Until We Fly

Chapter 18: Neon Blue

"I have only been to Garvân two times before! It is a very nice, pretty place. Oh! James, it has blue trees!"

"Oh, really?"
I chuckled as Köleil grabbed my hand, skipping along by my side.

"Here will do."
Jake said, stopping by the edge of the water and waiting for Nim to catch up.

"Thanks for helping us with transport Nim. I didn't know Köleil could only do it a few times a day."
I smiled as she tore the rift.

"No problem. We all have limits. She'll bring you back with her last. You should all have a nice time today."

"Are you sure you don't want to come?"

"I'll be busy. But again, have a nice time. Garvân is a very relaxing place. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

Nim smiled and waved as we stepped through, promising to call if it got too late back in our world.
I was so happy that I'd finally be able to spend some proper time with Köleil.

"Right, I'm running up into the city to check up on some old acquaintances. You two stay here in the woods so I can find you."

"No problem. Take your time. Me and Kö are fine here."

"Well, you've no need to worry. Garvân is Dark free. Danger free, in fact. So you'll be fine. See you soon."

And he was gone.
Köleil hadn't been joking.
The trees WERE blue.
She insisted we climbed up and sat in them while waiting for Jake.
The bark on them was tough and easy to climb and the branches formed a sort of nest for us both to rest in.

It was quite amazing. Inside, the blue leaves were glowing neon, surrounding us in a sea blue light.
The colour reminded me of Nim's hair.

Köleil lay back, stretching out her arms and legs as she snuggled down comfortably.

"James, grab me that dark one please!"
She smiled, pointing at a dark blue leaf resting happily among the rest.

"Why?"

"That is a fully grown one. They're very nice for eating."

"...the leaf?"

"Yep. Some people in the other worlds mash it make and something called Günan."

"...Günan?"

"It's apparently really nice. The queen loves it."

"Um...alright."

I did as she asked, ignoring how strange it all was.

Just casually eating blue leaves recommended as a fantastic snack when mushed up by a magic queen I'd never heard of. Why not?

And she just sat there.
Nibbling her leaf slowly, all huddled up comfortably in the branches, illuminated in blue.
She looked amazing.

We sat there for a while, time flying by as Köleil kept making me get her more leaves.
Enjoying her current leaf, Köleil caught me staring and smiled.
"It is nice, yes?"

"Y-yeah. Great s-scenery."

"There is none. We are inside a tree."

"Oh, right."
I blushed, laughing nervously.
What was wrong with me?
"Well...there...kind of is..."

"Oh...really?"
She questioned, looking around.

"Well...um...you...you look very nice today, Köleil..."

She faced me again, a cute, puzzled look on her face.
"So...you are saying that...l am the scenery?"

"...maybe..."