The Harmony Saga

~ 2 ~-3

“Gross,” he said. Cam dropped his hands and nervously rubbed his legs instead.

“Sorry, It’s an Earth thing. I can’t help it.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “So about Logan.”

Owen rolled his eyes. “Yeah, him. I think you’re right. He’s a jerk. I’ll stick with you.” Owen grinned at his new friend and Cam slowly grinned back. His smile was slight and nervous, but it was genuine. He turned and fell into step next to Owen again.

“You know,” Cam began as they continued on the path. “I don’t buy into the whole ‘cabins keep to themselves’ thing like Logan does, but I do think that exclusive element combinations are the safest bets for friendship, like us.” He paused for a quick glance at Owen, who was grinning while he focused on not tripping on the rocks beneath them.

“This from the guy who used his balancing to stick me to the ground,” Owen teased. Cam held his hands up in defense.

“It was for your own good!”

Owen nodded. “Sure, sure,” he said sarcastically. “Maybe I will go befriend Logan after all, just to prove a point.”

“I don’t know about that. Sometimes the strongest opposites work well together, but sometimes they’re too different. Like I’ve got this friend George in Earth, and he’s been super close with this Air kid Rory since they were young. But sometimes you get you and Logan, who clash. Within cabins, people tend to get along pretty well, and with exclusive elements, there aren’t any opposing personality traits to make things difficult.” Cam fell silent again as they reached the arena and leaned on the fence surrounding the enclosure. Owen was starting to realize that Cam was either completely silent or an avalanche of words. Owen would have to get used to that, but he liked hearing Cam talk about this new world. Well, new to him anyway.

After a few moments of pensive gazing over the Fire Arena, Owen piped up. “Hey, Cam. Totally random question.” Cam looked at Owen by way of response. “I want to make sure I’ve got this right, all the balancing stuff.” Cam nodded encouragingly. Owen made the rectangle with his fingers and, while looking at it intensely, recited, “Okay. Fire is balanced with Water or Air, Air being more uncommon. Water balances with Fire or… Earth, which is rarer.” Cam nodded again. Owen smiled, feeling more confident. “Earth balances with Air or… Water, because Earth and Fire are exclusive. And Air balances with Earth or Fire?” Owen bit his lip nervously. He wanted to be right very badly.

Cam stepped back from the rail and offered his hand up for a high five. Owen slapped it gratefully. “Nicely done. Soon you’ll be able to do it without needing your hands!” Cam said.

Owen couldn’t contain his grin. He was sure he looked like the Cheshire cat, but he didn’t care. “Hey, you’re the one that taught me. You should be proud of yourself.” Cam did look rather happy with himself for how fast Owen was learning.

The sound of an air horn blasted through the air, startling Owen. Cam turned quickly to the path. “That’s the signal for everyone to meet at the dining hall. I’ve got to go.”

A wave of sadness hit Owen, taking him by surprise. “Wait, I don’t have to leave, do I?”

Cam looked at him sympathetically. “You do have to leave for today. But obviously you’ll come back. Can’t deny you belong here.” Owen’s spirits lifted when he heard Cam say that. He did belong there. There was a place for him and his powers.

Owen followed Cam as they headed back to the cabins. When they reached Earth, Cam stopped. “Sorry,” he said, “but this is my stop.”

Unsure of what to do, of whether to say goodbye or see you later or thanks, the two boys looked at each other, then the ground. Cam popped his knuckles nervously. Eventually, Owen said, “So I just go down the hill then, and go back to the house?”

Cam smiled gratefully, glad that Owen had broken the awkward silence. “Yeah, you’ll know it when you see it. Don’t worry,” he added as Owen turned away. “You’ll be back.”

Owen smiled broadly at his new friend. “Yeah, I know.” Cam nodded back and went into his cabin. Owen turned away and walked down the hill, still grinning to himself. He would go back, and this time he would be there to stay.

He met his father back at the car. “So what do you think of the place?” Sam asked as they got in and buckled their seatbelts. Owen was practically glowing.

“I love it here.” Owen’s enthusiasm dimmed slightly as he considered something he hadn’t before. “Oh no. It’s not going to be too expensive, is it? I know money’s tight, maybe I can get a job or something.”

Sam cut him off. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. Mr. Percival said that you could attend on a full scholarship. Although a little work wouldn’t be so bad for you, now that you mention it.”

“No thank you.” Owen gazed out the window as the car made its way down the rocky trail. The sky was darkening, the world settling into dusk. “I can’t believe it’s already getting dark, we must have been there longer than I thought,” Owen said.

Sam stared intently at the road. “Must be a storm coming in.” They finally made it off the trail and pulled onto the highway. “You, sir, are going to have a lot of packing to do once we get home,” Sam remarked. Owen didn’t even care. He was too excited about the summer ahead of him.