Last week, those big scary mean 6th graders took over the playground, so the younger kids have been stuck with the empty field of grass next to it.
When Lily stepped out the school doors, she noticed Kat’s class had already come out. Some were walking the perimeter of the field, some were playing soccer. Kat, however, was sitting in the grass on the far end, where the field and playground bordered a forest. Lily ran up to her.
Kat looked at Lily as she approached, and pointed into the woods. “Do you know what’s in there?”
Lily sat down tilted her head. “Trees?”
“A lot of trees.” Kat leaned back on her elbows. “And they say that under each one, there’s a dead body, covered in roots. That’s how the trees get so tall.”
“Ewwwww! You’re so gross, you're worse than the 6th graders!”
Kat sat back up and shrugged. “It’s just a rumor. I heard my classmates whispering about it.”
“Your new friends told you?”
“Well, no, they’re not my friends. Uh, yet.”
“It’s okay, we can hang out together until you make new friends!”
The two of them sat on the field for a while, talking with each other, until an unfamiliar voice interrupted them.
“Hey! Look at those two! I bet they’re on a date!”
Lily and Kat both looked up at the playground fence to see a group of sixth graders jeering at them.
“Oh, crap, I think that’s a girl, dude!” another one said, snickering.
Lily stood up. “Kat, let’s go.”
But Kat wasn’t listening. She stood up, rolling up her sleeves and angrily marched to the wired fence.
“Ooh look, the little girl is gonna beat us up!”
“Look how mad she is, her face looks like a tomato!”
As the group of middle schoolers taunted her, she reached the fence and started trying to climb the sides.
“Holy shit, she’s really gonna attack us! Look at her!” The kids laughed.
“Shut… your mouth! I’ll… beat you idiots… up…! Errghh!” Kat said between breaths, struggling to climb.
Kat’s threats didn’t scare the older kids in the slightest. It was a bit hard to take her seriously while she was stuck halfway up the fence. Unfortunately, she was now in range of their hands, and if their teasing couldn’t get any worse, one of the kids jumped up and ripped off her hat. Long, messy red hair emerged from beneath as Kat cried out in surprise.
Lily had to act fast. She didn’t have much of a plan, but now they’ve crossed a line.
“Hey!” she cried, raising her palm. “Give it back and leave us alone! I’m an elemental, you know! I’ll blast you”
The older kids stopped and peered through the fence. Kat turned and looked at her as well.
“You?” one said, “You don’t look like an elemental. Shouldn’t you have fire in your hair or something?”
“She’s probably a lesser. Watch out, she’s gonna throw sand at us!”
The middle schoolers started laughing, and while they were distracted, Kat reached over and nabbed her hat back. They started yelling to her, but she was already running off into the woods.
Lily called out, “Kat! Come back!” but her voice was drowned out by the school bell. Everyone started walking back into the school, yet Lily was paralyzed. Eventually, she decided to follow Kat into the forest.