The Elementals: Return Of Creation

Chapter 2: Growth

 "Hey Nym," Jack greeted. "I'm heading to the creek, I'll be back soon,"

 "Please mind yourself," she cautioned. "It's- It's not really- well..."

 "Don't worry," Jack smiled to comfort her. "I won't be long,"

 The creek was a special place to Jack. When he was five, around fifty years old, Nym took him there to bathe as he had outgrown his small wooden tub and a new one had yet to arrive. The pure joy he felt from the cold stream flowing against his body and the splashes of water he threw in the air stuck with him so much that he cried the next day when the elves tried to bathe him in the new tub. 

 It was the earliest he could remember of Xylosmida, faint as it may be, and ever since he had always come to the creek to rinse himself.

 Five minutes later Jack saw it ahead. A small stream, about three meters wide, flowing calmly to the east, only reaching up to half of his shins. It was so clear Jack could see the pebbles below like he was looking through clean glass. 

 A single leaf glided down to its surface, but instead of zapping the water, it dried up and turned sunset orange, joining the few others scattered around.

 Jack set his toiletries and clothes on a flat boulder by the bank, stripped down, and dipped in. Chills went down his spine when the near glacial water engulfed his legs. He absolutely loved it. Sighing in relief and relaxation, he sat there, all but his face submerged.

 Having to get up again to grab his bar of soap, he rolled his eyes and scoffed. He glanced around the calm forest, scrubbing briskly from his face down. 

 Two more leaves dropped in the near distance and vanished on the ground with loud cracks after quick flashes. Jack grinned to himself.

 Daydreams of what his lessons with Trode would be like filled his head. Probably in a week, Trode would have taught him how to spark lightning from his hands. He figured it would be the most basic part of his training, and was confident he would do well. 

 Images of him shooting bolts of lightning to the sky took over his head as he began scrubbing his arms.

 His hand slowed down. More and more- until he almost stopped. He flickered his eyes, peering intently ahead, mouthing the words, "What...."

 A pair of vague yellow dots seemed pointed at him a few meters away. The bar of soap was close to splashing into the water, and it would hadn't Jack noticed and pulled away from the dots.

 When he blinked, they must've vanished as fast as they came, because no matter how hard he looked, Jack couldn't find it.

  They had just been by a distant tree, which he now realized were against a white background that had also gone missing. 

 It could have been the snow simickattas- creatures that had the head, posture, and claws of a feline, but the limbs, tails, and paws of a monkey -but he knew for a fact they only migrate right before winter begins, which was still at least two months away.

  Jack felt another chill and shivered. It wasn't from the water. He quickly finished up and dried himself off. 

 "Getting late anyway," he mumbled when he noticed all the leaves above had morphed from sky blue to blazing orange, reflecting the last moments of afternoon.

 After he dressed he hurried back. Even if it were just a simickatta, they still weren't the friendliest of creatures. 

 They don't often kill to eat flesh, but have been known to harm while playing around. The thought of being chased by a group of the hairy pests sped his pace.