Feather woke up before the Sun, a habit she and her friends had grown accustomed to. Kaede was already waiting for her, sitting on the edge of the Fountain.
"Morning," he said.
Feather smiled tiredly and shook herself head to toe, fluffing out her fur.
"Morning. You ready?"
Kaede nodded. "Absolutely. Follow me."
He got up and trotted across the clearing to where the grass began damp leaves.
"Where do you wanna go?" he asked.
Feather thought for a moment.
"I'd like to find Thorn," she said, definitely not for any particular reason, just because he was her close friend and she trusted him with her life.
Kaede nodded.
"Of course," he said knowingly. "Now, for Navigation, you have to focus on where you want to go. You must block everything else out and think of where you want to be."
Feather nodded slowly and shut her eyes tight, thinking of just Thorn at first. Then she started thinking about time and memories and feathers and then Sage. Sage, Sage, Sage.
She shook her head aggressively, trying to unscramble her brains.
"Thorn," she said outloud.
"I want to find Thorn," she said again, firmer this time, getting annoyed with herself. She repeated it both in her head and under her breath.
After what felt like, and was, ages, she got a glimpse of him reading something in a hut right behind her forehead and she took off running.
She leapt through the Fountain, unaware she was doing it, and skidded to a halt in front of Thorn, who was reading a scroll about Poetry.
Kaede whooped, running after her, farther behind, as he had fallen asleep standing up for a minute there, waiting for her to finally do it.
"You did it, Feather!" he said, out of breath and a little loopy.
Feather laughed and barreled into Thorn, who yelped.
"What's this for?" he asked.
"I'm a real Navigator now!" Feather giggled happily.
Kaede shook his head in surprise.
"I mean, yes, but you still have to train. I'll find Keeper and the two of us will help you."
Feather stood up, quick as lightning. "Let me try?"
Kaede shrugged, then nodded. "Go ahead, give it a try."
Feather giggled with delight and closed her eyes.
I want to find Keeper, she thought.
"Open your eyes, " Kaede commented.
Feather opened her eyes and her grip tightened on the ground.
"Keeper, " she said out loud. "I would like to find Keeper."
"Please," she added.
After about fifteen minutes, her mind gave her a quick sparkle of Keeper, alone in the Forest, picking fruit.
"That was better than last time..." Kaede whispered, unsure of why it was taking so long.
"Better than all her times combined," Thorn whispered under his breath, then giving Feather a big smile.
Feather took off again, not even hearing the boys, her legs propelling her with so much force and energy that she couldn't help but laugh. She laughed until she slowed to a stop in front of Keeper, who smiled.
YOU ARE READING
Saviors of the Forest
Fantasy"Five wolves with wings at the edge of the wood, they are the ones to bring forth the greater good. The Inventor's coat is gray, like a dying ember. The Crafter's coat is white as December! The Magical's coat was the color of luck, while the Healer'...
