TGoF Chapter 4

"It's nice to meet you guys," I finally spoke up. Arethusa smiled at me.

"You're the water girl, aren't you?" She smirked. I furrowed my eyebrows but nodded. She stuck out her hand for me to shake and I did. "I used to be. I'll be training you, but I hope you can think of us as friends." I smiled at her.

"Yeah!" Makani spoke up, looking at Ana.

Damia grinned, "Well, it's lunch time. We can get to know each other over lunch." She seemed very happy to be back with the previous Guild members. They must have a close bond. We all walked up the stairs and into the dining room. The dogs were waiting there.

The dogs all trotted over to their current masters trainers. I was guessing they were guides and friends to them and got reassigned in a way to the person who controls the same element.

"Katie!"

"You call her that too?" I asked when I heard Arethusa call Katerina by the same nickname as me.

She nodded as she scratched behind Katie's ears, "Yep. Katerina's kinda long, just like Arethusa. I go by Are." She pronounced it Air-uh.

"In that case noes a good time to tell you I go by Cassie. Cascata's kinda long, too," I explained. She smiled.

"Cassie. I like it," she stood up and took her seat at the table. I sat next to her.

Damia sat at the head of the table, the rest of us sitting next to our trainers and a friend on either side, in a jumble of people.

"I made your favorite sandwiches, all of yours," Damia smiled. Vahni looked at his plate and examined his sandwich in disbelief.

He spoke, "How'd you know where we'd sit? You even got the snacks to go with our sandwiches right!"

Makani shook her head as we all dug in, "You've know Damia long enough not to question her ways." Vahni rolled his eyes and my ears were confused to all the different conversations going on.

"Do you like it here?" Are suddenly asked. I nodded and swallowed the bite of ham and mayo sandwich in my mouth.

After I took a sip of water I answered, "We got here yesterday and I was sick most of it but it's nice here. The gardens are beautiful."

Are smiled in a nostalgic kind of way. "Did you see the training area?"

"Nope. What's it like?"

"If I remember correctly it's on the back coast of the island," she began, "so there's plenty of water for you. It's a flat patch of dirt, lots of earth for Keb. There's also a fire pit for Kyden to practice with. Of course Ana has air too."

I could imagine the place and I couldn't help but grin. I would be able to "work" by the coast. I thought about that as I chomped on a chip and Are talked to Damia.

"Want a carrot stick?" Kyden asked me from across the table. I looked up from my plate and shook my head.

"More of a fruit type of girl," I replied. Kyden laughed.

"Really? Fruit type of girl?" He asked smirking. I rolled my eyes again. He just loved to annoy me. I could be annoying too.

I smiled innocently, "Well, most fruits are sweet. Like me. You're more of a sour lemon."

He glared at me. He was about to respond when Vahni said something to him so I let them talk.

I was munching on an apple slice, I'm a fruit kinda girl, and thinking about the training again. Nobody bothered me until we were all done with lunch.

"Well, I have a few things to attend to. I'll let you guys go on your own. I do suggest you get to know each other so training is not awkward tomorrow," Damia advised as she left the room.

None of us knew what to do, I was the first to speak again, "Kyden, I have a thank you gift for you in my room." I said as I stood up. Kyden stood up too and we went to walk up to my room. I looked back when the dogs didn't follow us. Are noticed this and tapped Vahni on the shoulder.

"Is it ok if we tag along?" Vahni asked. Kyden looked at me and I nodded.

"Sure..." Kyden drawled out. So now instead of just me and Kyden it was a party of six. Two teenagers, two adults, and two wolf dogs. We headed up to our rooms and I slipped inside to look for the drawing.

I didn't realize Are was behind me until she spoke up, "Where'd you see the drawing last?"

I jumped but turned around, "Found it! Sorry, I'm unorganized." She chuckled as we walked out into the hallway. She pulled Vahni aside so I could talk to Kyden but I knew she was watching.

"What's the thank you gift for?" Kyden asked immediately.

I tapped my chin, "Let's see... You caught my little brother when he fell off of my shoulders, became my friend, saved my life when we fell off the ship, and kinda took care of me when I was a bit sick."

"Yeah. You don't have to give me a gift though," he tried persuading.

"Too late, I already made it."

"Made it?"

I nodded then remembered he didn't know what the gift was, "Oh! Here." I handed him the drawing. He stared at it quietly. "Do you like it?"

"It's amazing! Thanks, Cassie!" He exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back and then we both pulled away. "Well, Vahni is gonna go help Iresh move the portal so Keb and I are gonna go incase they need help."

I nodded and they walked off. "So..." Are drawled out. I looked over at her waiting for her to continue. "What do you wanna do? Damia really wants us to hang out but we don't have to. You can hang out alone with your friends and I'll cover for you."

"We can hang out. That way training will be more natural tomorrow," I explained, "like two friends instead of strangers."

We both thought, "Wanna go to the game room?" I nodded, I had no clue there was a game room. Are led the way, but Katie walked by my side just incase I got lost. We walked down some stairs and into a room with tons of games. Board games, video games, foosball, and air hockey to name a few.

"Do you like air hockey?" I asked.

Are grinned, "Oh yeah. I'm the air hockey champ of The Guild."

I grinned back, "We'll see about that. Whoever scores a point gets to ask the other person a question. That we'll you'll get schooled at air hockey and we'll get to know more about each other."

"If you say so..." She replied, turning on the table and handing me hitter. We began slowly, then the game got intense. The puck was flying across the table. Suddenly Are hit it but it didn't come back. I had scored!

"Yeah!" I cheered.

"What's your question?"

"What are your hobbies?"

"Art, reading, writing, and archery." I nodded as I focused on the game. Her hobbies were similar to mine.

We played for a few more minutes. This time Are scored.

"Any siblings?"

"One little brother names Rocco."

We played like that until I was the first one to fifteen points, by a landslide. It was 15-14.

"Good game!" Are exclaimed when I scored my winning point.

"You were amazing! I never get to play air hockey anymore since we got rid of our air hockey table when Rocky was born," I replied. She nodded like she wasn't really paying attention.

Oh well.

"Do you... Do you miss your little brother?" Are asked suddenly, not looking at me.

I mulled it over, swaying my head side to side, "Rocky was annoying as heck, but he was my brother so I loved him more than anything..."

"I had a brother before I came to The Guild. He was younger by two years. He passed away a long time ago though."

I titled my head, "How long were you in the guild... How old are you?"

She turned around and gave me a sad smile and patted my on the hand, "That's a question for another day." I nodded.

"I have to go the bathroom, I'll be back." I rushed to the bathroom. I passed Kyden on the way.

"Are you gonna be sick again?" He asked, his voice practically overflowing either concern. I shook my head and instead pulled him into the bathroom with me, locking the door. "What's going on?"

I dropped to the ground and looked under the door before standing back up. "Sit." I pointed to the toilet seat and he put down the lid. Instead of sitting on the lid like a normal person he sat on the tank and put his feet on the seat.

"Now, you sit here," he motioned towards the lid. I rolled my eyes, internally this time, and sat. I heard Kyden scoot back and pat the tank, motioning that I could lean against it. I was stressed and tired.

I closed my eyes and leaned back. "What's wrong?"

I sighed, "There's something going on here. I have a bad feeling."

"About?"

"There's something we're not being told. I guess we'll figure it out eventually." I looked down at my lap and played with my hands. Kyden picked up a piece of my hair and let it fall.

He changed the subject, "For training tomorrow you should braid your hair. It'll keep the knots out."

"You sure know a lot about girls hair," I laughed.

"My sister was mostly my responsibility. I used to do her hair," he explained again.

I turned around and looked at him. His jaw was clenched, his hands in fists. I undid his fists and pulled him onto the floor so we were sitting across from each other.

"Kyden? I feel like out of the group I'm closest to you and I have no clue why," I explained. He was taking deep breaths. "Will you please tell me the deal with your parents?"

He looked at me and saw my expression. "Maybe another time." I shook my head stubbornly. "I don't wanna talk about it." I sighed again and nodded.

We sat there in silence, just thinking. "You remind me of my sister. I guess I feel close to you, therefore you feel close to me. I don't know. Just a thought," Kyden mused. I nodded. A brother-sister relationship. Perfect.

"I'm gonna go back to Are." Kyden nodded and I slipped out of the bathroom and back to the game room.

"Everything ok? I heard you were sick yesterday and want to make sure you're ok," Are asked. I nodded.

Suddenly Kyden came into the room, "Are you ok, Cassie? I heard you in he bathroom and wanted to make sure you weren't sick." I turned so Are couldn't see my face and grinned at Kyden. He had to keep a straight face but I could tell he was fighting back a laugh or other remark.

"Well, I'm gonna go to my room and draw. I'm sure you wanna catch up with Damia, right?" I asked Are. She nodded and Katie nuzzled her leg but came and followed me to my room.

I grabbed my sketchbook and started to draw the mirror. It was beautiful and very elegant. I also grabbed my pencils. My memory was a little foggy so I remembered that they moved the mirror to the throne room. Katie and I walked down there and I sat on the tile floor in front of it and started to draw.

"What are you doing?" Iresh asked. I turned and saw he was standing with Vahni.

I snorted before going back to drawing, "Building a rocket ship." They peered over my shoulder.

"You're a good artist," Vahni complimented. Iresh agreed and I said my thanks and continued to draw. Eventually they walked away.

I continued to draw until I was satisfied. The hardest part was the colors because they were changing, so I had to use my imagination a bit. When I was done I gathered up my stuff and dumped it in my room. It was almost time for dinner, dinner was a six o'clock and it was a little after five.

I knocked on Keb's door because Ana was out with Makani on a wall since they both loved nature and I had no clue where Kyden was. "Are we all eating dinner together again tonight?" I asked when he opened the door.

"I think we're all eating together. Are we, Danil?" Danil howled and we head a howl back before Danil nodded. "Apparently." I nodded and left.

When I got back to my room I flopped onto my bed. "Bored?" Are asked me. I sat up, startled.

"A little. Whenever I'm bored I draw which I've already done so yeah," I explained. Are nodded in understanding.

"Can I see some of your drawings?" I nodded and got up to get them. I grabbed the three I had here, the ones of Katie, Keb, and the mirror. Are examined them.

"These are amazing." I nodded. I didn't get why people liked my art so much so I went through my normal thank-you-routine.

"It's dinner time." Are nodded and she set down my drawings before we walked to the dining room. I sat down between Are who was next to Damia who was at the head and Kyden who was sitting next to Vahni. The others were across from us.

We started to eat our favorite burgers, including a veggie burger for Makani and Ana.

"How's it been?" Kyden asked.

I shrugged, "Showed Are some of my art. Made a new drawing. The usual." He nodded. "What about you?"

He groaned, "I've been shadowing Vahni and Iresh all day as they helped Damia."

I smirked, "Where were you when they were complimenting my art?"

"The one time I take a break was when they did something fun," he mumbled. I raised an eyebrow.

"You think complimenting my art is fun?"

He scoffed,"Your art is amazing. After dinner can I see what you've drawn so far?" I nodded. I ate my dinner in silence from there on out.

When almost all of us were finishing our dinner's Damia made an announcement, "Well, I want all f you to get lots of sleep tonight for training tomorrow. As for Vahni, Iresh, Arethusa, and Makani, I'll show you where your sleeping arrangements are. I must go to my office again."

She left and the rest of us went to finish whatever she was always doing in her office. We finished up our dinners without her, the others mumbling amongst themselves.

"Well, Cassie and I are going to go since we're done," Kyden spoke as soon as I had finished my dinner, he'd already finished.

"What are you two going to do?" Keb wondered, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, what?" Ana pipped in. I groaned in annoyance to myself about how she smirked.

Kyden laughed, "You guys can come. We're going to go see Cassie's drawings."

"Then we will." That's how the four of ended up heading to my room together. The dogs came with us, too.

Kyden ran off to get the drawing I have him. He wanted to turn it into an art show of sorts. When we got to my room I gathered up the drawings. With the flower I now had four to show off. I spread them all out on the bed.

"I still can't believe you drew me," Keb mumbled.

"What? I have problems with faces," I defended myself.

"Why don't you draw a more handsome face?" Kyden asked jokingly, motioned to his face dramatically with his hand.

Ana snorted, "Yeah, because she's so infatuated with the both of you. Girl faces are totally different from guys. If anything she should be drawing me. These are so realistic she could use the drawing of me as my headshot for dancing auditions."

"Guys! I'll have enough time to draw all of you," I said between laughs as we were all breaking down in laughter.

It felt good to just chat with them. We sat in the sitting area outside of our rooms and chatted until almost nine o'clock.

"We should go to bed. We have training tomorrow," Ana said suddenly after we had finished laughing at one of Kyden's jokes.

"Yeah. Well, goodnight everyone! See you in the morning," Keb replied before going into his room.

Ana, Kyden, and I said our goodnights and also went into our rooms.

I got into my nightclothes and climbed into bed. Katie jumped up and lay next to me like normal.

I don't remember falling asleep, but I knew I'd been asleep when something woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw a figure in my room.

I furrowed my eyebrows. What would someone be doing in my room in the middle of the night?

I studied the figure. It was a guy, that I knew. It wasn't Kyden or Keb either, I could faintly make out brown hair. He wasn't too tall and had a strong build. I also noticed he was in all black, he was dressed for breaking into my room.

I soundlessly got up and snuck behind him. I reached out and grabbed his shoulder and spun him around so I could see his face.

He had a startled expression, he obviously didn't think he'd get caught. His hair reached down just above his eyebrows in brown bangs. He had perfect features, like he belonged in The Guild. What startled me most were his eyes, they were the same sapphire color as mine.

"Crap... Uh..." He stumbled when he'd been discovered.

"Who are you?" I asked. He opened his mouth when suddenly we heard two sharp whistles. He glanced at the door before looking at me. He was gonna run.

I pushed him back and bolted for the door with him behind me. I got to the door first and turned around with my back to it.

"Move," he commanded. His voice was beautiful, but now wasn't the time to think that.

I shook my head and crossed my arms. He sighed and mumbled something, looking at the ceiling.

He looked back at me and opened his mouth, "Move or I'll make you."

I scoffed, "Really?"

He reached out to grab me but I grabbed his outstretched arm and twisted him around, pinning his arm between his shoulder blades. He groaned in pain at the position.

"Now tell me who you are?"

"My names Calder but that's all I'm telling you for now," he began before grabbing my arm that was holding him back with his free hand and pinning my arm between my shoulder blades, "because I guarantee we'll meet again." He opened the door with his free hand and sprinted out, letting me go.

I looked out the door and watched him for a moment. I turned back around and noticed Katie slept through the whole thing.

I poked her, "Katie?" She didn't respond. I looked closely and kneeled down next to my bed which is where she was laying, she was still breathing. "That son of a-" I stopped myself before I cursed. He'd probably drugged Katie.

I thought for a minute. Could Calder be apart of The Force of Evil that Damia talked about? Probably.

I stood up and walked out of my room. I went to Kyden, Damia, Ana, and Keb's rooms in that order to check on them. Their dogs were also drugged.

I walked back to my room and crawled back in bed, one final thought making my way back into my head before I fell asleep. How did neither Kyden not Damia wake up from all of the noise Calder and I caused? They were the rooms on either sides of me. I shrugged it off then fell into a restless sleep.

"Rise and shine!" A voice shouted in my ear. I reached out and pushed the voice away. "You gotta get up, Cassie," the voice said in response to my actions, even though it was muffled by my hands.

I opened one eye and saw the voice was Kyden. I took my hands off of his face and rubbed my eyes before sitting up.

"Why'd you have to wake me up at seven in the morning?" I asked while I stretched.

"Because Damia woke me up because I'm in the farthest left room and told me to wake everyone else up so I started going to the right and now I'm here, waking you up for training," he blabbered. I groaned and got out of bed.

"Then let's go get Ana," I mumbled as I trudged out of my room with Kyden.

We woke up Ana and Keb rather quickly and easily. Well, except for the part when Keb accidentally punched Kyden when we woke him up.

After that we all headed to breakfast together. With the dogs, who had thankfully woken up.

Damia was at the table first, and not long after we sat down. We all began eating and chatting. Today our breakfast consisted of different assortments of pancakes, fruits, sausage, eggs, and bacon, all varying on the person.

"Hey, Are?" I asked timidly. She looked at me and nodded for me to continue, "What will we be doing at training today?"

She thought as she chewed on a piece of bacon, "The basics. We'll start with a warm up and then I'll teach you how to at least move the water a little, the foundation for other things." I nodded and continued to eat my breakfast.

This time I did talk to people and got to know Vahni, Iresh, and Makani better too.

Nobody brought up the dogs being drugged or the break in, and I certainly didn't mention Calder. I seemed to be the only one who knew.

After breakfast we headed to our rooms to get ready. I brushed my teeth and took care of hygiene in the bathroom before putting on a pair of athletic clothes, much like the ones I wore in gym class, and put my hair in a pony tail.

Before I met up with the others for the walk to the training area Are told me about I glanced in the mirror. My athletic wear was actually pink and grey, a switch up from my normal blue based wardrobe, and I liked it.

"I'm guessing the dogs are leading the way?" Was the first thing I heard when I walked into the sitting room to meet up with the others. Kyden's he Keb were here but Ana wasn't ready, probably because she was he last to get to use he bathroom.

I joined he conversation, "Yeah." I looked and noticed the guys were earring gym clothes too, basketball shorts and stuff.

"Ok! Who's ready to go?" Ana asked when she jumped out of her room, "Apparently everyone."

Kyden looked at the dogs who had been laying by the steps, "Lead the way!" They trotted off and we followed.

It took us a good fifteen minutes of walking to get to where training was taking place. It was on the other side of the island so I guess it made sense that I would take that long, but I was still surprised.

The training area was just like Are described it. It was an opened area that had solid ground for Keb to practice with and a giant fire pit on one of the sides, and it was on the coast of the island.

Damia was sitting on this platform-like thing on the right of us, and Are and her gang were standing in the middle of the giant circle training space.

"Alright everybody, to warm up I'd like you all to jog four laps around this place, which is a mile," Iresh announced.

"Around the whole island?" Keb asked.

"No, around the training area," Vahnia answered.

As we began to jog I realized this was it, the real beginning of us being in The Guild of Five. This was us developing our powers, our purposes.

I chuckled to myself as I also realized that if I ran into Calder in my room again that he'd get a taste of my "purpose". This would be kind of... Fun.