The Sword of the Soul

"Hey now," Issac cried in surprise as Ember abruptly hugged him, he swayed, but caught his balance again and wrapped his arms round her tight. "Which ever comes first then, yeah? You never know, looking for Bethan and Tess might lead us to Black Rock, that'd be interesting, hm?"

He stiffened a little when Ember said Brooke would be safe, mouth twisting as he thought about what Ember's sister had told her. He turned it into a smile though, when Ember pulled back, and stepped away to let her collect herself. He went over to Jadelynn, and went over their plan once more with her, before telling her to ask to ride on his back if she got tired during the journey.

"I think you'll like Tess," Issac told Ember as they started walking again, trying to keep an enthusiastic mood, "she's loud, and it takes a bit of getting used to, but she's really funny too. We got up to so much dumb stuff together as kids. One time, and I guess coz pretty much everyone in town was an Elemental, we wouldn't have gotten away with it otherwise. But one time, when the snow wasn't coming thick enough to play in, we covered the whole place in ice and snow. She'd bring it down and I'd blow it all over, 'tho there was a crabby old merchant who's get grumpy at us, so we'd send the snow through her window... Ice was her thing, ice and snow." Issac grinned brightly, "I guess she's sort of your opposite?"

@ deadman
Ember smiled. "Yeah." she said and smiled feeling batter now that she knew Issac was with her on this. She sighed relaxing and watching him with Jadelynn. She was continuously amazed by him.

Jadelynn nodded and walked with them for a little before running ahead and waiting for them. She stayed within eye distance though so she did't go to far. She was playing around with her powers now and then making rocks float and getting better about not making them explode.

Ember looked at Issac as he talked about Tess and she frowned more. She didn't like this feeling. What was it... jealousy? She didn't realize his best friend was a girl. She hadn't really thought of it until now. "And you two are just friends?" she asked not looking up afraid of what he would say. If Tess was her opposite was that a good thing or not. She wanted to tell Issac that she wasn't sure she would get along with Tess but she didn't say anything instead.

Once there was a lull she thought it was safe to change the subject. "Tell me about Bethan." she said softly. "Is she a lot like you?" she asked and glanced back up at him. Maybe Bethan and Ember would get along really well. Ember really hoped this was a good idea. What if Tess didn't like her and made Issac not want to help her find Brooke? Ember shook her head. The thought was ridiculous. No one was that cruel.

Issac glanced over at Ember, frowning a little in confusion.

"Of course we're just friends," he said, "being anything more with Tess would be like... I don't know, dating Bethan or something. She's like a sister to me, I've known her since before I could even talk, it would be far too strange."

They fell quiet, until Ember asked about his sister. Issac grinned.

"Bethan's probably the best little sister I could ask for," he told her. "She's... she's not really like me. She's only a couple of years younger, but I always felt responsible for her. I wasn't very good at it though, she always called me an air-head." He laughed softly. "It was ironic, really, Bethan has the same power as Jadelynn, with the earth. And she was always so much more down to earth. Our mother used to say I'd have my head in the clouds whilst Bethan had her feet planted firmly on the ground, even before we showed. My parents had limited air and earth capabilities too, so it wasn't exactly unexpected."

@ deadman
Ember felt a surge of hope when he said they where just friends. She sighed relaxing. It was so stupid. She felt really bad for how she acted about it and she didn't really know why. Issac was someone she depended on and that didn't happen at all. She never depended on others because like her parents they could always leave and she would be alone with the guilt. Ember shook her head.

She smiled as he started to talk about Bethan. It made sense his sister would still be playful like him. She grinned listening to his story. "She sounds nice." she said softly. Ember smiled but in that sad way she always did. Somewhere deep down was a smile waiting to come out that would dazzle anyone she smiled at but she had no reason to show anyone that smile yet.

"Where your parents nice?" she asked feeling sentimental as they talked. She briefly thought about what her parents would have been like if they where here. But she couldn't. She had been to young. She only remembered they where brave and loved her and her sister very much.

It soon was time to stop and eat. They all sat by the river and ate some of the left over rabbit. Ember tossed a stone into the river watching the drop it made. She liked how the stone made the river bend to it for just a moment before the river swallowed the stone. She ate quietly giving Issac a break. He had talked a lot. She hoped that he did't mind.

Issac watched Jadelynn as they walked, and kept half an eye on their surroundings.

"My parents," he repeated. "I guess they were nice, it's been a while since I really thought about them. The main things I remember is my mother and how she cooked, she could make anything out of nothing... And she always made our home smell of lavender, me and Bethan used to go out and pick it. Sometimes, when it wasn't about, we'd get other flowers. But lavender was her favorite. My father worked a lot, bits of this and that, people would hire him for labor and things." Issac paused thoughtfully, "He seemed so big, when I was young, but I guess now I'm probably almost his size."

He let the conversation lull into silence as they continued to walk, and settled by the river when they stopped. Issac gave Jadelynn the last of the rabbit, it would go bad if they kept it too long anyway, and hopefully they could find something in the town when they got there. He watched Ember toss stones into the river, and then helped Jadelynn find suitable stones to try and skip. He stood at the rivers edge with the girl, showing her the best way to hold the stones, and how to angle them to get the best skips. Admittedly, he wasn't too great at it, laughing when his stones made it barely two skips, and encouraging Jadelynn when hers went further.

@ deadman
Ember smiled as they walked and talked bout his parents. He talked about them like they weren't still around and that made her sad. She hoped in a way that he didn't loose his parents though if he did she could only hope it wasn't when he was to young. She knew what it was like growing up without your parents. But from the sound of it he had known them petty well. She smiled thinking of lavender. She liked Jasmine herself. It was her favorite smell. "They sound nice." she said after he finished.

Once they sat at the river she watched him teach Jadelynn how to skip the stones and she just tossed hers int thinking it was cooler anyways though it was impressive to watch the stones skip. She chuckled when he laughed. It was a beautiful sound and she wished for a moment that she was more funny so that she could make him laugh more.

Ember looked up at the sky knowing they should probably move on. She stood and grabbed the bag of bunny skins and she waited for them to finish. It was obvious that Issac had missed traveling with other people. She wondered if his town had been like a big family because he acted like he was from a big family.

They headed back onto the path towards the nearest town. It didn't seem like they would make it by tonight but maybe they could catch some more bunnies to sell. They needed all the money they could get. She tried to think of things that she could make or find to sell. "Before the sun goes down I want to look in the river to see if I can find any colored stones." she said to Issac as they walked. She hadn't really been thinking of it before but a little polish and they could make some money. Issac and Jadelynn could probably help with it. She was sure that between hem they could find things to make more off of.

Issac followed the path with Ember and Jadelynn, picking flowers when Jadelynn felt the urge to, and keeping half an ear out for game, although that was doubtful as their noisy travelling would scare anything away.

"Of course," Issac said to Embers request. "It might be worth taking Jadelynn with you, to see if she can feel for them. Bethan used to say some felt smooth and slippery, they were normally the shiniest ones." He squinted out at the forest, the sun was beginning it's descent, and it was at the perfect level to glare right in his eyes. "I'll see if I can find anything out there whilst you do that? I think I heard something out there, hopefully a little bigger than rabbits maybe..."

He nodded towards a tree further up the path, it stood out from the rest with it's thicker trunk and gnarled branches.

"We could settle there?" he suggested.

@ deadman
Ember smiled as Jadelynn picked flowers. She was so sweet. That was something Brooke would do too. She smiled at Issac as he agreed. "I just thought if you could polish them up with a little dirt and wind then they would get us something. I know I could use a change of cloths and you could use a nice pack to carry your things in." she said and smiled as he said there was hopefully something near by for him to hunt.

Ember nodded and smiled. "Looks like a good spot to me." she looked at the big tree. "Hey Jadelynn. Do you want to hunt rocks with me? We can find smooth shiny colorful ones." she said and Jade nodded enthusiastically placing her flowers on a leaf and then pulling off her shoes heading to the river.

Ember smiled and touched Issac's arm. "Hey be careful out there alright?" she said and smiled gently before taking off her own shoes and headed to the river as well. She sat there on a rock explain to Jade about the rocks they wanted. "Issac thought you might be able to find some." she said. Jade smiled and nodded. "Sure just give me an example." she said and Ember nodded knowing she would have to find one first. "Alright." she said and went looking for one.

"A pack would be useful," Issac commented.

They settled by the tree, and Issac watched as Jadelynn went barefoot into the river. He looked down at Ember when she touched his arm, and smiled at her.

"Of course, same to you too," he replied, and watched as she waded in after the young girl.

There wasn't time for him to stand and watch, however, the sun was setting and the light taking on a warmer glow. Issac headed into the forest, hoping to spot some grouse at the forest edge, which would fetch a better price than a rabbit.

Half an hour later, with some careful tracking and swift hands, he had two birds fixed to his belt. He'd found more, but managed to scare them off by not being fast enough, his hands were scratched and pecked but he was happy with his finds, especially considering his lack of equipment. He was about to turn back when he heard a soft keening among the ferns.

Issac moved forward, curious, and when he pushed some of the plants aside he found a young fawn curled in the dip of a tree root. One of it's delicate legs wasn't quite folded beneath it, at an awkward angle. It could no longer walk, so it's mother had abandoned it. Still, the meat and hide would fetch a few coins at a butcher, he was sure...

He crouched down and hefted the small deer up onto his shoulder, making his way back to the tree with his find.

@ deadman
Ember smiled and nodded. "There could be a lot of useful things." She said. She was glad he would stay safe. She knew he would save her if anything happened to her but she wasn't sure if she could save him if the same thing happened to him.

Ember and Jade hunted for rocks. Once Ember found one that woul look really good polished up she gave it to Jade to see if she could feel for another. Once they started they got a few handfuls and Ember was so excited. They headed back to the tree letting the rocks dry.

Ember sat talking with Jade about rocks and what it was like to be an earth elemental. She was so amazed at what she learned. Ember looked up as Issac came back. "Wow you caught a lot. She said and stood to help him. "Umm I don"t know to much about cleaning them or anything." She admitted wishing she knew how to help.

Issac huffed a laugh as he set down the fawn.

"Neither do I, not with this one," he shrugged. "I drained it best I could, but a butcher'll have to do the rest." He looked over at Jadelynn, unsure what she might think of it. "It was already hurt, and it's mother had left it, it would have died anyway, so..."

He trailed off and sat down, removing one grouse from his belt and tossing it over to the deer. The other one he began to pluck.

"You don't have to worry about it right now," he told Ember. "If you can get a fire started, that would be a help, though? Did you collect many rocks?"

@ deadman
Ember bit her lip as he asked her to start a fire. She looked away and wrapped her arms around herself. "I..." she blushed feeling foolish. She didn't want to have this conversation in front of Jade. Ember didn't use her powers like that. She walked out into the forest to go get some sticks. She could make a fire with sticks and some rocks perhaps. Aunt Lucille never let her near the fire because she was afraid of her ability.

Ember picked up a stick and shook her head. It was nothing for Issac to ask. He didn't understand it and she couldn't blame him but there was a lot he had yet to learn about her. She grabbed more sticks and leaned up against a tree. She needed to get herself together.

Jade watched Ember go and she frowned. She nodded at Issac's question. "Yeah we got a lot of rocks. We need you to polish them later. It will be cool. But Issac... Why is Ember not using her power to make fire? Is she scared?" Jade asked confused and looking back to where Ember had left.

Issac watched Ember go and frowned a little. He hadn't intended to hit a nerve, but it would seem he had. Honestly, however a fire was made would have been fine for him, as long as the grouse got roasted...

He smiled at Jadelynn and her questions.

"She might be scared, perhaps," he fished about his jacket pockets, pulling his tinder box out and tossing it over to where Ember had sat, just in case she wanted it when she returned.

"She's a bit like you, though," he tried to explain. "When you accidentally make the ground shake, and the rocks explode. I don't think anyone ever taught her..." he shrugged. "Some kids, like me, grew up where being an Elemental was okay, so we were taught as soon as we caught our first breeze, or moved our first rock. But then there are places where you live, where you have to hide, and if you have to hide it's hard to learn."

He kept the feathers in a neat pile as he plucked. He may be able to sell them for fletching, if the was lucky.

"It doesn't mean it's bad or anything, you just need to practice. Like... well, like I can't read, because no one showed me how when I was a kid, yeah? It's not a bad thing, it's just.... a thing."

@ deadman
Jade nodded listening. "Will you help her like you did me?" she asked. Jade knew how scary it was to have to hide your powers but Ember was fire and that scared people. She knew she had been burned by fire before and it had scared her for a little while before she was taught how to be careful around it and how helpful it could be.

"Will I be able to learn more in my new town?" she asked. Jade wanted to be like Issac. She liked using her power and she wanted to use it more and get really strong. "I want to be like you and get really strong." she said.

"You can't read? Do you want to?" she asked wondering if Ember could read. She guessed that she could. In their town after all they had to go to school until they where 12. "Reading can be fun you know." she said and stood moving around wanting to do something else. "Why isn't Ember back yet?" she asked.

"Of course I will," Issac said with a smile, "find those pins and needles inside her and get them in check. I bet she'll learn quick, then she'll know everything in no time."

He paused at her next question, mouth twisting into a frown.

"I don't know," he told her honestly. "I don't think so, Jadelynn. It's still too dangers, and the people, they're nice there, but I don't know how they react around Elementals. But I'll come back and visit, if I can?" he offered, "I'll bring Bethan, and Tess, and Bethan will be far more useful than me because she's in the earth like you."

"Sometimes reading would be useful," he admitted, "sign posts get a little tricky at times. But... ah, no, I don't know why Ember's not back, do you want to try calling for her? Stay within sight..."

@ deadman
Jade sighed. Boys they where clueless. "Ember!" she called and jumped up running into the woods. She was sad that this was the last time she would be able to use her powers for a while. She found Ember and frowned seeing her curled up at the base of a tree hiding her face.

Jade sat down and touched her. Ember jerked up and looked at Jade then frowned. Her red face was evidence that she had been crying. Jade hugged her. "What's wrong?" she asked softly. Ember sniffled. "I can't even make a fire without getting all emotional!" she whimpered and pushed the palm of her hands into her eyes.

Jade took her hand and held it. Ember looked at her and sighed. Jade patted her hand. "Something bad happened didn't it?" she asked and Ember nodded. "I don't want to tell anyone. They they would really know how dangerous I am and not want to be around me." she said and looked down. Jade touched her hair soothing it back. "That's not true. You saved me and when you saved Issac you didn't burn him and when you picked me up you didn't burn me even though you where really upset. You are strong Ember." she said and Ember looked at her and nodded.

Ember hugged her and smiled softly then handed Jade the sticks. "Take these back to camp. I'm going to go to the river and clean up. I will be right there." she said. Jade nodded and ran back into camp. She placed the pile down. "Found her." she said and then looked at Issac wondering if he knew. "Do you know what bad thing happened to Ember? She's really upset about it. I think she is scared of herself. That's different from being afraid of others finding out. She thinks she is dangerous." she said and frowned. "I think she needs lots of hugs!" she said and smiled building up the fire and starting it with he flint that Issac left in Ember's spot. "I'm gonna give her a hug!" she said yet again darting out of his view.

Ember came back a few moments later with Jade who was wrapped around her in a huge hug. Ember blushed a little and smiled softly at Issac. "Hey. Sorry it took me so long." she said and sat down in her spot letting Jade finally climb off her and she started to climb a tree. Ember watched her and chuckled. "Does she ever slow down?"

Issac shook his head as Jadelynn asked him if he knew about Ember, and shrugged a shoulder.

"To be honest, I met her two hours before I met you," he smiled a little at the girl, "hell, I hadn't even planned on passing through the town."

He listened as Jadelynn continued, and watched carefully as she built up and lit the fire. Then nodded absently when she darted away again, saying she was going to see Ember.

Issac smiled a little as Ember returned.

"It's alright, I'm almost done here anyway," he finished his plucking, and began to remove the innards, keeping half an eye on Jadelynn in case she slipped.

"It could be nervous energy," he said. "The shock of last night, and the change... we best watch her, in case she gets feverish too."

@ deadman
Jade looked at him her head tilting. "Hmm sounds like you need to get to know her better then." she said softly before taking off.

Ember smiled softly at his smile. She liked his smile it was so kind and warm. She nodded and took her seat. Watching Jade made her a little nervous. "You think so?" Ember asked and bit her lip hoping she was going to be alright. Ember knew change was tough but she never thought it could make you sick but perhaps for elementals it was different.

Jade eventually came down and yawned curling up by Ember so that her head rested in her lap. Ember smiled sadly and stroked her hair. She didn't feel warm but Ember knew she ran warmer as well. Jade slowly fell asleep as the sun dipped down at last. "I guess she hadn't taken a nap earlier." she said and chuckled.

"I guess we will polish the rocks in the morning yeah? I think we all deserve some good sleep." Ember said and smiled. "Tomorrow we will reach he village?" she asked looking down at Jade. She was going to miss her.

Issac shrugged a shoulder and looked up properly to watch Jadelynn.

"It's just what happens to kids, she might have grown out of it by now though..."

By the time Jadelynn had come down from the tree, Issac had finished sorting his catches out. He was almost surprised that Jadelynn managed to fall asleep so easily, but Issac supposed she had worn herself out.

"If you'd like," he nodded, at Embers question. "We're pretty close now, maybe an hour or two's walk. We could have made it today, but I guess we got a late start, sleeping in. It'll be fine though." He glanced over to Ember. "Go to sleep now, if you'd like, we'll need to get up early tomorrow, market after midday barely has anything decent. I need to cook this bird, it'll save time in the morning and give Jadelynn something to eat before we leave her."

Issac shrugged a shoulder and looked up properly to watch Jadelynn.

"It's just what happens to kids, she might have grown out of it by now though..."

By the time Jadelynn had come down from the tree, Issac had finished sorting his catches out. He was almost surprised that Jadelynn managed to fall asleep so easily, but Issac supposed she had worn herself out.

"If you'd like," he nodded, at Embers question. "We're pretty close now, maybe an hour or two's walk. We could have made it today, but I guess we got a late start, sleeping in. It'll be fine though." He glanced over to Ember. "Go to sleep now, if you'd like, we'll need to get up early tomorrow, market after midday barely has anything decent. I need to cook this bird, it'll save time in the morning and give Jadelynn something to eat before we leave her."