Tipping the Scale

Chapter 22: Children of Air (Part 2)

Making sure Lidea had put on all her gear, she glanced one final time at Warchief's sleeping form, before exchanging a nod with Crystal who kneeled beside him.

"Do your best."

The healer encouraged her with a faint smile, as she turned back to Warchief. Attempting to feed him some watery soup without drowning him.

He had grown far too thin in this short week, and Lidea was becoming more anxious by the day.

"I will."

With those words, she left their temporary dwelling to find her way towards the cavern. Her reluctance to enter that communal area increased with every step and cumulated when she passed through the feather curtain.

Per usual, only the elders and children were there through the day and they all paused at her entrance.

She was growing accustomed to their stares, but they didn't help making her feel any less like a freak.

Ever since they had learned about what she was, the Vazul had started to behave differently. Some treated her almost like some sort of deity, while others barely kept themselves from spitting on her in disdain.

Without knowing their language, Lidea couldn't gather what caused them to act this way and Sileuil had been less than forthcoming when she had tried to discuss the subject. Telling her, that his people were just disappointed that she didn't wish to stay with them indefinitely.

But in Lidea's opinion, a stranger's decision to leave couldn't invoke such strong reactions.

Rather she had the feeling that the Dragon Riders and the Vazul shared a history, one which she knew nothing about.

Though curious, it didn't bother her enough to try to interact with the other Vazul. So therefore, she made her way directly to the ledge and sat down with her legs bungling down the cliff side. Enjoying the view while reminding herself that they would soon be gone.

No matter how the training went today, Lidea refused to wait any longer.

She would have left already, if not for Sileuil's insistence that she needed to experience flying with multiple people on one griffin.

As the hunters were supposed to come back early, he had promised her to fly further today. A final lesson to help them survive their journey to the hidden harbor.

At least she didn't had to wait long, as she noticed dark dots in the distant sky.

Backing off from the ledge, she waited as the hunters landed and started unloading what they had found. Her eyes quickly found Sileuil's sandy-colored griffin.

The hunter himself looked tired as he shook out his limbs before he glanced around and noticed Lidea.

"You all ready?"

He checked her attire to make sure that she had her scarf and goggles, as well as the boots and gloves that the Vazul had given her.

Lidea had refused at first, but Sileuil had forced her to accept them and now she was glad for it. They had been a definite improvement on her own gear. Without them, she was sure that she would have long lost some fingers and toes to the frostbite.

"I have everything. Do you need a rest first?"

Unlike the other Vazul, Sileuil's treatment of her hadn't changed once he had overcome the shock from her revelation, which Lidea appreciated greatly.

It was probably to be expected, as he was also the only one who wasn't confined to living on these mountains.

"Rest? We were barely away for a couple of hours. Let's go. The sooner we leave, the longer you have to practice."