Jake has been saddled with taking care of the human child. Amanda Green, who’s curious about everything and Jake, who loves to talk. A good combination, all things considered. Though Jake is willing to admit that he only got the position because, out of the Elementals that speak Krazden, he’s the only one who could ever be trusted to care for a kid. 

However, Lilo is no doubt the one who’s become the most attached. She often clamours over her “precious Meatsack” after assignments to babble away. Uncaring that the human can’t understand her tongue. 

Amanda had asked once what language Lilo was speaking and why. Jake had only shrugged without explanation. As chatty as Jake is, telling Amanda that the Elementals had once been trapped in human bodies seemed wrong somehow. He doesn’t want her to think she may be one of them. Besides, she isn’t giving answers either. 

Two seasons have passed, and yet no one knows anything of her home. Her family. Or why she ran away. Or why she can see Spirits. As far as Jake can tell, the girl doesn’t have a drop of uvallian blood in her veins. So why?

Her aura certainly differs from that of other humans, but not in a way he recognizes. It becomes more evident the longer he’s around her that she’s abnormal, but that alone isn’t an explanation. He still can’t peg what sets her apart. 

Currently, Jake and Amanda play some human game he has long since forgotten, one she calls “pattycake.” Amanda had explained it as a game for little kids - much younger than her 14 years - but she was missing being around human children. Something muttered about a younger sister she used to play this game with. 

But when Jake had tried to question further, she shut down. So the Fire Spirit had no choice other than to play. 

Jake chuckles, proud of the fact that he seems to be winning. Little flames pop up in his hair, and Amanda doesn’t react to them anymore. 

She’s been in the Valley for months now, having become accustomed to everything that was so strange to her at first. On one of their trips to the mortal realm for food, Jake had even caught her rubbing her eyes at the visuals. 

Jake and Ezi still insist on being near her as she sleeps, but Amanda’s made her home here with her supplies stolen from human shops and watchful Elementals. She sleeps in the open, wrapped in blankets, but it never rains anywhere in the Valley. The temperature only changes depending on where you are. So as long as she’s comfortable here in the forest, that will never change. 

The Water and Earth Spirits are happy to wash her clothes, soaking them and pulling every tiny bit of dirt off. Lilo’s gotten her more outfits over the months, but Amanda still mostly wears jeans and hoodies with hats. 

Even without any change in her fashion, Amanda looks different from when she was found. Something Jake finds fascinating. She’s a little taller, a little thinner. 

Cute, but in a childish way. Jake misses a clap when a graphic image springs to mind, and Amanda gently strikes his chest by accident. Jake tries desperately to shut down the intrusive thought, but it’s still there. 

She’s human. That’s all he can think about now. 

Jake shuts his eyes, covering them with his palms and shaking his head. Even knowing that the thoughts aren’t his, he feels disgusted that they should appear in his mind at all. He’s filthy and tainted. And it’s all thanks to them.

“Jake, are you okay?” Amanda pulls her hand back, appearing worried that she may have harmed him. 

Jake grins through gritted teeth. “All good, mate! Just thought I’d let you get a hit in.”

“You really don’t get pattycake, huh?” Amanda asks, but her eyes are concerned. Jake gestures for the game to resume, and she obliges. 

I’m not even attracted to her, he thinks bitterly. Hell, she’s a damn kid! No one should be havin’ thoughts like that about her, intrusive or not. Shit, I’m no better than they were. Not that I would ever actually do anythin’, even if I could. If I were gonna do anythin’ with anyone… Ezi… But I can’t-

He’s distracted by another smack to the chest.

“Jake? I think we should stop, you need to lay down in the bonfire or something.”

“No, no, I’m alright! Really!” Jake tries to reassure her.

Amanda looks like she’s about to argue, but Jake’s focus switches to a new sound. It’s Ezi, having just fallen down the mountains on one end of the Valley. He looks injured, and not just from tumbling down the solid wall of rock. 

“Shit!” Jake yelps, rushing over as fast as he can. Thankfully, he and Amanda had been sitting as near to the volcano as she could handle, so they’re close to the mountains. 

A few Earth Spirits who had been milling about come to inspect the Light as well, a couple crouching to get a better look. 

Jake busts in, wrapping his big arms around the spender Light the second he’s close enough to do so. Had he been seeing things? As Ezi was rolling down to the ground, it had almost looked like had long hair. But it’s the same as ever, Jake running his fingers through the wild white locks. Must have been his robes flailing around as he fell or something. 

When Ezi’s eyes flutter open, Jake could swear they were the wrong colour for a moment. There’s something wrong with me today. Well, more wrong than usual. 

He murmurs to Ezi as he combs his hair, not saying much of anything. Only feeling the need to make a sound for Ezi to come back to. He isn’t even sure what he’s saying. Probably something about his game with Amanda. 

Ezi is bleeding from his fall, looking slightly transparent. He solidifies quickly enough. It’s getting darker regardless since evening is on its way. It’s slight, but Jake is watchful enough of the sky to notice that it’s a hair too dark for the time. 

Ezi doesn’t speak, seeming to quietly drink in all the warm touches the Fire is giving him. Ezi makes a small, satisfied sound when Jake caresses his cheek, tugging on Jake’s heart. 

The sound of Amanda panting is what brings Jake back to reality. And he hates that those cursed thoughts poke at his mind again, forcing himself to look away from the girl. 

Cyn seems to emerge from the shadows of the rocks, nearly making Jake jump a few meters in the air. She scoffs at the sight of Amanda before noticing Ezi and Jake. She runs to them. 

“What happened?” she demands softly. 

“Not sure,” Jake admits. “Ezi came through a portal up the mountain, fell ass over heels, and hasn’t spoken a word.”

Amanda is shaking as much as her voice is. “He doesn’t look so good.”

Cyn comes close enough to be able to touch Ezi, but refrains. “No, I think he’s fine. Physically. Ezi, you still with us? Nod if you’re okay.” It takes several moments, but he does nod. Cyn’s shoulders relax as she sits by Jake. “Well, it’s not the first time he’s gone mute on us. Don’t worry, Ezi, we’ll stick by you until you come back.”

The lesser Earth Spirits whisper to each other, giving the group a wide berth. Cyn glares at them and they wander off. 

Jake still feels his chest burning with fear and confusion for Ezi. But Cyn is calm, completely and utterly. Even her aura betrays nothing. “How do you do it?” he mutters. 

“Hmm?” She doesn’t look at Jake. Amanda hangs around, listening closely. 

“I’m freakin’ the fuck out! What if he doesn’t wake up? What if somethin’ is really, really wrong? What if-”

“Jake, shut up,” she growls, but her tone is gentle. “I’ve seen Ezi like this before. He’ll come out of it eventually, just give him some time.”

Jake nods slowly, still feeling mixed up and scared. Sadly, it seems that time will be of the essence. Kami glides towards the group, Lilo following on the ground. Both have their weapons draw. 

“Jake, Cynthia! We have an urgent assignment. Mother demands that we immediately go to a human city!” Kami’s tone betrays no panic, but Jake can sense her nerves. Her ears are twitching. 

“The hell do you mean ‘we’?” Cyn demands. 

Lilo’s eyes dart around. “She means all of us! All of us here, and also Ang!”

Cyn crosses her arms sourly. She’s been working her tail off lately, with assignments each night and most days. Whereas Ezi hasn’t been getting any. Which only makes his injuries that much more bizarre. All he had said when he left was that he was going to Zensar and that he wanted to be alone. But Jake can’t wonder about that too much at the moment. 

Cyn looks to Kami and murmurs,” So, all the higher Elementals? What the hell is with that? And Ezi isn’t in any condition to move! And why a human city?”

Kami shakes her head. “I wish I had answers, Cynthia, but I don’t.”

“Oh, and did I mention that ‘we’ also includes Meatsack? Because it does!” Lilo chimes in.

Cyn aims her glare at Amanda now, who takes a step back. Jake’s hair bursts into flames. “The hell? What’s goin’ on?” Jake asks no one in particular. 

“And you said a human city?” Cyn snaps, acting as if Jake hadn’t spoken. The Wind and Earth Spirits nod. “What the fuck is happening around here?”

Ezi moves in Jake’s arms, making the Fire check on him. He tries his best to shut out Cyn losing her cool, the others trying their best to calm her down. 

Jake looks into Ezi’s eyes. They’re the same pale yellow as always, constantly moving. Jake cups his cheek, which Ezi presses into. “You okay?” he asks, to which Ezi nods in response, not tearing his gaze away from Jake. 

The others seem to melt away, as he’s caught by those intense eyes of Ezi’s. His hand seems to move on its own, gently touching the Light’s bottom lip with his thumb. Ezi doesn’t protest, maybe just too tired to care. 

So fragile in appearance, so helpless in his arms. The intrusive thoughts are back with a vengeance, even worse when Ezi is in the focus. Why? Why does he have to suffer them?

Chained to the wall, red blood dripping onto blue sheets. Blue like his eyes. Like the eyes of his parents. His strawberry blond hair is tied back to show off his face. They love his freckles, covering his young, vulnerable face. His expression is twisted with fear and disgust. Disgust at what he knows is coming. 

It’s happened time and time again, for years now. It’s almost become routine in its horror. He wants to beg. Every fiber of his weak, human being wants to beg for freedom. He used to, when it first started, back when he was thirteen. 

But he had long since learned that screaming was what they wanted. So, Jacob offers no resistance as his world goes dark from the blindfold… It’s best to allow them to begin, so it will be over sooner. The blindfold is made of deceptively soft fabric. 

“Jake?” Ezi speaks, his own hand on Jake’s cheek now. The others are giving him worried looks as well, but he shrugs it off. He doesn’t have a clue where the conversation has gone. 

“I’m alright! Got lost in Ezi’s eyes is all!” He laughs as Ezi’s hair fluffs up, turning away. 

The Spirits quickly fill Jake and Amanda in: Mother foresaw a human city under siege by Life Spirits. Many of them. So, even though they all thought it strange, all the higher Elementals were going to fight the horde. Ang had already been informed and was in the mortal realm. Kami and Lilo had been shown an image of where they needed to go. 

“We really have to leave right now?” Ezi asks, exhaustion dripping from his words. 

Cyn gives him a sympathetic frown, tail lashing. “This is stupid. We’re going to get about a hundred meters before you pass out for the night, if that. It would be better to wait for morning.”

No one argues her point, but there’s nothing they can do about the time they’ve been ordered to leave. No one comments on the fact that the human is coming along, though it’s clear that no one is comfortable with the arrangement, least of all Amanda herself. Regardless, they’re on their way in a matter of minutes, Kami forming the portal to bring them to the mortal realm.