body. Where there was no sand. Anger rippled in the words and lashed back and forth like whips.

I cringed and noted that a few people were watching me. I simply sipped my tea and waited for them to lose interest. So you don't like this Society, eh?

I am fine with the Society. I heard a sigh. It is the fact that my Companion listened when he was told to leave me in the cave.

I won't ever do anything like that. I think I'd die if I left you. I have only known you for less than a week, but it is great to talk to you, when I can.

I am glad.

The door opened and my day suddenly went down the drain. Connie and the boy our age walked in, holding hands. The took no notice of others in the cafe, only having eyes for each other. They sat at the table next to me without taking notice. Whispers flew between them and they leaned together conspiratorially.

Why don't you like them? Asked the ever observant Shift.

It's not that I don't like them. In fact, I don't even know the boy. Connie just doesn't stop staring. When Evelyn invited me to dinner at number five she kept her attention on me the whole time. She stared and stopped them when they started to talk about the Society. What is the Society?

Hmm... So her attention doesn't slip away like everyone else? The Society for the Protection of Magical Creatures. As far as I know, they started one hundred years before I was left in the cave. They were founded by a universal and one of each of the four main groups. The flyers, two-fours, elementals, and sea snakes.

So you're an elemental?

Actually, no. I also fall into that category but I am a little of everything except two-fours. In my full form I am a sand snake with wings and can fly. Mostly sand elementals fly in the deserts and are passed off as mirages. Attention slides from us and our companions except by our selves. We are able to tunnel into sand and draw it to and from our bodies.

So you are in all three categories?

Yes! Let's put it like this. I am one part naga, one part pegasus, and one part sand golem.

I thought you said you were a sand golem?

I said I was called a sand golem. It is a common misconception. The golems are bulky and like to live near sandstone, which is what they are made from. Truthfully, you are a companion to all three of those plus me!

So that's unusual?

Yes! In my memory on universals could bridge the gap between the groups. In fact, that girl has the feel of a universal. You should tell her that her aunt is looking for her *yawn* I'm going back to sleep.

I thought it was meditation.

Shift was already gone though and I had the wonderful duty of telling a universal her aunt was looking for her.

My tea was gone, as well as the pastry. I stood and walked the two steps to their table. Great, they were kissing and holding hands at the same time. I could hear the tongue slurping and everything. I tapped her on the shoulder and got a strong electric shock for my troubles. I placed my finger into my mouth and compared it to the time that I had been zapped by an electrical outlet. Hand numb and arm not far behind.

"Oh great, it's the stalker from two doors down." She said, voice condescending and aimed to hurt. It did hurt, but I wouldn't let her know that.

"If you haven't noticed, I was in all of the places first except once." I wondered if her attention really had slipped from me like everyone else's had. She wasn't the all knowing one and her attention the first night was probably to keep her attention from slipping!

"Oh, really," she said, arching an eyebrow, "And is this the one place?"

"Nope, the beach was. This time I was sitting at the table right behind me, in perfect view of your make out session." I gestured to the table behind me, which still held my empty cup and plate.

Connie spluttered and blushed heavily, unable to form words. Thankfully her make out partner came to her rescue.

"Hi, I'm Col." He held his hand out to me and I shook it. His eyes were the same mismatch as Connie's. I finally had a face to put to the name. "Huh, Connie didn't tell me that you had mismatched eyes too, she just said that you were... uh... unnoticeable." Now it was his turn to blush.

"Wait!" Connie stared at my eyes too and finally took them in. "Why didn't I notice that before?"

"Well, I am happy to remain unnoticed." I was fine with her confused by how she hadn't seen it before. "Your aunt asked me to send you home if I saw you today, urgent Society business."

"Darn, I wonder what's wrong now. Sorry Col, gotta go." She left in a rush, which left me in the perfect spot to get all the best information about the society from Col.

"Well, that was quick. You wanna come meet Gran?"

Oh, yes. I did.

How am I doing? Like my companion species? Any comments what-so-ever?

Also, I own Daniel, Sand Elementals and this plot. Everything else is Rodda's!