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By the time David and Milo got back, the tents and campfire were all ready. They'd made it back just in time for the cooking to start, which the two of them gladly volunteered for. Eli smiled widely. It felt like it'd been a while since they all got together and let loose. He could tell that everyone wanted to make the most of the trip - hell, he did too - and so far so good. Before the fire really got going, Eli shuffled over to the pickup again and dug out a couple of beach chairs, taking one for himself and plopping it down close to the flames. Milo might be fine with getting sand everywhere (Eli had been happy to bury the dude and had half a mind to start doing it again, seeing as he was halfway back to being under the sand), but if he could help it Eli was going to save himself from waking up with a chaffed ass. So chair it was!

The next couple of hours were great. It turned out that setting marshmallows on fire made them super delicious, who knew? The boys competed at who could roast the best 'mallow in between eating real food, purposely blackened or otherwise. Good company made even the most badly burned frank taste fine. They cracked jokes and generally just enjoyed each other's presence. Those that drank, drank - some more than others. There came a point when it was clear Gray had gone over his limit, but Eli just chuckled at him. If this is what it took for Gray to relax, they'd have to do it more often.

Eventually, Conner made a comment about being friends forever. Eli crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the sky. [color=F7630C]"'Course we will,"[/color] he said. Then he cut a glance to Noah, who was about to make a cheeky reply. Eli was definitely going to poke fun at him and get him to admit he was feeling mushy, but the universe had other plans.

[color=F7630C]"What the—"[/color] he started to say, before being snatched by the wisp of light and literally sucked into the sky.

He must have blacked out after that. At least he thought he did. No, he definitely did. If Eli wasn't hearing his friends' voices, he could have thought he was dreaming. Whenever he opened his eyes, all he saw was swirling colors. Was something wrong with him? Did he hit his head after... whatever had just happened? Eli blinked again, then finally tried moving his limbs. He realized he was laying on his back, and the colors were the sky. [i]Welp. That's not normal.[/i]

Trying to sit up turned his stomach, so Eli flopped back down and threw an arm over his eyes. He had to stop his head from spinning before he could stand. He knew he wasn't drunk, but the alcohol probably wasn't helping the vertigo.

[color=F7630C]"Guys. I think we might have been abducted. Like, by aliens,"[/color] Eli wheezed from his spot on the ground. He certainly hoped they weren't going to die, as Noah said. He could probably deal with some weird tests if the little green men just dropped him back off at the beach afterward, preferably with his friends all intact too. His arm slipped down so that his hand now covered his mouth. [color=F7630C]"And worse, I feel like I might be sick."[/color]

And from a little distance away, another pair of eyes joined those that were appraising the situation.

...[i]these[/i] were to be the heroes of their land? It couldn't be. This was preposterous.

[color=orange]"One of you did the summoning wrong,"[/color] a brightly colored bird chirped, as close to a harsh whisper as possible. She was glaring, looking between the boys from another world and where she knew her compatriots to be hiding. She could feel her elemental connection to one of the boys, as she knew the rest of them did, and she wasn't thrilled about it. 

[color=orange]"Denali. You will switch with me,"[/color] she said to the other bird. The group observed for a little longer, but things weren't getting any better.

[color=orange]"Yes yes. No more stalling."[/color] Though, no one moved. They all remained in their hiding places, observing. They all talked of getting it over with, but not one lifted a... well, they didn't really have fingers anymore so that saying was moot, wasn't it?

Basically, Fenghuang realized that none of her fellow sorcerers were going to confront these boys. Yes they were subpar and immature, untrained, probably worthless in the long run humans, but they were all they had. She clicked her beak, putting her wing up to her forehead in semblance of a facepalm. Fine, if no one else was going to greet them, she would handle it herself.

Fenghuang walked out of the brush, hopping over to the group of boys. She appeared to them as a bird, her plumage giving even the colorful sky a run for its money. Once she was close enough that they would have to be blind not to notice her, Fenghuang flung both of her wings open wide.
[h3][i][color=orange]"Behold Fenghuang, everlasting archmagess!"[/color][/i][/h3]
The sudden, unfamiliar voice startled Eli. He rolled over onto his side, mumbling something like "did that bird just fucking talk?" Said bird ignored that comment, continuing to speak after a dramatic pause for effect. 

[color=orange]"No need to prostrate yourselves before me, though please feel free if the need compels you so. I am sure you all have many questions!"[/color] She tucked one wing in and the other she gestured toward the small pool of water nearby, fully intending to foist the responsibility of explaining on everyone else. [color=orange]"It is fortunate then that my friend Chesi is here to answer them for you."[/color]