The Elementals

~*~ Chapter Twelve ~*~

~*~ Chapter Twelve ~*~

     Instead of going home, I slept in the woods after I left the cave the night before. I didn't want to deal with the "where were yous" or the "what were you thinkings" before I had to. Once I was awake this morning, I noticed it was past noon becuase the sun was more than halfway across the sky.

     "Crap." I said to myself, already feeling leaves growing from my arms.

     I shifted into my Earth Elemental form and ran home as fast as I could.

     Before I even came within a mile of the Compound (that's what we called our Elemental neighboorhood), I could smell comotion. I was too late.

     Would you like to explain where you've been? Amber's voice raced through my mind.

     Long story, I thought back, where are Aqua and Gale?

     Don't know, every Elemental in the pack is out on a search party.

     Why are you still there, then? I asked.

     My brother told me to "hold down the fort", and I'm lazy.

     Tell Aqua and Gale to meet me in my room in 15 minutes. Don't be late, I thought and began to head for my house.

     Okay, Amber thought.

     "Wow, Lily, I didn't know you had it in you!" Gale scoffed.

     "Had what in me?" I asked, confused.

     "I didn't know you could screw up so badly!" he answered, still laughing.

     "Shut up, Gale!" I said, trying to hide my giggle.

     "So tell me what happened this morning." I said.

     "Well, your dad came banging on every door in the Compound at about six thirty." said Aqua.

     "Yeah, then when he figured out you were missing he freaked out." said Gale.

     "He sent all of us out in search parties. I was shocked when they didn't pick up the scent of Cooper." 

     "Really? I hadn't even thought about that." I said honestly.

     As I was thinking about it, I heard a knock at my door.

     "Lilian Terra!" my father bellowed.

     "Yes, Daddy?" I said in my sweetest girl voice.

     He burst through the door, "Cut the act, Lilian! Where have you been?"

     "One: It's Lily. Two: I was catrolling solo." I said.

     "You have to tell me, Lil!" he yelled, and in came my mother.

     "Lilian! You will speak to your father with respect." she screached.

     "It's okay, hun. She was patrolling." my dad said. He must have taken stress reliviers or something because he was acting abnormally calm.

     "Just... At least tell one of your brothers next time, okay?" my mom said, defeated.

     "Let's go." said my dad, walking out of the room with my mother following at his heels.

     Not seconds after they had left, Amber opened my curtains.

     "Amber, what are you -" But I never got a chance to finish because Cooper was coming in through the window.