Lost Wings

9~ A Flicker of Light

Chapter 9

The sun was setting, painting the sky in brushstrokes of clouds. Yet, I was oblivious to its beauty in my growing anxiety. We were still flying and had yet to encounter the outpost. Though no one said anything, we were all hoping the same things: that we weren't lost, and that we wouldn't have to spend the night alone in the middle of the forest. Even Aiden was quiet, in a unconscious effort to escape the attention of any nighttime creature.

Though just as skittish, Grey wasn't half as tired as me, and I took a break on her back.

"Look," Aiden said, pointing below us. "A light."

We all scanned the area.

"You're right," Autumn said. "I see it!"

"Do you think it's the outpost?" I asked.

"It looks like it could be coming from a small campfire," Chase said.

"That means people! We're saved!" Aiden smiled. "I hope they have food, I'm starving."

"What are we waiting for?" I hopped off my peryton and let myself glide down lower, towards the flickering light. My friends followed me, our spirits lifting.

The light, as Chase had guessed, was indeed coming from a campfire, but there was no sign of buildings anywhere. We slowed.

"That's not the outpost," Aiden voiced our thoughts. "Maybe they sent a search party out for us."

"Or maybe not. There are enemy scouts about," Chase reminded us.

"We should land here and get closer to figure out if we can show ourselves or not," I suggested.

All three of my friends nodded, and we found a spot were the trees were spaced enough to let us land.

"Ow," I heard Aiden mutter. "It's too dark in here." Indeed, the leaves didn't even let the soft glow of the dying sun through.

"Watch your step," Chase warned.

"The peryton need to stay here," Autmun decided.

I made a face, even though she could barely see me. "But Grey never listens to me."

A giggle escaped her. "True, though I can't say Juno is much better. I'll stay here and keep an eye on them."

"Good idea," Chase agreed. "Hailey, you can stay with her, too. We'll come get you if it's safe."

"Excuse me?" Did he think I wasn't capable of scouting ahead? "No way. I'm coming with you."

"Personally," Aiden piped up. "I'd like Hailey and Autumn to come both along. You know, safety in numbers? Also, what if we need Autumn to lasso something?"

"I can't lasso anything with all these trees. Don't worry, I'll be fine here," Autumn said. "You three go together. I'm counting on all of you to make sure the other two don't do anything stupid." She considered this. "Never mind, I'm only counting on Hailey to do that. Hailey, keep them out of trouble, will you?"

"I'll make sure she doesn't trip on stuff," Aiden offered. Chase just grunted, unhappy to have his decision overruled.

"I'm not going to trip." I glared at Aiden, though I could barely see him in the gloom.

"Hails, please." He scoffed. "You'd trip on your own feet in broad daylight."

"Exactly," Chase said. "You and Autumn should stay here. It's too dangerous."