TGoF Chapter 5

"Ok. Now that you've finished laps split up and we can begin the real fun!" Are said excitedly. I saw Kyden roll his eyes before jogging over I Vahni.

I watched then talk for a second before heading over to Are.

"Where do we start?" Are mused, "Hold on." She walked over to Iresh and Keb and talked with them for a moment before coming back over to me.

I asked her, "What will I be learning first?"

She grinned, "To manipulate the water you first have to have the water. If you can't get to a water source like the ocean you have to be able to pull the water from the air."

That sounded like a neat trick. "Ok. What do I have to do?"

Are spent the next few minutes teaching me the moments. I had to be in a certain state of mind to actually manipulate the water.

The movements were simple. I had to extend my arms and pull them in and close my hands into fists, like I was grabbing things from my sides. I practiced the movements a few times until Are was satisfied.

"Now comes the tricky part. The state of mind. All four of you have to master this. Now, I want you to think very hard about what you're doing. Imagine how you want to manipulate the water," Are instructed. I thought about that, trying to figure out what she meant. I looked and saw Ana closing her eyes and taking deep breaths, concentrating, focusing.

I mimicked Ana. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I could do this. Once I felt like the only thing I could think of was pulling that water from the air I did the move.

"Cassie... Open your eyes," Are instructed. I peeked and looked down at my hands. Right above my two closed fists was a small orb of water.

"I did it... I did it!" I spoke excitedly, the orb of water falling onto my hands. I grinned from ear to ear and so did Are. She hugged me too.

"I'm so proud of you!" She told me, holding me at arms length, "Now I want you to practice this a few times so you really have the hang of it, and I want you to see how much water you can pull."

I did as I was told. Are sat on the ground and watched as I practiced multiple times. After a whole I worked my way up to an orb of water that was between the size of a ping-pong ball and a tennis ball.

"Amazing! Let's take a break before we move into the next move," Are suggested. I nodded and looked a around at my friends and got an idea.

I asked Are a question, "Is it ok if I go talk to my friends for a moment?" She nodded and I ran off to Ana who was also taking a break.

"Hey Cassie. What's up?" She asked.

I grinned, "I have an idea." I told her my plan and she agreed. We rounded up the others and they also agreed with my plan. It took a minute to convince Kyden though.

"You want to do what?" Kyden asked.

"We've all worked really hard, I think we should show each other what we've accomplished," I explained. He sighed in defeat and nodded. We wall walked to the center where we stood in a circle.

Keb spoke up, "Who wants to go first?"

"I will!" Ana volunteered excitedly.

We nodded and she did the concentrating thing. After a moment she pushed her hands outwards, sending a small gust of wind towards Keb that ruffled his hair.

"Nice!" He complimented, "Since you used your powers on me, my turn."

He stepped back and concentrated on the ground, scrunching up his face slightly. He reached out, palms down, and started to raise his arms, his fingers making a grabbing motion repeatedly. A piece the ground began to rise up slowly. Once it was at waist level he dropped it.

"That was really cool. Can I go?" I asked, looking at Kyden. He nodded.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths before reached out and pulling my arms in. When I opened my eyes I had an orb of water about the same size at my last one.

I dropped it and looked at Kyden, "Your turn." He nodded and led us over to the fire put which was now lit.

"Can one of you girls put it out? I haven't learned that..." He trailed off, scratching the back of his neck.

Ana raised her hand, "I can blow it out." She did the move rather quickly.

"Ok, stand back. I'm still new and don't want to accidentally burn you."

We all took a few steps back and Kyden concentrated on the fire out for a moment before leaning forwards. He cupped his hands around his mouth and blew on the coals. Slowly, a flame appeared.

"That was really cool, dude," Keb said once Kyden was done, giving him a pat on the back.

"Thanks."

"Ok guys! Breaks over!" Someone shouted. I headed back to Are. It had been a half hour, that was fair.

She smiled, "You guys did really good."

"Thanks. What's next?" I asked, slightly excited.

"Now that you know how to pull water out of thin air, let's lean how to pull water from an existing body," she explained. I nodded and we walked over the the coast.

"This is a bit tricky." She showed me the move and I mirrored it. When she felt I was ready again she let me do it.

I walked over to the water and bent down. I concentrated with my eyes open as I made a grabbing motion right above the water. I stood up, but I lost it.

"Make your grasp a little firmer," Are explained. I nodded and did as she said. I managed to pull a little water from the ocean but dropped it.

I tried again and again but this was tricky. Finally I just closed my eyes and did the move again, trying to make it make natural. When I ironed my eyes I had a baseball sized ball of water.

"Good job!" Are praised. I thanked her and see continued working.

By lunch time I'd mastered those two moves and leaned how to move the water from place to place, or basically walk with it, and we'd started to learn how to throw a ball of water.

"Agh, it's such a long walk," Ana complained when we gathered up to walk in for lunch.

"That's why I've arranged a picnic as a special treat for your first training session. Also, you guys have the rest if the day off," Damia informed us. We all grinned.

Damia whistled and our dogs came trotting over with picnic baskets in their mouths. We helped spread out all the blankets so we had this huge picnic area.

We all sat down and began out lunches.

"So, what did you guys learn?" I asked. The adults had ended up siting in a circle, and the kids in another.

"Not much. I mean, there's not much you can do with air," Ana joked.

Keb laughed, "Well I learned how move and mold rocks."

We went around and talked about what we learned.

When we finished up our lunches we all packed everything up and began the walk back, still chatting.

Katie went to grab the picnic basket but I grabbed it before she could. She growled at me, but I simply chuckled and ignored her.

"I can't believe this is what our lives are going to be like for a while," Keb commented, as Kyden and Ana were talking behind us.

I titled my head,"What do you mean?"

"Training. It's kinda like school," he pointed out. I nodded and thought about what he said.

Speaking if school, what about school? We were only about to be juniors in high school, what about the rest of our education? I'd have to remember to ask Damia that.

Keb and I talked the rest of the walk. Him and I didn't really interact much, one-on-one at least. I learned that he was a reader and writer which didn't surprise me. Add a pair of glasses and he was your typical nerd, but of course all of The Guild members had perfect vision.

When we got back to the castle we headed up to our rooms to change out of our clothes. None of us really needed a shower thankfully since we didn't work up a sweat, so there was no fighting for the bathrooms. Today's training was mostly mental.

I decided to actually change into my bathing suit and go for a swim.

I wore the same swimsuit as earlier. Katie and I walked down to the beach together, but she decided to lay in the sand while I went for a swim. She kept looking back towards the castle, and I realized something.

"You can go and hang with Are if you want, I know you miss her," I told her. She barked before trotting off towards the castle.

I went out until the water was up to my chest and began to swim. I swam horizontally along the shire so I didn't go too deep and down or something.

I may not be very sporty, but I was definitely a good swimmer. Lots of people told me I should compete for swimming but I always turned them down.

After a few laps I decided just to float again. The waters here were actually pretty calm, even though the waters by the training area were actually pretty rough.

"I knew I'd find you out here," a voice said. I stood up and saw Ana was on the beach.

I grinned, "Yeah." I noticed she was in her clothes still, and she saw me looking.

"Oh! I didn't come to swim. I just wanted to ask you something," she told me. I nodded and walked to shore.

"What is it?" I asked.

She took a deep breath, "Did... Did anyone visit you last night?"

I was shocked. I quickly regained my composure, "Why?"

"Well, you see, I'm a light sleeper. So in the middle of the night I woke up and there was this guy searching through my room. Before I could say anything he darted off," she explained. I sighed.

"Yes. I woke up and there was a guy doing the same thing in my room. I was able to grab him and all. I learned his name was Calder, and he said he'd be back," I told her.

She looked scared, "Do you think there from The Force?"

I nodded my head, "Honestly yes." She looked frightened so I added on, "Now we can kick their butts with our powers." She laughed.

"I can. But I you did you'd ruin your room with water."

"Not if I throw a frozen water ball at him. Are said she'd teach me how to freeze the water soon."

Ana grinned, "I'd like to see that." We both laughed before sitting and looking at the ocean. "Well, I better go. I have some stuff to do."

I nodded and watched her leave the beach. I was all alone again. I didn't mind it though.

I went back out in the ocean to float. It was relaxing.

I was lost in thought for bit when somebody else interrupted me.

"Cassie?" Keb asked. I knew it was him right away for some reason.

I stood up again, "Yeah?"

"Kyden and I are headed out to the back beach. Damia said we could surf and boogie board and stuff," he explained.

I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Wanna come?"

"Sure! Is Ana coming?"

"Um, no. She's busy."

I still nodded and got up to follow Keb.

Kyden was waiting for us at the beginning of the path to the back beach with Borka. We all started walking, the three dogs in the lead with the three of us following behind. I noticed now both Keb and Kyden were wearing swim trunks this time.

During the walk I stayed quiet, but Kyden and Keb talked about their homes and what they did at the beach. They both enjoyed surfing apparently.

"Do you guys hear that?" I butted in suddenly. They looked at me and it old the dogs to stay and dragged them to a nearby bush. I separated the branches and peered through with the guys.

We were looking at the training area. Well, actually who was there.

I saw four kids sitting in a circle around some guy. There were two girls and two guys and they looked our age.

One girl had curly brown hair in a ponytail with her bangs framing her face and Keb's eyes. She also had his darker skin tone.

Another girl had red hair that reached just past her shoulders, stunning red eyes, and freckles. She was also paler than the rest.

One of the guys had blond spiky hair and light blue eyes. He looked a bit like Ana.

The last guy was none other than Calder.

The guy there were sitting around was an adult. He had jet black hair, black eyes, and was a little pale. I watched him talk and noticed he has none other than fangs for all his teeth.

"That's The Force of Evil," Keb whispered. We continued to watch them until we were interrupted.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Ana said rather loudly. She was in her bathing suit and had come to join us.

Calder turned his head and saw us, pointing us out to his gang. We backed off from the bushes, seeing the older guy start to sprint off.

Suddenly, the other kids sprang through the bushes.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't The Guild of Five. Where's Damia, huh? Too afraid to show her face?" The blonde boy taunted.

"Get them!" The red hair girl yelled. Calder sprang out me.

I stepped out of the way and turned around. Before he could regain his balance I pushed him to the ground and pinned him down so I was straddling him with my knees pinning his hands down.

"Really? This?" Calder commented. I realized I was sitting on him. In my bathing suit. I started to blush and Calder took that moment to use his hands to flip me over so we'd switched positions.

"You just love taking whatever I do to you, and switch roles. Oaf," I mumbled. I realized I could knee him in the back so I did that. When he was bent back in pain I flipped over so I had the upper hand.

Out of nowhere one of the girls punched me right above the eye. I fell off of Calder and stood up to see the redhead standing a foot away in a fighting stance. I jumped up and out of the way as she took another swing.

I made fists and blocked my face with my forearms, getting ready to take a punch. When she was going for it I panicked and swept my foot under her, making her fall on her butt.

That didn't help the fact she was already shooting daggers at me.

She jumped up and was about to take another punch at me when Calder grabbed her. "It's not worth it," he mumbled before taking her off with the rest of the gang. I noticed a glint of metal and realized she was wearing a ring.

"Thank gosh they're getting on that boat and leaving," Ana pointed out. I nodded and turned around to face the group.

"Cassie?" Kyden asked, "You're bleeding!" He said. I felt my head where I'd been punched. When I pulled my hand away my fingers were coated in the gooey substance known as blood. That darn ring must've cut me.

I looked at my friends. Other than my gash above my left eye, we'd all survived with a few cuts and bruises.

"I'm fine."

"No. You're going back. Keb and Kyden you can go surf," Ana started, "We'll meet you there."

Keb looked at Kyden with a begging face and Kyden finally sighed and nodded. We headed off in different directions, the dogs had already gone somewhere else.

Ana and I snuck back into the castle and into the bathroom near our rooms without running into anyone. She pulled out a first aid kit and put antiseptic on the cut with a small gauze cloth, making me hiss.

"Sorry. Luckily it's a minor cut so just cleaning it should do... There! All done," she concluded before putting the medical supplied away.

"Thanks," I told her gratefully. She nodded and we headed to where the guys were on the beach.

Kyden was preparing his surfboard. I wasn't familiar with it so I watched him for a moment before he noticed me.

"Hey girls. There's a shack over there with boogie board, surf boards, skim boards, anything you could think of."

I jogged over while Ana sat down on the sand to get some sun and chatted with Kyden. I ran into the brightly colored shack and coughed, dust floated around everywhere. I immediately grabbed a skim board.

I ran over to the ocean, excited to finally do one of my favorite things. I waited for the wave to come. When it did I threw the board, then ran and jumped onto it.

I rode it for a few feet before it stopped and I stumbled off.

I did that for a few minutes until I threw it a bit too early and fell, hitting my head on the sand. I shook it off and put the skim board on dry sand where the water wouldn't get to it and walked over to where Kyden was just sitting.

"Hey Kyden. Why're you just sitting here?" I asked as I plopped down into the sand next to him.

He shrugged, "I was watching you. But, now you're sitting. So now I'm talking."

I chuckled, "I love being a second choice."

"You're not. You're my first choice if I had to pick a single friend here."

"Aww. You're making me blush."

I have him a shove on the shoulder, and he shoved me harder, so I shoved him even harder. We went back and forth for a bit until I pushed him so hard he fell over, making me laugh.

"Sorry," I laughed out. Kyden gave me a skeptical look.

"No you're not. But anyways!" He shouted changing the subject.

"Yes I-" I began to argue. I was cut off by the dogs howling.

Something was wrong and we wall knew it.

Ana and Keb came to where Kyden and I were putting away the stuff we had gotten out of he shack.

"What's going on?" Keb asked.

I shrugged, "Something. That's all we know."

We all ran back to the castle with the dogs. We stopped when we got to the throne room, Damia, Vahni, Are, Iresh, and Makani were all talking quietly.

"Sorry to call you like this, but we wanted to say goodbye," Damia told us with a smile.

"What? Goodbye? Where are you going?" I asked incredulously.

Vahni answered, "Just a business trip."

The other adults nodded. This wasn't right at all. A business trip? What could that mean?

"Where?"

Suddenly, the room came a buzz with questions. Apparently it was a secret and all we could know was that they'd be back before the week is up. They also told us to keep up with training, and to use books from the library as our teachers.

They have us hugs and we didn't question it. We simply watched at they sped off in a small motor boat.

"That was... Odd," Ana mused. We all agreed.

Kyden said suddenly, "Damia dropped something in the sand." He pointed and I ran out to pick it up, this was really bugging me.

"Come to The Fortress, or else your little trainees won't see the light of day. Yours truly, The Force of Evil."

I looked around the group. I saw everything from sadness, remorse, regret, and guilt to anger strong enough to bring empires to their knees.

"What do we do?" Ana croaked out eventually.

Kyden grimaced, "We fight."

"No!" I screamed, "No fighting! We just wait for them to come back. They will. They can't just disappear."

"How do you know?" Kyden retorted bitterly.

Keb squinted his eyes, "Calm down."

"They just walked into a trap!" Kyden shouted.

I screamed at them again, "Shut up! You think I enjoy screaming? Well, I don't. You guys need the chill the heck down or else I'm going to end up punching someone!"

"I think we should wait a day or two then come up with a plan," Ana added meekly.

"That is a great plan. Boys?" I asked. "I swear if you say what I think you're going to say I'm going to punch you in the face."

Keb laughed while Kyden glared at him. When Keb had stopped laughing he nodded his head, "Great idea Ana."

"Whatever." Kyden stalked off inside.

"What's his problem?"

"From what I've gathered, major family issues." Keb answered.

I sighed and nodded. I wanted to go say something to him but at the same time I wanted to punch him in the face. So I decided to stay.

Ana mumbled something about being hungry before leaving. I looked at Keb who was looking at where the boat had disappeared.

"How do ya feel?" I asked quietly. He looked at me and I could tell immediately.

"I don't know how to feel. I wanna feel guilty and angry and upset and sad and betrayed and worry and fear and... Ugh!" He yelled in frustration. He kicked some sand before sitting down on it with his head in his hands.

I just reached over and patted him on the back. He looked up and sniffed, he had been crying softly.

He groaned and looked up at the sky, "I'm sorry. It's just... I've had to keep my emotions bottled up since Leo lost his hearing. It's just difficult and if I break down he knows and it's hard to be having a breakdown through sign language."

"It's fine. Everyone here carries some baggage except for me. Therefore, I've unofficially become the person you can come and rant or vent to," I explained, smiling at the end.

Keb smiled too. We looked out at the ocean for a bit. I just had this feeling we were both a bit transfixed on the spot where we lost sight of Damia.

Without her, it's like the teacher abandoning you during the first week of a new school. Except the teacher might never come back.

I shouldn't be thinking that.

Damia will come back...

Right?