Chapter Three: Going, Going, Gone

I walked back to Jamanakai Village, it not being that far from where I was. I looked down at my clothes, they were dirty as hell. My pants were ruined, but it didn't really matter to me. And my sweatshirt, it was dirty and a little ruined as well. Now that's what I was worried about. It was my favorite one, the only pull over sweatshirt that I had, and for some reason I could never find a new one. I didn't care if I needed to, I refused to get rid of it.

I sighed and my mind shifted back to what had happened only moments prior. I was still surprised that he had asked me that. I was still debating if I'd end up going or not. He did bring up a good point, I'll give him that. It was true, elemental abilities aren't something that should be just thrown aside. All My life, I've wanted to be able to help people, and I had something that would help me do that. It didn't help that I hid my powers and ceased to use them.

I folded my hands behind my head as I walked, with a sigh. I had a lot to think about, with this situation. I really didn't see that harm in it. I mean, how could something bad happen because of it? The more I thought about it, I felt like I'd end up going. Maybe it would be good? It seemed as like he was saying that he just wanted me to talk to them, that was all. But about what? That was the question that raced through my mind the most.

Jamanakai Village finally came into sight, and I was relieved. I really wanted to get home so I could get cleaned up and everything. Also, I wanted to talk to Amanda about what just happened. The snake. Cole, who was an elemental as well. Me being invited to talk to him and his team. What would she think of all of this? Even I thought that it was little a little crazy, and I'm the one who's dealt with things like that... to an extent.

She was never a fighter, unlike me, who was. When I was out training with my dad, she was inside doing other things. Maybe she was jealous that I was the one with the elemental abilities and she wasn't? I highly doubted it, because she would have told me about it. She just didn't like those things, I guess. Yeah, knowing her, that was the most logical reason behind it.

I didn't exactly know how I would tell her about what happened. I mean, how do you just bring it into conversation? Um, okay, so I might have chased down these guys, who turned out to be snakes , and ran into another elemental. And he asked me if I wanted to meet some other ones... Yeah, that would never be something easy to bring into a conversation. I needed to be serious about it, like, really serious about it.

I really wanted to make it so she wouldn't get worried about me, and tell me not to go. She's always worried about me, and knowing her, she was bound to tell me to stay, to forget about his offer. But how could I just do this? It caught my attention that the elemental invited me to mean other elementals. I never came around to go looking for any of them, and this was my chance to meet some other ones.

As I started to think about it, I kind of wanted to go and meet them. Lately, I've been thinking about going back and helping people. Maybe this was my chance? I couldn't pass this up, I just couldn't. I'd probably need to have a long talk with my sister, but I bet that I'd be able to convince her that it was a good idea.

I finally got back to my house, which was a relief. Walking in, my sister was no where in sight. It was only around twelve, so I still had about an hour. She wasn't there then, which made me presume that she didn't get to come back early. Thank god for that! I made my way up for my room, but was startled by "Hey Cass, you're back," It was her, from her room. Crap! Of course I thought that she wasn't, when she really was. I tried getting to my room before she came out of her own " I'm surprised it took you this long," She froze when she saw me.

Yeah, today I was NOT having much luck. "Um," I didn't exactly know what to say.

"What happened to you?!" She questioned, concern evident in her voice. She walked over to me, and looked at what had happened to me. Yeah, this was going to be a hard thing to explain to her.

"I can explain," I insisted. "Someone got attack in town, so I went after them. I ended up fighting them, and things got a little rough, it's no biggy," It really wasn't, it's not like it was something I couldn't handle or anything. I didn't actually get hurt, just a little dirty, so it wasn't that bad.

"No biggy? , look at you! You look like crap right now!" Geez, thanks for pointing out the obvious, Captain Obvious. I knew that she was worried about me and all, but she was already making it a big deal. "Go get cleaned up, and then we need to talk about it."

"We don't need to talk about it."

"Yes, we do," She looked me in the eyes, expecting me to do that.

"Ugh, fine, I'll be out in a few," I went into my room, and sighed. I only had a few minutes to think about what I was going to say. I needed to convince her that it would be fine, that was the hard part. I didn't rush to get a new pair of pants on, and take off my sweatshirt off to leave me with a purple tank top on. I jogged back downstairs, where Amanda had gone.

She turned to me, saying "Okay, now, we talk."

At sat on the couch, across from her on the matching red armchair. "Okay," I started, gulping. "Let's just say that I got into a fight with, some, um, snakes. Then this guy came and helped me."

She raised an eyebrow "Seriously, snakes?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I know, that they haven't been around for a while, but I'm taking it that they're back." Saying it out loud made it sound crazy. They'd been gone for a while, and they just popped up all of a sudden? I find it really weird, on so many levels.

"And this guy?"

"You probably won't believe me, but, he was an elemental. He kind of saved me and everything from being attacked by one of them."

"You mean, like mom?" she wondered, me nodding in confirmation. She sat back in her chair and put her hand on her forehead "This is all crazy, I swear. So this guy helped you fight against them? What element?" She seemed like she was getting interested in what I had to say. If I were her, I'd be interested in it as well.

"Earth. And that's not all."

"What else could there be?"

I scratched the back of my neck. This was the moment I needed to man up and just tell her, it wasn't that hard. "He told me he knows some other elementals. And, uh, he kind of wants me to meet them. I'm kind of thinking of accepting his offer." I was really curious to see her reaction. What would she end up saying about it? Would she agree with it or now? Finally, I was about to find out.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. So you'd just go there, and talk to them?"

"I know that's crazy too, but I think it'd be good for me. You know how I've been talking about wanting to go and help people again? This is my chance, Amanda. Now that I know there's other elementals, it's even better. I mean, if I ever need help, and I get along with these guys, I might even have some allies."

She looked at me, speechless for a second. I waited anxiously for a response... What was she going to say? She sighed. "I just don't want you to get hurt. You're my baby sister, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Hey, I'd be fine. I'm a pretty good fighter, I can handle myself. You don't always need to worry about me, I mean, I'm twenty-two."

"I know. Just, be careful." I really loved how much she cared about it, but she cared too much at times, as it, all the time.

"Amanda, I will. Nothing bad will happen, so I don't see why you think that. I'm just going to talk to them. I know I can trust them, they're elementals, the good ones. I'm going soon, I just want to let you know," I felt really bad that I was going, because I'd only worry her. But this was important, I wanted to go, and felt obligated to do so.

"Okay," she nodded "I want you to go now." Did she really approve of me going? Even if she didn't, I'd end up going anyways. I didn't just want to, I felt like I had to. I couldn't explain it, it was just a gut feeling, I guess. It was as if something was pulling me to go, I couldn't just ignore the feeling.

"I was going to wait till later, though, we were supposed to do something," I tried, but was cut off by her.

"Hey, I can see that this is important to you, and I don't want to stop you from going. There's always another time, we can make a rain check. Okay?" I really appreciated that she was willing to do that, just to let me leave that day. "Please, go."

I nodded "Okay, I will. I appreciate you letting me go now. I really want to see what they'd say. That tournament thing happened a little while ago, where they saw all of the other elementals, beside me. So I bet that they'd be surprised when they see me or something like that," Tournament of Elements, I was invited to participate in it like the others were, I just didn't go. Why? I didn't have a reason to. I was already laying low, and I didn't have a reason to go. On the invitation, it said that they had my dad, but he's dead. I found it as some kind of sick joke, so I refused to go. Who does that? Claim that they have someones dead father? Yeah, no thank you.

"Same, I bet they are, too. So, I'll let you get ready, you should go soon."

I nodded, getting up "I was going to do that soon as I could anyways," I stretched a little, looking back at my sister. I wanted to leave right then, and I had nothing to bring. It's not like I was staying or anything, it was just going to be a talk, that's all. I started for the door and waved back at her. "See you later.

"Yeah, see you later, too," she waved back at me as I was leaving out the door. I hoped that things would go well when I got to that place that Cole was walking about. Why wouldn't they? They were the good guys, and I was in their side, there was no reason for us to fight. All I could do was get there, and see how things played out. This would be an interesting night for sure.