Lost Wings

31~ Brothers

Previously on LW:
Aric decides to follow the group until the Outpost, then go back to the Outlands for his sister. Hailey and Chase say their goodbyes to their respective parents, and all the  Aeolians get ready to leave the fairy tribe.

Chapter 31

    The fairies were mostly back to their usual routines while the soldiers finished organizing our departure. Thankfully, the wounded were few. Some of them would be able to fly back, but some would be carried on stretchers for a short while.

Away from the activity, Zarasa was waiting where Chase had left our few belongings. He kneeled next to her and ran a hand through her fur.

    "I'm going to miss you, Zares."

    The gryphon lifted her head, her brown eyes meeting his.

"I know." He sighed. "But you can't come with us. You wouldn't be happy where I'm going. The forest is your home, and you have your baby to think of."

Zarasa nuzzled him with her beak.

"I'll come back to see you, I promise." He wrapped his arms around her fluffy neck. "I'll miss you a lot."

The gryphon raised her paw and brought him closer to him, almost as if she was hugging him back.

I gave them some space. Chase, who couldn't stand peryton and wasn't an animal lover, had bounded with the gryphon faster than I ever thought possible. While having to leave Grey behind would have made me pretty sad myself, I realized Chase was already much closer to Zarasa than I would ever be to my peryton.

Thinking about Grey reminded me that, as the only peryton there besides Juno, who was still a bit young, she was going to be carrying Aiden back home. I decided to drop by the infirmary, where he had been forced to stay until we left. Despite his efforts to prove otherwise, he wasn't in the best of spirits, and I could tell the damage to his wing weighed on his mind.

When I reached the infirmary, I could hear voices inside and caught a glimpse of Bree's bright hair through the leaves that otherwise hid it from view. Even if I was not too fond of her, I had to admit she was a good commander, and I appreciated her watchfulness over Aiden since his disappearance.

I was about to join them when I became aware of their conversation.

"If it's a joke, it's not funny." Bree's voice was bitter.

"You know it's not a joke." Aiden sighed. "It's... I have to."

"No, you don't," she cut.

There was a tense silence.

"I'm sorry," Aiden said.

I wondered if I should intervene or let them play it out. Aiden seemed upset, something I particularly wanted to avoid in his present condition. I took a step forward.

Aiden and Bree were sitting next to each other on the fallen trunk that served as a bench. She refused to look at him in the eyes. He pulled a strand of hair out of her face.

"Come on. You won't even have time to worry. I'll be right next to you doing something stupid before you even know it."

When she didn't say anything, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Bree jumped and finally looked at him.

"What are -?"

He put a finger on his lips, which were rising up into a smile. "I'll give you one on the other cheek the next time I'll see you. See? Now I have no choice but to make good of my promise." He stood up.

I took a few steps back; conscious this was a scene I wasn't meant to see.

"I'll miss you," Aiden said. I didn't hear Bree's answer.