Shadowflame whipped out her bokken and pushed the two blondes directly behind her. If anything happened, she would take the hit. Her 'in charge mode' was on and she would only let it down once she knew the two were safe. "I wouldn't scream if I were you," the figure with the weapon warned them. "I'm not afraid to use a melder, and you will not enjoy it." He pointed the metal gadget at Shadowflame's forehead. "A few seconds will only stun you. Any more will cause permanent damage. Do you understand?"

"You wouldn't do that with humans around." Sophie said, hating that her voice was shaking. Shadowflame moved closer to the blondes to comfort them, and they were greatful that she was with them now more than ever. The bridge wasn't crowded, but there were a few people out for evening strolls. One of them would notice the three figures in black hooded cloaks threatening children and call the police.

All three figures laughed, and the one with the weapon- who appeared to be the leader- moved a step closer. "They have no idea we're here." He pulled a small black orb from his cloak. "This is an Obscurer. It bends light and sound around us like a force field. All anyone can see or hear right now is wind and a slight distortion in the air, like heat waves radiating off the ground." Sophie and Dex huddled closer to Shadowflame. They were on their own.

"I don't know how you escaped," the leader hissed as he handed a coil of silver rope to one of his goons. "But you can rest assured it won't happen again."

"They sure fucking will 'cause you can rest assured that you won't be getting anywhere the fuck near them!" Shadowflame roared. She ran forward so fast it was almost blinding and swung her bokken with a deadly speed, knocking the melder out of the leader's hands and over the bridge. She kicked his legs out from under him and used the tip of her bokken to jab him in the neck, making him gag.

One of the goons wrapped his arms around her from behind. Shadowflame swung her elbow back and into his face. When the only reaction she got was a pained groan, she put all her weight into her body so they bent forward. She reached down for one of his legs and pulled it up high into the air while causing him to land on his back and hit his head, knocking him unconscious.

She saw the leader pull out another melder and aim it at Dex. She ran, yelling at him to get down, but she was too late, he pulled the trigger. She let out a throat ripping scream as she watched him go down "No!" "Dex!"Sophie cried, rushing to his side. Shadowflame stood over the two blondes and swung her bokken around in a half circle at the two still conscious kidnappers "Nobody touches them!" She growled.

Something in Sophie snapped when she heard the fear in Shadowflame's voice. Shadowflame was always calm, even when in a crisis. When Shadowflame found out she was being bullied, the only thing she could hear in her voice was pure anger and hatred. When Shadowflame wanted to try out Poi, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she was entralled by the dancing flames. And she florished, she became crazy good at the form of art. This was the first time Shadowflame seemed afraid and Sophie did not like it.

Sophie had heard of seeing red, but this wasn't red. This was fierce black hate. It clouded her mind until it consumed her.

All sound vanished and her whole body shook with a frenzy she didn't understand. She pushed the anger and darkness out of her mind, needing to be free of it. When the last ounce of hatred was gone, her vision cleared and a the two cloaked figures were slumped on the ground, holding their heads and writhing in pain.

Shadowflame looked at her with a raised brow but just shrugged. She walked over to the kidnappers and knocked them unconscious with her bokken. Sophie fumbled through the heavyset figure's cloak and grabbed his pathfinder. Shadowflame tied the three unconscious figures with the silver rope while Sophie spun the crystal and locked it into place on the facet it stopped on, hoping it wouldn't take them to one of their secret hideouts. She didn't have any other options, so she just had to take the chance. It didn't matter where they went, just as long as there were elves there to help.

She then realized Shadowflame was pulling the kidnappers to the edge of the bridge "Flame! What do you think you're doing?!" "Getting rid of the bodies, duh!" "They aren't dead!" "Not yet they aren't!" "Flame!" "Fine..." Shadowflame rolled her eyes and ran over to Dex's side.

Shadowflame's POV
Dex's body is limp but there is a weak plus. If we could get him to the Elwin dude Sophie told me about, he would be okay. He has to be okay. He can't die because of me! I sheathed my bokken and picked Dex up bridal style with my right arm while I tucked my skateboard under my left arm.

I looked at Moonlark "Now what?" "We light leap." Light leap? The way elves teleport or something like that? Didn't she object to it earlier? It is the only way to get back to the elvin world and Dex needs help... light leap it is. Sophie placed a hand on my shoulder and took a deep breath. She held the crystal up and stepped into the light, letting it pull us away.

We suddenly hit the ground hard and we groaned from the impact, at least now I know we are all alive. I sat up rubbing my forehead where I hit it pretty hard and looked around. There was a huge tree, part of it has green leaves, part of it has flowers and part of it has snow. Weird, then again, my life revolves around weird.

Sophie looked like she was... fading? It's the only word that I can find that fits. Maybe it is just a side effect, but Dex and I are completely solid... no... NO!

"Moonlark? Moonlark? Big sis? Soph? Sophie! No! Don't close your eyes-don't you dare close your eyes! Moonlark? Moonlark! Sophie! Wake up, wake up,
wake up! I can't lose you my Moonlark, not now, not ever."

I cradled her in such a way I almost covered her entirely. As if I was holding her together. Sophie... please, come back.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to when we were safe.

Maybe if I close my eyes, Sophie would have never met teal eyes.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to being happy with Sophie and Amy.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to dancing and singing around my old room which I shared with Sophie.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to nearly burning down the kitchen while trying to bake cookies at 4000000 degrees a second.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to gardening with my adoptive mom.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to hang gliding with my biological aunt in China on my third birthday.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to staring at the night sky in New York.

Maybe if I close my eyes, I will go back to cuddling Marty.

I didn't.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw three pairs of feet in dark clothes approaching us. No! I will not let the kidnappers take Sophie and Dex again. I will keep to my word and make sure nobody touches them. I curled around Sophie tighter. I will protect my Moonlark.

As the figures neared us, I heard a gasp "Shadowflame?"

teal eyes?

"What happened to Sophie and Dex?!" I just glared at him and curled around my Moonlark tighter. I felt his hands try to make me release her.

NO!

"Get your filthy hands of me you oath breaker." I hissed at him. "Wha-" "You broke your promise for me, you broke my trust for you."

There was silence, then two voices

"-Elwin- Eternalia- four season tree- hurry"

Then silence again.

Five pairs of feet appeared and ran towards us. I glared at the figures. Three males, two females. A male with a pair of googles that gave him a mad scientist look went over to Dex.

Elwin

The blonde lady had a red satchel slung over her shoulder, it was the one I had given Sophie before she ran away. The blonde sat down next to me. "I'm Edaline. You must be Shadowflame, Sophie's friend."

I am much more than that...

...Right?

There was silence. Edaline opened the satchel and pulled out. . . Ella and Clarity. My eyes widened. A feeling of trust for the woman overwhelmed me and I loosened my grasp on Moonlark. I felt a small smile grow on my face.

Trust

Elwin and teal eyes ran over. Teal eyes pressed his fingers to Sophie's temples. After sometime,he let out a laugh of relief. Elwin then pressed a small vial to Moonlark's lips and poured a strange liquid down her throat. You will be alright Moonlark, please be alright.

We light leapt to this place called 'Everglen'

I promise my Moonlark, you will be alright.