Ezi walks between Jake and I in the mortal realm, each of us holding an elbow of his. The Light Spirit is slouching, almost making it look as though the weight of his spear is pulling him down.

Really, I would love to take that ridiculous thing away from him, but it isn't possible. A Shadow, touching a Light's weapon? We would probably both get hurt. And Jake isn't strong enough to carry it on his own. Even I may not be. No, that spear is Ezi's burden, and Ezi's alone.

We walk through a flat, grassy landscape, the closest human town small against the flat horizon. And we're going directly to it. It would have been easier to just create a portal there, but apparently we couldn't. Something about most human cities messes up our abilities. Could be the pollution rampant in places like Krazde. Besides, less nature means less natural magic for us to use.

We travel until evening, Angelo maintaining his distance from the rest of us the entire time. Walking silently under a personal rain cloud. He had gotten into an argument with some Wind Spirit earlier, I guess.

Or rather, Angela had. Even though he hadn't been part of the bickering, Angelo is protective enough of his twin sister to sulk over it while she calms down. I wonder what it's like, sharing an ethereal form with your own twin.

I don't know the full story, but it sounds like the higher Water Spirit somehow managed to accidentally take over twins within their mortal mother's womb. Literally split in half and born as two separate entities, the twins grew up together. Then became one again after they died and regained their true Spirit form. Yet their consciousness remains divided, so they take turns commanding the body they share.

I can sense their feelings of loneliness, each twin desperately missing the other. I've seen them write each other notes in the sand. As much as the two annoy me, I can't blame them for being bitter.

It's a similar bitterness to the one I often sense from those rare Elementals who were born from Uvallians instead of humans.

Uvallians can see us, they know about us, they even pray to us. But we are not allowed to interact with them - not since the start of this war. One that just so happened to be started by an Uvallian Life Spirit.

Uvallians are far fewer in number than humans, so I've only ever met two, and neither of them are in the Valley anymore. They both went rogue in a matter of days.

Ezi starts to look like he's fading for the night, so I call for the group to stop and "make camp." The human is the only one we have to worry about in terms of supplies, and she seems to have plenty. She sets her backpack down and starts pulling things out: A small bedroll, an extra sweater, and so on. Lilo happily hops into the bedroll with the kid, impaling her ax in the dirt, even before she can get in herself.

As for the rest of us, we lay under the moons. All three of them should be out tonight. Moonlight is so beautiful. It changes everything to a wonderful shade of silver, and it doesn't harm me whatsoever.

Evenings are my favourite time of day. It's the only time where both Ezi and I can be relatively comfortable together, if a little sleepy. Dawn is alright, I guess, but Ezi's light can be harsh when he first wakes.

The mortal's belly growls, shattering the peaceful silence. I try to ignore it, but it rumbles again. "Meatsack requires food!" Lilo announces.

"Yeah, no shit!" I snap, then immediately regret it. I mutter an apology.

"Alright!" Jake says, reaching into the backpack and making the girl squeal in embarrassment. After a moment, Jake pulls out what seems to be a carton of eggs.

"Hey!" I interject. "Jake, you're going to cook all of those if you hold them too long!"

"Shit, you're right!" Jake drops the eggs, but Kami creates a little cushion of air before they can touch the ground, making them land safely.

"These are fragile," she chides.

"It doesn't matter. They're probably bad after walking around for hours anyway," I say.

Surprising me, Angelo walks over and reaches into the backpack, pulling out a chunk of ice. "I figured this would be a good idea. The ice won't melt, of course, so we don't have to worry about her spare clothes getting wet. Just a little cold. But the food won't go bad."

Ezi, exhausted, sits beside me. He looks mildly interested at best as he leans against me. I'd much rather be talking to him than dealing with this egg fiasco.

"So, want eggs, Amanda?" Jake asks with a grin.

"Yeah, sure," she replies, obviously confused. Probably as to why someone even packed her eggs in the first place. I bet my remaining egg Lilo was the one who packed for her.

"Alright, I'll get a fire going," Jake says, hands ablaze.

"Don't!" I wrap my tail around his wrist. "You see all this dry grass around us? You start a fire, and it's going to be out of control in a matter of seconds."

"I'm a Fire Spirit, it'll be fine!"

"Remember that forest fire you accidentally caused a few years back?"

"Alright, fair point."

"How will Meatsack get her eggs?" Lilo asks.

"It's fine, I'll see what else Lilo packed!" the human says with an awkward laugh.

Called it.

"No, it should definitely be eggs. After all," I say with a grin, "Jake is a walking grill, right?"

"You gotta be kiddin' me!" Jake snaps.

"Nope, this is going to be hilarious."

Kami, lovely Kamiko, brings the egg carton close to my level. I grab an egg, dragging Jake closer with my tail still wrapped around his wrist. "Have you been doing anything dirty with this hand?" I ask, ready to crack the egg into his palm. For some reason, Jake's cheeks set on fire.

"We're Elementals, Cyn! 'Course I ain't doin' any dirty stuff with my hand! I can't even-!"

"Jake?"

"And even if I could, I-!"

"Jake! I meant like playing in the dirt or something! What the hell are you going off about?"

"Nothin'!" Jake shrieks, hair on fire now too. Weirdo. The human is laughing, as are Kami and Angelo. Am I missing something?

Oh, whatever. I crack the egg into his palm and we all gather around to watch the damn egg fry in his hand. As a kid, I never would have imagined that the literal forces of nature do this shit.

"I can't believe this is working," the human mutters.

"The clear part is turning white," Ezi comments, confused. "Like me in the morning."

"How strange," Kami agrees.

"So, were you two raised under the same rock, or...?" I ask.

"Would you all shut up? I'm tryin' to cook!" Jake says with a glower.

Soon enough, Lilo and I decide that the egg is safe for human consumption. When the girl is done scarfing it down, she asks for another, much to the Fire Spirit's dismay.

We once again gather around to watch.

I glance up as it gets later in the evening, the moons finally coming out. It really speaks about his power when, even asleep, Ezi generates enough energy to bounce light off the moons. But it's a friendly, filtered sort of brightness.

Though I suppose it also speaks to my power that shadows exist even during the daylight, giving all things one of their own. A little companion of darkness that traverses the world with them.

Ezi and I talk for a bit, but he flops over halfway through a sentence, fast asleep, and night sets in. Jake chuckles and spoons his smaller form, making me roll my eye. I wonder if Ezi has even realized how crazy Jake is for him. Probably not, knowing him.

Lilo and the human snuggle up in their shared bedroll. I guess it's cute. Angelo lays on his own in the dirt, as expected. Kami does the same, resting with her hands over her stomach.

They aren't sleeping, only resting while waiting for the human and Ezi to wake up so we can keep moving. Even the sleepless need to relax sometimes, and they may as well take the chance when provided.

As for me, I can't sleep, or even lay down quietly. A night feels wasted when I don't make use of it. I decide to go on a walk, examining the prairies surrounding us. They look familiar, but I can't quite place why.

I turn as I sense Kamiko come up to see me. Guess she wasn't as in need of a rest as I thought. She's smiling softly, warmly, and I turn away. When will she understand that I'm not someone to look at that way? Damn it all. 

"You appear different when the Light slumbers," she murmurs.

"Yeah," I reply, just as soft. "I can relax a little. Doesn't hurt."

"You're beautiful. Are you aware?"

I sigh, grateful that I can't blush. Why does she have to say this crap? "Sure, right." Kamiko floats by my side as we look up at the stars together. "You should relax."

Kami shrugs. "I'm not overly exhausted. It's not as though we engaged in combat today. Nor do I sleep."

"Ezi and I are so different from the rest of you." I try not to let the sadness creep into my voice as it trails off. It's a failed attempt.

More silence.

"There is no shame to be had in differences," Kami says.

"You saying that is nice and all, but it doesn't change anything. You know what the others think of Ezi and I. Hell, even you're nervous around Ezi."

"I cannot deny that. But believe me when I say that I do not fear you."

Damn it. I want to tell Kamiko to get away from me. I want to hurt her, just to make her listen. Or push her away. Anything. But her presence is so calming, so reassuring, that I can't.

I can't make her leave me, no matter how much I want to. I just want her to be safe from me, but I can't make myself protect her. I'm selfish. I know that about myself. Yet I can't stop.