-Crysta’s POV-
We must have started in the wrong direction, but with the help of Zoe’s sensitive dragon nose we finally found ourselves back in the clearing where I thought I saw Cass behind a rock. Zoe pointed with her nose.
“There,” she murmured. Sure enough, there was Cass, hanging up-side down from a branch, her amber eyes closed.
“Cass?” called Ali. Cass’s eyes snapped open and she fixed Ali with a piercing stare.
“Cass… I’m sorry,” apologised the blue-haired archer, blue eyes locked on Cass’s.
“I do care about you… I just… the thing I wanted to find…” Cass narrowed her eyes.
“I wanted to make the adventure the best we’ve ever had for your birthday. In fact… there wasn’t an Idol of Riches at all… I set up a treasure hunt for your birthday, with your present at the end… I never wanted to upset you…” Cass stared for a moment and then dropped, head-first, towards the forest floor. Ali dived forwards and caught her, flipping her neatly onto her feet. Cass smiled.
“You really do care,” she murmured, her voice low and almost musical. Then she burst into tears, threw her arms around Ali and hugged her, hard.
“Cass… you’re… squashing me!” gasped Ali. Cass just sobbed into Ali’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry Ali!” she howled. “I was being stupid, insensitive. It was ME that didn’t care, me that was being horrible. I’m sorry!”
Ali’s gently pushed Cass back, holding onto her shoulders.
“I should have realised…” she smiled. “I love you all like sisters. You’re my family. Of course I care,” Cass sniffled, and suddenly they pounced on everyone else, dragging us all into one big group hug.
We broke apart, giggling.
"Is it to late to hunt down a birthday present?" asked Cass, her amber eyes glittering mischievously.
And there it is! That's the end!! Hope ya liked it ;)