Jake stands with the other Elemental Spirits that have crowded around the building housing Mother. He and Kamiko, being the only higher Spirits present, try to keep the calm. But word has already spread throughout the Valley.

A human has come. A human who can see them. Several murmurs float around that perhaps this "Amanda" is just an Uvallian; a humanoid species with special abilities. But it was Ezi and Cyn who brought the kid here, and Jake is confident those two wouldn't mistake an Uvallian for a human.

Many whispered voices are hopeful. Some are nervous. Hundreds of emotions weave through the knot of their connected consciousness, making Jake's head spin. He can only guess what sorts of crazy weather patters are happening in the mortal realm thanks to all the excitement and confusion here.

A hush falls over them suddenly, all eyes facing towards the door to the Well's building. Shudders pass through the lesser Spirits, Kamiko and Jake exchanging a glance.

Cyn's anger is palpable, the sky darkening. Great. Weird weather and a weird dark sky for the mortals. The human's fear can be felt under all that rage, but it's almost entirely overshadowed. Ezi, as usual, cannot be sensed. 

Moments later, Cyn slams the door open, glaring at the ethereal gathering before her. Her eye softens when it lands on Kamiko and Jake, but only a fraction. She hurries off, heading for the trees once again. After a moment of hesitation, Kami follows while everyone else rushes out of the Shadow's way.

The higher Fire Spirit keeps his focus on the door, waiting for Ezi to appear. He does eventually, a mask of peacefulness covering his face. His beautiful features cold.

Jake feels his heart lurch the way it always does when he sees Ezi. That eerie serenity surrounding him always draws Jake in, that untold power in his delicate frame.

Jake grins and waves at him before leaping forwards, wrapping his arms around Ezi's midsection as he tackles him. "G'day, Ezi!" he shouts as the two tumble to the ground in a heap.

Used to this, Ezi manages to toss his spear out of the way before hitting the ground. The smaller Spirit grins back up at him, though he does squirm weakly. Jake knows he would be pushed away if Ezi was truly bothered, he's certainly strong enough to fight him off. The human gasps and looks more than a little started. Ezi murmurs to her, voice distant despite his smile. "Ah. Amanda. This is Jake, a Fire Spirit."

Amanda nods, perplexed. She speaks with the same accent as Cyn. "R-right. Hello, Jake. So, you're all... Spirits? Elements?"

Jake laughs. "Sure are! Ezi is Light, Cyn is Shadow! And just to let y'know, I'm the higher Fire Spirit. Means I'm the biggest, flamiest badass here!"

A few mid and lesser Spirits in the horde groan, rolling their eyes and shaking their heads. Amanda shrinks away from the others while taking them in with observant eyes. "Red is fire, blue for water, yellow for wind, and green for earth? Is that right?" Amanda asks, to which Jake nods. "Then white and black for light and shadow?" Another nod, this one slower, more uncomfortable. Jake casts Ezi a look, whose eyes are covered by his bangs. His expression looks blank.

"Ezi is the only one in white," Amanda observes. No one answers her this time, Ezi seeming to escape within himself. Jake, straddling the smaller one's hips, gently cups his cheek. But there's no response. Jake can sense that Amanda knows she said something wrong, and he turns to gaze at her with his glowing eyes.

"Mother probably wants you sleepin' somewhere comfy, yeah? How 'bout we get that ready for you!" Jake gives her a dazzling smile. Amanda flushes and murmurs her consent.

It's at that moment when the one they need the most shows up: Lieselotte, the higher Earth Spirit. Easily the smallest Elemental in the Valley, she jumps up from time to time as she makes her way through the crowd, face popping up and grinning happily with each hop.

She finally makes her way to where the human is, and her mouth makes a little "o" in shock. Thankfully, she doesn't have her ax with her as she starts babbling away.

"So, this is the human? She's really cute! Where did she come from? She isn't Uvallian, that's for sure! Stupid rumors. She doesn't even have a tail! How could she be an Uvallian without a tail? Huh. So why can she see us? She can see us, right? Oh! Yup! Why is she looking at me like that? Someone tell her it's rude to stare! She obviously isn't understanding a word I say. Oh, hey, we both have green eyes! But hers are like jade, and mine are emerald. Her hair looks like dead grass, should we water her?" Lilo starts shouting now. "Hey, we need a Water Spirit over here to keep her from wilting!"

"Lieselotte, that isn't how it works!" a Water Spirit calls back.

"Yeah, we gotta feed her, not water her! They can water themselves!" yells a Wind.

"Oh, that's right! Humans eat fruits and stuff, right? Even other mammals!" An Earth now.

"I thought humans were amphibians!"

"No, reptiles!"

Jake groans and hides his face in his hands. He peeks through his fingers when he feels Ezi push on his hips. "Shit! Sorry, Ezi. Forgot you were down there." He stands up and helps Ezi to his feet as the other Elementals continue their racket. It's only a few who are truly so misguided about what humans are, but even those who Jake knows know better are adding to the din to mess with the few who seem absolutely convinced that people are reptiles. Amanda's anxiety has spiked, but everyone seems too intent on their own arguments to care.

One Spirit has begun trying to convince the few confused individuals that Amanda would prefer the term "bipedal flesh creature," or perhaps "tailless Uvallian" as opposed to human.

"Oi! Everyone shut the hell up!" Jake shouts, hair setting ablaze. He has his arms crossed, looking like the authority figure he technically is for once. "Amanda hasn't had an easy day and she don't need your babblin' all through the night! I'm gonna be stayin' near her all night to make sure non of you try any dumb shit, got it? If anyone so much as tries to annoy her, your ass is gonna be on fire before you can say 'I'm sorry, my wonderful, handsome, sexy Jake! I am but a humble servant who will kiss your ass when required!'"

Kathleen giggles. "But Jake, you forgot there are Fire Spirits other than yourself!"

Laughter ripples throughout the crowd as Jake slaps his forehead. "I'll sweet talk a Water Spirit into soakin' your naughty asses in that case!"

Lilo raises her hand. "Hey, Jakey! We're the same rank so you can't stop me! I plan to bond with Meatsack!"

"What did you just call her!? Lords almighty..." Jake murmurs, pinching the bridge of his nose. The sky becomes even darker as Ezi starts slouching more than usual. Glancing at the mortal, Jake sees that she still seems worried and confused. But there's exhaustion there too. Probably more from having such a long day than the fact that night is approaching.

"Mother told her to sleep where I do, Jake," Ezi says. A few Elementals notice Ezi say this, and they start heading for the forest. Fire starts right where those Spirits were going to walk, and while that can't stop the Fire Spirits, the dirty look Jake gives them does. Realizing that he won't budge on this, the other Elementals - even Lilo - start dispersing to go back to doing their own thing. Some have nighttime patrols or hunts, some will go off to train, some will go to the mortal realm to create specific weather patterns or just mess around. Hopefully some of them are going there to try to correct some of the storms and such that surely got created after all that.

Ezi is quiet, his form getting more and more translucent. Amanda gasps. "Ezi! W-what's happening to you?"

He gives her a weak smile, the shadows under his eyes darkening in time with the sky around them. Soon, he'll be hardly visible. "This is normal for me, don't worry. I'm a Light Spirit. The Light Spirit." Bitterness creeps into his voice at that, and Jake gives him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"C'mon, let's get you two into bed. It's been a long day for everyone, and it sure ain't gonna be a shorter one tomorrow," Jake says as he steers the two towards the trees.

Amanda sighs and comes along willingly but Jake has to hold onto Ezi's elbow, dragging him along. His spear is left behind, but it's not as if anyone would try to take it.