Friends and Harmony

Chapter 10

Cosette's Mercy

After a couple of minutes, the boys decided to get in front of the girls a few feet away to talk privately.

"So, Tobias," Henry began with a sly smile on his face, "what happened to Stella?"

Tobias turned bright pink and nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, after we finished middle school, she was offered a scholarship at the Royal Flight Academy like I was. We both got the top spots in our class, me in first and Stella in second. I was offered a position in the royal air force, but I turned it down, so she got it."

"WHAT?!" Ritchie and Felix exclaimed. They were joined by Cosette and Violet, who heard about what had happened and caught up with them. "WHY?!"

"Joining the royal air force was your dream, wasn't it, Tobias?" Violet asked.

"It still is," Tobias said, "but I want to get in with the right stuff, the hard way. I want to prove to them that I can get in because I want to and that I have what it takes, not just because my father was a decorated hero back in the day."

"Who was your father?" Henry asked.

"Kenneth Nelson." He answered.

Henry's eyes widened. That man was the most well-known pilot in the history of the air force. "No wonder they want you."

Tobias nodded. "He retired when he met my mother, Cassandra. A year later, they had me, then my little brother, Damian."

"Where are they now?"

"They are at home now. But, I hardly see them."

"Hey, I may not know much about this, but find some time with them. Before you know it, your little brother might not be so little anymore." Henry then turned to the other guys. "What about you two? You have any siblings?"

"I have an older sister." Felix said. "Her name's Jewel. She has her own place just outside of town, working as a minerologist."

"I don't have any siblings." Ritchie said. "But I do have two cousins that stay over at the farm. Michael is the older one, and David is his younger brother."

"I have a younger sister." Violet said. "Her name is Bianca. She lives with me back home for now, while our parents are on their world cruise."

Cosette frowned. "I don't have siblings either, but I do have an annoying older cousin. Her name's Whitney."

Tobias shuddered. "I agree with you on the annoying part. But, I'm glad she is at boarding school right now."

Henry had a feeling there was a story behind that, but seeing the grimace on both of their faces, it was definitely for another time.

"What about you, Henry?" Tobias asked.

Henry looked down for a few seconds before speaking. "I'm an orphan."

The others blinked. "Sorry." Felix apologized.

Henry shrugged it off. "It's okay. I was just found at the front steps of the orphanage when I was a baby, and I lived there until I was moved into the castle." He then showed everyone his dagger. "This is all I have of my parents. Whenever I look at it, I think of them."

Ritchie placed a hand on Henry's shoulder. "I'm sure they didn't want to leave you behind."

Henry smiled. "That's one way to put it."

Cosette was staring intently at Henry's dagger. There was something familiar about that symbol, like she had seen it before. But, where?

Suddenly, a tall man hopped out of the shrubbery, making the six teenagers jump back in surprise. He carried a rifle in his arms and he was dressed in all gray.

Violet shuddered. "Now, that is a fashion disaster." She said.

Cosette readied her bow, Tobias pulled out his pistol, and Henry placed his hand on his dagger. Ritchie had his hand on his lasso, Violet grabbed her sewing scissors, and Felix had a match at the ready. The man grinned.

"I never knew kids can be this daring, entering the Outcast Woods." He cocked the rifle and aimed it at them. "This ought to be fun."

"First of all," Felix cut in, "is this really your occupation? Taking out kids?"

"No." The man replied. "I take out intruders."

"Okay then." Tobias said with a snarky smirk. "Think fast!" He fired at the rifle's barrel, denting it. The man quickly dropped it with shock.

Ritchie lassoed the man and and tied him to a nearby tree. Cosette aimed her arrow at his head, ready to let it loose.

"No, please!" The man pleaded. "I'm sorry! Please, let me go!"

Cosette glared at the frightened man. Then, her face softened a bit. But, she reverted back to her glare and fired the arrow.

The man winced, waiting for his fate. But, he saw that the arrow had hit the tree. The man stared at the girl who spared his life. She untied him, still having a firm look on her face.

"Get out of here." She ordered.

The man wasted no time in scurrying away into the thick trees, gasping to catch his bated breath.

"Why did you let him go?" Henry asked. "He was just about ready to kill us."

"He wasn't worth it." Cosette answered, turning to him. "Besides, everyone deserves mercy. Even the worst of people."

Suddenly, another bright flash of light illuminated the sky. The teens looked up and saw a yellow dragon flying above them. The glow was as bright as the sun. Like the previous dragon, it had an ethereal presence.

The dragon swooped down and began circling above Cosette, leaving a ring of gold dust. Then, with a loud roar, it transformed into a ball of golden light and enveloped her in it. And after a few seconds, it vanished, leaving her struggling to keep her balance.

Ritchie grabbed her gently. "You okay?" He asked. Henry noticed the same protective tone from before, back in the library.

"I'm fine." She assured him. "Just a little wobbly. Now, I know how you felt when that happened to you."

"Great." Henry said. "We now have encountered two Guardian Dragons. We now need to find three more, and we might get a clue as to where the sixth might be."

"Let's keep going, then." Felix grinned.

"Indeed." Violet agreed.

The group then resumed their long hike. But, the man was watching them. He then shifted into the wisp of midnight blue magic, and continued ahead of them.

Author's Note

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, especially with the family background of the group. Please let me know about what y'all think. They are highly appreciated.

Got to fly! ;)