I️ turned around to only see pitch black
I️ made fire come out of my hand and slowly walked towards the noise
I️ know every horror movie a character makes the mistake of wondering by herself but I️ didn't want to wake the others for a noise I️ heard
I️ looked down as I️ walked and then I️ stopped at a stick.
It was snapped in half.
As if someone's foot did step on it
I️ looked around and saw more sticks snapped in half and they were in a straight line as if someone was walking towards are camp.
But it didn't make sense, the last stick stopped here and there were no more snapped sticks but perfectly fine sticks still going
Where did they go?
Then I️ realized I️ was next to a tree
And the last broken stick stopped at this tree
Even though it wasn't cold I️ started to shiver in fear
I️ slowly looked up at the tree lighting my hand with hire flames to get a closer look
I️ saw two bright eyes stare down at me but it was too high up to see what it was
Then a hand covered my mouth and I️ turned around ready to fight
When I️ turned around it was Elohi with his finger to his mouth
I️ hit his arm after me and whispered "Elohi you scared me!" And I pushed him back
"Look" he said pointing up
"What!?" I️ whispered slash screamed
I️ looked up and it was a Hearted Owl
They are extremely rare, everything about them is like a regular owl until you see the heart on its face
It has a perfect heart on its face and there said to have the kindest looks
It who'd at us and turned its head
Elohi and I️ just looked up admiring the owl
Elohi cleared his throat and looked back at the camp sight
Then he said "you know there's a saying that if your lucky enough to see a Hearted Owl that your supposed to kiss the person closest to you"
My cheeks turned extremely red
He chucked "Are you blushing"
I️ stuttered "n- no- no it- it's just a- fire bender thing! Are faces turn red when-"
"You get embarrassed" he interrupted
I️ opened my mouth but didn't have anything to say
He smiled and looked into my eyes
I️ didn't realize it but we were close together
He looked down at me and I️ looked up at him
Then we started to lean in
I️ saw this as the perfect opportunity to flick his nose back but just in case this was actually happening I️ didn't want to ruin it
Before anything else happened another stick snapped from a distance making us flinch and jump away from each other.
Elohi looked down and realized there were broken sticks
He turned to me worried and said "did you break these sticks"
I️ shook my head and said "I️ heard the same noise earlier, that's why I️ came out here"
He started to walk towards the noise and I️ followed him
He walked in front of me but I️ didn't want to feel like I️ was being protected so I️ nudged him and walked beside him.
Another stick snapped but this time from another direction
We both jumped and I️ didn't realize it at first but Elohi grabbed my hand in his
"I️ think we should go back to the camp site" He whispered
I️ looked up at him "But shouldn't we figure out what's making that noise"
"It might just be animals"
Still cautious I️ said "your probably right"
Even though he didn't seem nervous I️ could tell he was shaking
5 feet from the camp I️ realized we were still holding hands and quickly let go
He flinched and I️ whispered "sorry, I'm a little jumpy"
He smiled and said "it's ok, goodnight, wake me if you get scared"
"Ok, same for you"
I️ woke up and everyone was still in bed except Angarika
I️ sat up in bed and relit the fire because its chilly out
Angarika came back and I️ asked "where were you?"
"I️ was trying to look for water"
I️ was still sleepy but I️ nodded
"So, Where did you and Elohi go last night"
"Oh, nowhere, I️ just heard some noise and decided to check it out. Elohi must have heard me get up and followed me"
She looked up at me and said "you know he likes you right?"
Defensively, I️ said "you know he flirts with every girl right?"
"I️ know, but" she lowered her voice and leaned in "I️ think he really does like you"
Before I️ could respond Ama woke up
"Morning, Wow can I️ take one of these cloud beds home?"
"You hungry?" I asked
"Yea" they both responded
Angarika and I️ both exchanged looks and we mouthed to Ama "push them"
I pushed Elohi, Angarika Unole and A Equoni
They all fell and woke up grumpy
"Waky waky we're hungry" I️ said
"Uhh" Elohi said getting up
We packed our things and started to walk
"Did you hear that?" Angarika said
"Hear what" said Elohi
A loud rumble came from the sky
"Oh no" I️ said worried
Rain started to come down from the sky
"Ahh" Angarika and I️ both yelled
"We don't have umbrellas!" Angarika screamed
We were all soaked but Angarika and I️ looked the most miserable
I️ tried to make fire come out of my hand but it immediately died out
Angarika stomped her foot in a pouty way
We looked like wet cats
Then Angarika yelled to Equoni "this is your elements fault!"
"We all have our problems! Elohi's mud and stuff takes my water and makes it filthy!"
We all turned to Unole and he shrugged "I'm perfect" and continued to walk
"Ok, fart bender" Ama snorted
Unole stopped "Alright next time someone farts I'll make it go to your face"
Ama just looked at him disgusted
We all continued walking and in the back of the group we're Angarika and I️ just slouching down in wet clothes
We got to the town and there were all the elements walking around except for the fire benders
All the people in buildings, or shaking outside were fire benders
We got in a building and Angarika and I️ heated ourselves up using our powers
"Alright, how are we going to find the stone" Equoni said lowering his voice
"Guys"
We all turned to Elohi and he pointed at a flier that said
Royal Ball March 26!
In honor of the King and Queens Anniversary
All citizens are invited!
(Ama) "That's today!"
(Unole)"But it's only for citizens"
"We can sneak in" I️ suggested
Elohi asked "But how?"
I️ said "I️ don't know but we need to find the stone so we'll find a way"
(Angarika)"Ok, how bout, Ama, Anala and I️ go dress shopping while you guys go suit shopping"
We all nodded in agreement
Ama and I️ pretended to scream in excitement
"O my god, shut the hell up" Elohi screamed
I️ punched him and we walked out
"Our first ball!" I️ screamed
(Angarika) "Even though this is our enemies ball"
"I️ don't care who's ball it is" I️ said
(Ama)"I️ don't care either way I️ just wanna see how balls are here"
(Me) "I've heard the balls here are amazing!"
(Angarika) "Do they show pictures of their balls"
(Me) "Yeah, and they're amazing! There balls are better then ours"
(Ama)"I️ feel like this is a conversation the guys should be having"
"Why? They're just balls oh-" I️ stopped and started laughing
"What about this store!" Ama yelled
We stood in front of Beautique and drooled over the dresses
We walked in and a sales lady walked up to us and said in a friendly manner
"Hi! Welcome to Beautique! The green tags are 50% off. If you need any help just ring the bell"
Angarika walked up to a beautiful red dress that ombré to orange
"It has a green tag!"
She looked at the tag and her face went white
"What?" I️ asked
"The original price is $3,000"
"So it would be $1500 on sale"
We all smiled at the sales lady who was smiling back at us and slowly backed out
When we got outside I️ screamed "Thrift store it is!"
We got to a cute little thrift store that barely anyone was in
We walked in and it was a little shabby and didn't seem like they made the best money but it was cute and had dresses
"Guys look!" Angarika said pointing to an orange dress
(Ama)"That's gorgeous!"
(Angarika) "I️ know right! Even though the material feels cheap it still looks pretty!"
We continued to look around until I️ spotted a pretty red dress
"Do you think this will look good on me?" I️ asked
"Definitely! I️ Love it!" Angarika said
We heard a squeal from the other end of the store
We both ran to see if Ama was ok
(Me)"Are you ok!"
(Angarika) "who hurt you!"
(Ama) "this dress with its beauty!"
Both our jaws dropped and said "it's gorgeous!"
(Me) "ok let's add up the prices"
We added it all up and it came out to be 300 coins
I️ said "Guys we can afford it but, we won't have that much left"
(Ama) "how much do we have?"
I️ held up the sack of coins "349"
Angarika took the bag and slammed it on the counter and said to the sales lady "we want the change back"
We got our change back and walked outside the store
(Ama) "Guys? Where are we going to change and put the dresses at? We have no place"
I️ said "Actually! We do! We know someone here. She knows we're not from here so she helps us out."
(Ama) "Aww that's nice of her, I️ thought you said all people here are bad"
(Angarika) "she's not part of the people here. Back when the two kingdoms were at war she was captured and enslaved. When the war ended and we made a peace treaty the Evilet Kingdom didn't allow any slaves to leave the kingdom so now they're stuck here. Why didn't the King write we get all our people back? No clue, everyone in the kingdom hates the King for that"
(Ama)"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that"
(Me) "it's ok just don't ask about it and pretend like your an air bended. But only if she asks"
Ama nodded and we headed there
We stopped at a little cottage and knocked
The owner opened the door and threw her hands at us
"So glad to see you! Come in come in! And who's this? A new member?"
"Hi Delaka! She's are friend. She's going to the ball with us" I️ answered
When we walked in the guys were sitting at the little oak table sipping on tea and there was one other guy I️ wasn't familiar with but he looked our age
He was taller then all the other guys. Black hair and light face. You could tell he worked out and he seemed stronger then all of us
"Hi guys" all three of us said
"Hi, I'm Usonvi, Delaka's nephew" the guy said standing up to shake all our hands
"Hi I'm Anala, this is Angarika, and this is Ama"
They both smiled at him as I️ introduced them
"Is that a picture of Earth?" I️ asked
"Yes" then Delaka turned to Ama and said "I️ feel like I️ recognize you"
Ama's eyes grew a little wide and she said "well I'm from the opposite side of the kingdom and I️ do go out a lot so that probably explains it"
"Yeah, there's no way you've seen her on Earth because she's never been there" Angarika said a little to nervously
I️ bumped her elbow and kept smiling
"You girls can put your dresses where the boys put their tuxes."
"In our guest room?" I️ asked
"Yup, and I'll start the stew" She said sweetly
We walked up and laid our dresses neatly on the floor
We went downstairs and Delaka gathered us together and said
"My nephew, doesn't know your not from here, so just act like your a citizen. I️ don't think he's strict on these things though"
We all nodded and wondered around the cottage
It's a cute little cottage for two maybe three people to live in. Once you walked in you can see the whole living space
The kitchens on the left of you and if you walk farther down there's the living room with the TV. And a small oak table with four chairs around it.
Between the living room and the kitchen there's stairs that lead up to the three tiny rooms. It's really an attic but when she moved in they separated it into three with walls and made them rooms
Her house was lit with a nice fire and warm yellow lights. She had plants all throughout the cottage but not enough to make it feel cluttered
"It's so nice in here" Ama said
(Unole) "I️ know right, she's like a grandma to us"
(Delaka) "remember we agreed on young aunt"
We all laughed until she gave us the look.
I️ went to the living room to grab something and I️ saw Usonvi walk in.
He looked at me and said "I've seen you in some of her pictures and I've gotta say your far more pretty in person"
I️ blushed and involuntarily tucked my hair back "Thanks"
"Are you going to the ball tonight? Or are those dresses just your normal clothes?"
I️ laughed a little and before I️ could answer Elohi came in and saw us talking
"Hi, Usonvi right? I'm Elohi"
(Usonvi) "I️ know, we met earlier, at the oak table?"
(Elohi) "Aww that's right, sorry, Umm Anala Equoni's asking for you upstairs"
I️ walked upstairs and Elohi followed
I️ got in the room and everyone was sitting on the floor as if it were some ritual
"What's up" I️ asked
(Equoni) "ok where do you think the stone would be"
(Me) "I'm not sure, I'm not even sure if it's in the castle but we have to look."
(Angarika) "it's probably near the Kings chambers or in it. The whole castles gonna be filled with guards so we need to be sneaky"
(Unole) "Should we just leave Ama here then?"
(Ama) "What!?"
(Angarika) "come on dude it's a ball and we'll keep an eye on her"
Equoni and Unole exchanged worried glances and nodded
(Elohi) "ok guys since Miss perfect( Usonvi) is a citizen we can have him take Ama as a date and get her in. Once they get in we can use our ear hearing things to communicate with her and she can tell us if the King moves or if she sees anything suspicious. We can sneak in through a window and look for the stone"
Delaka called us down for dinner and we all got up
I️ walked out and Usonvi stopped me and said "hey can I️ talk to you"
Elohi didn't look happy
Oooo Elohi ain't happy, are you happy with what's going on with Usonvi and Anala?
Anywho! Thank you so so much for reading and I️ hope you enjoy the chapters to come! Have a nice day!!
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