Double Rainbow

Torch-5

I wake up to find that Avery and Shine are already gone. Something feels really empty inside of me and I don't know why. I have everything I wanted back- my home in the city, Gash, and my freedoms, but there's something that feels so wrong and I can't stand it. I turn to Gash, who's still half asleep.

"Did you see them go?" I ask tentatively, a bit of a whine in my voice.

Gash shakes his head no. I feel so much more disappointed than I should be, after all, I knew I was going to stay and they were going to go follow the star or whatever. The star, the quest to find it, it all seems so much better than being here. So much more exciting. I get up and see Lily Lazura cleaning up the pillows where Avery and Shine slept last night. "Did you see them?"

"Yes, I did. They went that way." Lily hasn't changed much- she's a really nice Canis, and still as motherly as ever. Like all Canis, her ears flop down instead of being straight up (although that rule does have some exceptions) and unlike Canira, who have elemental powers, her magic is similar to most Canis- magic in its truest form.

She smiles at me in a sweet, I won't tell sort of way. "It's okay, you go for them. I'll tell Gash. He will be upset though. Maybe you should at least ask him to come."

"Gash? Do you want to?" I ask, hoping he'll say yes.

He just shakes his head. "I like it here. This is home. Plus, I know you're going to come back again." His purple eyes shimmer in the early sunlight.

"I will. I promise." I put my paw on his and we tug each other, our lame but special signature handshake. He smiles up at me, a hopeful smile.

I walk out the door and sprint in the direction that Lily pointed me in. I see two Pegasus Canira turn around to see me. "Torch!" Shine says, hugging him.

"Hey, Torch! Glad you caught up!" Avery says.

"I thought you guys left me." I say, a bit of hurt in my voice.

"We didn't think you'd want to come. You were so excited about coming home, and now you're leaving it behind again?" Shine says, confused.

"It just doesn't feel the same. I guess the city grew up without me." I sigh. I really do want to stay, but it's not the same place I used to love to adventure in.

"No," Avery says, "You grew up without the city. Come on, we have a star to follow."

She flutters out towards the edge of the city and the destination Avery's heart is leading her too. Even though I never saw that star, I feel like it's calling me too.

"Wait." Shine says.

We turn around. "What is it, Shine?"

"I'm not coming."

Avery gasps in shock. "Why, Shine? The two of us were going to stick this out together, right?"

Shine shakes her head sadly. "Avery, this star is calling you, not me. I just don't feel it and now that I can fly again," she soars up and comes back down to illustrate this point, "I want to go home, Avery. They think we're dead, but they might as well know we're not."

"Shine," Avery whispers, suddenly guilty, "Do you think I'm being a bad daughter by not coming with you? My dad will be waiting... and my mom..."

"The best way to make a hatchling fly is to push it out of the nest. Avery, you've been pushed out of the nest, but now it's your time to fly and you don't belong back there. Go on, chase your dreams. You've got a great heart and whatever you're going to find lies where your heart is calling you to, but I... my heart is calling me to go home."

Avery sits there for a minute, and then bursts out crying, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck. Shine blushes and pushes her off. Take this. I don't really need it." She hands Avery her PowerPet. "Something to remember me by." Avery nods. Shine continues, "It'll be okay. Take your first steps without me."

Avery takes one step away from her friend, and then another, and Shine takes a few in the opposite direction. Bit by bit, the friends walk away from each other, until I can only see Avery because Shine's turned the corner.

I run after Avery, who seems to have forgotten all about me in leaving her friend. I run after her, screaming, "WAAAAIT!"

Avery looks at the edge of the skyscrapers, the city pulling away all at once to give room to smaller buildings like houses. "So this is it, I guess. First steps towards... destiny."

I take her paw. "Yeah. It'll be a blast, won't it?"

Together, and now alone, we walk silently out of the city and into the suburbs.