Flight Without Wings

Chapter 6

       The night was cooler than day, but it wasn't nearly cold. Within moments of waking up, I noticed the building humid heat. Suddenly, I wished I had worn an open back dress. Thankfully, I was able to clean myself magically, so it was bearable.

       Jade once again grew a breakfast from the various plants he could find around us. The moment we were finished, we continued walking away from the city.

       I wasn't sure what we were going towards. What were we hoping to find?

       No, that didn't matter. All that mattered was that we were getting as far away as possible, because it was too dangerous. Or... it was too dangerous for me and Jade.

       As we passed through mazes of giant roots and tangled vegetation, all I could think about was Rey. How did she feel about all of this? She could be living a comfortable life in the City Proper right now. She should have been at school. She should have been in a much safer, much more boring predicament.

       At midday, we stopped in a small clearing to have another magically prepared meal. It was the perfect time to ask.

       "Rey, I... I have something to ask you." I declared. She looked over to me, her mouth filled with pieces of fruit. She hastily chewed them and swallowed them.

       "Oh yeah, of course!" She said.

       "Well, it's more... I have to tell you something." I elaborated. What was I supposed to say leading up to it?

        "Oh, alright." Rey said.

       "I-ummm. Are you okay with all this. Like, I just... I dragged the two of you into this and now we have to run away from our home and into this jungle. Look, I just feel guilty not asking you about it." I rambled. She tilted her head at me.

       "I'm fine, Zyara! If I weren't I either would have told you, or I would have just flown away." Rey said.

      "But, how are you fine with this?!" I wondered. I had dragged her into an on foot journey through the jungle and had led her through several battles with guards. How in the world was she okay with this? No, she must by lying, she had to be.

       "Because Zyara, I really like you. I'm not pretending to. Besides, this is much more exciting than being in stupid ass history class." Rey grumbled.

       "But boring has to be better than this. There's so much attention on us and we've broken so many rules, so many huge rules at that!" I protested.

       "Do you really think I could go back to boring knowing what could happen?" Rey asked. I was about to say something, but finally, I thought about it.

       How could anyone go back to their daily life knowing of a possible impending genocide?

       "But, we aren't changing the situation. We can't stop it in any way." I observed.

       "How do you know that?" She challenged.

       "It's common sense. We're up against the entire government as well as the guards!" I pointed out. How was she not seeing this? What in the world was she thinking?

       "Why are you trying so hard to get me to go away?" Rey asked.

       "No, I'm not trying to make you go away, I'm just trying to be realistic." I disagreed.

       "Zyara, I'm choosing to do this." She reminded me.

        "But... why?" I asked.