"Who is who?" Trix asked, worry flaring in his tone. "Um, them?" Sophie said, fear in her voice.

Trix whipped around. "Where?" He drawled, throwing a shield of air around Sophie.

Sophie clubbed him over the head with her fist. "Made you look!" Trix staggered, then tripped, clutching his head. "I—" He started, narrowing his eyes playfully. "I will DROP YOU!" He said triumphantly, whisking wind in his palm. With a swift flick of his wrist, the wind-sheet had flipped over, her with it.

"Ugmf," Sophie groaned, face plastered in mud. "You killed me." Trix smirked down at her, "You deserve it," He said. "You hit me! So not cool." He said, pouting at her.

Sophie bit his boot.

"Ow!" Trix yelped, pain flashing in his eyes.

"Ew," Sophie spat out mud. "Never going to do that again."

"Do what? Bite my foot?!" Trix shrieked. "You're feral!"

Sophie got to her feet, wincing at the bruises along her ribs. "Ow." She staggered toward Trix, tripping into his arms. "Don't think I can walk," Sophie said matter of factly.

"Yeah, I can tell," Trix grunted, clutching her to his chest. "You're getting mud all over my chest!" He whined, looking down at his once-pristine white tunic, and his cloak was thrown on the muddy ground.

"Well," Sophie said, smirking. "That's kind of the point."

Trix's sent her a baleful glare, full lips turned down by a frown. "Um, are you kidding me?" Sophie's grin got bigger. "Nope, why would I ever do that to you?" she said.

"You kind of are," Sophie said, leaning on him. He sharply flicked her on the nose, "Not wise to insult the person who's holding you up!" He said in a sing-song voice.

"Fine, I'll stop."

"Good! Also, I wanted to... apologize." Trix's grinning face slowly shuttered, shame guttering in his eyes.

Shock flared in her. "For what?"

Trix glanced at Oralie, jaw tightening. "Alie, could you," He paused, awkwardly gesturing at a large tree in the distance, "um, come back later?" He finished sheepishly.

"Yeah, okay." Oralie's gaze softened as it fell on Sophie, devastation lining her face as she saw the disgust in Sophie's eyes. She turned and started trudging toward the tree.

"So..." Sophie said nervously, looking around. "Where to start?"

Trix eyed her critically, "Can you sit?" Sophie bit her lip, "Uh, probably?"

"Okay, just wait for a sec." He scrunched his brow in concentration, one hand molding wind. "Here," he said, thrusting a barely visible beanbag-like molded piece of hard air. "Sit." She obeyed, gingerly lowering herself onto it. To her surprise, it was soft and squishy, almost like a normal beanbag chair.

"So... what's up?" Sophie said gingerly, tension in the air.

Trix's hand flew up to his neck, and he started running his fingers through his hair—avoiding her eyes. "I, er, just wanted to say sorry." He mumbled, words slurring together.

"Why?" Sophie arched a brow, confusion set on her face.

"Like sure, you kidnapped me, and tortured me—but still."

"I didn't. Torture you, that is. I did help kidnap you, and I've always felt bad about it. I know an apology can't fix everything, but I am sorry. I was only with them for," He choked on his words, shame written all over his face; tears sheening his eyes. "Emilan."

"Emilan?" Sophie said, "Was that her real name? Umber?" Trix nodded. "She always said it was because my hair was umber." He sat there in silence, pain twisting his face. "And they abandoned her. They left her for dead." Pity and sympathy swelled up in Sophie.

"Hey..." She laid her hand on his arm. "It's okay." his head jerked up, eyes incredulous. "Wait, let me finish."

He nodded miserably, guilt lining his face.

"I meant, I forgive you. Well, as much as I can—but it takes time." She smiled tentatively, worry flashing in her as she observed his guilt. If an elf felt too much guilt, their mind would shatter. She shuddered at the thought of it—of the vacant state.

"Thank you," Trix's voice cracked, tears shining in his eyes. "Thank you so much." He wrapped her in a hug, and surprisingly enough, she hugged him back. As she hugged him, thoughts popped into her head one by one.

Maybe if we can make peace, someday we can make peace with the Neverseen.

I hope we stay friends.

I hope he's truly sorry.

He's kind of... gorgeous?

He seems like a good elf.

A blush seared over her cheeks at the thought. She had Keefe. Keefe! She shook her head, scrambling out of the embrace.

"I—" She could feel her cheeks burning. "You're welcome." She stuttered.

He smirked. "Aw, thanks." He lifted her hand to his mouth, brushing his lips over her knuckles.

"I'm starting to think of taking it back." Sophie rolled her eyes, smiling playfully.

"Can you two stop with your flirting?" Oralie said tiredly. She'd trekked back toward them without her noticing.

Flirting?

She didn't like him! Did she?...

Trix eyed her, smirking deviously. He winked at her, turning to Oralie.

"No," Trix flashed Oralie a grin. "Soph is more interesting than I thought."

"Likewise," Sophie smirked.

"Why don't you tell them that?" Oralie nodded behind them.

"Tell who, Alie?" Trix questioned, eyebrows arched.

"Us," A crisp, accented voice sounded. "Ugh," Sophie groaned. "Fitz, you don't even want me around." Trix shot her a surprised glance. "Wait, what?" He whispered, still holding her up.

"Let go of her right now."

Keefe.

"See, I can't do that..." Trix wrapped an arm around her waist. "She'd faceplant and bite my foot again."

A peal of surprised laughter rang through the air.

"Typical," Stina's voice sounded. "But yeah, he's gorgeous."

Sophie blushed. "Uh," She stammered. "It's not like that—"

"Thank you, Ina." Trix beamed. "Why do you come up with the weirdest nicknames for everyone?" Sophie hissed, a smile tugging on her lips. "And how do you even know her name?"

"I do my research!" He cheerily replied. She opened her mouth, about to reply, until a voice cut through their conversation.

"Sophie, turn around,"

Sophie rolled her eyes. "I thought everything was better when I wasn't around, hm?" She turned around, glaring at her so-called friends.

Fine. Maybe she was being a little dramatic. But they'd said they liked it better when she wasn't around!

Pain flashed through her; she didn't want to go back to being that kid, who nobody wanted to be around, let alone be friends with.

She stared at them, somehow Biana, Keefe, and Fitz had managed to gather all her friends—and some of the councilors. The councilors.

Horror tore through her—Oralie. She might not be a great mother, but they needed her on the Council.

Everything was happening too fast.

"What?" Trix's voice cut through her thoughts, cold and deadly. "You cannot take her back. She has to go of her own will." He was glaring at her friends. "Trix," She said, "I'll go."

"Sophie, please, come back." Keefe's pleading voice tore through her emotions. "You know we didn't mean it like that."

"But I didn't know," Her throat closed up. Her vision was blurring. She leaned on Trix more, weak. "You just— assumed I did. And you're hand-in-hand with a Neverseen member right now. Get away from Fitz, and maybe I'll listen to you." Fitz's face contorted with pain. "Soph, Trix is lying to you."

"Get my name out of your mouth."

( a|n ! tysm for 10k reads ?! lyasm ! anyways , please vote ++ comment on this chapter ! <3 )