She was unsure of what to say to that. She didn't even know his name. She opted for the truth and hoped the chess master would not be mad with her. However, if he did get upset maybe these new people would help her if she needed to escape. Softly she replied, "Um. . no. We had a deal that if he beat me at chess I would come with him with out a fuss. If I had won he would have let me go."

Caden was instantly baffled by the girl's words. He had never quite heard of a trap like that. He looked over the man leading them once more, hoping his intentions weren't to lead them into an even larger trap. His adrenaline started pumping throughout his body, thinking of a fight that could lay ahead. Caden was kind of glad that he had come along, if this girl was in trouble maybe he could try to help her out.

"Ah, well that's an...interesting story," he began, and then leaned down close next to her ear so only she could hear, "He looks harmless though." He winked at her, nodding at the guy's back.

She tried not to show that his words and sort of tumbled her. Did he think that what she just told him was a lie? He had used the word story and often people said that when your words seemed more like a fairy tale than real. When he whispered that the chess master looked harmless she grew worried again. If he didn't believe her and thought the man was harmless would he bother to help her if she need it? She decided to keep quiet and prepared. She said in whispers back to him, " O-oh okay." She knew it was lame but she didn't know what else to say to him.

As Audrey followed the group, noticing the whispers by the others, she thought about the possibility of trap. It couldn't be this easy to find the rebel group, could it? She didn't like the idea of walking unprepared for a trap, so she asked as casually as she could muster, "So what's everybody power?" She knew Caden's power from earlier but the girl's and other man's were a mystery. She didn't expect a serious answer from them, but maybe she caught one of them off guard and they'd tell.

A huge gust of wind wizzed throught a small market area. People were confused and irritated as they tried to fix the overturned merchandise. As soon as they had everything set up again the freak wind blew again causing some stands to collapse completely. The unsuspecting vender a small voice yell,"Get 'em".

Then small groups of trash seemed to explode bearing poorly dressed children. The adults didn't have time to think as the mob of children ran through the small street grabbing whatever they could. As the salesmen started to chase after the delinquents the wind began to swirl wildly creating a small but powerful tornado. The weather kicked up dust sand that blinded the men. Then just as quickly as it came it was gone. Everything was calm and quiet. But only for a few moments as the towns people began to cuss and rant wondering what the hell just happened.

Not to far from the scene a young woman sporting a rather large hood stood in the way of a group and children holding food and other merchandise that they could sell later. The air was thick and the children were afraid to move. All of a sudden the stranger through her head back in laughter, the children so joined in.

"You guys were awesome. You should be able to survive for a year on the money you'll make on that crap. Good luck, kay?" The brunette waved as she began to walk away.

"Miss Era aren't you going to stay and eat with us?" A small girl rocking pigtails asked as her hung onto the woman's hooded cloak. The girl squatted so she was face to face with the little girl.

"Naw, I have to look for someone but I'll be back, eventually." Era walked to the cliff that her and the kids promised to meet at once they were done. " Be good," with that she fell backwards into the mist. Her intented destination was the grasslands.

Jeremiah suddenly stopped, before a particularly thick patch of tall grass, and turned to face those he was leading. "Before we go any further, I need something from each of you. Let's start with..." he made a show of carefully choosing among them, though he had already made the decision "You. Caden. Everyone else step back please, thank you. Now, Caden. I want you to hit me as hard as you can."

Caden stared at the man as if he was crazy. People didn't normally tell Caden to hit them, unless they were attempting to instigate a fight.
"What?" he asked dumbfoundedly. "Why in the world would you want me to do that?" he questioned him. "I mean, if you really want me to, I will. I just like to know why I'm hitting people," he stated, letting this man know Caden would abide by his wishes if he really wanted him to, but this guy seemed like a real oddball.

((Ok the absence wasn't on purpose I just came back sorry))
Lillian Alex stepped out of her cave. She took in the air that came from no man's land and smiled as she yawned and wondered if anyone had visited her home during the week she had taken to stay in her cave. She started to walk along the land that was not taken and wondered who was here. She started to sing quietly to herself with an earthy voice that while strong was liquid at the same time. She saw a bird come and smiled brighter at the sight that she had always loved. She had a feeling something was going to happen today and she was excited for it. She started to go towards the cool water kingdom. She knew she was headed the right way when the warmth of the fire desert completely disappeared the farther she went.

Mena did not answer the girl but tried to pretend like she didn't hear the question. What if it was some kind of trick to get her to reveal herself. Flashing ones power around was an easy way to get killed especially if you ran into the wrong people. She still had not decided if these people were the wrong kind or not.

She let out a small gasp at the man's request. Why did you want Caden to hit him? Was he trying to start a fight. Perhaps she should not have said so much. She said, trying to be bold, "W-w -what is this? Why would you want him to hurt you? None of us should hurt anyone." She tried to pleasd hoping the men would listen.

Jeremiah held a level gaze at Caden, his smile unmoving. "I want you. To hit me. As hard. As you can." he repeated. He didn't seem to be taking a fighting stance, but simply stood there, one hand placed nonchalantly on his hip.

Caden locked his gaze for a few moments and slowly sighed. "Whatever you say, Boss," he told the man. He put one foot back slightly and raised a fist. He ran full speed at the man, fist in air, and when he was finally close enough he connected his knuckles to the center of the man's stomach.

...except the center of the man's stomach was no longer there, and Caden finds himself stumbling forward, connecting only with empty air. Jeremiah, after performing a flip about ten feet up, lands gracefully behind Caden, and retakes his nonchalant stance.

"Excellent, very good. Had I let you hit me, I'm sure it would have hurt. Okay." Without waiting for Caden's reaction, Jeremiah turns to face the two girls. "We already had a chess game, so that leaves you, Audrey." his eyes narrow slightly "I'm guessing, Earth elementalist? Either way, think fast." He slashes a hand through the air in front of him, and a veritable shockwave of sharp blades of grass comes hurtling towards her, propelled by Jeremiah's Earth powers.

Audrey had seen it coming and didn't dodge the attack, the test Jeremiah gave Caden was similar to those given in the Earth Kingdom. Instead she created a shield by pulling up earth and stone from below her, then proceeded to create a rose vine trap around him from seeds she had silently dropped from her pocket.

Having him decently trapped, "What is the need of these theatrics? Are you testing us?" she asked irritably, she didn't like sneak attacks like that, especially from other Earth Elementals.

Caden was a little irritated. "Sure it would have hurt," he silently mumbled under his breath, mocking the man. He straightened back up, regaining his composure. Suddenly the man threw an attack at Audrey, but she did an amazing job of defending herself, even managing to trap the man. Caden walked over and looked him up and down.

"A definite oddball. I think an explanation would be extraodinary," Caden sad sarcastically.

Era gracefully lept from treetop to treetop. Using her powers to help her get some extra height. She was extremely fustrated that she had yet to learn how to fly. Only a select few had mastered it and she wasn't even close. The books she kept reading were not helpful either. They talked about master many techniques but flying was not one of them. It was forbidden at one point. To many had died and it was in the most sickening way. After they would get at a certain height they would lose focus and fall to their deaths. Era visibly cringed as she though about it, but you can't learn if you don't sacrafice a little. Era's mind began to wonder off again. Was it weird to ramble internally.

Her thoughts came to halt when she saw a group of people standing in the middle of an open feild. The was a man wrapped in some sort a vine and he was surrounding by other people.

"Earth elementalist? Since when do they randomly attack people?" Era asked herself as she watched in secrect. "They look like they're having fun, maybe I should join?" the brunette asked herself as she hopped off the branch. When she landed a small gust of wind exploded beneath her. She scratche the back of her head hoping she didn't catch any unwanted attention to early. I really need to control myself.

Mena watched as the man dodged Caden's attack and landed just fine. She shrunk back a little when he noted that they had already had a chess game. She did not want to be attacked. Her eyes went wide though when he threw an attack at the other girl. What was he doing? She was about to help but had been too slow and the girl had done just fine by herself. Mena gulped a little realizing she was not with anyone from her kingdom. Would they wish to hurt her if they knew she was from the water kingdom. Just as she thought this there was a gust of wind and a new girl was there. She really was alone. She decided it best not to use her element. She shrunk further back from the others hoping they wouldn't notice her. If they were so distracted with each other she might be able to get away.

Era saw someone look over at her. The girl look a little startled. Era's brows knitted together in confusion as she examined the young lady's behaviour. She watched as she shrunk away from her aquestionable friends. If Era didn't know better she would swear that the girl was trying to get away.

She walked over and placed a delicate hand on the strangers shoulders.
"Hi! Where you going?" Era had a tendancy to form conversation without properly introducing herself. Her mother would have a heart attack if she saw her behaving so unmannerly. Era placed a wide grin on her face that had a small hint of maliciousness. She hoped that this group could keep her busy for a little, or atleast ave some clues as to where her best friend was.

Mena let out a gasp as a hand was placed on her shoulder. "Um n-n-no where." she stuttered out unable to hide her fear. When the new girl grinned Mena shivered getting a feeling that the smile was not warm or friendly. Would she have to use her water shield? She took a small step back so the girls hand wouldn't be on her anymore.

"Eh?" Era tilted her head to the side as the girl backed away with that nervous expression still plastered on her face. "I'm not gonna hurt you I promise." She place one finger over the left sde of chest slowly making an 'X'.

"I'm just interested in having a little bit of play time. After I get my work out of the ay of course." Era took a slow step foward. She didn't want to freak out the poor girl more that she already had.

Jeremiah looked at Audrey with interest, noticing neither Caden nor the new girl. "Well done, well done. Quite a good job you did there." he looked up and raised his voice "I think they seem adequate, wouldn't you say?"

From behind the tall grass, two people jumped forward, one holding a bow and arrow whose arrowhead seemed to be on fire, the other holding a pair of swords seemingly made of ice. Jeremiah swiftly cut his way from the vines with an unseen blade and walked over to join them. "If you would all be so kind as to follow us, please, thank you." He turned and walked into the tall grass, the other two keeping their eyes peeled and weapons ready should anyone try anything. They motion for everyone to follow where Jeremiah had gone.

Even though the girl said she wasn't going to hurt her what exactly did she consider play time to be? Mena took another step back as the girl approached. Suddenly two more people appeared who were ready to fight. Mena was scared and did not want there to be a fight. She hung her head a bit and said softly, "Perhaps it's best we just go with them." What she wouldn't give for her brother to be here. She had decided to go out and journey but she had not know how hard it would be to leave everything she knew behind.

"You didn't answer my question and why should we follow some one who hasn't even given us his name," Audrey called to him, still irritated at the sneak attack. All the same she started following him through the tall grass, she didn't have much of a choice with the two men who appeared to be on his side. She could see that Mena was nervous. She glanced at the others, including the new girl who she was uncertain about, but Audrey wasn't as concerned about her as the man leading them.

"You're quite the cocky one aren't you?" Era wasn't looking in the man who seemed to be the leader but any idiot could guess who her question was directed at. Era looked over at her unamed acquataince, is she really going blindly follow this idiot?

Era looked at him ad his two goons. Then she sat down Indian style on the soft grass.
"So, is anyone actually following Mr. Cocky?"

Caden took notice to Mena's frightened state. He walked next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "No need to worry, I think the fighting is over," he informed her confidently. "For now anyway," he added, joking. He looked back at the new girl now sitting in the grass. "I intend to follow him, and just who might you be to ask?" he questioned.

He took his arm off of Mena's shoulder and patted her back, catching up to Audrey and the man.

Era scratched her head. "Thats a good question my friend, but don't you know its kind of rude to ask about someone else without introducing oneself."
Damn. I didn't think they would follow him that quickly. I wanted to see another fight. Era thought to herself, her face contorting into a look of dissapointment.