TGoF Chapter 3

"This group, The Guild of Five, was created for a reason. That reason is to keep balance between the world and The Force of Evil, who was created to use the same powers we have to cause havoc upon the world," Damia explained. "Any questions?"

I took a deep breath, almost as if I was inhaling the information. My head was a whirlpool of questions, Kyden answered one of them, "Why were The Force and The Guild created?"

"Basically The Force was created out of anger by an evil sorcerer. Then, a good wizard created The Guild to combat them and keep the earth safe."

"Oh."

I didn't even want to ask any questions, I was starting to feel sick from all of this info. How was I supposed to use powers I don't know how to use at all the save the world?

"I don't feel good. Is it ok if I excuse myself?" I asked. Damia nodded and as I stood up spoke.

"Do you know the way?" Damia asked. I nodded and I walked back to my room. It felt strange without Katie but I laid down on my bed anyways. I stared up at the ceiling thinking.

Suddenly, I heard a knock at my door. I sat up and realized I fell asleep. "Come in."

"I brought you dinner," Kyden said quietly as he walked into my room and set the tray down very carefully on my table.

"You don't have to be so careful around me, like I'm gonna explode at any second," I said with a slight annoyed tone of voice. He nodded and went to leave the room.

"Ok," he responded as he was leaving.

"Wait!" I stuttered, "You don't h-have to go..." I was blushing as he turned back around.

He looked at me carefully, "I think I should you don't look so good."

"I feel fine." As soon as I said that I started to feel queasy. I got up and ran out of the room to a bathroom I had seen earlier. I leaned down over the toilet as I felt bile rise up my throat and I started to vomit gag.

"Cassie! Whoa..." Was Kyden's response when he saw I was throwing up. He held my hair out of the way while I puked.

When I was finished I told him, "Maybe I don't feel so good." He nodded and wet a washcloth.

"Here. Take this and wipe off your mouth or whatever and I'll take you back to your room and tell Damia what happened, ok?"

I took the cloth and did as he said. When I was done Kyden walked me back to my room. "I feel better now."

"I don't care. I don't know what I'd do if something serious happened to you," he commented, murmuring the last part so I almost didn't hear him. He pulled up my trash can incase I got sick again in made me lay in my bed. He walked away to get Damia and I started to blush.

Kyden, a cute guy, actually cared about me! My last boyfriend didn't end so well, and I'm just not used to guys being nice to me like this that I'm not related to. I was thinking about this when him and Damia walked in.

"You poor dear! Kyden told me what happened. Can I get you anything? Katie will be here in a moment also," Damia fretted, coming to my bedside. I noticed Kyden, Ana, and Keb in the doorway.

I shook my head, "I don't want anything to eat or drink so I don't throw up again."

"You should drink something, Cassie. You lost a lot of fluids from puking, most likely," Ana added. Damia nodded.

"I'll be right back. Something carbonated but not too strong should help your stomach. Why don't you get changed into comfortable clothes while I'm gone?" Damia asked. I nodded and she left, shutting the door behind her to give me privacy to change.

I grabbed the pajamas I wore earlier and slipped into those before getting into bed. I sighed, I don't usually get sick but this hit me hard and fast, it was strange.

"Can I come in?" A voice asked. I said yes and Ana walked in with a glass of what looked like ginger ale. "Damia went to go check on the wolves so I told her I'd give you this," she explained as she set the cup on a coaster on my nightstand.

"Thanks," I nodded, "I'm feeling a bit better now."

"Good. You should still drink this so you don't get dehydrated."

I nodded, "How do you know so much about all this doctor-y stuff?"

"My sister is, was, a doctor," I decided not to push it so I took a few sips of my drink. "I'm gonna go back to my room so Mila can find me when she gets back." I nodded and Ana slipped out.

When she opened the door I saw a flash of something disappear. I was about to get up to see what it was when I heard Ana talking, I froze.

"What are you doing here?" She hissed. I tried to listen but I couldn't make out the other words. Soon the voices grew distant, Ana and the mystery figure were walking away. I retreated back to my bed and got back under the covers.

I looked around my room for something to do that I could do while laying in bed. I settled on reading and grabbed a book before getting back in bed. I was reading when I started feeling queasy again. I jumped out of bed and was bent over the trash can throwing up again when Kyden walked in.

"How do you have anything left to throw up?" Kyden asked as he held back my hair again. When I was done he ran and got me a washcloth to wipe my mouth off with. By the tame he came back hot tears were falling down my face.

He handed me the washcloth and I scrubbed my mouth and face. "Sorry," I said weakly, still crying.

"Hey," he put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned my head on him, "it's ok. It's not your fault you're sick. Got it?" I nodded. Kyden got up and got a hair-tie and put my hair into a messy pony tail.

"How are you so good at doing hair?" I asked.

He blushed, "I have a little sister and my parents aren't around much so..." I nodded. He obviously didn't like his parents.

"Why'd you come in here anyways?" I asked him.

His face lit up, "Oh! Uh... Yeah, Damia said that you were probably sick from all the swimming and stuff this morning."

"Oh. That's... Good news..." I said slowly. Why would water make me sick if that was my element?

"What's wrong?"

"If we all control elements it's obvious which ones we control. If I control water why did all of that make me sick and not you?" I asked, slightly upset.

He made me look at him, "I can tell you're doubtful about the whole keeping the world safe, but you're going to do a great job. Got it?"

"Yes," I answered, looking him in the eyes. His eyes were stunning, the red was intensely bright to say the least. I looked away and stared at the wall instead.

"To be completely honest I think we're all a little nervous. I mean, we're just a bunch of sixteen-year-olds. The world is... Just..." He struggled with the words, "I don't know. Do you get what I'm saying?" I nodded. I agreed with him one hundred percent.

I added in, "Who knows what training is going to be like."

"Exactly." Just then Katie and Borka trotted in. Katie started to growl at Kyden and walking to towards him. "That's my cue to leave. See us later!" Kyden said. I waved and he left for his room with Borka.

"Come here, Katie!" She jumped up on my bed and lay next to me. I got an idea. "Never mind. I have another idea..." I drifted off as I got up. I walked into Ana's room. The door was already open and she was just dancing around.

"Hey Cassie!" She said cheerily.

"Do you like to craft?"

"It's ok..."

"Wanna make a necklace with me?"

"Sure!" She followed me into my room. "I have a plan. I found some beads and I thought we could do some sort of element inspired thing."

She grinned, "Cool! Can I see the beads?" I nodded and got them out. They were in a little caddy and one of the side boxes had these beautiful colored beads. They looked like tiny colored glass balls but were really tiny plastic beads.

"I also found some wired and figured we could make some sort if pendant to hang on a necklace? That's what I'm doing, you can do whatever you want."

She looked at the beads, "Sounds great. Looks like each of our colors are here... Where is the wire?" I pointed to it on my desk and we sat down on the carpet. I used the needle nosed pliers from inside the caddy to cut some silver, thin, floral wire.

"What have you been doing lately?" I asked, starting a conversation as I passed Ana the pliers.

She sighed, "Working on a few of my dance routines even though it's pointless now."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

She shrugged, "I'm a dancer, that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. Although now I won't be a dancer because I'll be here, saving the world. What did you wanna be when you grew up?"

I noticed her subject change but went along with it. "I want to be an artist. I'm continuing to make art." I gestured to my room. She smiled.

"I guess I shouldn't give up," she answered. I nodded quickly.

We continued to chat as we made out little charms. My charm was a simple wire spiral beaded with the plastic beads. The pattern was green, clear, light blue, clear, red, clear, dark blue, clear, repeating four times spiraling outwards.

Ana's charm was her name in wire, beaded with a pattern similar to mine but without the clear spacers.

"That's very... Intricate..." I said amazed when I saw Ana's piece.

"Thanks. I like the simplicity of yours, actually," she said, looking at my spiral.

"Thanks," I said back. I got up and grabbed the chains to hang our necklaces on. I simply pulled part of the chain through the small loop at the end of the spiral that closed it off before slipping it around my neck. I saw Ana was having trouble getting her necklace to balance.

I had an idea. I told her about it and she handed me her charm. I used my pliers to cut the chain in half, securing a cut part to each of the A's and then buckling the clasp so it hung evenly.

Ana grinned when she put the necklace on, "I can't believe I didn't think of that! Thanks again."

"No problem."

"Well, I think I'm gonna get ready for bed. It's almost nine o'clock," Ana said suddenly as she got up to leave. I nodded and thought I should probably do the same.

She left and I got in some cool pajamas that I found and went down the hallway to brush my teeth. The toothbrush with my name on it was obviously mine so I used that before washing by face and going back to my room.

I grabbed he book I was reading earlier and settled into bed with it. I surprised my self and read until almost eleven. I was extremely tired by then so I turned out my bedside lamp and set down the book.

"Goodnight.Katie," I whispered. She muddled my hand in response since she slept next to me. I drifted off to sleep quickly.

I had a nightmare. I was in a dark, square room. In one corner was a boulder, another a small fire, another a tornado, and the last a wave that kept rising and falling but was still contained to that corner.

"Dear Cassie," a dark voice began wish a sick laugh, "choose wisely." Puzzled I looked around but saw nobody. What i did see was that the objects were growing closer. The fire grew, the wave grew, the tornado grew, and the rocks multiplied like an avalanche.

Nervous, I screamed, "Stop!" I spread my arms out straight from my sides. The elements stopped and receded as it started to rain in the room.

The rain fell faster and harder, extinguishing all of the threats. Soon the rain was flooding the room. It fell even harder until it was just like someone was dumping a huge bucket of water into the room. I struggled for air.

I swam to the top of the room. Suddenly the pouring stopped but the room still filled with water. I took my last breath as the room completely filled with water. I held my breath for as long as possible. I started to lose consciousness. Just as I was about to black out fully I woke up.

I sat bolt upright, my bed drenched in what seemed to be water. I was gasping for air. Whenever I was you her I had this nightmare, no other. I never understood it until I found out about The Guild.

Katie had moved to the floor as I had probably started thrashing around. I got up out of my bed and peeled my wet pajamas off before getting into dry ones and snuggling up into my reading alcove.

There I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned. When I'd finally had enough of that I got up and crept down to he kitchen without disturbing Katie so I could get a glass of water.

"Couldn't sleep?" I jumped as I entered the kitchen. Keb was sitting on the counter eating an apple. I nodded.

"Came down to get water," I told him. He jumped off the counter to throw away his apple core.

He shook his head, "That won't help. Sit down." I did as I was told and watched as Keb whipped up something after rummaging in the counters.

"Thanks," I said when he handed me the mug. He nodded and sat down across from me at the kitchen table. It was too dark to see what it was so when I took a sip blindly I figured out it was hot chocolate. I drank the mug while Keb and I sat in a comfortable silence. When I was finished he took the mug and set it in the sink.

"We should probably head back to bed, it is four in the morning," I nodded and we each walked back to our rooms. The second I was in my alcove I fell right asleep.

When I woke up I looked at the clock almost immediately. It's was nine thirty. I got up and looked in the mirror after that. My hair was a mess! Probably from my nightmare. That meant Keb saw me like this. Great.

"Katie, is Damia awake?" I asked her. She nodded and I asked her to take me to where she was.

"Good morning Cassie," she greeted. She was in an office like space on the second floor.

"Umm... Is it ok if I take a shower?" I asked awkwardly. She chuckled at my discomfort.

"Of course! Katie will show you were everything is." I nodded and Katie and I walked to my room where I grabbed an outfit and then Katie took me to a closet where I grabbed a towel.

She lay outside the door protectively while I showered and got ready. I walked outside and put my towel in a hamper in the hallway and then put my clothes in a hamper in my room. I headed down to the kitchen then with Katie and made some oatmeal.

While I was eating Keb came into the kitchen. "Thanks again for the hot chocolate last night," I told him while he peeled an orange.

"No problem," he responded. Suddenly Kyden walked in and grabbed a jam-filled pastry from a box on the counter.

"What are you guys talking about?" He asked curiously.

I shrugged, "Nothing. So, how'd you guys sleep?" I asked.

"I had a nightmare," Kyden shrugged.

"Lemme guess. The elements were closing in on you, an invisible voice..." He trailed off. Kyden nodded.

I sighed, "So we all have the same nightmares too." Everyone was quiet after that as we finished eating in silence.

"Don't forget about the meeting in the throne room. It's at noon," Kyden told us before waking off.

I looked at Keb, "Why wasn't I told about this?" He shrugged. "That gives me a little over an hour of free time." Keb glanced at the clock and nodded. I jumped up and Katie and I ran into my room. She barked when she saw me frantically searching my room, like she was asking me what I was doing.

I brushed it off and continued searching until I found the colored pencils and sketchbook I'd used to sketch Keb earlier. I raced outside to the gardens and found a beautiful pink flower and started to sketch it immediately. Katie realized what I was doing and lay next to me as I drew.

It was actually just a quick sketch. A thank you for Kyden. I'd noticed he was paying special attention to the flowers while we were here since being so helpful while I was sick I decided to draw a thank you gift.

I was so caught up in drawing Katie had to snap me out of it. She grabbed my pencil out of my hand. "Ok, ok. I get it. I'm going..." I told her as I got up. I grabbed my pencil and my supplies from the ground and jogged back to my room. I threw then onto the desk, a bad habit of mine, and walked down to the throne room.

When we got there I was the last to arrive. I was able to glance at Keb's watch, I was actually perfectly on time. Everyone else was early. I noticed Damia was sitting on her throne once again and we were standing before her.

When she noticed we were all here she grinned. "Tomorrow your training will begin. Now, I am not experienced with your powers so I have brought in some good friends of mine and was hoping you'd come with me to get them."

"Of course! Right guys?" Ana spoke up. We nodded it agreement. Damia grinned and led the way.

We went down a hallway and down some steps leading to a basement, or what was really a dungeon. Or bunker. I let my mind wander as I followed. Eventually we entered a room with what looked like a giant mirror, with swirling colors. It had an aura of magic. The Guild was created by a good sorcerer so the magic in the mirror was real.

"If you guys would wait here, I'll go fetch my friends. They're simply on the other side of the portal..." Damia trailed off.

She put her hand on a gem that mimicked the colors in the mirror and closed her eyes. Suddenly, the mirror revealed a room. She stepped through and into the room, which was a bedroom. She exited the bedroom and we lost sight of her.

"Who do you think her friends are?" Keb wondered.

Ana answered, "The members of The Guild who controlled the elements before we came."

We waited in silence. After about five minutes Kyden sat on the ground and we eventually all did the same. "What's taking so long?" I groaned.

"Somebody's impatient..." Kyden snickered. I glared at him and he stopped.

After what seemed like forever, but was only five more minutes according to Keb's watch, the bedroom door open. We all stood up right away, except for Kyden, who's arm I had to kick subtly.

Damia was the first through the door. She was followed by four other people who all looked to be in their late twenties. They all stepped through the portal and Damia touched the stone, making it go back to swirling colors.

I took in their appearances. They looked a lot like grown up versions of Kyden, Keb, Ana, and myself.

"Kyden, Keb, Solana, and Cascata," Damia grinned widely, pointing at us in turn, "meet Vahni, Iresh, Makani, and Arethusa."