Earth(103)

The tornados are coming this way.

"Kaitlyn!"

I shook my head. This had to be a nightmare; they were calling my name.

"Kaitlyn!" Natasha shouted, pulling me out of my shock. On horseback, she and several others gathered in front of me, partially blocking my view of the tornadoes. "We'll get this, then I'll head to the Chakra Center downtown – you go get Micah!"

I shook my head. "No – I can't ask you…" I trailed off, my eye drawn to the fiery wind inching closer to us.

"Go!" Natasha shouted over the roar. "I'm telling you." She urged her horse forward, and slapped at the behind of my own ride. "Ya!"

My horse bucked, then shot off in the other direction. I looked back in time to see Natasha turn. As she stared at the fire tornadoes, the scarred side of her face was to me. She kicked her legs, and her horse lurched, straight for the flame. Straight for the same element that had marred her for life.

I angled my horse for Shawn. It was snowing harder, now. Fat, wet flakes brushed my cheeks as we flew down the road. The horse stretched his neck out, knees bent, low to the ground. He opened up his stride. I squeezed the reins, standing in my stirrups. The wind grew loud in my ears.

I scanned the horizon, spotting Elementals dotting the road. As we blew past them, they looked confused. I saw recognition in their eyes. They'd seen me around camp and let me go as one of their own. They turned toward the fire tornados, wondering who the enemy was. I raised rock along the way. Short but thick walls, near each Elemental, facing the way I was headed.

The inside of my legs squeezed against the saddle, and below that the horses mid-section. My hips, slightly raised, rocked with the rhythm of powerful stallion’s muscles. My heels pushed down, stretching out each calf. We both panted. My heart raced, beating in time to the pounding of hooves against asphalt.

Rumbling drew our attention to the mountains. One of the larger snow, covered peaks was shedding its white cloak. The avalanche was at a distance; no threat to us, but I knew all too well what it was like to be caught up in that beast.

Who is up there? Micah's people?

Shawn and Micah had their battle plans all along. Elementals were staged up and down the plains, and into the mountains. And I hadn't been privy to any of that information.

Why not?

Because I had never truly belonged to either army.

I leaned into the horse, next to his ear. "It's just you and me, pal."

He slowed, eyeing the mountains in the distance.

"Come on, now….what can I call you?" I kept talking, doing my best to distract him. "How about 'Rock'?" I rubbed his mane. "That's it. Get on, Rock – ya!"

He picked up speed, and I crouched down for fear of being blown off. The next Elemental we passed had his ear to a handheld radio. I snatched it as we flew past, making sure to leave a rock wall for him, too.

Shawn's voice blasted over the airwaves, "No one passes! Everybody is in place – anyone moving forward is to be considered a threat."

Shit.

The group coming up all had radios, too. They saw me, and struggled to call their elements. We passed before the first managed it. I wouldn't be so lucky with the next group. I merged onto an interstate, honing in on Shawn's signal and following it. It was getting stronger with every stride covered, like a game of hot, hot, cold.

The next group was ready for me. They stood as a wall across the road. A combination of Airs and Waters. Above us, the atmosphere swirled, and behind us heat from the fire tornados licked at our back.

The wind picked up, swirling the snow. Infused with more moisture, the snow hit me from every angle. Icy cold pelted the back of my neck, and sloshed across my face. Thunder rolled overhead. Rock whinnied, coming to a stop.

"Just a little thunder snow; can't hurt Rock," I coaxed the horse. I tried to exude enough confidence for the both of us. A draft moved upward, pulling the cold air to a higher altitude. More thunder.

"Take a break for a minute," I said, climbing off of him. I looked into the faces of the Elementals as I approached them. I stopped at one face I knew well.

Erika stepped forward. "Lucy – what are you doing?"





Chapter 65





Water





"Are you the one he wants us to stop?" Erika asked.

Can I lie my way past this one? I was sick of lies.

"Yes," I said.

"What is this – some sort of lover's quarrel?" She crossed her arms. "I helped you."

I blinked, Erika's face was changing – growing thinner and darker. Her hair grew out into long, black braids. Then it was Ahi standing there, glaring at me. "I helped you."

I was speechless; a lump formed in my throat. Her height dropped a full foot, and her sides expanded. Now it was Zola, holding her jar of dirt and mumbling, "I helped you."