no chance of getting your sister back.”
Defeated, I flopped to the ground and blinked back my brimming tears. The
soft sounds of the forest played all around me. Every emotion I had rushed through me to break open the dam holding back my tears.
Kai sat down in front of me, quietly watching me.
“I know I need to control my emotions, but I don't know how to,” I admitted.
Unchecked tears continued to flow down my cheeks.
The handsome elemental stood up and held his hand out to me.
In response, I moved backward, not wanting to throw myself into his arms.
“Mara, I promise I will not kiss you again unless you ask me to.” Kai offered
his hand out to me again. “Friends?”
The serious look on his face convinced me to believe him. As I touched his
hand, I felt a warmth flow through me, but this time, it felt affectionate, not romantic.
“Friends.” I released his hand. “Now, will you help me. I need to save my sister.”
“Trust me, and I will help you use your emotions so they will not harm you,”
he promised.
Accepting the fact that I had to trust someone, I allowed Kai to lead me back
through the forest. When we reached the tree where I had begun my tour of the
elemental's home, excitement filled me. Kai was going to help me.
Instead of returning to the elementals, Kai led me deeper into the forest. We walked until we reached a trail lined with unique birch. Each tree had a slender
white trunk covered with a thick, peeling bark that exposed its green inner bark.
Crowing the trees were long branches covered with hundreds and hundreds of
small, salmon-colored leaves. Even more, shed foliage canvased the path we
were on.
Feeling calm, I followed without speaking. I began wondering how I was
going to learn to control my anger and fear in such a peaceful place. Feeling frustrated with myself, I sighed.
As if reacting to my unspoken thoughts, the branches of the trees leaned in
and blocked the path.
I whipped around to escape and found that we were surrounded. My heart
began to beat fast. “Is being trapped part of the plan?” I asked with a bit more
anger in my voice than I had intended.
Kai just looked at me with an emotionless face. His nonresponse infuriated
me.
“You are not helping me at all,” I said.
Slap. One of the tree branches struck me. The smart sting of the deep red mark angered me even more.
“Stop!” I slapped at the branch.
Instead of retreating, the tree became more aggressive and began to whip my
legs. The sharp slaps continued as I fought back. I looked at Kai and saw how
calm he was.
You’re feeding the anger, I realized. So, instead of fighting, I accepted the pain and focused on breathing. As my frustration began to subside, the attacks lessened. When I was completely devoid of negative emotion, the trees rose and
opened the path again.
