I saw him weaving through the streets, a couple young people in tow. There may have been more people with him, but I couldn't be sure with this crowd.
His name was Ramere, and I had been watching him for some time now. So badly I wanted him to notice me, but never did I have the nerve to actually speak to him. Perhaps today would be different.....but I didn't count on it.
Someone was watching me. I could feel it. As we weaved our way through the crowded streets of Verlmil i could not help but glance around more than once. But each time i saw no one who seemed to be looking my way.
It's no one, i kept telling myself. But as soon as i thought those words, i felt it again. Gritting my teeth, i stopped and turned, looking around the crowd intently, my eyes narrowed.
"Getting paranoid?" Caspan asked as he walked past me. I glared at him before resuming my search.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
Ramere was becoming worried, I could see it. He was looking for someone he could not see. I made sure to stay out of sight. When he was looking toward the ground, I was above him on the roof tops. if he looked up, I was in the crowded streets.
I cursed my worries, and considered staying in plain sight. Alas, my mind was too paranoid for that.
Finally, deciding that it was just my imagination, i turned and ran after the others. I found them in the forest, debating on who was going to be 'it'.
"I vote Caspan!" i said, casting him a smug glance. He stuck his tongue out.
"Very mature." i commented.
"Caspan is it!" Carlie yelled. "Caspan you gotta count to fifty!"
He crossed his arms. "Fine."
"No peeking!" Carlie told him sternly before running off into the thick forest.
"Yeah, Caspan, no peeking." i said, chuckling before snapping my fingers and disappearing just in time to see Christian running off too. I reappeared deeper in the forest, perched high up in the tree-tops. I whispered a small string of words and my clothes began to change color into a dull green - to match the leaves. I smiled mischievously and waited.
Caspan-
I snorted. "Cheater."
I turned the other way and began counting.
"One, two, three, four, five..."
**Billy, feel free to stumble upon Caspan**
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
I chuckled, watching them run around to hide. Ramere climbed a tree, hiding among the leafy branches.
This was my moment.
He was alone.
I could finally meet him.
Well...meet him wasn't quite right. He knew me, just not very well. I didn't even know if he knew anything more than my name...and maybe not even that.
Slowly, I edged my way down, landing silently behind him. Caspan finished counting just as I tapped Ramere lightly on the shoulder.
I grinned at him, chuckling slightly. This was a rare thing for me, any form of laughing.
"I suppose not. I'm Arabella," I said kindly, sitting down quietly. "You're Ramere, right?"
Carefully, I moved my cape so it wasn't floating through the air too much, or creating a way to help them see us. I would hate to have Ramere lose this game because of me.
I blinked again, lowering one eyebrow and raising the other.
"Yes...I'm Ramere," i said quietly, seeing Caspan in the distance. "Why?"
She shrugged, following my gaze to Caspan who had stopped counting and was now turning slowly, trying to figure out where everyone was. I glanced back at her, and, seeing her dark clothing, hissed in displeasure.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you trust me?" i asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Good," i said and muttered the same words i had said only moments before, touching a strip of her clothing. It turned the same shade of green as my own clothing.
"I'll change it back later. I hope you don't mind."
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
She looked around the base of the tree as a young boy ran past her. He couldn't see her of course, she was invisible. That was a small part of her magic that she could actually control. A small group of people were playing hide and go seek to the amusment of a seven year old. Corrie was having a hard time suppressing her laughter, even though she was invisible people could still hear her.
"Carlie, where are you?" The young boy called playfully for the young girl. She slid down and sat at the base of the tree letting her concentration fade. A few moments later she was no longer invisible. The boy didn't see her though, she didn't mind. She played with her hair and watched him look around for the others.
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
I studied the girl closely. I could definitely see traces of fairy in her, but there was something else, too. After a moment i gave up trying to figure out what it was.
My eyes went back to Caspan, who was now almost directly under us. I crouched low on the branch, watching him with a smile. Then, something else caught my eye. I shifted my head to get a better look.
A girl sat at the foot of a tree, her blue eyes watching Caspan. I did not recognize her.
I shifted again to allow myself a better vantage point in case my magic was needed. A loose leaf fell from the tree, landing in Caspan's hair. His eyes shot up, catching sight of me.
"Aha!" he called. "Look at that! You even changed your clothing color! Cheater!"
I jumped from the branch, flipped once, and said a single word. I hit the ground lightly, despite the fact that the branch i had been perched on was around thirty feet in the air. The girl, Arabella, followed me down.
I glanced at the girl by the tree, who was regarding us curiously now. Caspan and Arabella followed my gaze.
"Who are you?" Caspan demanded, stepping forward. I took a step also, recalling the words to a spell to mind.
Be the cartoon heart. Light a fire, light a spark. Light a fire, flame in my heart. We'll run wild, we'll be glowing in the dark.
The searching boy spotted one of the hiders in a tree and commented on his cheating. The searchee jumped from the rather high branch and landed in front of the searcher, followed by a very pretty girl.
"Who are you?" The searcher demanded taking a step towards me followed by the searchees.
"No one of importance." I said not bothering to stand. I had no intentions of starting a brawl that I knew I could not win. Just seeing these boys reminded me of my brothers, when things used to be good. The searchee cocked his head to the side, "Well how about just your name?"
"Coraline, Corrie for short. And you three are...?"
"I'm Caspan," the searcher said then pointed at the other two, "this is Ramere and that's Bella." I smiled at them both.
All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, and I promise you something great will come of it.
