Into the Light

Chapter I

Hello, readers! I have had this idea floating around in my brain for a while, and I decided to (finally) write it down. I hope you enjoy. Lodestar spoilers.

So, without further ado...

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Sophie twisted her long bead necklace between her gloved fingers and sighed. Exillium "activities" were never fun, but appetite suppression was downright awful. Sophie had been doing it for three years now, and it was still a struggle to keep her stomach from growling. 

Their location today wasn't helping either. The heat was oppressive and the humidity was suffocating. Sophie had never hated the stuffy uniforms more than she did now. Next to her, Linh shifted on the threadbare mat, no doubt trying to get comfortable. They had been sitting still for hours in this miserable tent.

At long last, the gong sounded, and the waywards all shuffled to the pavilion to receive their beads. Sophie was joined by Tam and Linh as they filed into a line behind their coach. All three were in Ambi, meaning they were behind the purple coach, whom Tam had dubbed "the grape."

"Ugh, I am so hungry I could eat a whole dinosaur." Linh complained in a whisper.

Sophie laughed, drawing looks from the other waywards. She ducked her head and stared at her feet. Attention was not good here. Neither was laughter.

Aren't elves vegetarians? she transmitted back.

"At this point, I no longer care." Linh whispered.

Once they were inside the golden pavilion the coaches floated the beads overhead. Sophie took hers and tied it onto her necklace with the others. She pulled out her leaping crystal and turned to Tam and Linh.

Ready? she transmitted.

Tam and Linh nodded. The three joined hands and Sophie held the leaping crystal up to the light.

Once the right faded, they appeared in the beautiful cavern of Alluveterre. Linh and Sophe shared one tree house, and Tam had the other all to himself. 

Sophie dropped the crystal back around her neck where it clattered against her allergy medicine and small swan shaped magnifying glass. She had received it when she had joined the Black Swan, and with it almost burned Exillium down on her first day. That was an... interesting day, to say the least.

She yanked off her hood and mask, letting the fresh air cool her face. Tam and Linh did the same. Having time to spare before afternoon training, they all wandered up to Linh's room.

"Ugh, what a day." Tam moaned, flopping into the bed.

"No kidding, I can't wait for dinner." said Linh, running her fingers through her long, silver tipped hair.

"Me too. I wonder what we're having." Sophie mused.

"Calla is making Starkflower stew." said Mr. Forkle walking into the room. "I came to tell you that something... came up, so you are off the hook for training this afternoon."

Sophie sighed in relief. She had linguistics this afternoon, and she was still terrible at mimicking.

"What happened?" Sophie asked.

"Not your problem." Mr. Forkle said, giving Sophie the 'don't even think about investigating' look. She knew that look well.

"Yes sir." said Sophie, giving him a mock salute.

Mr. Forkle sighed and walked away, mumbling something about 'you kids.'

"No training. That means we have free time. What do you want to do?" asked Tam.

"Eat. " said Linh.

"Eat." agreed Sophie.

Tam sighed and rolled his eyes.

"We can't eat yet."

"I still want tooooo." Sophie whined.

"What are you, twelve?" Tam asked.

"On a scale of one to ten." she shot back.

Tam sighed again. Linh giggled.

"I wonder what 'came up'." Sophie said, sitting on the bed next to Tam.

"We shouldn't investigate. You saw the look Forkle gave us." Tam said.

"Aw, come on, we deserve to know. We're members of the Black Swan too." Linh added.

"Yeah, but this is not our problem." Tam insisted.

"But-" Linh started. She was, however, cut off by Calla calling them for dinner.

The three raced into the dining area, knocking down anything and everything in their path in a mad rush. They reached the dining area, tripping over each other in order to get some food. Calla looked at them and raised an eyebrow.

"Appetite suppression?" she asked with a knowing smile.

The three nodded. Calla smiled and have them each heaping portions of Starkflower stew. They took it thankfully and all went back for seconds.

"So, how was school today?" Calla asked when they had all finished. Calla was like the mother that none of them had.

"It was okay, I guess. In the morning we practiced body temperature regulation, 'cause it was so hot." Sophie said.

"Then appetite suppression." Linh added.

Calla smiled.

"Sounds like an exhausting day. Tomorrow will be equally taxing, so I suggest you three her ready for bed." She said gently.

Linh yawned. (Lol, I yawned typing that)

"Good idea. See you guys in the morning." Tam said, walking up to his room.

"Goodnight, Sophie." said Linh, following Tam up the stairs.

"Yeah, goodnight. I'm not tired yet, see you guys in the morning." Sophie responded.

Sophie stayed with Calla, helping her with the dishes. They chatted about random things, until two gnomes ran up to Calla and asked her to help with a beached eckodon. Calla looked at Sophie apologetically.

"It's okay. Go help! I'll finish up here." Sophie said, shuddering at the thought of an angry eckodon.

"Thank you, moonlark." Calla said with a green smile, before running off with the other gnomes.

Sophie worked quickly, washing and putting away the dishes. Once the table was wiped down she deemed her work complete and walked towards the stairs. Halfway there, she heard Mr. Forkle talking to Granite. It was wrong to eavesdrop, sure, but if she accidentally heard it...

She hid beneath the winding spiral staircase.

"What if they find out?" Granite asked.

"They're going to at some point. Why delay the inevitable? Besides, we're going to have to bring them here, anyways." came Mr. Forkle's gruff reply.

"We're bringing them here? They're sure to see her!"

"If they were desperate enough to get into this situation, they're ready to join. And... I think it's time."

"Time?"

"Time for the Moonlark to be seen."

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What did you think?

I'm working on the next chapter, it should be done soon.

XOXO❤❤

--Leaveth