The Streets

"Camouflage."

Elias held up the spell as he and Eryn went through the front gates.

To them, Pheonix City was huge.

Everywhere the saw, it was sparkling red and gold. Tall buildings stood out every few streets, and clusters of them appeared towards the center.

Eryn marveled at the little shops and stands that sold cute trinkets and toys, and at the ones that sold unfamiliar sweets and jewelry.

"Where to first?" Elias asked, equally satisfied with what he saw.

"Well..." Eryn tugged at her sleeves and looked down at their clothes. She scratched her cheek awkwardly. "I think we should get some new clothes...we look funny with clothes that seem to small."

Drachnai's voice popped into his head. 'Your sister is right. You guys look ridiculous!'

Elias reddened. After living so many months just by themselves, he never really took notice. "Uh, yeah."

They headed for the nearest clothing shop, and all the way, Drachnai was endlessly chattering away in his head.

'You have to pick something nice!' he said. 'Don't choose something plain! I don't like plain! You have to stand out, my boy! How about I help you choose? You can use your handsome charm to get a discount...maybe get it free!'

Elias sighed and ran a hand through his hair; he didn't even realize it grew so long.

After an hour or so, they went in and came back out with fresh, new clothing.

'Hm, not bad,' said Aragnes approvingly. 'The silver matches my scales well.'

Eryn smiled and brushed a hand against her new skirt, which trailed behind her feet on the ground, just the way she liked.

Elias ran his hand along the black cuffs that wrapped from his wrist halfway up his arm, then looked down at the belt that held his glinting dark robes together.

'Eh, could've done better,' Drachnai rumbled.

Elias rolled his eyes playfully. "You know you like it."

'Hmph.'

With a snap of his fingers, the spell was gone, and they were now visible within the crowds.

Almost immediately, eyes flew in their direction from all sides, attacking both of them with their curious stares.

Eryn tugged at his arm. "Don't mind them, just have fun." She flashed a mischievous grin. "Besides, who wouldn't look when they see such a handsome young man in the streets?"

"Eh?-"

Eryn pulled him into the crowds before he could have the chance to finish speaking.

_______________

The five family heads roamed the garden in the afternoon sun, chatting away busily.

Their conversation mostly revolved around the dragon sighting, but of course, that was considered an important matter.

"When I get back, I will send some men to find them!" declared Master Jing, shaking his fist.

"Not if I find them first!" challenged Master Xia.

The two old men glared at each other, sparks flying in the air between them.

Madam Liu huffed. "Even if you find them I don't think they would want to join your clans!"

"How dare you!"

Madam Wen trailed behind them with Master Bai, her poise as dignified as always.

"How are your son and daughter?" she suddenly asked without turning her head.

Master Bai seemed surprised. "Oh!... They are doing well, they are training-"

"No. I meant the other two. The twins."

Master Bai blinked, not knowing what to say. He only closed his mouth and continued walking in silence.

The Wise Lady slipped out her fan and began waving it slightly in her face.

"No worries," she said again, startling him.

Her words always bring chills down everyone's spines.

"You will meet again quite soon."

Master Bai turned his head to face the Madam, his heart leaping, only to find her already walking away, yards in front of him.

What did she mean?

Suddenly, a maid came rushing inside the garden, her expression fearful and anxious. She stopped in front of the five Heads and dropped to her knees.

"Madam Liu! I can't- Young Master Changming and Chen have gone missing!"

"What?"

Alert shot through the little party and Madam Liu seemed panicked, looking around.

She pointed at the other maids and servants, flustered. "Send men! Find them quickly!" she ordered. "Celeste!"

Master Bai stood, watching the chaos erupt.

He couldn't help but wonder, Is this how he should've acted when his children have been taken away from him?

"Wayne!" shouted Master Xia for his son. "Assist with the search!"

"Yes, Father," replied the twenty-year-old.

His eyes flashed and he leaped into the air, the magical wings of the griffin appearing from his back.

Then he flew off.

Master Xia went to calm Madam Liu down, leading her to the stone table in the gardens to rest.

Madam Wen went to stand behind Madam Liu, her expression calm.

"All is not lost," she said. "Have patience."

Master Bai and Master Jing went to shoo all the other guests and children back inside to play in the buildings.

Hours have passed, and it was growing dark.

None of the people who went out to search have come back yet.

Ying came out and sat down with the rest of the adults at the stone table. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

They could only wait.

_______________

Eryn knelt down in front the crying seven-year-old boy in her arms, wiping the tears with her sleeve.

His white robes were dirtied and scratched, and judging from his little gold accessories, he seemed like a child from a rich family.

"I can't find my brother!" he wailed between hiccups. "I can't find him!"

Eryn glanced up uncertainly at her twin.

He shrugged, equally lost.

Neither of them knew how to deal with children.

Eryn did her best to calm him down, saying, "Big sister and big brother will help you find your brother, okay? But you have to promise us to stop crying first, got it?"

The boy nodded, sniffling.

He brightened up a little bit when Elias handed him a candy he bought from the stands.

"What's your name?" Elias asked.

"Liu Changming," he answered with a wobbly voice.

Eryn stood up and held the boy's hand with her left, leading him through the maze of streets.

"What's your brother's name?"

"Liu Chen."

The candy dropped onto the floor and he started wailing again.

"Quick, quick! Buy another one!" Eryn said frantically.

Elias ran to the nearest stand and back, another treat in his hands.

'How hilarious,' Drachnai hummed, chuckling.

"Be quiet," Elias grumbled.

Changming took the sweets happily.

It was near nightfall, and the three of them had been wandering around the city for hours now with no luck.

The kid was tired, so Elias opted to carry him, trying not to scream when he pulled and played with his hair.

"Where do you think your brother went?" Eryn asked him with a sigh.

This was getting frustrating.

Changming blinked. "We wanted to go to the fountain to play with the water. But we didn't know which way to go!"

The twins stopped.

For the past hours, they've checked everywhere BUT the fountains and they remembered passing it multiple times on their search.

The corner of Elias' mouth twitched. "You little brat. Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Changming pulled a strand of his hair. "Big sister and big brother didn't ask..." he said innocently.

Eryn ran a hand down her face and groaned. "To the fountain we go..."

And sure enough, when they reached the fountain, there was a ten-year-old boy wandering around all alone.

Changming waved his arms wildly, smacking Elias in the face. "Brother!"

The older boy looked up and brightened.

Elias let the wriggling child free, rubbing his face and grumbling.

Eryn let out a laugh. "Glad that wasn't me..."

The two boys came running back to them. "C- can you take us back to our parents?" Chen asked, stammering. "We don't know where to go."

Eryn smiled. "Where are your parents?"

"...at the garden..."

"Alright, let's go."

_______________

The servants came back empty-handed one by one.

It was getting dark and the children were not found.

Madam Liu sat agitatedly on the table with the other Heads, fidgeting nervously.

A few moments later, Wayne landed on the cobblestones, his wings flickering away. He looked up and shook his head.

Master Xia let out a breath of disappointment while Madam Liu buried her face in her hands, sobbing.

They gathered around the table.

Ying crossed her arms. "No need to be like that. They are not lost. In fact, here they come."

Suddenly, they heard a familiar squeal coming from the entrance of the garden, along with the tapping of multiple footsteps.

Madam Liu and the others stood up from their seats. "My children?" she cried.

To their surprise, Chen and Changming came running up the tile path into their mother's arms, both holding sweets in their hands.

The reunion was delightful and they all released a sigh a relief.

"Who brought you back?" asked Madam Liu, overjoyed.

She eyed the candies in their hands, but didn't say anything.

Changming hopped around excitedly. "A pretty big sister and big brother brought us back!" he exclaimed. "She was prettier than Celeste!"

Master Xia chuckled, rubbing his chin. "Really? Where are they? We must thank them properly!"

Chen and Changming did as they were told and ran off again, shouting, "Big sister! Big brother! They want to see you!"

"Alright, alright," said a voice.

Master Bai snapped to attention.

That voice...can it be...?

They came back, each one dragging along a person with them.

"Mother! They're here!" Changming said.

He pulled on the girl's sleeve and pointed at the family heads. "Big sister, that's my mom."

The girl looked up, her long, dark hair pooling down past her shoulders. She gave a polite smile, and the boy who seemed to be her brother came up next to her, his eyes flickering.

He whispered something in her ear and she straightened up.

Their eyes flew to Master Bai, their expressions alarmed.

At that moment, Master Bai felt his blood stop cold as he got a good look at who these two were.

His jaw dropped.

Master Jing darted his eyes between them, confused.

"Is...is there something wrong?"