Firewind

Chapter 41-Scymitar

The younger girl, Kailey, woke me up, insisting that I see the sunrise. Doesn't she know I require my beauty sleep? We sat on the flat roof of the house we were staying at. The small town was all asleep except for us. The white buildings were bathed in shadows and so were the trees surrounding the village.

Bailey wrapped a blanket around us and hung her legs off the edge of the roof. She stroked my back in circles to the point of me drifting off. She nudged me awake again and pointed to the horizon. The clouds were painted pink, purple and orange as the sun woke up, casting rays of light into the blue-gray morning.

Woah! I said. It's so pretty!

I know right! Kelly sighed. I'm glad to have met someone like you. That I can talk to normally. Without needing to use my hands.

She swung her feet against the side of the building.

You think I'm a friend? I asked.

Of course you are! Why wouldn't you be?

Well my other friends must think I'm terrible for having left them! I just thought that you know friendship takes time!

She giggled. It does in some ways. But in others you can just tell that you'll always love them.

So you really would consider me a friend?

Of course silly. She tickled my chin until I made her stop, giggling all the while.

"Kalli what are you doing up here?" the lady exclaimed, which I found out was the girl's grandmother. She pulled the girl away from the edge and signed furiously to her.

I just wanted to see the sunset, she muttered in my head.

I nodded.

You know, I have to go today. And I might never see you again. But I have to return to Alexander, Clara and Italia. Can you show me how to get to Yan?

The Madi of the little girl drew me a map on a piece of parchment and gave me directions on how to get there. With many tears, I said farewell to the ladies. I know what you're thinking but you got it all wrong!!! I wasn't the one crying. I just, uh, got some dust in my eyes.

So off I went into the great unknown, into the wild! All by myself. The forest, if you didn't know, looks really creepy when you are on your own because the trees almost block out all the light and when you hear sounds, you have no idea where they might be coming from because everything echoes and is muffled at the same time.

My feet ached and so did my wings. I'd walk for a short burst and fly for a short burst. I was covered in mud and my mind kept telling me things andI kept seeing things. Just when I thought I couldn't go any further I collapsed in a heap on the ground. My head ached and was plagued with broken and foggy images, like part of my memories were blocked by a curtain. I could see them and knew that somehow I did those things and saw those things. But I couldn't remember what they were.

The faces of dragons flashed before my eyes and voices echoed in my ears and head. The wind howled through the trees but none of the leaves moved and neither did the branches. Laughs and shouts reminded me of a time that I couldn't reach. I could see fire and trees all at once. Orange eyes blinked at me from the bushes of the forest.

Stop it! I muttered to myself.

I woke up in a cold sweat. A single ray of blue light shone through the branches of the trees. The moons were out. I got up, my headache alleviated a smidge and peered through the bushes. Down in the valley, there was a large city running from the forest to the water that stretched as far as the eye could see. I had never seen so much water before in one place! I didn't know the ocean was so huge!

This had to be the Yan that my friends were talking about. The one that was by the ocean with all the ducks and boots. And that place called... what was it called? The Yard! That's what it was. All I had to do was find the Inn and I could be reunited with Zander! I had to warn him about Henry Ellis!

I rushed down into the city and ignored the screams and curses as I flew through the alleys and looked for a sign. Not that I could read.

One lady, an odd looking one, didn't scream as I flew by her door. She had the most ugly face I had ever seen. I paused in the air, flapping quickly to stay in place and frowned. I flew back to her and she just started hollering and cackling to the high heavens.

"Well look what the autumn breeze blew in," she rasped. What did she drink? Mineral water? It sounded like her vocal chords were replaced with a bucket of rocks.

Have you uh, I asked. Hey have you seen. I mean I'm looking for these three, no four people. Yeah. Two boys and two girls. They were looking for an ark ruin or something.

"I might've seen 'em," she shrugged, "Might not 'have."

Do you know where they are going? Where are they headed? I pressed.

"I sent 'ems north I 'aves. Looking for death they are. Jus' plain asken' fo' it. Left no sooner than yesterday morn'."

Thank you so much I can't even what do I you know what I should probably go you've been so helpful thank you thank you. HERE I COME SALAMANDER!!

And with that I left the woman, coughing and swearing on her doorstep. I zoomed off following the water on my left, flying as high as I dared. I knew that if I flew throught the night I would be able to catch up to them. I just knew I had to. I knew I could do it too.