Tazi

"She's cured!" Lizzie's voice startled me awake, then I felt her hand on my shoulder, shaking me.

"Tellun, I'm up." I grumbled, squinting.

Lucia didn't seem to notice. Her eyes bright with excitement. "Zay's cured!"

"Really?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to fully wake up. My brain was still fuzzy.

"Come see!" Lizzie grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. "She's good as new!"

"Huh..." I nodded, covering my huge yawn with a hand. I'd barely closed my mouth before it fell open again. "Zay?!"

The girl in question turned and smirked. "Yes, Tazi?"

"They... you... I don't... cured?" I babbled.

"Yep." Zay rolled her eyes. "It's too early for his brain to start working, Lizzie. Let him get back to bed."

Lizzie frowned. "It's noon."

"What?!" My faze darted to the sky, where the sun was, indeed, at its mid-day peak.

"Exactly." Zay cackled and moved away toward Sasha.

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" I asked reproachfully.

Lizzie shrugged. "I only got up a little while ago myself. I'm also lazy."

I glared at her and sulkily went to eat breakfast– or lunch, I guess. I'd barely managed to scoff down a bite when Tyler called us to the middle of the clearing.

"Okay, team!" Tyler clapped his hands.

I fell in beside Sabien as we gathered around him, swallowing my lunch. The chameleon summoner shot me an amused look.

"We'll be heading back to the shop shortly, where I'm expecting a message from Olvan. However, neither Sheyu nor Flynn will be joining us. Both have decided to stay here, to keep an eye on the Conqueror situation in Zhong. We wish them the best of luck, now go pack your bags." Tyler concluded.

I hurried back to my spot. I re-rolled my bedroll and stuffed it in my rucksack. "Ugh more walking." I groaned. "Why can't we go swimming for once?"

Lucia, who was kneeling beside me, chuckled lightly. "Probably because you're the only one who likes swimming, silly."

I grinned. "Right. Forgot about that."

"I wouldn't mind a nice cool swim right about now." Lizzie piped up, "it's so hot in the sun."

"I have to agree with you on that one," Lucia agreed with a sigh as she straightened and sling her pack onto one shoulder. I did the same, then reached over and pulled Lizzie to her feet.

"Come on, slow pokes!" Sasha was beckoning from the edge of the clearing, where everyone else was already gathered. We jogged over.

"Alright, the return trip should take much less time," Tyler was saying, "but even so, we're not going to waste any precious time. We'll be travelling all day today, as well as tonight and maybe tomorrow. Let's go!" He led the way out of the clearing, Niko by his side.

We fell quickly into our usual rhythm, the sound of our footsteps echoing like a steady drumbeat. I scanned the group, taking note of who was walking with who. Tyler and Niko in the lead, with Zay and Sasha close at their heels. The two were so close that they were almost touching, Zay's head coming up to around Sasha's shoulder.

Just behind them walked Sabien and Navia, close as usual. After those two came Lucia and Ryan, deep in conversation. Then, last but most certainly not least, was Lizzie and I.

"So?" Lizzie bumped me with her hip, her blonde ponytail swishing in the breeze. "What did you think of Zhong?"

"Hm..." I thought for a moment. "It's definitely different from everywhere else I've been, but I think I'd like to come back here sometime. When the war's over, you know?"

For a fraction of a second, Lizzie's smile slipped. But then it was back and left me wondering if I had perhaps imagined it. "Yeah. There's some much more to see, and I've heard it's so beautiful. I'd love to come back."

"Maybe we could..." I glanced away shyly, feeling my cheeks warm, "go together?"

If I'd been looking, I would've seen Lizzie's face twist in an unreadable expression. But I didn't see it, and she looked happy when she replied. "That's an amazing idea! I'd definitely want to go with you, Taz."

I grinned, but then it fell. "Well, if we survive the war, I mean."

Lizzie nodded, her tone echoing mine sombrely. "I hope we do."

"Me too." I watched Ryan's back for a moment before adding, "this is what should be happening." I gestured to our group, from which laughter and chatter could be heard, "happiness, friendship. Not killing and bloodshed. How can we allow that to continue?"

Lizzie shook her head. "We can't. And yet, it's the human way."

I nodded, sighing deeply. Quiet fell between us, though it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was a silence that left both of us to our thoughts.

Dinner time came and went, and we stopped to grab a bite of food before continuing on. This time, both our guardians took the lead, and we fell into different groups. Sasha and Sabien, Lizzie and Navia, Niko and I, and, surprisingly, Lucia and Zay. 

"I can't wait till we get to our boat." Niko remarked with a groan. "My legs are like jelly."

I chuckled. "Same here. I've never had to walk for this long before."

Niko nodded in agreement. "When we're on the boat, I'm going to sleep for a whole day. Maybe more."

"Only a day? I'm going to fall asleep and not wake up until we get back to Greenhaven." I joked in return.

Niko laughed, pushing his dark brown hair off his forehead. "Actually, I might just join you!"

"Really?" Lizzie glanced back; she'd been eavesdropping. "You guys are such wimps!" She teased. "One whole day of walking and all you do is complain and talk about how much you want to sleep!"

"So you're saying that you won't be sleeping for a day after this?" Niko challenged.

Lizzie narrowed her eyes, grinning. "Oh, I will. But I'm not gonna brag about it like you idiots."

"Hey!" I protested.

She giggled. "Right, you're not an idiot. Only he is."

Niko pouted. "Am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

They continued on like that for a while, but I swapped places with Lizzie so I wouldn't have to deal with it.

"They're both idiots." I muttered to Navia, who chuckled in agreement. "Well..." I pondered for a moment, "Niko's actually more of a birdbrain."

"What?!" Niko smacked the back of my head, but he was too late.

Lizzie had heard me and and was starting another chant. "Birdbrain, birdbrain, birdbrain, birdbrain!"

I gave Niko an unapologetic grin.

He wrinkled his nose good-naturedly at me.

Tyler called us to a halt, giving out another snack. We then split off into pairs yet again. Tyler and Sabien, Ryan and Navia, Lizzie and Zay, Lucia and Niko, and I found myself beside Sasha.

"So..." I started, doing my best not to make this awkward. "You have two dads?"

"Yeah." Sasha confirmed, his eyes forward.

"That's cool."

He looked over at me. "You think so?"

"Yes!" I nodded, "that would be amazing! My mom's super bossy."

Sasha broke into a grin. "Really? I can't imagine. My Pa was crazy about training and stuff like that, and Father was not too keen on me tracking dirt into the house, but other then that I got to do whatever I wanted!" His face suddenly fell. "Well, I guess I only have one dad now."

I was quiet. "My dad died when I was little." I blurted, not entirely sure how helpful it would be. It just felt right in the moment.

"Really?" Sasha looked half-surprised, half-pitying. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I barely knew him. Funny thing is, he fell off one of the docks and drowned." I grinned slightly.

Sasha's eyebrows drew together, but then he finally caught on. "And you summoned a water animal... that's so weird! Fate has its own plan, I suppose."

I nodded along. "Yep. That's why my mom's crazy about me going off to the docks on my own." I frowned, "even though I know how to swim. I dunno, she's probably afraid to lose me."

Sasha chewed his lip. "I can see why. Losing someone like that hurts."

We continued to talk, even as dawn brightened the Maze and we could finally see the path again. We soon emerged out of the bamboo, finding ourselves at the beach where we'd stepped off the Tellun's Pride II no more than a week before. And there she was, moored along the beach in all her glory.

"We made good time, team!" Tyler called, "now let's load up and set sail for Greenhaven!"

We all cheered loudly, following our guardians aboard the ship. The sun shone high above as I collapsed with a laugh onto the salt-soaked wooden timbers.

Finally. We made it.

Woo! That's one loooooong chapter! I hope y'all enjoyed! Next one coming soon! And, as you have probably all guessed, we're nearing the end of book three! I'll let you know when book four comes out! Please vote and comment! Thanks!

edit 16/09/2024
this is a filler chapter but that's ok bcs we love tazi
anywayyyy everyone say happy birthday lucia and be proud that I typed this up before midnight!!
enjoy xoxo