Quest for Green Cleanse Members

“We are not leaving yet!” Alden stated forcibly so all could hear and not just Londra who was shrugging off his concerns. His blue-green marbled eyes contained fire while his accented, long beige face was full of anger. Something most of them had never seen since he didn’t usually show that much emotion. His long, Elven ears far from his head were also stiff yet moving slightly, a tell that he was beyond angry. “You are talented, but running on empty doesn’t help anyone. You don’t have to support us every minute of every day. Will you tell me why this spell is SO important that you would go without sleep for two nights?!”

“That is easy,” Londra sighed, rolling her hazel eyes with circles darkening her light beige skin while rubbing the back of her neck. She didn’t turn to face him, “we have a month…”

“Besides that,” his hissed in their minds, gently yet forcibly turning her to face him. His marbled blue-green eyes focused only on her. The rest of the team was now moving closer.

“Well that is an interesting way to get her attention,” Fenten started, looking around at everyone agreeing with Alden. His light blue eyes and long, caramel face showed more concern than anger. He brought his human size, cicada shaped, Fairy wings inside before saying, “let’s add to it. I understand your concern for her, yet there are at least three others that haven’t slept. Julius has had a hard time too. He is a bit pale looking right now.”

“Londra, look at me. You promised never to lie so spit it out!” Alden continued standing only feet away. Londra was looking everywhere but at any of them, her nervous hands now smoothing her sable brown hair back into a tighter tail.

“That is a good point,” Mara mumbled looking at Julius. Had she noticed that he was pale? Not really, he was just his normal jovial self with hidden zingers yesterday, a bit worried about his sister... he never said anything about not sleeping. Now a frown was on her oval, ivory face as her violet undertones darked because of her worry. She wanted to use magic to get a read on him but then her thin, violet-navy horns would glow slightly, and he would be able to tell. Nobody else probably would but… would it make him angry?

Londra tossed her hands up in the air, facing him but not moving closer or farther away. Her round face full of so much emotion that many could see the tears starting to form in her exhausted hazel eyes. “Fine, I want to feel needed. I want to feel… just feel instead of this nothingness that my few memories produce. I don’t want to be alone...”

“Hey,” Zeke started, moving forward, mostly comfortable with his new look. His muscles were just as defined, his eyes just as golden, but his body moved so much easier, and his skin was now a honey color with slight undertones of green. But even he had to strain to see the green. His ears were human size but still pointed and close to his head, sort of like Fenten’s. He looked at her intensely. “What did we promise? Do you think that I won’t keep it just because I am enhanced now…” he finished softly as his long, braided, mahogany hair slid down over his shoulder since he was looking down so he could look into her eyes. There were tears there, but he didn’t know what they were truly from.

“We promised… all of us in the challenge,” Londra started, licking her lips since they were so dry. “Never to leave each other. We all stay together no matter what.”

“Exactly,” Zeke stated, looking around at the others. “If we all want to adventure until we are grey, that is what we are doing. I am sure the others will stay but even if they don’t, I will honor my vow because you were the first friend I had in two lives!”

“Yea, pretty sure I am not going to leave either,” Calla added, smiling at Zeke who was trying to keep his face neutral. But she was just so lovely… light honey skin with a hint of light green that was hard to find but he did have fun looking. It was there when she was embarrassed or angry though. Her body was more toned now and she moved faster with more precision. Like a dancer with her golden blond braid swirling around her. Her ears were Fairy like not too. “Believe it or not, I am happy when I am with you all. Even the M-Ms can’t take that away. I like the battling too.”

“Wait, Robbie, you thinking the same way?” Rus asked looking at the tears in Robbie’s green eyes and how pale his soft, oval, buttercream face was. Rus grumbled, rubbing his long, brown face then the top of his bald head in a nervous yet frustrated motion that everyone now knew. His oval, dark silver eyes focused on Robbie then looked around at the rest of them. “I know that I had an… issue but I promised too. Even if we get back to 25, I am not leaving this group. We are more than a family, remember… oh, now Anna is going to cry. Look what you did pretty boy.”

“I don’t want to leave either,” Belle stated crisply. “I have never felt anything like this for all of you and that is hard to say but I mean it. The years as an Elf does something to your feelings,” she admitted showing no emotion in her voice, deep blue eyes, or sharp, oval, beige face but there was gentle movement in her long ears.

Peter nodded, smiling at her and the rest but he wasn’t going to speak. He would betray his kind, ivory, diamond face by crying. He didn’t look good crying, it got messy. He hoped everyone figured it out by watching his dark pink eyes, and stiff, white, rabbit ears.

“The nightmares won’t stop,” Londra whispered, closing her hazel eyes for a moment, fisting her hands tightly trying to control her mixed up emotions. “Every time I close my eyes it is the same. Not the bugs or other things they did but… I am in a room watching you all wave good-bye. Then I am alone, and nobody is coming back… it is cold and gets colder…”

“You too?” Helen mumbled, licking her lips. She wasn’t as stiff as most Elves, so her emotions were now on her sharp, oval, light beige face as moisture collected in her green eyes. She pushed a lock of platinum hair back on her right side wondering why she hadn’t braided it yet. Her long, Elven, left ear drooped slightly. “I was alone in my first life. It was horrible never having anyone to talk to or support me. I was afraid when I was reborn as an Elf. They don’t show feelings, right? But the village I was born into did. I wasn’t alone… I haven’t been since that day ten years ago when the king tried to enslave us and… Our captain and his wife sacrificed their lives to teleport us all to different places and shatter our Lacramas to hide us. I was only alone for a few months before the group that I made potions for found me. But that was so hard… and since the Lacrama was broken I had no idea if anybody else was alive. I hoped that Derrik, I mean Alex was, but it took so long to find out… when you showed up I was spiraling downward.”

Alex reached for her, bringing her close into his strong, cognac left arm and artificial, cognac right arm. His square face and steel grey eyes full of sorrow. “It was hard for me too… I am having those dreams as well… that doesn’t make sense?”

“No, it doesn’t,” Zerina mumbled slowly looking around the room to figure out who was having the dreams by studying their emotional faces. The white and silver outlines around her deep blue eyes glowed enough the red outlines weren’t visible. There was even a slight, white-silver glow in her short, turquois hair. “Alpha, do they smell different?”

“Not really,” Alpha supplied, his black tail circling behind him while his black ears twitch. He was sitting so all could see his perfectly white chest, and cheeks. “A bit sweeter.”

“Delta told me that the other day…” Londra sighed, trying to stop the tears with shaky hands. “Does that mean something… it does, right? I just can't think straight...”

“That means a curse,” Belle started, turning to look and Anna who was softly crying. Bell reached out to touch Anna’s heart-shaped, light tan face before looking into her deep green eyes, pushing a few strands of deep red hair back, showing she was already sweating. “But when and how?”

“Sweet smells mean curse?” Julius asked looking at Theda, who nodded. He then looked back at his sister before sighing. He felt awful but didn’t want anyone to know. With a semi-steady hand, he pushed his red hair away from his square face and green eyes. This is when Theda pulled out his beige wings, the flapping causing his fluffy, long yellow hair to swirl around. He few around Julius than landed in his arms, snuggling close.

“Only one thing makes sense…” Fern started, a frown on her soft fawn colored face. Her vivid blue eyes searched. “It was from the M-M battle? The second one?”

“I only had that nightmare once,” Trenton stated, his deep green Demon eyes looking around the room. His long, golden pecan colored face showed confusion mixed with empathy. “But then I had no problem sleeping. I assumed it was left over negativity.”

“I had it as well,” Sasha added with a frown on her long, buttercream face. Everyone was looking at her now so in a nervous motion she began to finger comb her long, loose hair containing yellow, red, and green.  “I dismissed it since it was only once.”

“I didn’t have a nightmare like that one, or any other. Belle?” Alden wondered looking around the room. This time he was using just a bit of magic to determine just who had the dream.

“I didn’t either,” Belle answered. “But our mother is a Dream Weaver Elf, so we have a lot of protections when it comes to nightmares. One reason both of us can move forward after all that was done to us.”

“That is true…” Alden agreed watching a realization hit both Anna and Londra.

“Everyone else evolved in some way or another and strangely the Death Seed would have protected Rus,” Londra mumbled turning to face Anna who gave up trying to dry her tears.

“What?” Rus asked a bit confused. He rubbed his brown bald head before added, “Fairies and Demons don’t evolve… do they? I thought Sasha had already fully evolved too. What did I miss?”

“They do if you pay attention,” Fenten sighed, realizing it was true. “Our magic evolved so now we don’t have to worry about time. Just like our Demon friends.”

“Wait, rewind,” Alex sighed, running a hand through his short, auburn hair. “I thought I understood most things by now… but more, please?”

“Anything that can take on more than one form or has something that can be pulled within the body to make the being look more human can evolve so time isn’t a factor,” Mara started. “For me, I needed to have my wings and horns out so many hours a day and inside so many hours. It changed as I grew stronger. Oh, also my eyes. That is why you have seen Trenton and I close our eyes at various times. It is because they need to be closed for eight hours a day, and we don’t always get to sleep that long. Now time isn’t a factor at all. It is just when we feel like it,” she finished with a smile. “I can also do this…” she added, shrinking to the same size as Julius whose green eyes lit up with excitement. “It is like doing a tiny spell. I could hold it for days. I can also have my wings and horns at any size.” She pulled out her wings to show him.

“That is amazing, and I am not going to say that I don’t love being able to look into your gorgeous eyes without straining my neck, but I really like you the way you are,” Julius smiled.

“Oh, you are sleepy,” Mara sighed. “I am sorry I didn’t notice it. You are usually more articulate when giving me compliments,” she mumbled moving closer. “I can make out something… but not enough to say what it is.” She then sighed, pulling him into her arms and wrapped her black wings around them both in a more intimate embrace. She released with a sigh. “I don’t think we touched yesterday… that is on me. I was so tender after the magical evolution… I am sorry.”

“Stop,” Julius said, taking her hands in his own. “I knew something was going on, but I didn’t realize that you could evolve too. Hell, I feel like a fool now too. I didn’t know that you needed to be certain ways for certain times, just that when your wings got dry or needed healing you pulled them in.”

“Oh, that is the same,” Mara explained. “If they get damaged or too dry I do have to pull them in but for long battles there are ointments that can rejuvenate wings.”

He smiled at her, “I love learning new things about you.”

“Okay,” Anna stared, clearing her throat from emotion. “Does that mean that Peter’s rabbit ears and tail don’t have to be all cute?” She paused and frowned, “Wait, I knew that! Oh, I hate being this sleepy. He pulls them in at night and when nobody else is looking because he doesn’t like the way he looks without them. The dark pink eyes seem too unique without the ears, if I remember right. I am so sorry Peter…”

Peter chuckled, letting his rabbit ears and tail disappear moving to take Anna’s hand. “It is fine and I am almost used to the way I look, thanks to Belle. Now breathe and please don’t cry anymore. I can also get taller now. Not all the way up to seven feet but around six-nine. A bit easier to look into Belle’s lovely deep blue eyes.” He finished showing them what he meant. “I went a few rounds with Zeke yesterday, it doesn’t feel too different either.”

Belle smiled, pulling him closer to whisper into his normal ear. Now his dark pink eyes began to glow with his ivory, diamond face.

“How did a curse affect us?” Robbie mumbled, blinking his green eyes while everyone noticed the color was slowly draining from his soft, oval buttercream face.

“Oh, look who is awake,” Fenten chuckled, wishing they didn’t all look so horrible. “Wait, guess what Sasha can do now. She can use her snake tail as clothing and shoes! Like she is wearing unique pants and brown shoes. It is so beautiful… she did it yesterday… Also, her snake tail can lengthen to sixteen feet. Wow can she move!”

A blushing Sasha took his hand with joy all over her buttercream face. She felt horrible for feeling that way but the only ones who could tell were those looking into her conflicted evergreen eyes. “I don’t think that answers Robbie’s question. It was a nice distraction though. Robbie, you were already enhanced when we came out of the Learning Room, right?”

“That is correct,” Robbie nodded. “Cas helped me go all the way, not that I knew there was an all the way. I only have to bring my wings out once a week to keep the muscles strong. I do it more often because that is what my parents instructed me to do. Plus it just feels right. I don’t want to become like Rus and struggle to use my wings.”

“I deserved that,” Rus sighed deeply. “Yea, I just liked my human muscles and neglected the other forms. Can take them but like you said, it is a struggled to hold them for more than thirty minutes.”

“Wait,” Zerina frowned. “Did I know that… wait I did. You told me before calling my eyes sparkly. I don’t know why but that made me angry and happy, thus I didn’t remember.”

“Delta, where is the scent the strongest?” Alden wondered as the black cat came closer. “I am sorry that I didn’t listen to your warning. You told me three times yesterday that Londra was sweeter smelling than normal. I should have after the Rus incident.”

“That is right,” Delta pouted rubbing against Londra's leg. “I told you that the humans smelt sweet, but you thought I was just after petting… which I always am. It feels good. The answer is her…”

“Neck,” Beta cut in as the two stared at each other. Beta swished his grey tail then jumped into Sasha’s arms. She just shook her head at him. Beta twitched his whiskers rubbing against Londra again then Alden.

Alden moved closer to Londra, his marbled blue-green eyes focusing on her neck. His right pointer finger traced the left side of her chin, slowly traveling down her neck. Right now, he was glad that he was more Elf than human. Her racing heartbeat would have set his libido in motion, but he was able to stay calm while looking for the curse. His finger snagged something just past her throat, but his finger didn’t stop until it was a few inches lower. Now her breathing was racing with her heart, and he felt oddly satisfied. He pulled the runic code out a bit to see what it said. This caused the others to move closer, but Helen and Belle were pushed in next to him. “Belle was right. A nightmare curse… a very complicated one attached to the lungs. So, to answer Robbie, it was in the air. Now that I know that I can protect us before we purify again. I do believe it was the higher-level camp. We need to free them, or they will not be able to sleep. Can either of you two read this all?”

Belle was leaning against her brother with no idea how Londra’s heart was racing since Alden’s other hand was on her throat to help hold the spell from receding back into her. Belle took a moment then pointed to a few characters. “I don’t know these. Too bad we can’t contact mother, she would. Maybe later? What about you, Helen or Zerina?”

“Wait, why Zerina?” Robbie mumbled, rubbing his pale, buttercream face. “Oh, that is right. Her grandmother is a Dream Reader, so she is protected too. Sorry, I forgot.”

“I didn’t know,” Rus grumbled watching her move closer to Londra.

“Well, look how much I didn’t know about you,” she replied. “Maybe instead of just being together we might want to talk more. Then again, I don’t know why your brown hand in mine makes me feel safe,” she ended with a sigh. “No, the ones that Belle pointed to… I don’t know either and they are just in the right place that if we do it wrong they could lose the ability to breath and that would not be good.”

“Yea,” Julius sighed, leaning against Mara with a slight smile. “I like breathing.”

“I agree,” Helen stated. “I don’t know as many, but this one is not a good one.”

“Yea, that one is far from good. It would kill them if we don’t neutralize it. Maybe, when we get back, because we need to go, I can weave a spell under it to help them sleep. I promise to be careful…” he sighed, slowly letting the spell slide back into Londra who was struggling to stay still. She had no idea that her body could feel that way and now she had to shake it off as if it was nothing? How would she do that? There was heat everywhere…

“You know more about that magic than I,” Belle stated with a slight ear wiggle. “I can contact mother though. It won’t be out of the ordinary for a daughter to reach out to a sick mother. I will just let her choose the time.” With that her eyes closed and her Lacrama glowed for a moment. She nodded for everyone to continue.

“I know you will be careful,” Londra whispered, blinking her hazel eyes trying to get her body to calm down. “But, we do need to go… I told Master Oscar nine-fifteen, and it is almost nine-thirty. The others are waiting so we need to be on time.”

“We can make up time, don’t worry about that,” Calla stated with a nod. “This was important. Thank you, Alden, for bringing it up. I was worried about them too.”

“Don’t think the babysitting is fair,” Rus complained. “We get Robbie who is like a statue until he thinks of something and Anna who is just about to burst from not talking.”

“Wow, babysitting?” Zeke started, shaking his head. “I know we told you to act natural, but...”

“Babysitting?” Anna, Londra, and Helen said slowly in unison.

“Okay, that was freaky,” Julius chuckled. “How could the word be slow yet in perfect unison. I do kind of agree, not the best choice of words dear Rus.”

“Oh… that might be it…babysitting…” Robbie said moving towards the others like he was being pulled. “Alden, I know that we must leave but can you give us five minutes… only that. We are on a time schedule.”

Peter chuckle this time. “It is like he just woke up but yet his voice is so far away.”

“Yea, this group helped just by keeping things interesting,” Fenten mumbled, leaning against Sasha to pet Beta while being close to her. Both purred slightly while he smiled. “We are counting down! We leave promptly at nine-thirty!”

They all watched as the four began to work on the spell that they had been trying to get right for the last two days. They mumbled and pointed. Made it larger than shrank it. Something they had all watched numerous times, yet this time something else happened. It began to glow and move… the spell was active.

“Oh, that is it!” Anna yelled, dancing around. “We did it!”

“I think Rus deserves a kiss,” Londra laughed. They looked at each other with smiles, giving the active spell to Robbie who was just standing there with a large smile plastered on his face. Rus began to object but for exhausted women they moved lightning fast. Londra was kissing his left cheek while Anna his right. Then he felt something even stranger. Helen was kissing the top of his bald head. His mouth opened but nothing came out causing Zerina to lean against Alden because she was laughing that hard.

“Shall we go then?” Alden wondered, slightly holding Zerina so she didn’t fall. It was a humorous sight. “By the way, you are not fighting.”

“Ah, I will be careful…” Londra pouted but his face said there was no way. “Fine, let’s go.”

“We are just waiting for…” Rus started but they were now beside the Adventurer’s House standing before a smiling Master Oscar with ten carts behind him.

“You are late but that is more than fine,” Master Oscar started with a forced smile on his square, copper face. But before he could say anything else the carts disappeared and so did they with smiles and waves. He shook his head with a laugh and headed back inside.

Anna’s ramblings

With a smile on her pale, light tan, heart-shaped face she swirled around. “We did it! Oh, and welcome to the outskirts of Oak! Look at all the trees all in neat tidy rows! So, my lovely team… are we doing the forest purification or the building first.”

“Wow, whiplash,” Zerina chuckled looking at Fern who was trying not to laugh by leaning against Trenton which looked humorous since he was eight feet tall and she was just over five. Rus was still trying to get his brains to work after being kissed by three females, while Robbie was just standing there. Belle didn’t look phased but then again, she was an Elf, while Peter was holding Beta with Helen beside him wondering how he had ended up with Beta, yet the cat was just snuggled in close.

“A little warning next time, please,” Alpha stated, stretching before moving next to her. “I see no reason to take my larger form, even if it is more beautiful.”

“Oh, I am sorry,” Anna started, noticing they were all looking at her. “Was it too quick. Do any of you feel sick. I just was trying to make up time…”

“Stop,” Trenton said with a bit of force in his deep voice, yet his long, golden pecan colored face was full of kindness. “We are all alright and you need to breath. I don’t think that Anna or Robbie should be fighting. But we will need their magic. We won’t let you fall asleep or deviate from your task. Anna, you are a good vice-captain, but we all need help at times.”

“Not only that, but the tainted creatures will be drawn to your… excited energy,” Peter pointed out watching all the different thoughts cross the face of Anna.

“We are closer to the forest…” Belle suggested, her deep blue eyes motioning that way.

“Great! What Peter said is great as well,” she laughed, twirling around while casting a spell to call the tainted creatures. Zerina and Belle helped to steady her trying not to laugh at her childlike antics but failed. “Oh creatures! Tainted Animals come out, come out and PLAY!”

“Seriously,” Rus moaned, shaking his head listening to Zerina laugh louder.

“It is the most time efficient way,” Helen smiled, her left ear wiggling a bit while her green eyes looked around. Her sharp, oval, light beige face may have been a bit pale but her stance was one of a warrior. “I assure you that I am more than able to fight. I do believe there are twenty tainted woodpeckers coming this way…”

“Oh, you must slice them right down the middle, or they reform like zombie birds,” Anna giggled, then covered her mouth quickly, her dull green eyes blinking. She shook her head enough her deep red, loosely braided hair moved back and forth. “That isn’t funny, sorry.”

“Come,” Beta said growing to his larger size to push her and Robbie out of the way. His grey head kept pushing them while he rolled his blue eyes. “We are going to go over here and watch the show. I will help them fly and Alpha will guard you.”

“I don’t need guarding,” Anna grumbled pulling Robbie down and the two leaned against the tree that Beta had pointed out. “This isn’t an oak,” she sighed. She watched the team pull their weapons and protective gear out of their vaults. “Are you helping, Alpha?”

“No, I am sleeping on your lap,” he stated, crawling into it. “Thus, you will stay here.”

Anna rocked while watching the team engage. It was so hard not to do something. “Helen, to your left,” she instructed. “Rus you need to tighten your core when Beta lifts you. Zerina, you are doing great but that wasn’t the middle. Yuck, that is a bit gross, but we have seen worse. Nice try Belle. Oh, Peter is the first to get one. I can purify it from here. Trenton duck! Fern, you need to use the sun. Rus behind you!”

“I am aware,” Fern mumbled, her pink butterfly wings fluttering faster in annoyance. “But yet I wasn’t,” she smiled moving to a different spot.

“You can do it!” Anna yelled. “At least you have all their attention.”

“Yea, as they try to kill us,” Rus grumbled, dodging two birds that were almost five feet long with long, sharp beaks. “Robbie! Wake up. We need a targeting spell. Robbie!”

“Oh, you are on fire!” Anna giggled, elbowing the lost Robbie. “That is a good idea! Robbie!”

“What… oh woodpeckers, here this will help. I just can’t focus,” he sighed tossing spells at his teammates who just started to chuckle. Now they could see the angle with a path the weapons had to take. Now they just had to get to them.

“Yes! See how that helped Robbie!” Anna continued, shaking his arm a bit. His green eyes watched but his mind didn’t see what the battle looked like. “They all just got one! Eight down… oh and Beta is helping them move with air steps and platforms. So ingenious! Now the race is on, who will get done first and who will have the most! Wait, that one is not fading. Can you eat woodpecker? I mean it is over five feet long from beak to tail but…”

“I wonder if it is like chicken, it is a bird after all,” Beta commented, standing next to them in his large form watching the team closely so they didn’t fall.

“Perhaps the magnate of the village will know,” Alpha offered hoping to get a reaction from the quiet Robbie. “The towns where the lord doesn’t reside has a baron, if I am not mistaken.”

“You are right,” Robbie mumbled, reaching into Anna’s lap to stroke Alpha absently. “They are just about done. Here I will purify the last three.” He stood up, raising his hands before him and two of the three faded away.

“I will put it in my vault with the other three,” Fern informed, smiling at Anna who was just about ready to go on another ramble about something. She fluttered down to stand beside her for a moment, her fawn colored hand on Anna’s arm while her vivid blue eyes connected with Anna, so she didn’t start talking. “From up above, I am thinking six points. Trenton and I can guide you unless Robbie wants to.”

Robbie sighed with his whole body. “No, probably should stay on the ground. I am fine to help create the barrier and purifying clouds. Wait, when could Trenton fly?”

“I can make wings out of shadows. A new feature after my magical evolution,” Trenton supplied with his low voice and a smile on his long, golden pecan face. “They don’t last for more than thirty minutes but I can recreate them over and over again. Mara is a bit jealous because even with her magic evolving, she still has to be careful of how much she uses her wings. There are no time restraints now, but she can just feel when they need to recuperate,” he reminded them.

“Thank you so much for that explanation,” Anna twirled around as if he had given her a present since Fern had taken off. “Just put us where we belong. Let’s see six of us… Helen, myself, Robbie, Zerina, Belle, and Peter. I don’t sense any other creatures around.”

“Nope,” Rus grumbled. “You brought them all to us. Way to go.”

“You stay with Anna,” Zerina instructed watching Fern in her human size with her lovely pink wings fly next to Trenton with his shadow wings. A strange but wonderful sight.

“Why?” Rus started as Zerina picked up Alpha. “That isn’t fair.” Anna chuckled, taking his large, brown hand and leading him to her spot.

“I am going with Helen,” Beta decided. “Rus, just make sure she doesn’t fall over.” With that Helen picked up the grey cat and started to use line movement to get to her spot in the circle that was being drawn around the large forest.

“Did you guys have time to look over the plot of land that was originally used…”

“Yes, Anna we did,” Trenton chuckled. “I knew the two of you wouldn’t be very awake.”

“That is great! You guys are all so awesome…”

“Focus,” Robbie reminded her, kneeling on the ground at his point. He closed his green eyes and let his magic flow through the circle that had been created. Soon he felt everyone else connect. “Okay, the barrier first.”

“Four feet under,” Fern reminded but used her magic to feel that it already was. “Good, now keep coming up until we say to stop. Keep it climbing, these are tall trees. Don’t start the dome yet… a few more feet… great now the dome just above us.”

“It is solid, and all sigils are stable,” Trenton supplied. “Start the clouds, one each and we will place them.” It didn’t surprise him that Robbie’s cloud was the first to form. Fern smile and zoomed toward it, repositioning it. Anna’s was next and then the rest began to form. “All clouds are complete and where they need to be, finalize sigils now. Perfect. Everyone stand up and I will teleport us to the crafter’s building. It will be easier than walking.”

“I hate to say I agree,” Robbie grumble standing up slowly. “But I do.”

A moment later they were before a long building with plenty of windows. “That was flawless Trenton!” Anna giggled loudly, leaning against Rus who was still keeping her upright. His long face showed a shadow of annoyance while his oval, dark silver eyes showed concern. “Everyone is together again! Might as well start the same way. Come on out, creatures near and far!” she yelled while using magic to bring the energy signatures she felt towards them. “Look! Water Slime! Wait,” she chuckled, “that is big slime…”

“Probably because there is a creek right there,” Rus sighed, rubbing his bald, brown head in frustration. “Are you going to wait until I get drenched before you enhance my weapon?”

“You are a lizard, I am sure the water won’t bother you too much,” Alpha pointed out as Zerina set him down on the ground. His amber eyes watching closely.

Rus sighed with his whole, muscular body, “Look, I am sorry I was a jerk but if you tell me to move forward then the rest of you need to also.”

“He does provide a fair point,” Helen sighed, her left Elven ear wiggled once. “These are not just slime… slimes are three feet tall these are six. There must be a lot of negative energy around this area for them to grow so big. I will start off with a fire shot.” She said as firing.

“A little more warning,” Peter sighed, his dark pink eyes and long white, rabbit ears glowing as he erected a shield. “I don’t think it worked,” he added since water jets were pounding on his magic shield. “Did you see anything, Belle or Zerina?”

“Yep,” Anna chuckled, while trying to stay focused. “Fire sword and bath time. Well, I can help with the water jets… so can Robbie.” Who just nodded.

“I don’t like water that much,” Peter sighed, pulling his ears and tail inside his body causing Belle to wiggle her long, Elven ears before applying a layer of fire and piercing magic to his long sword and her lance. Zerina did the same for hers and Rus’ swords.

“Don’t look at us,” Beta purred, blinking his blue eyes. “We are cats and don’t like baths… only our own. We are staying behind this shield with the exhausted, but competent, magic geniuses.” This caused Anna to laugh and twirl again in delight.

“I think I am going stay back here with these two,” Trenton decided chuckling at the cats. He shrunk down to around six feet tall smiling at Fern. She pulled her butterfly-shaped, pink wings inside and coated her thin swords with fire and piercing magic. “If an aiming spell will help then I will be able to tell after watching. Not only that, these two look like they could fall over at any moment. Good thing Robbie’s large, white, feathered wings aren’t out…”

“Yea,” Robbie sighed, “or I would tip over, what a funny sight that would be. I am awake because I don’t like the nightmares. I am just thinking about everything I can but I wish it was in a coherent order so I could remember my thoughts. Right now, I am rambling in my mind.”

“At least it is in your mind,” Rus mumbled, getting a gently tap on his left shoulder from Fern as she joined the line up.

“Here, I don’t know if slimes can scream but I will put a magic defect spell on you all. Happy hunting. That little, dark blue core is moving so fast…” Anna commented since the ten slimes were closer.

“Since our dear furry supporters don’t want to participate,” Helen started, “and I am not as quick as needed, I will keep the attention of five.” With that, five of the six feet tall, three feet wide, gelatinous beings were moved to the left by ten feet. They didn’t appreciate that, but the water jets didn’t get through the shield, and they couldn’t move.

Peter jumped out first, letting Robbie take over his shield spell. With agility that made Belle blush, he dodged the water jets. She stood before, easily dodging the concentrated water jets while he made it behind. He was quiet and watched but missed the first time. Now the two shooting at Belle turned to fire at him. “Probably for the best anyways,” he laughed, dodging the jets watching the dry land soak up the water quickly.

“That is a great plan,” Anna cheered. Rus and Zerina were trying the same thing except the two slimes attacking them only went for Rus. “Way to be bait, Rus! You are doing great.” Then she watched Fern shrink down so small she was practically invisible, but the slime must have sensed her, yet it never hit her. She was the first to land a hit. After the third jet finished she returned to normal size and pierced the small, dark blue core, and the six feet of gel was a puddle oozing darkness. “I got it!” Anna yelled purifying the left-over slime. “This is a great shield, Peter,” she added. “What do you think Trenton… Fern you ready for another?”

“She was too good,” Trenton said deeply causing Fern to blush. “I am sure she can take on another though. I need to watch her closer...”

“You just want to see me wet!” Fern joked, hoping he would blush a bit. He just smiled. “Fine, Helen, release another please,” she said shrinking.

“Wait!” Anna said, her deep green eyes wide. “She is flying without wings! I love her wings, but she is just hovering there… oh, right, a new ability. Got it, working on remembering it this time.” Now Trenton laughed. “Oh, Belle got one! Then Peter got the other. Here comes the purity spell! Oh, there goes Zerina. Just had to have a bit of competition. Come on Rus, you can do it!” With that his large sword sliced the small, dark blue core.

“I am not sure I like cheerleaders,” Rus sighed. “All I did was dodge… well, mostly. The spell did keep me dry. Wait, Alpha and Beta are you sleeping!” Both cats were curled up on the ground near Anna and Robbie not watching the battle but the sleepy ones.

“It doesn’t matter,” Zerina chuckled. “Let loose the others, Helen. We got this.”

“It appears you do,” Helen stated. “I think Robbie just added a spell to help you aim.”

Peter dodged a few jets then finished his swiftly. He looked around to see that everyone was done, and Anna was purifying the puddles while pushing the magical water into the dry ground. “This building is for craftsman, right? When was it used last?”

“It looks a bit worn down,” Belle agreed as everyone moved closer. “Five points?”

“I believe so,” Robbie stated. “I already have it mapped out. Trenton will move you.”

“That is what you were doing…” Anna started only to have Robbie hold up a finger to her lips. She didn’t know what to do but just stood there and blinked. His finger left her lips and pointed to the sigils next to her feet. With a sigh she nodded as he left.

The barrier and purification clouds to clean the air and land around the building were finished in a matter of minutes as the group came back together. Trenton moved them to an herb bed; glad they had ventured out yesterday to create teleportation points. There was nothing there, so they immediately began to put up the barriers and form the cloud. The other bed was full of tainted crows.

“I think I will stay with them this time,” Fern decided, staying in her human form. “Dear Alpha and Beta, could you help, please? Crows and I don’t get along,” she sighed with a little shiver from an unenjoyable memory.

“Of course, lovely Fairy,” Alpha stated, growing to his larger form. “There are twenty of the buggers. Let’s see what angle the cut has to be.”

“I guess we are staying put again,” Anna sighed not realizing she was leaning against Fern. “I know, I can tell Rus all the things he said. Then it would be easier for us all to move on.”

Rus was already jumping around on Beta’s air platforms expecting everyone to disagree but there wasn’t anyone who did. “Fine, tell me,” he grumbled, slicing the oversized crow straight down the center. The darkness pulled it back together. “Straight isn’t the key,” he said before Beta moved the platform he was standing on out of the way of its diving, razor sharp beak. “Thanks. I guess knowing would be better. I only lost a few days… I have no idea how Londra can handle losing years.”

“You didn’t really say much to us,” Beta said with a bit of a purr. “I think you were afraid.”

“Agreed,” Alpha chuckled. “Not even to Theda who is so loveable.”

“When you figure it out, I will set up an aiming spell,” Robbie stated. “I am too easy going and quiet, at least that is what your alter ego said. Oh, also a coward. That one stung.”

“Ouch,” Rus sighed, turning to look at Robbie since he was on the ground again. “I don’t think you are a coward… the other… yea.”

“I know, but thanks for the honesty,” Robbie responded with a slight smile.

“I am a clingy, girly, chatter box who never knows how to read a room,” Anna stated watching everyone jump around trying to find the right way to slice the crows that were eight feet long from their tail to their beak. “You also called me dumb and unconnected to reality…”

“Oh, Anna,” Rus grumbled, slicing through the crow sideways. He landed on the ground, rolling out of the way and took a moment to look back at her with sincerity in his oval, dark silver eyes. “The first part, mostly but only when you are exhausted the last… no! You know reality way too well and are brilliant.”

“That looked close,” Fern stated, glad that Rus’ emotions were showing. He had a wall up at all times and was gruff, but he did care. “I am just cliché, at least that is what you told me so many times for those two days. A pretty little Fairy with pink butterfly wings. I really didn’t mind that until you added there was nothing in my perfect little head.”

Trenton’s blade went through the crow quickly, but it reformed. “I am an oddity and should return to the forest. Believe me, before I met Londra and Fern there was nothing more I wanted.”

“That is what the seed said,” Rus sighed, sitting on the ground watching Belle and Helen jump around. The emotions in him made it hard to concentrate. “Okay, truth… Fern is too pretty but she is also brilliant, and I hate Trenton’s damn sexy voice and pretty eyes. Other than that, you both are extraordinary in unique ways. I am jealous of that. I am just muscle and a bit of magic with scales I can only use for a few hours because I never knew I needed to keep them active… wow, now I am rambling.”

This caused them both to laugh. “Oh, Helen got one,” Fern stated before Anna could.

“Okay, I think I have it,” Robbie stated. “Belle, I am going to apply it to you since you are closest. Do you see the line.”

“That is a strange one,” Belle responded. “Yes. Rus didn’t say anything to me… didn’t talk to me at all actually. That hurt.”

“The same,” Helen stated. “I figured he didn’t like Elves.”

“Well, that is easy,” Rus said watching Belle. “I am afraid of Alden, and I don’t know you yet Helen… nothing against Elves. I am a watcher when I am getting to know you.”

“That is true,” Peter sighed. “He watched me for days before he started to speak to me. Oh, you told me I look goofy without my tail and ears. I am also too quiet and a push over.”

“I got nothing,” Rus sighed. “I don’t even remember seeing you without your ears and tail until today and no you don’t look goofy, just like a human bouncing around. The others…”

“Yea, a bit true,” Peter replied using the spell that Robbie just applied. With the spell they were done in a matter of minutes thanks to Alpha’s flying sword and Beta’s platforms.

“I am not sharing,” Zerina grumbled. “At least not until we are alone…”

“Do you promise?” Rus asked softly. “What you said before… we need to talk more…”

“Yes, I will tell you… but not in front of them…” she whispered, closing her deep blue outlined eyes. “It isn’t that I don’t trust them but private is private.”

This caused the color to drain from Rus’ face. “Did I…” Zerina moved closer and just shook her head causing her short, turquoise hair to swirl. “Fine, while Anna is picking up our next member. We will find somewhere quiet to talk.”

“I know about part of it…” Anna started but stopped when Zerina’s face changed.

“If you value our young friendship you will stop,” Zerina said fiercely, her deep blue eyes glowing which accented the outlines of white, red, and silver.

Anna’s heart-shaped face lost the little bit of color it had as tears began to form in her deep green eyes. Her nervous hands reached for her long, loosely braided, deep red hair. “I was just… I am… sorry… I don’t want to lose your friendship… I… never had anyone before… I was…”

“Oh,” Zerina tossed her hands up running to take Anna into her arms. “I know that you are exhausted, and I am sorry that we can’t help. I know if it was the other way around, we would be fine already. I just said that out of anger. Please don’t cry. I love having you as a friend, strange to say to a human but completely true.”

Belle came up behind, placing a hand on Anna’s shoulder and could feel how much she was battling tears. “Zerina is right. We will figure it out. I will speak with my mother and Zerina is going to contact her grandmother tonight. If that doesn’t work, then I will copy it down for you to read. But please let us try to do this for you.”

Fern shrunk and fluttered over to land on Anna’s head. “You need to breathe. We are heading to the gate. We should arrive in the carts… wagons… whatever the humans are calling them this week. You are the Vice-Captain of Twilight Star, one of the strongest parties… well eventually. Na, we are the strongest! Come, let us see your smile.”

“I got it,” Robbie sighed. “Please ladies, step aside. Anna, please remove the five carts from your storage so we can ride to the door. It should only take five minutes.” He came forward placing his strong, buttercream hands on her shoulder. Anna sighed and the five carts appeared, but Robbie’s hands didn’t leave her shoulders. Instead, he stepped forward and kissed the tear that was on her left cheek. “You have this, be strong.” He moved her to the first cart, placing her in the seat beside him before the cart moved forward. The others followed with smiles on their faces while Anna wondered what to say.