I got up and brushed the dirt off of my white peasant blouse and cargo shorts and lifted my arms as I stretched, Mal sat up still on high alert.

"WHAT WAS THAT!" I yelled gesturing outside of the elephant ear leaves.

"WHO WERE THEY, AND WHY DID THEY TAKE TIA!" I began passing under the shade of the leaves.

"Oh okay, Princess no thank you for saving me!" Mal said slightly angered, and turned away still sitting Indian  style with his arms crossed.

"I'M SORRY BUT MY FRIEND WAS JUST KIDNAPPED BEFORE MY EYES!" I said exasperated as I run my fingers threw my long hair.

"Calm down would you they could still be out there." He sighed,"Come on my home isn't far from here i'll explain everything when we get there."

"We? Who says i'm going with you?!" I shot back.

"Me. I say you coming sugar-cube. I supposed to train you remember!" He gave a forced smile and got up while gesturing for me to follow him. 

I sighed knowing I had no choice but to follow him.

...
 We approached the center of the elephant ear plant, Mal moved one of the leaves to the right of the center and gestured for me to follow him threw the path. We kept walking in till we reached what looked like a  shack. 

It had branches from a birch tree  twisting around to make a door way which was covered with a small elephant leave.  It had green moss and pebbles making up the roof of the house. He pulled the leaf aside and held it open so I could enter, "Thanks." I said quietly as I nodded my head towards him.

"No problem Looney." He sighed and entered behind me.

I gasped at the sight of the room it was extraordinary. In the ceiling there was what looked like a small magnifying glass which acted like a skylight, the moons beams shone down giving the room a spooky effect. There was a basket of berries by the door, further into the room there was a bed that appeared to be made out of spruce wood, and had raven feathers laying stop of it with some dandelions acting as pillows.

There was a chest along the other wall with intricate carvings along it. Mal yawned and scratched the back of his head jostling his dark hair. He made his way into the moon-light and I saw that on his back just under his shoulder blades were two puffy pink scars.

He turned as I was examining his back out of curiosity as to what had happend, "Sheesh Looney my eyes are up here." He said smirking.

I deadpanned, "Don't flatter yourself Mal."

"Uh huh whatever you say." He winked in my general direction. 

I rolled my eyes, "So anyways what is the spirit water everyone kept talking about?" I asked changing the subject.

"Well remember the water you were floating in not to long ago?" He explained I nodded my head yes, "Well that was it." He smiled. "Lady Mara is a water nymph, and she was tasked with being the water bearer for the garden. The spirit water keeps the gardens magic alive and with every full moon the water is recharged so we won't run out of magic. But the spirit water isn't just your normal magical water it has a mind of it's own and it can see bits and pieces of the future, but only the Buddha can here it speak." Mal finished his explanation.

"Oh." I sat down at the edge of his bed, "Also whats 'The Shadow'?" I questioned. Mal's face visibly darkened, "An awful man who is nothing more than a power hungry  bastard." He growled while clenching his fists. He began to shake with anger as he stared off into the darkness, a shadow crossing his face.

"Mal are you alright?" I inquired.

He turned to me his sarcastic smile back on his face, "Yup just dandy, you can have the bed I'll sleep on the floor tonight." 

"Okay."

"Also we have a week of training ahead of us get some rest."

I slam my head onto the pillow  in exasperation.

....

It was an extremely dark and dank cell, it was quite drafty and had a decaying smell to it. Tia sat all along in the darkness her left arm and legs tied to the floor and wall with tree roots. She was terrified. Terrified to be here. To be back. She had been in here for a few hours after the bat-men threw her inside and hastily shackled her.

Then out of nowhere she heard a low grinding sound, like sand paper being rubbed together. No light entered the room but to her it was quite obvious that a door opened. She heard shuffling and what sounded like a long thick cape being dragged along the floor. The shuffling grew louder and louder in till stopped right in-front of her.

She felt hot breath on her face and she could smell rotting material from the figure in front of her. She attempting to scrunch away from the creature but was trapped.

"My sweet, sweet fairy. There is no need to be afraid." A rough voice croaked. A cool hand stroked her cheek as she attempted to move further away but was still in tangled in roots. 

"Hush. You will be one of us soon." She felt a tap on her head, and the shuffling feet moved towards the other direction where it came.