Finding Home - The Light

Chapter Fourteen - Celebration

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Celebration

The brightly colored sina mru eyed her carefully as she walked closer. She recalled how frightened she had been the first time she laid eyes on the strange feathered animal. She kept her eyes locked onto its while she slowly moved forward. She could see Alexander watching nearby, looking like a coiled spring.

“Hello, Mars.”

She reached it and patted it’s furry wolf shaped head, laughing when it‘s tongue hung out from it‘s mouth. Bright copper feathers stood straight up from it’s head, reaching a full three feet above it’s six foot height. Chocolate colored fur covered it’s head and chest, running down it’s front legs that ended in dog-like paws. The rest of it’s body was covered in copper colored feathers, ending in a magnificent copper and golden tail that flared five feet behind it.

Sara slid her sword into the small saddle already tied to his back. She saw Roderick approaching from the corner of her eyes as she adjusted the pack on her back. She looked solemnly up at him when he reached her.

“Our hero is off to save us,” he said smiling at her. “It has been an honor to train you.”

“Are you kidding? The honor was mine, and I’ll do my best to make you proud,” she said returning his smile.

Sara mounted Mars when Alexander urged her on from the back of his black and silver sina mru. They leapt into the air in a flurry of long feathers, Sara holding tight to Mars as her heart jumped into her throat. He slowly leveled out, giving her time to adjust before picking up speed to catch up with Alexander.

Once her heartbeat stopped racing, she began to enjoy the ride. Sara closed her eyes, letting the wind rush over her as she let go of Mars and spread her arms. She knew what was coming next just before it happened.

Mars suddenly folded his wings completely in, diving for the ground as fast as he could. Sara leaned forward as far as she could, clutching his saddle as the ground rushed toward them. She saw Alexander realize what was happening and try to dive after them. Mars spread his copper wings at the last moment, sending them soaring low across the ground before he gained height again.

“What’s wrong with you!” Alexander yelled at Sara as she laughed loudly.

“You should have seen the look on your face!” Tears streamed down her face as she watched the vein pulsing in his forehead. “That was awesome!”

“Are you done playing?”

Sara grinned and shook her head. “Never.”

“It will not take us long to reach camp. We are set up a short distance from a village that has just been attacked. Are you ready for this?”

“I’ve been ready since I got here.”

He smiled proudly at her as they flew over the treetops toward the war.

Sara took in her surroundings quickly as they landed. They were in a large clearing completely filled by men and women bustling about the camp, making their way quickly around stark white tents. Alexander looked at her before dropping to the ground.

“Tomorrow we take the battle to them,” ha said softly. “tonight is for celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?”

“You, and the return of hope that you have brought to this kingdom.”

“Alexander, I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I mean, there are hundreds of warriors down there that have been fighting forever. What is it I can do that they can’t?”

Alexander walked slowly to Mars and lifted her off of the leather saddle, placing her gently on the ground in front of him. He placed a palm on each cheek, cupping her face as his black eyes stared intently into hers.

“You are doing it already by being here. All anyone is asking is that you be your wonderful self. Let the rest take care of itself. Now let’s go celebrate.”

Sara watched the people she was passing carefully, noting the diversity among them. She saw elves, satyrs, centaurs, humans, and even a few giants lurking in the background.

They were soon surrounded by a cheering crowd as people began to recognize them. Sara kept her grip on Alexander’s hand as the crowd tried to separate them. She felt dozens of hands pat her back before Alexander lifted her onto a platform, hoisting himself up afterward. Sara was shoved into a chair and a glass of wine was pushed into her hand. She looked around, unsure of what to do. Slowly she raised her glass into the air, amazed by the cheers that greeted her. She took a small sip and set her glass on the table, wondering if they were going to expect a speech. Her unspoken question was answered when a band started playing behind her and people began dancing.

Several hours and glasses of wine later, Sara found herself being hoisted onto the shoulders of a giant. The sandy haired Monty who had blushed furiously when he introduced himself stood almost twenty feet tall, towering over all of the other creatures, even the other giants. He slowly relaxed as the evening progressed, his booming laughter echoing through the camp.

Sara protested loudly when Alexander picked her up and handed her to Monty. He looked shyly down at her before placing her on his shoulder.

“I will put you down if you wish, Lady.”

Sara sighed and glared at Alexander before answering. “No, Monty, it’s alright. I just wish I’d had some warning. I almost lost my dinner there for a second.”

His shoulders shook with laughter, Sara grabbed his collar and held on tightly to keep from falling off. She tried to stifle a yawn, but it escaped despite her best efforts.

Monty insisted on carrying Sara to her tent immediately, encouraged by the cheers of the crowd around them. He paraded around the camp once, Sara trying not to laugh as he stumbled and knocked over three tents before catching himself. He set her in front of the largest tent in the camp, offering his hand to steady her on her feet. Sara managed to wave to the people behind her and stumbled inside before she made a fool of herself.

“Ye need yer rest Lady,” Monty boomed at her before closing her tent flap.

Sara sank into the large mattress in the middle of the tent, not noticing the elaborate setup they had prepared for her. The only thing she saw was the inviting bed before her. As her head hit the pillow doubt filled her heart.

You can’t do this, she thought again to herself. A breeze blew through a crack in the tent, caressing her face softly and carrying a familiar voice.

“Your finally coming.”

“Yeah, home,” she mumbled before falling quickly asleep to dream of a castle high on a mountaintop.