Hidden Power

Chapter Five

Mira woke to the sound of birds chirping. She turned over to see that Nox was staring at the sky. Mira looked up to see Ravens circling overhead. Interesting. Ravens only come out in the winter, not summer.

"What are they doing?" Mira asked her brother.

"I don't know. I couldn't sleep last night, so I was staring at the sky. The next thing I know, there are Ravens circling us. They've been at it for hours now," he responded. He turned his gaze from the Ravens to her. His eyes looked heavy with no sleep."I was too worried to sleep. I thought that something would happen to you. I could never live with myself if something did happen."

"You don't have to worry about me, Nox. I can look after myself," Mira said back. He gave her a look as though to say really. She ignored him and looked back at the sky. The Ravens were gone. Nox sat up and dug out some more bread. They ate in silence. Mira picked up the sound of a stream nearby. She took two water skins from the bag and Nox picked at his knives."I'll be back soon. Don't eat anything else, otherwise we won't have any for the journey." Mira said to Nox.

"Before you leave me in the middle of the jungle, can you at least tell me which way you think this Wind Whistler is?" He asked her. She hadn't thought of that. Her mother hadn't told them which way they had to go.

"I don't know Nox. I guess we just go whichever way feels right. I'm going to get water,"she said as she turned and left. Mira walked through the trees until she reached the stream. It was only about 2 metres wide and knee deep. With her face eyes, Mira could see small fish swimming. Not big enough to eat though. She opened the lid to the water skins and begun to fill them. Glancing through the trees, Mira spotted some sort of bird. It was mostly green with some purple under its stomach and the end of its wings. Small white feathers poked out of its head. It had a long tail, but none of these features interested Mira. It was the bell attached to a chain around a its leg she was intrigued by. Sealing the lid on the water skins, she started to approach the bird.

"Nox, come here. I found something," Mira whispered, knowing that he could hear her. Within seconds, he was beside her, watching the bird with his beautiful blue eyes."What do you think it is?" She asked him.

"I don't know, but it sure is something I've never seen before," he responded, taking a step towards the bird. As Nox got closer and closer, the bird just stared at him. Soon, Nox was a meter from the bird. It made a small sound a cocked its head to the side. Mira softly crept up next to Nox and looked into the birds blue eyes. Hesitantly, she reached out a hand towards the bird, not knowing wether or not it would bite or fly away. When Mira's hand reached its face, she gently stroked the side. The bird closed its eyes and leaned into her hand. A small smile crept up her face as she continued to scratch down its neck and then it's back.

"I see she likes you," a voice came from the bushes. Both Mira and Nox drew their weapons and aimed them at the voice."Calm down, calm down. I'm not going to hurt you," he said. A tall fae man, who looked in his 20s, emerged from the bushes. He was handsome too. He wore a plain cream tunic with long cream trousers which complimented his short blond hair. Mira found herself staring into his emerald green eyes. Before the silence got too awkward, Nox spoke up.

"Who are you? Is this your bird?" The words seemed a bit harsh, but Mira wasn't going to say anything.

"Yes, she's my bird. We've been through many adventures together her and I. Her names Luna. She's a Mangle forest hawk," he stared to walk around them, but Nox's grip on his sword tightened and he thrust it towards the mans throat. But the man quickly turned, grabbing Nox's arm and twisted his sword out of his grip. He smiled at them as Nox gave him a puzzled look. Mira was quick to take his place, positioning herself in a fighting stance before engaging. But, the same fate fell on her as it did her brother. The man ripped her sword from her firm grasp.