Above the Clouds: Night

Chapter Nine: Ash's first flight

Ava's P.o.V

I admit, after hearing my friends suggestions, I was impressed at their foresight. Angel Tides was perfect for our needs, just the place to go. And as for the black market friend, we hadn't spoken in a few months but I knew I could trust her to help, and keep zip too. My flock only knew of her through me, and had never met her face to face, so she would be new to them. I had a few more friends too, but for human related items and such, she was first choice. Well, second, she only dealt certain objects, but I missed her, so other things came second.

It was decided that Sonnaya and Vivian would stay back at the sequoia with Ash, while Mistrival, Terence, Rachael and I would go to Angel Tides. Rachael knew my friend as well as I did, but hadn't had much contact due to her tutoring and the carefully concealed hideout my friend stayed in. Life as a black market trader was tough, and she lived on the edge, relying on her strengths and reputation to get by. Not that she was unscathed: Close calls alongside times where confrontations had been unavoidable had left their mark and alongside the abuse she'd suffered as a child left her body scarred.

'Hey, world to Avery? We're nearly ready!' Sonnaya's loud voice cut through my thoughts, and I jolted back to reality. We decided there was no point hanging round once we'd chosen our plan, and were about to set off to the sequoia. We were all ready, there was just one minor issue.

No one knew of a safe way to transport Ash.

Usually, we'd just fly, and the miles between our hideouts would slip by as we raced, laughed, meandered about a bit and eventually arrived. But Ash was human, and that meant wingless. And that meant difficult.

'I told you, I'm fastest flyer here.' Terence put in.

'Yeah, but I'm strongest. You have to work to keep your strength up at the best of times, and you're unused to carrying anything heavier than a bag. I'm not either, but I'm stronger than you.' I argued back.

'I've got a broader back, I'll keep him on easier.' He shot at me. He was determined, I'll give him that.

'You'll need a bouncy stomach too if you're to carry him. You know, what with all the falling out of the air and all.' Two can play at this game.

"I won't fall out of the air!"

"I know, because I'll be carrying him."

He groaned, but finally conceded to letting me carry Ash. It was true, I was strongest, but I knew that the falling-out-of-the-air comment had annoyed him.

"Here, you can carry my bag if I'm carrying Ash."

"Why don't you carry it if you're so strong." Oh great. People, introducing Terence, the incredible sulk.

'Because I can't carry him and my bag. You're strongest after me, so it'll be easier for you than anyone else. Son's probably next, so I can get her to carry mine and hers, if you want.' I felt a bit bad throwing in Sonnaya, and truthfully she was probably second strongest anyway, but if he thought he was helping her then he would probably be more likely to take it.

"Fine. I'll carry it." I knew he had a soft or her.

Ash himself was sat, legs up to his chest, arms wrapped around his legs, looking pale. He seemed to seriously be considering hugging the ground and never letting go.

'C' mon Ash. It's ok, I'm not going to drop you.' I assured him, amusement filling the last few words. He nodded stiffly, accepting my hand up.

Ash' P.o.V

I got up stiffly, feeling gravity pull again.

Gravity... Pulling me down... out of the sky...

If I was truthful, really truthful, it wasn't falling and hitting the ground that scared me, it was experiencing flying, enjoying it, enjoying it too much, and slipping that scared me. From soaring at the highest heights, to falling, dropping straight down, seeing the earth rushing towards me feeling gravity at its strongest.. That, now that, scared me. Maybe it was the metaphorical aspect to it, I just knew it terrified me, shook me to my roots.

Roots... In the ground... Not falling vertically toward it...

On the upside, Said that annoying voice in my head, You'll be hugging Ava all ride, basically sky spooning...

Oh no. What am I doing? I couldn't do it, I wouldn't, I won't-

'Come on Ash, we're leaving!' A heavenly- no, nope, Ava's voice, broke me out of my near breakdown. She took my arms, and wrapped them just underneath her chest, so my face rested just below the top of her back. Her wings rose out of her shoulder blades, and my shoulders were just below the base or them. This isn't suggestive at all. The voice took on a sarcastic tone.

'You ready?' Ava turned her head, grinning over her shoulder at me. I shook my head, then nodded, then shook again. She seemed to understand, smiling sympathetically at me. 'Ok, Mist, Viv, can you tie us?' Wait wait waitwaitwait, back up a million miles, tie us?

Well at least I don't have to worry about falling anymore.

Ava's P.o.V at the sequoia

I flared my wings, coming in for landing slowly so as not to jolt my passenger. My friends and I chose to land at the base of the tree, so as not to pose the risk of Ash falling. My feet hovered just above the ground, and I fumbled untying the ropes that bound Ash and I. Finally free, Ash dropped to the ground, flopped, and ended up starfished on his front, face down, and looking like he might never get back up. I smiled understandingly: everyone's first flight was scary, angels had it slightly easier because, well, we kinda made for it.

'Never. Again.' The words came out slightly muffled, due to the whole face getting acquainted with earth thing, but they were meant. We'd have to find a different method of transport if we were to move him.

'It's not that bad. You get used to it, eventually.' Vivian reassured him, leaning over to see him.

'I don't want to get used to it. I never want to do it again.'

'Cool it drama llama. You'll be fine, we'll find a new way of getting you around. We didn't even go that high: we're born adapted to high altitude temperatures, but if we'd gone up too much you'da froze before you fell.' Son said, stretching after the long flight.

'But it's boiling here!' Ash seemed shocked, and almost instinctively glanced at me for confirmation.

'It's not so hot up there.' I answered. 'Mist, Ter, Rachael, you guys good to go straight away?'

'I'm good to go, Ava!'

'I'm bored already, lets set off!'

'Meh. Yeah.' I smiled at my friends responses.

'Ok, Son, Viv, Ash, you guys wanna set up a place to sleep? We'll be back as soon as we can, but it's a few hour flight and we've a long way to go. It'd be best to prepare for staying the night now, as we might not be back before dark, so put out places for everyone, and get a fire going. Son, I packed wards if you find good places to set them to set them, and Viv, the foods in Mist's pack, you could get that out before we leave. Empty anything we probably won't need and leave it here, we need the pack space.' I instructed, directing the last part at my friends who were coming to Angel Falls. When we had empty packs, and a nice fire going to cook lunch for the people staying behind, we said our goodbyes, and left for the city.

/-\\//-\ So I've caught up to where I had written up to! sorry for the lack of action, a lot's gong to happen next chapter so I wanted to make sure I didn't leave any plot gaps. Also when I type too fast wattpad forgets words, is that normal? ANOTHER thing, I've started planning series two of Atc! Excited :D