"I'm talking to myself?"

"It's not that weird, pretty sure people do it a lot."

"I'm not people, I'm a demon." Opal was staring at a young woman sitting on the edge of an overhanging rock. She was barefoot with dusty red on her toes, hazel eyes and a mess of dark curls. Opal looked up, trying to figure to understand what she was looking at. The sky was blue, pale blue. The sun looked white-yellow above her and she could see a string of flying animals floating overhead in a 'V'. She smelled cool stone and the earthy smell of mushrooms.

"Are we really? Weird. I didn't know those were real. Makes sense though."

"If I'm talking to myself how did I- you- not know what I- we- are." Her head was getting cluttered.

"Well, we hit our head pretty bad back when we were in prison. I got stuck here after that."

"You did? I did?" Opal shook her head. "What do you mean?"

"One second I was digging to freedom- the next I was stuck just, watching." The girl sliced her hand through the air. "Like I'm trapped in here."

"Trapped... in our head?"

"Sure. I kept trying to get our attention but it was like yelling underwater. But just now- just now I think you finally wanted to meet me."

She supposed she had been thinking extra hard about who she was. Opal looked down at her hand. "Did I really separate the water from the dirt?"

"Yeah! Super cool."

"So what kind of demon does that make me?"

Other Opal shrugged. "Like I said, I just figured out about demons."

"Let me get this straight." Opal held out her hands, walking to the edge of the stone and then in a circle. Whatever strange dream she was coming up with didn't offer her much room to pace. "My brain injury caused me to split from part of my memories- but this half- you don't even know what a demon is??"

"I don't know that either."

Opal glared. "You're not very helpful other me. Why did you want to talk to me?"

"That's pretty rude." The girl looked down, picking at her fingers. "I might not understand what is going on but I have been watching. I've seen some of the memories you've had too. Its kind of a mess in here, to be honest but now that we are actually able to talk maybe we can sort it out!"

Other me is weirdly optimistic Opal thought.

"I heard that."

Opal flinched. Of course she- they did.

"Anyway, it was like a window I was looking through clicked open after you did that with the water. I know you've been trying to remember things and I wanted to show you some of the things I found!"

"Found? You mean you don't remember everything."

Other Opal dropped her gaze. "Sorry... I'm still trying to piece it together."

"Not your fault... I guess we- our brain is still healing. Yes. I would like to see more about myself." So far she only saw a few things with Gabbro.

"He scares me a little."

"Who?"

Other Opal raised her eyebrows. "I can hear your thoughts, remember?" She giggled. "But he's really handsome too. I have to close my eyes when you kiss though, those memories hurt to watch."

Opal frowned. "How come I can't hear your thoughts if you can hear mine?"

"You can't? Are you sure? What am I thinking now?"

Opal stared at her. "I don't hear anything."

"Weird."

"Hey- what is our real name?" Opal asked hopefully but the other girl shook her head.

"Sorry I only know I'm called Opal. Don't be too disappointed."

"I want to see the memories you pieced together." Opal took a cautious seat next to her. "Show me, please."

"I'd be happy to show us!" Other Opal laughed, gripping her hand.

She was standing on the rock again but this time it was attached to a mountain side, just like what Gabbro had showed her but this was clear, almost too much so that the image burned. Rain poured down over her so she was completely soaked through. She was moving, dancing? Thunder crashed behind her, filling her chest was the powerful sound.

"You aren't controlling it." A whining voice. Opal turned, a small demon- no it was taller than her but clearly a child- she must be very young here. "Teacher won't be impressed if you lie."

Opal heard her child-like voice laughing. "I do control it- watch!" Even as she said it she could feel the fizz of growing electricity in the air. She pointed a finger just before the lightening crackled.

The demon boy looked strange to her with a long spotted white and silver tail that lashed back and forth when he spoke and gleaming purple eyes. His face was human like but feral. His white hair was plastered to his light brown cheeks and his nose was running. "That was lucky! You aren't doing it for real."

"I did too! See? Boom!" She cackled, jumping at him a second before the thunder shook them again. He fell backward with a yelp. Tears appeared in his eyes.

"Meanie! Good students are always good!"

Opal cocked her head as he got up, shook furred arms of water and climbed back towards an opening in the mountain which she knew to be her home. She was annoyed at his phrase, having heard it many times before. She didn't always want to be good. She would be the best student either way. Opal stared back at the sky, enjoying the rain on her face and then chased him back into the warmth.

Opal heard her voice calling after him fade away and she was sitting at a table. The room smelled of salt and water. A bowl of soup sat by her elbow. She'd enjoyed it very much but not as much as the book she was reading. It was held up in front of her face while siblings- yes- that must be it- however these ones looked very human when compared to the cat-like demon child. They were clinging to the skirt of a very tired looking woman who appeared much too old to be their mother. Grandmother. That's who it was.

"Opal- dear, feed the little ones before you read that thing for the millionth time."

Opal felt a sting of guilt and quickly shut the book. "Sorry..."

She was freezing, hands deep in a snow pile, teeth gritted and chattering. Opal felt older here and sure enough her hands appeared to be that of nearly a woman.

"Push through!" A loud voice, commanding. It made Opal irritated to hear it for some reason.

To either side of her she could see others, about her age she knew, also standing in deep snow. Suddenly one of them stood, holding her clawed hand above her with a smile, her hair was deep red boarding on purple with streaks of gray. Her crimson eyes burned with concentration. The snow she stood in swirled up, emptying a massive circle around her. She then put her hands back down, whispering something. Plants following her puppeteer fingers.

"Perfect!"

Opal felt envy burning so deep it was painful. This was not for her. This was what Opal was supposed to excel at without trying. It was her birthright!

She took a deep breath.

Other Opal sat before her, eyes shut.

"That was exhausting. Did you see everything?"

"I saw... I was younger. I was in the rain and training for- something. And..." Opal couldn't quite explain why but the memory of her with the book felt strange. "I think I remembered something from being in the human city. But I don't understand why I was there..."

"Sorry. That's all I can do tonight. It's a lot of work. Something- something keeps trying to slam the windows shut on the memories."

"Probably cursed."

"Cursed?" Other Opal gave her a wide-eyed stare. "Like our little brother friend?"

"I think so. Maybe if I can figure out what happened to him I can help you- us... open more doors." She put her hand to her head. She was feeling weak after the exploration. Not that it gave her much more insight but she did understand now that she seemed to have training- maybe like Yue. But there were so many other demons there. And that one demon, the one with the purple hair Opal felt strongly that she had something to do with why all these memories were locked away. Her fault, perhaps? Maybe... when she woke up she would need to speak with Gabbro. Maybe he remembered a similar demon. And if he did, maybe he would remember the landscape. After all in the memories with him they'd been in what must have been the same place.

"That's a good idea to ask him." Other Opal yawned. "I'll keep working on other memories for us. I think it will be easier now that you moved that water. I think it means the curse or whatever is getting weaker."

"Like with Obsidian."

"I don't think we are a bad demon."

"What's that?" Opal shook her head.

"That's what you were worried about- right? Not being like your friends?"

"I don't care."

Other Opal rolled her eyes. "Maybe they will be more understanding than Gabbro said. After all, they keep that unruly fire boy around."

"Kait does- for... some reason."

"Maybe you should ask?"

Opal snorted. "I'd rather chew a finger off. She owes me an apology before I'll ask her anything."

"Seriously? You are so worried about them hating you but your going to be stubborn about this? I think its worth swallowing a little pride. Plus do you even know why she was mad?"

"Are you sure we are the same demon?" Opal crossed her arms. "I'm not forcing friendship."

Other Opal chewed on her finger. "Ok, fine. But can you at least do me a favor and fill up on fish while you are here?"

"Huh? Does it give us extra power or something?"

"I just really like it!"

"Our favorite food is fish? Interesting." Opal enjoyed fish but didn't think it compared much to the food she had with Bloom.

Other Opal's eyes kept fluttering closed. "If you want to talk again just..."

"Just what?" Opal asked. "Just what?"

Something was crawling across her face. Opal wrinkled her nose, then sat up, slapping at her cheeks. A bug fell from her chin, tiny legs flailing in the air on the ground. She had to bite back a yelp. Where was she? It was dark. No- she was inside the tree well. Light was drifting right over her head. Dizzy she tried to climb out. Her dream had been so vivid. What was in that food they were given last night? Her whole body hurt and her mouth felt fuzzy. She walked past a number of still slumbering marsh demons, some appeared to have just curled up where they finished their meals. Opal found Spark passed out on a tree limb hovering just over the water in his underwear. She considered trying to wake him and decided she didn't want to be the one to accidently startle him enough to fall into the marsh.

Yue was sitting in front of one of the boats, gray cloak still pristine despite the mud all around them. He was eating some kind of stinky red fish and after wiping his mouth offered her a seat. "You also seemed to have enjoyed yourself. I was about to have Proga go search for you- Gabbro and Obsidian have been back since dawn."

"I didn't even dance." Opal frowned but accepted the piece of fish he offered. Here you go, Other Opal, if you are real does this make you happy? "I think everything caught up to me. I had crazy dreams."

Yue's brows knitted. "Are you ok? You aren't sick, are you?" He pressed the back of his cool hand to her forehead. "Seems fine. Let me know if we need to rest. This journey won't be easy. I'm not having you get hurt on my account."

Opal stared at him while he delicately ate his food. "Yue... I think this is a mistake." She put her fish down.

He cocked his head. "Did you want something else?" he motioned to the fish.

"I shouldn't have bowed."

He put down his plate, relaxed shoulders stiffening as he returned to his Royal self. "I see."

"I... I don't have anything to offer you. And I still want to figure out who I am and I'm not sure I can do that while being a part of your cohort."

She expected him to cross his arms, sigh, spout some borderline pompous knowledge about how these things weren't so easily broken just as Gabbro had said. Instead his pale cheeks went distinctly pink. "I... I forgot we were supposed to help you. I was only thinking of myself and my brother." He chuckled, looking away. "To think I would fail my cohort so quickly."

Opal felt her stomach twist. "No- that's not-"

"Has anyone mentioned to you how, ah, uncomfortable it would be to break a vow of this kind?"

"Gabbro mentioned its nearly intolerable."

His blue eyes were pained. "He's correct. But I swear, Opal, it is part of my duty to assist you once I gain Candidacy."

"Its not just that. I don't want to slow you down."

"Slow us down? You? Again with this silliness..." he waved her off. "I'm fairly sure without you're ideas and mediation we would have been lost long ago. I'm sorry you don't want to be with us anymore and are stuck, but I promise the feeling is not mutual."

She thought back to what Gabbro whispered and swallowed hard. That's just because he doesn't know who we are... "It's ok." She promised, trying to sound cheerful. "I'll stay and make you help me later."

His expression brightened and he took her hand. "Thank you."

Opal's vision went blurry. For a moment she felt like she was staring back at her own face from slightly above. She jumped and he gave her a curious look. "Isn't in dangerous to thank other demons?"

"Not good friends."

"Hey, you found her. Good job, my Prince." Proga's clothing was rumpled from sleep and his eyes were vague as he flopped down next to them and stole some fish from Yue's plate. Yue didn't protest and Proga planted a kiss on his cheek.

Yue raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Opal looked between them quickly and focused on her food.

"Are we still planning on leaving today?" Proga asked through a bite of food. "It looks like some of us had a longer night than others."

"You mean Spark?" Yue snorted. "I think it would be good for him to walk it off a little."

"Kait too. Not sure what happened but she barely slept."

"Oh, probably because Spark kissed her and then she slapped me."

There was a soft 'sthump' as the fish fell off Proga's plate.

"What?" Both of them asked in unison.

Yue recovered first. "I'm sorry- what happened?"

Opal reviewed briefly, trying to keep her face neutral. "Any idea why she would do that, Proga?" Her tone was clipped. Apparently she was still annoyed.

"Ah, a pretty good one yes but nothing I can talk about."

Opal glared at him.

"That- doesn't excuse it though. I apologize."

"I don't want you to apologize to me for her." Opal crossed her arms.

Yue sighed and put a hand over his face. "I'll talk to her."

"Not much better..." she mumbled but decided their shocked expressions helped a little.

"Spark is such an idiot."

"Well- yes but it wasn't like he jumped on her or anything. Stop trying to get Kait out of this."

Proga dipped his head a little. "He should know better out of everyone." His large hands slapped the ground. "I'll go get her."

"At some point-" Opal pointed at him. "You need to explain crap. I know you like to talk around me about it, but if we are in the same cohort I feel like I need to know what's going on? At the very least to avoid being slapped."

Proga's mouth hung open slightly.

Yue grinned. "She's not wrong. Good luck convincing Kait of that though."

Opal pressed her hand down into the mud, willing it to separate. If her dream wasn't just a crazy event brought on by the presence of so much fermented fruit, she might just be a demon nearly as strong as them. Maybe then they would trust her. Unless of course you are also a dangerous one...

She kept trying to change the mud over off and on until Gabbro and Obsidian showed up with Spark trailing behind. Gabbro looked nearly as neat as Yue but still had mud on the bottom of his cape. Obsidian must have been freshly washed, his curls were damp and his freckled cheeks no longer were spotted with dried swamp gunk. Spark on the other hand looked like not only had he slept in his underwear in a marsh on a tree limb, but he'd clearly been in a fight. He had a swollen bruise on his cheek and what looked like a solid set of claw marks on his arm. This didn't seem to bother him as he collapsed next to Yue who wrinkled his nose and pulled away.

"I want some of that."

"Go get your own." Yue told him.

"I'll get it! Where do I go Prince?" Obsidian jumped up.

Gabbro eyed him. "Only if it's not far."

"Not terribly. Just over there- they brought back the catch this morning and have been roasting for the party goers all morning."

Obsidian snatched the platter, scattering bones and bounded where Yue pointed. His legs were covered in mud immediately.

"What did you learn at your meeting, Prince?" Gabbro asked.

"The scales are indeed Lor's. The demons offered some assistance in tracking him further but I think it's best if we focus on finding the Candidate Educator."

Spark grunted.

"But I am requesting they try and contact us if they learn more. We know that they didn't get what they wanted from my brother, so I expect we will hear about them again. For now, the best way to avenge him would be to be granted Candidacy training." His fist tightened. "And meet them again."

Spark gave him a lopsided grin. "That's actually a good plan."

"Which means we are leaving today. After breakfast."

Spark's grin fell.

"So I suggest you eat quickly and find your clothes."

"Can't find 'em cause I burned them." He shrugged.

Opal covered her snort with a cough and ducked her head. Yue was giving him a horrified look.

Obsidian returned with food and minutes later everyone was too busy keeping their mouth full to chat. Everyone was almost done when Proga finally returned. Kait did indeed look awful, eyes bloodshot and silver hair fly-away around her face.

"Good morning." Opal told her.

Kait opened her mouth, looked down and nestled herself next to Yue. She was purposely avoiding her eyes.

"Eat, Kait." Yue instructed. Opal was annoyed with how soft his voice was.

"We got red or green..." Spark held up a dish and trailed off when Kait's eyes went a little wide looking at him but turned away pointedly, nose up, and asked Obsidian for food instead.

"After we eat we will head to the edge of the marsh which should lead us into the Short Woods.

"Short Woods?" Proga raised his eyebrows. "Isn't that a little further than discussed?"

Yue shrugged. "Only slightly. It makes sense if we want to stop over in a Sale Territory to get a new wagon. And apparently more clothes for some..."

Gabbro glanced over. "The Short Forest... that's well known for having quite a lot of stinging nettle plants, isn't it?"

"Really?" Yue glanced at Spark and then delicately placed his clean plate down. "How interesting. I had no idea."

----------

More like a petty prince...

From here on out we should be getting more bits and pieces about Opal consistently. I was trying to work out how to explain what happened to her and I think this will be best although it feels a little awkward at the moment. I've been trying to balance plot with background on everyone and I think I've been a little light on background so that might get switched up a bit.

I am curious if there are any characters that feel less developed than others or ones you are really preferring?

See you next week!

-Andi