Marie trembled, staring up at Gelo who continued to glare at her

Marie trembled, staring up at Gelo who continued to glare at her.

"Um…sorry to seem rude but it's not nice to glare at people like that…"

Gelo crossed his arms and mumbled, "Put the water back…"

"I'm sorry I didn't hear that," Marie said, shoulders tensing and leaning forward a bit to hear him better.

Gelo bent forward so she could see his flat, lizard like face, "I said put the water back!"
Marie jumped back and almost knocked the bucket of water over. Gelo uncrossed his arms and walked over to her slowly. She scooted back every time he drew nearer.

"Why?" she asked.

He stopped and looked at her in question, "Why? Because that water belongs to Kappa Lake, now you put it BACK!"

Marie stood up slowly, standing just a few feet taller than him and decided to be strong, "No…I need it."

Gelo furrowed his brow, "What for…?"

Before Marie could open her mouth she heard someone calling her name from the edge of the village. She saw two figures, one really tall and the other very small, running toward her and Gelo. Right away she could tell who they were. She called to the taller one. "Valiant, thank goodness you're here!"

Valiant caught up in a flash and raised an eyebrow when he saw what it was that caused Marie to scream. It looked like what you get when an amphibian crosses with a human. He had long things coming from his head that seemed to be ears, horns on his head and a stubby snout, three webbed fingers and toes, and a tail that was webbed at the end. His skin shinned from the moonlight above their heads and the color appeared very aqua-like. Valiant caught his breath and Umou crawled up his cape and onto his shoulder. Umou looked at Gelo curiously, wondering what he is. Valiant patted him on the head and smiled, "Yeah I know… I don't understand why Marie screamed at something like that either."

Marie tensed, he was being a bully again and she understood what it felt like. Gelo didn't say anything but just looked away in disgrace. Marie sided with him this time, clenched her fists and scolded Valiant for being mean all the time.

"Sheesh," Valiant said taking his pinky to massage the insides of his ears after all the scolding he got, "No need to be like that, I was only kidding…kinda. Anyway why'd you scream? Even you can deal damage on him."

Marie rolled her eyes; he's doing it again…. She stood tall, wings up a bit and scolded him even more, "Because he just came out of no where and scared me! Then he started threatening me to put the water back that we need for father!"

Valiant's eyes widened and shot a glance at Gelo, but he had his attention away from the two. Valiant's anger raged he grabbed Gelo by one of the ear's to get his attention. Gelo flinched and yelped, keeping on eye on him and the other one closed.

"So…you think it's fun to pick on girls and then try to take the water we need for our sick friend...HUH!?"

Gelo shook his head, "I'm sorry! I didn't know you have a sick friend! I'm just protecting the water that belonged to my kind that were all killed by the mages!"

Valiant loosened up, feeling sorry for him and let him go. "Let's ignore the weakling," Valiant said, turning his back to Gelo and spoke to Marie, "Get the water and c'mon."

Marie didn't say anything, she knew from experience already not to bother people like Valiant when angry like he was now. She picked up the bucket, bowed a bit to Gelo and left running after Valiant who already walked off. Gelo watched them curiously as to who this sick friend was. He waited till they were far enough to not hear him behind them and followed them.

It was easy for Gelo to find what house they were staying in, since it was the only one with a light lit in it. He didn't know how they got the lights working…maybe a candle. He went over to a window and peaked in. He saw Marie walking over to a bed, bending down and talked to the one in bed. Must be the friend who's sick...hm they sure seem worried. I wonder how bad it is. He leaned forward a bit more, hoping to see who it was. But Valiant suddenly walked over with a bowl of water, blocking his view.

"Damnit!" Gelo said, banging on the window sill.

Umou, who was sitting on a chair across from the window, heard him and looked over at the window. From what happened earlier, Umou knew Valiant didn't like him so he must be gotten rid of. Umou made a noise to get their attention then pointed at the window.

From outside Gelo could see the two looking at the Uka, then at the window. He was now caught, but still decided to duck down. But of course the door opened and once again a raged Valiant was after him. Gelo tried to run but being a water animal he was slow on land and Valiant caught up.

"First you threaten us and now you're spying on us!?" Valiant scolded at Gelo, holding him up by the ears. Gelo flinched with every syllable coming from Valiant's mouth. Not only was he speaking really loud, Gelo had very sensitive ears. Once Valiant finally stopped killing his ears, Gelo apologized once again and made up some weak excuse as to why he was spying on them. Marie watched from afar, feeling sorry for Gelo. Sure she didn't like the idea of being spied on but he must've had better reasons. She walked over slowly, hoping Valiant was cooling down and tapped him on the shoulder. Like a wild animal Valiant turned his head to her and growled. And like a scared puppy Marie yelped and jumped back a few feet. Valiant sighed after realizing it was just her and set Gelo down, knowing she'd just complain about how he was treating an "innocent creature". He cracked his neck and knuckles, only to scare Gelo, before going back into the house. Marie watched him and flinched when he slammed the door behind him. She brought her hand to her mouth and muttered, "I hope he didn't wake father when he did that…" She then jumped when she heard Gelo say "excuse me miss…" to her. She looked over at him and saw him standing right in front of her with his hands behind his back and gaze looking sideways. He seemed to be blushing from embarrassment and guilt; he stuttered words of apology again. Marie smiled, "It's alright. I should be apologizing, at least for Valiant. He has a bad temper…heh almost as bad as father's."

Gelo looked up at her with curious eyes, "I'm sorry…but may I ask…who is your 'father' that you keep speaking about?"

"Oh," Marie said with a smile, "He adopted me because my real parents abandoned me because of my wings. He's a mage."

Gelo's eyes widened, "D-did you say…a mage?"

Marie eyes smiled at him too, a huge proud smile on her face, "MmmHM!"

Gelo then lunged at her, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close to him, "Are you CRAZY!? Mages are evil! E-V-I-L! Look I even have to spell it out to you! Why do you have a mage, of all evil abominations, in a wizard's home! You should know mages and wizards are enemies! And the mages kill and take over places!"

Marie stared down at him like he was stupid. He sure was acting weird breathing heavily and had a psycho look on his face.

"Um…sorry I guess I forgot to mention he's a good mage."

"Good mage!? There's no such thi-" he then stopped and let Marie go, he stared wide eyed at the house.

"Um…" Marie said, looking at him and waved her hand in front of his face, "Are…are you ok Gelo?"

Gelo looked over at her slowly, "Miss…is...is it alright if I see your father?"

"Sure," Marie said with a smile, "But pleaaase be quiet. He's got a very high fever." She put a finger to her lips, Gelo nodded and she smiled leading the way.

Gelo kept his eyes to the floor until he was standing in front of the bed. It took Marie a while to calm Valiant, who was raging over having Gelo enter the house, but once he was standing calmly in a corner with his arms folded Marie allowed Gelo to see Magius. Gelo stared at him, eyes not blinking. He had a look on his face that seemed to say "unbelievable". He reached forward, wanting to touch the sleeping mage's hot and sweaty face, but before he knew it Marie stopped him.

"Don't!" she yelled, grabbing his wrist, "He just now managed to get to sleep!"

Gelo snapped out of his haze and looked at Marie then at Magius, he looked back and forth and then suddenly his legs gave in. He stared at the floor, clenched his fists and let tears start to leak from his eyes. Marie walked over to him, "I'm sorry did I hurt you or something?"

"No…" Gelo said, shaking his head, "It's just…I…I haven't seen him in such a long time!"

Marie and Valiant stared at him, while Umou stayed on his chair and was grooming himself.
"Um…Gelo what do you mean?" Marie asked, last she recalled her father told her he's been living in the forest near Godfrey for all his life, and Gelo sure seemed like he never left the lake either.

Gelo looked over at her, "He and I knew each other since we were very young! Your father was raised by wizards, and this house that you're in is the house of his best friend Belle. She was a witch that got sick, thanks to your father…or that's what was rumored. She got so sick that she died, but then again that was a rumor too."

Marie stared at him, "Tha-that can't be true…father…he said-"

"Well he lied," Gelo said, turning his attention to the bed sheets in front of him, "He always keeps things from people for their sake and his."

Marie looked at the ground. Valiant remained in his corner with his arms crossed, but looked away from the two with a frown on his face. It remained quiet for a while, everyone remained in their same spot and sometimes Magius would mutter something in his sleep. Marie looked around the room, then at Gelo who still had his eyes glued to the floor.

"Gelo…would you happen to know any way we can help father? We can't find any medicine for him and…well neither Valiant or I are very good when it comes to stuff like this."

Gelo looked over at Marie slowly, then out the window and pointed at a large rocky mountain that she just now noticed because he pointed it out.

"The Earth Dragon…" he said plainly.

"E-earth Dragon!?" Marie stuttered, "There's an Earth Dragon too?"

Gelo furrowed his brow, "Too? Don't know what you mean by that but yeah…there's a dragon for each element, then there's the leader of all dragons the Great Dragon. He's rather old though, I think he needs to find a prophet to take his place soon. Anyway the Earth Dragon protects and controls the earth, thus he knows everything about the earth and can heal any illness with herbs. Also he's got mystic powers all the element dragons do actually. Just the Earth Dragon specializes in healing powers."

Marie jumped up and squealed a bit, "Really!? That's great! Why didn't we think of this before?" Marie asked that last question toward Valiant by jumping on him and shaking him. Valiant still had his arms crossed even when shaken and replied that they didn't even know there was an Earth Dragon.

"Oh…yeah you're right, heh-heh silly me. I just got out of hand I guess." Marie playfully hit her head and stuck her tongue out.

"Well," Valiant said uncrossing his arms and standing straight, "I guess we should get going. I'll carry Magius again if you want."

"Wait!" Gelo said causing the two to jump, "You can't just barge in there and expect him to help you. He's a very stubborn guy and it might be hard to persuade. You'll have to go to him first and ask for his help and then you can bring Magius."

Valiant raised his arms up and yelled, "Well then what's the whole point then! We're just going back and forth!"

"I'm sorry but that's what I’m told and I've seen lots of wizards go up their without asking and coming back very badly injured."

"The Earth Dragon hurt them? I thought the dragons weren't supposed to hurt people," Marie said with a questioned look.

"No, his guardians attack you. You also have to pass his test to see if you can defeat his little rock gnomes."

Valiant grinned, putting a hand on one of his muscled arms and closed one eye, "That's what I'm here for."

Marie grinned, jumped at him and hugged you, "You're a life savor Valiant!"

Valiant blushed, "Hey don't just jump at me like that!" He then pushed her off and turned his back to her, "I just want to hurry up and get going."

Marie sat up and looked at him with a smile, "Sure you do."

Valiant, Umou and Marie left Gelo with Magius as they headed toward the Earth Dragon's lair.

Gelo looked out the window, noticing the sun starting to rise and then turned his attention to the rocky mountain. "I wish you three the best of luck…you'll need it."