The Bird and The Fish

TBTF, Part 14: The Trip Back Home (pt.1)

(Zahra pov. This sequence of events will take place in multiple parts, each having different povs)

Casper and Arvid had left to get the bedrolls he left in the ditch, leaving Alouette, Tangaroa, and I alone in the cave. We sit in a somewhat awkward silence, the only sound being the crackling fire.

"I remember you mentioning that Tangaroa helped you, Zahra," Alouette speaks up suddenly, her gaze on the fire infront of us. "What about it?" I ask, tossing another stick into the flames. "I was wondering if I could look at where you were injured."

"I've already healed," I reply, glancing at her. "I thought as much," she says with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "I wanted to see the scars, if there were any." "I have one on my calf from an arrow," I say, shifting to show her. "And one on my side from a branch."

"How'd you get the one on your side?" she asks, her tone and gaze curious. "It happened while I was crashing through the trees," I reply, trying to recount what happened. "Honestly, I don't remember much. It happened so fast, and I had already lost a good bit of blood."

"I'm just glad you're okay," she says, giving me a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," I reply, looking back at the fire. But my attention gets pulled by the feeling of a hand on mine. I turn to see Tangaroa's hand resting on mine, his head tilted toward the skylight as he watches the smoke billow out. My lips curve into a barely noticeable smile, and I return the act by brushing my thumb over his knuckles.

After another little while of silence, the two boys return with the bedrolls and rope in hand. "We're back," Arvid chimes, sounding pissed off about something. "And we brought at least seven bug bites per person." Ah, that's why he sounds pissed off, I think, nodding in realization.

"I'm assuming you have a plan for this?" I ask, standing to help them. We walk outside of the cave for more room to set up the Tangaroa package. "I'm not going to help unless I'm sure you aren't going to hurt him again," I add, shooting a pointed look at Arvid.

"Relax, sweetheart," he says, trying to placate me. "Don't call me that," I interrupt, his words earning him a solid blow to the side. "My bad," he coughs out, wincing as he holds where I punched him.

"All we need to do is roll him up and tie the rope around him so he's secure," Casper says, speaking up for the first time in a while. "It'll slow Arvid and I down a bit, but it's better than walking." "I get to fly?" Tangaroa asks, his eyes sparkling with wonder.

Cute, I think, before quickly pushing the thought out of my head. "And you're sure this is going to work?" I ask skeptically, giving Casper a distrusting look. "I'm sure," he replies, looking visibly uncomfortable under my scrutiny.

"Good." I then help Tangaroa onto the bedroll, making sure he's comfortable before helping Arvid roll and tie him. "You and Alouette go ahead of us," Arvid says, dusting off his hands. "We'll be about five or ten minutes behind you."

"But-" I start, only to be interrupted by Tangaroa. "Go," he says, giving me the smile that never ceases to comfort me. "I'll be fine." "Fine," I sigh, reluctantly giving in. "But if I so much as get an inkling that either of you hurt him, I'm going to skin you and feed you to the pigs."

"Promise," Arvid says, looking slightly freaked out by my threat. "Good," I reply, my eyes narrowing as Alouette leads me away.

"I forgot how scary you could be when you wanted to be," Alouette mutters, slightly shaken by my threat towards them. "Is that a good thing?" I ask, keeping pace with her. "In a way, I suppose," she replies with a chuckle."It certainly spooked Arvid." "That was my intention."

We eventually reach a clearing, a hole in the canopy above us. It's big enough to fit through, with some wiggle room left over. "Do you want me to go first?" Alouette asks, walking a good ways away to stay out of the path of my wings. "If you want," I reply, stretching out my large wings in preparation to take off.

"You go first," she says, sounding slightly nervous. "I'll go after you once I know you can keep yourself up." "If you say so," I reply with a shrug, the beating of my wings drowning out the sounds of the forest as I take off.

The initial lifting off the ground part was surprisingly easy, but actually getting above the trees was a bit more challenging. But once I get there, I look around at the night sky hidden behind the tightly knit leaves. Alouette comes soon after me, gesturing for me to follow her.