Nine Burnt Cabbages

They were a little lost.

     Finding their companions in what she'd at first thought was only a small marketplace was proving to be a challenge. Now she understood why Clayton stressed the importance of sticking together; the place was huge. Mana wasn't even sure she could find her way out of the maze of people and vendors if she tried.

     And that could be a problem.

     “Do you see them?” Mana asks her twin, scanning the crowds.

     “No,” Keahi grumbles, glaring at an oblivious passerby who steps on her foot. “And if I have to spend any longer here I swear I'm going to burn somebody.”

     And she could, though Mana found that quite hard to adjust to. They had been alive for eighteen years, and it had only been recently that she'd discovered her sister possessed that ability. Still, she highly doubted allowing her sister to combust in the middle of a market place would solve any of their troubles. If anything, that would just make more.

     “Cabbages!”A man announces from behind his stand made from rotting wood. It looks as though it will collapse at any given moment. Given the way he leans on it, it likely will.

     Keahi makes a face. “I hate cabbage,” she mumbles under her breath.

     “Luckily for you,” Mana responds with a smile, “we're not buying any.”

     Keahi snorts, crossing her arms. Mana knows her well enough to know she's fighting a smile.

     The man with the cabbages sets his sights on them, and suddenly she wishes they were deeper in the crowd; it'd save them the hassle of being persuaded to buy cabbages. Because Keahi would just love it if they did.

     Or not.

     Clearly, they are next on his list of people to advertise to, however. They try avoiding him by looking anywhere but at his stand, but even that isn't enough to dissuade him.

     “How about some cabbages today?” The man calls with a smile. He practically shoves one in Keahi's face, making her scowl.

     “No thanks,” Mana responds quickly, as casually as she can. She forces a polite smile.

     “Well, that's a shame,” the man responds as he polishes a cabbage in his hand. Mana has never seen such a sight before. “I'm told by travelers far and wide that my cabbages are the best.” He adds, grinning at her.

     “I'm sure they are.” Mana responds, only to feel something poke her side. “Very funny, Keahi,” she says, eyeing her sister. “I know that's you.”

     Keahi raises an eye brow. “What are you talking about?”

     That's when Mana freezes. Keahi is standing to her right, not her left.

     She jolts, bumping into Keahi as she pulls away, head snapping to look. A homeless man stands before her, far too close for comfort. He freezes, aware he's been caught in the act of trying to pick-pocket her, before he seizes her by the arm, frantically searching for anything to steal in her coat. He won't find anything, however; she has nothing. She pulls away from him just as Keahi yanks her aside.

     “Get away from my sister,” Keahi growls, and Mana jumps out of the way just in time as the ground around her smolders; her sister's ability. The man grows pale before fleeing, knocking people aside in his hurry to escape.

     She hears a cry and instantly her head snaps in the direction it comes from. The cabbage vendor stares wide-eyed at what remains of his merchandise. Keahi's accidentally singed the top layer of his cabbages. He clutches his hair in despair for a moment before his gaze snaps toward Keahi, glaring at her.

     “Don't you see what you've done?” He cries at her. “My life's work – it's ruined!”

     Mana counts the damaged cabbages and gulps; nine are ruined. The cabbages, once a dark green color are now scorched. No one will want to buy them now. She stuffs her hands in her pockets, grimacing when she remembers she has nothing to pay for them with. Clayton has all of the money.

     “My bad,” Keahi mumbles. She really doesn't look sorry, though.

     “No you're not!” The man screams, pointing a finger at her. “How dare you come here and ruin my cabbages!”

     “I'm so sorry,” Mana hurries to say before Keahi can respond. “My sister didn't mean to burn your cabbages; it was an accident.”

     “I don't want your apology,” he snarls at her. “I want hers!”

     Keahi glares at him.

     “Keahi,” Mana says, nudging her.

     The girl crosses her arms.

     “Well?” The man says impatiently, tapping his foot.

     “Keahi!” Mana cries, exasperated.

     The girl scowls, turning her head away. A moment later, however, she hears her mumble, “I'm sorry I burnt your cabbages.”

     Mana sighs with relief. Maybe they will make it out of here after all.

     “Thank you,” the man says with a smile. “Now pay for them or else.”

     Or not.

     Keahi's eyes narrow. “Or else what?”

     The water from the wet pavement rises, and Mana's eyes widen. The cabbage vendor controls water, much like how Keahi controls fire. Only it's guaranteed that his skills are far greater.

     Keahi mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like a curse before she grabs her by the arm and drags her away. A shard of ice misses her face by inches and she watches half amazed, half terrified as the man leaps over his stand, which collapses into a heap of wood and rolling cabbages, charging after them.

     “He just had to shop here,” Keahi growls as they weave through the crowd. “I'm going to kill him.”

     “Kill who?” A familiar voice says, and Mana yelps as she nearly runs face-first into Clayton. He raises an eye brow. “Alright, what did you two do now?”

     “There was a bit of an accident . . .” Mana starts nervously. Thankfully, Keahi finishes for her.

     “I burnt some cabbages.”

    His eyes widen. “The overpriced ones?” The vendor turns the corner, red faced, and Clayton swears, pushing them forward. “Run! We can't pay for them!”