Sparks Beneath the Surface.

ＴＨＩＲＴＥＥＮ- Under the Jungle's Warmth.

The sun shines down on us as we exit the airplane, being greeted by the crisp air and luscious jungle. The sounds of wild birds like toucans and macaws ring out everywhere. I take a deep breath of how fresh the air is, trying to mentally prepare myself for a possible wild goose chase. And also try to calm my stomach in case this is all real, and I end up being the Supreme Fire Elemental. There's a crazy ass sentence I never thought I'd say. But honestly, ever since that night the Bureau came to get me? I've been saying a lot of things I never thought I'd say.

"Okay," Kiyo clasps her hands together, "What do we do..?"

Ivy looks around, "Uhm, I can ask the trees if they know where to go? Maybe they could lead us directly to the temple." 

"Wait, really? You can actually do something like that?" I ask her.

She nods, "Admittedly it wasn't a very easy skill to learn," She kneels and places her hands on the soil, "But one day I just.." Her magical green vines bloom and extend from the soil to the closest trees that are all around us, growing upward. I gasp softly in amazement as she works her magic. She stands up, "The trees know of what we're looking for, but they're too young to know anything more than whispers. They do know of a tribe that could possibly help us and their village is deeper into the jungle. They can show us the way."

Zade comes forward and stands next to Ivy. He conjures his runes and she intertwines her vines with them, a sparkling light yellow-green path of magic flows through the grass, showing us the way to go.

Elian exhales, "Okay, everyone. Let's get going." He's the first to follow the path and we all come after him, admiring the lush jungle around us.

Kiyo and Clarke come to my side, "Hey, Dani."

"Oh, hey Kiyo, hey Clarke," I give them a half-smile.

"You okay? I know that's a silly question, circumstances given, but still. Something's very clearly plaguing your mind." Kiyo asks.

I know that the mission and finding this magical temple should be at the forefront of my mind, which is still totally a brainfuck but all I can think of right now is the fight Elian, Kami, and I had. And how shitty of a friend I'm being to Ivy pursuing this thing with Elian, because for some strange fucking reason.. My want for him trumps my feelings of guilt. They're still stifling, don't get me wrong, but when I'm in his arms, I just.. I feel so much better. All the outer factors seem not to weigh as heavily on me anymore.

Obviously, I can't tell them that. So I do tell them what I know they think I'm thinking about. Which is like I said, pretty fucking insane, "Yeah.. I still can't wrap my head around it. All of this.. And the risk I'm putting all of your careers in for something that might not even be real, I- I'm just-," I sigh exasperatedly, "I'm sorry. You guys don't deserve this, you don't deserve to have your time wasted this way."

"You can say that again," Delilah quips, walking ahead of us. I roll my eyes as she brisks past.

"Ignore her. We're a team, for better or worse. We didn't come into this line of work to be liked, we do it to get the job done, whether big or small. We win and lose as a team." Clarke replies.

I nod, doing my best to believe him, "Thanks."

"...you're being like this!" Ivy's voice grows nearer.

"Ivy, I'd appreciate it if you'd just drop it, please." Elian grumbles.

"No! I don't get it! Whatever it is that's making you be such an asshole with me, tell me what it is so we can deal with it together! This isn't what I wanna bring home to Wren."