I walked silently on the dirt path through the forest. The First Mage had decided that I should do this alone. The town approached.

I heard a rustle in the bushes. I saw a splash of neon green flash through the tree in front.

"Skylar, I know you're there. Might as well jump out right now." I shouted out.

A rustle.

"Fine," She sighed like a four year old. High pitched voice and everything.

I saw neon green striped hair, just inches from me, as Skylar's foot made contact with my face. Stunned, I fell to the ground. That left a mark.

"Next time, remember who's the boss!" She laughed. "Ouch. But you know what, I'm mad at you. Where were you?! " She said, her smile turned to a frown.

"Skylar. Now is not the time. I have had a HORRIBLE day. I'm done speaking to you right now. I'll tell you with everyone else. " I said quietly.

-I thought we were closer than that.

- Well I guess we're not!

-Fine!

-Fine!

Skylar stared at me. "I'm going to your parents' house."

She turned on her heel abruptly and walked away quickly.

I didn't have the heart to stop her.

---------------------------------------------

As I walked through the place where I'd lived my entire life, I realized the people there had changed. It had only been a week since I'd been gone, yet it felt like I returned after years.

Barlow, the candy stall owner who'd been giving me and my brother samples of his latest creations since we were toddlers wasn't at his stall in the plaza.

The stall itself was deserted. The wooden sign that had been painted in neon colours was cracking, a large panel of wood nailed roughly across it with the word CLOSED scratched on. The bins that usually started fights between children and adults alike were broken and empty.

All the others in the market were the same. With an increasing feeling of dread, I crawled into the shortcut I'd made to my house.

I made it so that I could sneak out without being caught. There was an underground hollow under my room,and I'd always go down there to create stuff. I'd make little gadgets, like a slingshot that had a light scope to increase accuracy.

No one ever bothered me, probably because they were a little afraid of accidentally starting a gadget and setting fire to our house.

What they didn't know was I'd built a tunnel encased with a special ore so that it'd keep the dirt out. The tunnel was built so that only I could use it.

I'd made it to the end of my tunnel. Hoping for the best, and expecting the worst I climbed out of my lair and into my room. The bed was still crumpled from the morning of the Finding.

I suddenly felt exhausted. Without any real warning I fell on the floor and everything started fading.