Ezi and I sit at the edge of the lake, sand between our toes. I wanted to go back to the Spirit Valley, but Ezi insisted we wait for the human to wake then take her with us.

I would've gone through myself, but who knows what could attack Ezi while he's distracted? I glance over at him. The human is laying in the sand, Ezi beside her. He stares at her, unblinking. He occasionally reaches out a hand to place it on her body. Her stomach. Her leg. Her arm. Her hair. I would stop him if I felt any of the touches were inappropriate, but he simply seems curious. I sort of want to feel her, too, just to touch something alive. But I refrain.

After a few minutes have passed, I speak up. "Just how damn long does she plan on sleeping?

Ezi murmurs in response. "I'm not sure. Do you think Amanda will ever wake? Is she dead?"

"No, no. She's still breathing, see? Her chest is moving." My voice softens.

"Yeah. It keeps getting bigger and smaller."

"It sure does. Hey, why don't you try putting your hand by her nose?"

Ezi stares at me for a moment before doing what I suggest. His form stiffens in surprise. "She's like a Wind Spirit! All humans do this?"

I chuckle at him. So innocent. So naive. "All living things do it, one way or another. It keeps them alive, since they need air to keep moving through them. Even things like fish need air."

"Right, that's sort of familiar," he says, eyebrows knitting together. "It was hard some days. More so than others."

I nod slowly. Whatever happened to Ezi to make him how he is today... I can't even imagine. I perk up when the human stirs, standing so that I can more easily look down on her. Ezi gives me a look that I don't acknowledge.

The human's green eyes turn to Ezi the instant they open. She's confused for a moment before calming back down. "Ezi? What happened?"

He chuckles softly, smiling at her. "You passed out. Gave me a good scare," he says despite looking the same as ever.

The human seems to take him in again, really give him a good look this time. The wild hair, the sad eyes that never remain still, the slim, delicate figure. The sheer whiteness of him.

The human turns a little red and murmurs, "Are you a boy or a girl? I - uh - can't tell."

I crack up while Ezi tilts his head to the side, considering before replying. "Huh. I've never thought about that before. I guess... boy?. I don't really understand the difference..."

"We don't exactly have biological sexes like you do, kid. We just kind of look like it because..." I trail off as the human tenses at the sound of my voice. Guess she forgot about me. Whatever.

Growing bored, I start walking towards the water to make a portal. There's plenty of natural energy to do so in a place like this, mostly untouched by people. Well, the type of people who ravage and destroy, anyway. It'll be much easier to create a portal here as opposed to where we found the girl, which was too close to a city. I sense her eyes on me, so I turn to face her.

The moment our eyes meet, she flinches away and moves back slightly. Ezi watches her curiously. "Oh, I guess she is scared of you after all, Cyn."

I roll my eye. "That should've been obvious. I'm going on ahead, I'll see you later." I wave goodbye as I walk towards the water, creating a portal back home in front of me as I do. I can feel the human's shock and confusion. Another pang of sympathy. This can't be easy for her. It's such a massive departure from what her daily life must be like.

But she's still human. I can't afford to pity her too much.

I cover the left side of my face with a hand. I know the scar where my eye used to be is hidden by my hair, but even so.

I let myself get distracted as I walk through the portal, and instead of making a clear image of the shore in our realm, I accidentally think about the water itself. And, naturally, I fall right into it on the other side. Thankfully, I at least ended up close to the shore, but I still find myself about ten meters underwater, sitting on the sand.

Unlike the water of the mortal realm, this sea is as lifeless as anything else here. No fish swimming around, no algae, and hardly any plants. And those plants are as much of a decoration as the trees and grass on the surface are. Nothing here is real.

I get up and start walking along the bottom of the sea, unbothered by the lack of air. I take a moment to wonder if the human will even be able to survive our realm. Is there oxygen here? There are no living plants to produce it. That would certainly be something, wouldn't it? Going to a new place filled with Spirits, only to suffocate upon entering it.

A few Water Spirits swim around me, though not many like being this close to the shore. I do come across the higher Water Spirit, who seems to be chatting with some others. Those luminous blue eyes stand out easily in the water. I notice that the Spirit has a figure like mine at the moment.

"Angela today?" I ask, to which she snorts. With her dark skin and hair, she looks like silt among the current. Other than those bright eyes and matching robes. If the human got confused over Ezi's gender, just wait until she meets this one.

"I thought you left with the Light. Where is he?" she asks coldly. Out of everyone here, Ang has always seemed especially disdainful towards Ezi and I.

I just shrug, not wanting to deal with her.

"Shadow! Where is the Light?" I turn back to glare, letting my aura seep out more fully as my tail lashes, stirring up the sand around me. I watch in satisfaction as she backs up, her fin-shaped ears flicking backwards, and the other Water Spirits go still.

"Ezi is bringing a friend home. Let them pass without question or you'll have to deal with me. Understand?" Without waiting for a reply, I keep walking until my head breaks the surface. Damn idiot, who does she think she is? I let myself growl, heading for the forest.

I warned the Waters that Ezi and the human are coming. That should be enough, right? Oh, who cares? It's not like I promised to tell everyone that human is coming, anyway. Just thought I would make it a little easier on Ezi, but...

I start running, not wanting to be asked anymore questions. A few others mill about, but I pay them no attention. Except for-

Her.

Kamiko's red eyes turn towards me, framed by long lashes and blonde bangs. I can sense her wanting to approach me, and I slow down. Just a fraction, completely unintentionally. Kami floats a little closer and I return to full speed.

Her disappointment cuts like a blade, but I can't stand to be around anyone right now.

I find myself outside my cave, in that little clearing I adore. It's mostly covered, but light filters through the canopy making small patterns on the ground of different shades of green that move with the gentle breeze. The breeze in this realm is constant and ever-changing, created by the movements of the Wind Spirits above. There are even some flowers around the perimeter of the clearing, their scent sweet. A beautiful, serene place that always brings me calm.

Even if there is still light here, it's worth the tranquility. Besides, that just means Ezi can be here with me more easily. In fact, he usually sleeps here, as evidenced by the Ezi-shaped imprint on the flowers at the edge of the place.

Unfortunately, today I can't relax. Even here. There happens to be a large boulder at one edge of the clearing, and I need something to take this anger out on before I snap at someone and regret what I may say. I glare at it as I step nearer, then strike it. And again. And again.

"Damn it all! Damn it all to hell!" I curse with each hit. I had managed to keep my composure in front of them, but now that I'm alone, I break.

A human? Ezi is out of his mind! They only bring ruin, how many times has that been proven? Do we need another example of their destruction?

We already had to leave our original realm, creating this tiny, stifling new one just to escape them! Why should the creatures we're trying to find sanctuary from have a place here? This is the only place we're safe! If they want another realm to decimate, let them find it themselves! Don't lead them to our home!

The boulder starts cracking beneath my fists. What the hell? Why is this happening? Hasn't our kind suffered enough? Hasn't Orsmira suffered enough?

My anger brings back memories, sharper than they've been in several years. My face erupts in pain, and I scream as I cover my missing eye. The pain is so intense, it almost feels as if I'm losing it all over again!