The sunrise was beautiful. The hills that rose up in the distance turned a dusky shade of orange, while the sky was a reddish yellow, fading into the blue haze of dawn. There was a lake, glassy and clear, reflecting the glorious morning light like a silver coin placed perfectly in line with the sun, no matter where it went. Kat looked like her head was about to blow up, "Look away, Nixee," she warned, "Cara was blinded for two days after she watched the sunrise, I advise you to not follow in her footsteps, for it would only hold us back."
"Oh, that's no good." Nixee looked away just as the sun peeked over the hoizon. It painted her eyelids a hot pink then faded back to their healthy colour. "It's wonderful. I feel like I've been here before." She recalled the dream,where her 'mother' had said "the Arkfree blue hour has arrived." Maybe she had been here before.
She shook her head, as if to clear cobwebs, in noticed that Kat had been talking to her. "Nix? Nix are you listening to me?"
Nixee saw no point in lying to her. "No, I was lost in thought."
"I see that. Now, as I was saying-"
"Why don't you just go, and I follow you. That seems easier. Doesn't it?"
"No. She comes to us." Kat said happily. "Just wait, you'll see."
There was a small black dot on the edge of the lake. It was big, and looked to be heading in their direction. She heard Kat suck in her breath sharply. "That's her." She whispered, and looked down the hill. The bird spread her wings and burst into flames.
"Fire!" Nixee said. "Like, me?"
"Yes, that's why Ran wanted to take you to her; she is like you." Kat said with some urgency.
Phoe appeared on the hill where they were standing. She towered over them, like they were ants looking up at a sandwich. "Kat, I do hope you didn't bring your little twerp out here. You didn't, right?"
"Yes mam." Kat bowed her head and moved to the side. Leaving Nixee feeling strangely vulnerable. "This is Nixee, mam." She said.
"Ah, yeah, hi." Nixee hesitated and was given a stare like ice from Kat. She suppressed a shudder. "I-my name is Nixee Char."
"I know very well who you are, my dear. For we are the few lucky birds of which the lightning chooses. Look at your heart and tell me what you see." This, Nixee could tell, was not up for argument. You did not argue with someone more than twice your size, no matter what it had in mind. "Go on then, why are you staring at me?"
"I, uh, didn't expect you to be so, so big." She paused, "I have seen the black feather on my chest. I had a dream, and when I woke up, it was there."
"To be honest, I didn't think you'd be so small." She laughed, "See mine," she pointed at the silver feather above her heart, "This was black against black for years before I noticed it, then it changed to silver, I drempt about lightning, embedding itself into my chest. Is that the same as you?"
"Yes. I was in my birdbox and the humans cut down my tree. I was going to sleep, my mum was talking to me, she was killed, I think, and lightning struck down the man that was going to kill me. Sparks flew. I've never stopped running, until now." She smiled at this.
Phoe was making flames dance across her wing feathers. "Do you have control over your power?"
"No, I burst into flames every time I think about emotional things, or I dream. So I fly, I've never stopped."
"Let me teach you. Watch this." A stream of flame cascaded off her longest wing feather and made a small cage around Kat, leaving her cowering.
"Hey! Let me out you idiots!" She yelped and the cage disappeared into smoke and ash. Only soft coils of flame wrapped her ankles. "Why do you have to do this mam?"
"I need to teach Nixee a few things about her power. Suck, it, up." She exhaled loudly. "Nixee. Point in the direction I did, then, clear your head, think only of the cage I just created. Don't worry Kat, you won't be burnt, I put a fireproof spell on you."
Nixee lifted her wing and pointed at Kat, flame erupted from her feathers and sent her flying backwards. She hit a tree then slumped back. Silence.
"Nixee! Can you hear me?" Kat called after freeing herself from the flaming shackles.
"Her power is too strong. We need to get her to my birdbox. Hold on, it will be a bumpy ride." Phoe said, with all the confidence in the world.
"Sounds like fun." Kat replied, voice dripping sarcasm."Well, let's go."
