Hope sat silently, alone, watching the sun drift above the horizon as it announced the arrival of the new day. A feeling rose in her heart as she watched the spectacle that filled her with wonder. The emotion confused her.

That morning, while she scouted the valley, she found a perfect little spot not far from the little shelter they used the previous night. She sat cross-legged atop a large, flat boulder, surveying the area for movement.

The valley was peacefully quiet, without a single creature to disturb the perfect scene. She’d filled a shallow depression on top of the stone and was about to wipe the dirt off her skin when a tiny figure crawled into view.

“Morning little one,” Alec greeted.

Hope scrunched up her little nose at the tiny creature. “Me little?”

She smiled as Alec bounded in and kicked his little feet, splashing the rock beside her.

“Now this is an excellent opportunity to wipe off the grime,” Alec said, ignoring Hope's look of disapproval.

Ignoring the minor nuisance, she scooped up the slightly sullied water and soaked her hair. She shook her head and pulled back her pale, soaking hair. Her brow furrowed as she looked at herself in the bright reflection of the stream.

"That's strange," She muttered to herself. Alec turned from the stream and looked up at her.

"Are you all right?" Alec spoke; his gravelly voice had a hint of concern.

"What, what do you mean?" she blinked back at him.

He waded through the shallow pool and slowly approached her. Hope looked down at the tattered old dress she wore.

Whatever did he mean? There were no cuts or bruises.

She was perfectly fine.

"How are you feeling?" He asked tentatively.

She opened her mouth to speak but then paused.

Feeling? What did Alec mean?

Her whole life she'd never really thought about it. As far as she could remember, Hope had done what she was told with no objection. Feelings had no meaning. Farlen had books that described words like love, hate, envy and sadness. However, all of these emotions were alien to her.

There was nothing to compare them to, so how could she know its meaning?

But then something changed. She placed her hands on the Magic book, and something rushed through her mind. Like a forgotten memory from long ago.

"The water," She mumbled. "It's cool."

"Is it pleasant?" Alec asked tentatively.

She looked up and gave a slight nod. Hope thought back to the other night and the white dragon statue. She’d been terrified. Even her heart felt like it was going to explode. She grimaced at the thought and clutched at her chest.

Alec saw the fear in her eyes and placed a rocky yet comforting hand on her shin.

"Were you scared?" Alec asked softly.

"What is happening to me?" Hope looked at her hands. They were trembling.

"That was probably the first time you have ever felt it. Fear, I mean."

Hope closed her eyes and remembered the horror of the night. She could still hear the cries of the dead and the roar of the dragon. The smell of blood.

"That was fear?" She asked.

Alec nodded. She thought of Farlens' books. Their meanings seemed to solidify slowly.

"Karn will be waking up soon," Hope spoke as she scooped up a handful of clear running water. She pressed it against the back of her neck. It felt soothing.

"When we get back. I will inform Farlen of your," Alec turned away and dipped his arms into the water, fully submerging his minute frame. His little head popped back up and gave her a rocky smile. "Predicament."

"Is it permanent?"

"It's better than that." He spoke cheerfully. "It's human."

She frowned at him. Maybe Farlen would have better answers for her.

Ahead of them lay a vast ocean covered in a light blanket of calm clouds. The mist that had been lingering all morning had only just vanished as the songbirds awoke and sang.

“Go and wake Karn. I’ll quickly finish up here,” Alec said as he continued to polish his tiny body.

Karn groaned. Hope noticed that he had had another restless sleep. Every so often, he would toss and turn or flinch in his sleep. Hope felt an odd urge to wrap her arms around and comfort him. She knelt beside Karn and stared into his sleeping face. Karn fascinated her. When she touched the book and their eyes first met, she felt an overpowering constriction deep within her chest.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Hope’s eyes surveyed the man's sharp features. For some reason she felt like she could stare at him for hours. Suddenly Karn cringed in his sleep. Instinctively, Hope placed her hand on his forehead and his eyes snapped open. For a moment, he was alarmed, but he then relaxed when he saw Hope's face.

He gave her a weak smile, brushed her hand gently aside and then sat up. "Morning." He yawned.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

He nodded. "I'm ok, just a little sore." Karn stretched his arms skyward and flexed his ankles.

He blinked in astonishment. "Actually, I'm quite fine." Loosening his shoes, he stared slack jawed as he examined his left heel.

"Wow, my blisters are gone! Thanks so much," he said. "You’re a goddess."

"It was nothing." Hope said, feeling the urge to hide her face behind her hair.

Karn dug around in his bag and grabbed an Ingad from inside and tossed it at her. She caught it red faced as he bit down on his own.

"Nice view," he said with a smile.

Hope fidgeted in full view and hurriedly fixed her hair with her spare hand.

Karn gestured to the sea. “You don’t get to see that kinda ocean view from where I’m from.”

Hope smiled politely as Karn continued devouring breakfast. After a time, he stood and scanned the horizon with a wistful expression. Hope found herself stealing more than a few glances towards the contours of his back, lingering on the tensing muscles underlining his shoulders and arms. Her mind wondered as she pictured the first time, she saw Karn.

"Ready now?" asked Karn, turning towards her. She blushed.

"Ye... Yes!" Hope stammered and lifted herself up, dusting off her dress.

"So how long do you think we have left?" he asked.

"Not sure. Alec?"

The little rock man moved into view and shrugged. "You would know better than I."

She examined the terrain and paused in thought. "I think we should arrive late this afternoon."

⚔

Karn grinned at the sight of sandy shores and rolling waves. The white sand and pale blue ocean reflected the dazzling rays of the sun. Karn took off his shoes and waded into the water.

The water is surprisingly warm, he thought.

Hope moved beside him and felt the water caressing her shins.

“Refreshing?” asked Alec.

“Definitely,” said Karn, enjoying the warm currents that lapped around his legs.

A mild breeze pushed comfortably at their backs carrying the rich salty sent with it.

"This is great," Karn spoke softly.

"This is home," Hope replied.

Karn chuckled. "Pretty useless if you want to go surfing, though."

"Surfing?"

"Oh, yeah. Um, it’s a sport where you ride big waves with a board."

She gave him an odd smile of knowing.

"It's not magic," Karn quickly added. “It floats. Like a boat.”

She scrutinised his face, clearly unconvinced.

“You were in my world for a time you convince her,” Karn said to Alec.

The Elementlet chuckled. "How will you explain television?"

Karn smiled, adding, "or flying on a plane?"

"You can fly?" Hope gasped.

Alec and Karn burst into laughter together. Karn moved to the shore and dropped to the ground. Hope followed suit eagerly and sat down beside him.

They stretched back and basked in the sun. Slow rhythmic ripples rolled in and out in a low, melodic beat.

"I could get pretty comfortable living in a place like this," Karn said. “Hope?”

She was staring off down the beach. Karn followed her gaze. Further down the beach lay a tiny figure. Startled, Karn sat upright.

More than a hundred paces away was someone.

“Is that a child?” Karn asked. He squinted and could see that the kid had drifted in with the tide.

Hope sprang up and ran towards the figure. She seemed to have gained some newly found authority as she stormed down the beach.

“Hey wait up,” Karn called.

The child hadn’t bothered to move as they got closer.

When he was only a short distance away, Karn realised that the small child had the same distinctly white hair as Hope.

Hope stood over the small girl, her hands at her waist and waited.

"Boo!" the young girl yelled, dissolving into a fit of giggles. Hope rolled her eyes.

"You know her?" asked Karn, through ragged breaths.

"Yes." She kicked a spray of sand over the child. "Very funny Fin!"

"I thought she was dead," commented Karn. "She looked like she had drowned,"

Hope gave out a bark of laughter, then checked herself.

"No. She's just lazy." To emphasise her point, she gave Fin a poke on the nose. "Aren't you?"

"Hey!" exclaimed Fin as she lunged forward and sat up straight. "What do you think you're..." Her eyes found Karn, and she instantly panicked.

"Hope. Who's that?" she asked.

Hope breathed slowly. "Is that how to meet new people?" Fin crouched, ready to either pounce or run.

"Fin, this is Karn."

Karn grinned at the girl. "Um, well. Hello."

Fin eyed him, frozen and silent.

"Fin. That's not very nice," Added Hope, giving the girl a bemused scowl.

Karn tried to look innocent, but the little girl just stared at him with her mouth agape.

Cautiously, Karn knelt down and gave a small wave. "Hello Fin, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Nothing.

He moved forward and held out an open hand.

"Stay back!" She stammered.

"Fin!"

"I said. Stay back!" She groped at a pocket on her side and let out a mournful breath. She glanced down next to Karn's feet. There lay a small wooden dagger, no bigger than his hand. It looked dull and somehow rusted from the tip to the hilt. No more than a child's plaything. It hardly looked useful at all.

"Is this yours?" Karn said while pointing.

She gave no response.

He bent down, picked it up and held it out handle first with an outstretched hand. She jumped back.

"I'm not threatening you. See look!" He tossed it softly at her feet and stood back himself.

"He won't hurt you." Hope said impatiently.

Fin's facial features revealed a bright smile but only for a heartbeat.

"A trick." She stammered with suspicion.

"No, no. It's not. See - take it. I won't try anything." He stepped backwards. The girl lunged to the ground and swiped it up in her grip. Alec skipped between them, and the girl's face brimmed with excitement.

"It’s a rock boy!" She squealed with sudden joy. Forgetting about Karn, Fin knelt down and picked him up like a rag doll. Her smile vanished as she looked back at Karn.

“Fin,” spoke Alec just as carefully as Karn. “We are friends.”

Fin flicked between the two strangers, then shrugged.

"Oh! I guess if you’re friends." And with that, she swivelled on the spot and walked down the beach.

Hope rolled her eyes again and followed. "And that is Fin."

Karn watched in shock. He looked up at Hope returned an expression of exasperation then followed.

"You looked hurt lying there alone." Alec chortled.

"Hurt? No." She spoke irritably. "Hungry, yes. Very, yes."

"Hungry?" Karn flipped open his pack and took out one of the Ingad fruit from the day before. "I have food."

At that, all suspicion vanished, and she hurriedly skipped in front of Karn. Lowering his hand, Fin peered at it with a twitching nose and snatched it up.

"What do we say, Fin?" asked Hope.

Fin ripped open the skin and bit into the fruit.

"I like you Karn." She said through chewing. "You bring me food." Fin gulped down the first mouthful and then skipped down the beach with the rest of her prize.

"That was fast." Karn chuckled.

"Manners." Hope barked. Fin twirled mid skip and blew her tongue. Ingad juice flew everywhere narrowly missing Karn and Hope. Alec looked at the three in silent fascination as the small group moved slowly forward.

“Home, we go, with our new friends and yummy food!” sung Fin.