Deep Roots

Chapter Twelve

Lynn

Phoenix and I have set up the picnic and are now sitting on the soft grass staring at the tumbling water, in the small clearing where Slate and I trained. A backpack that Phoenix carried here, because of my wings, is strewn haphazardly next to us the satchel half open showing an array of mouth-watering delicacies. She stares calmly at the stream will I study her. Pale skin, dotted with light freckles covers her face, while her pale ginger hair tumbles in soft waves to her shoulders. Her eyes are currently ice blue and golden specks glimmer from the glare of the warm sun, a sun that's currently has only travelled about a third of its journey through the sky. She's wearing casual blue jeans and a faded yellow t-shirt, which had gained slight splotches of mud across her shoes and knees.

"So, since we're here." I state loudly trying to gain her attention which works so I watch patiently as her body twists in my direction, her legs still splayed out to the side of her not moving an inch. The patient waiting look in her eyes urges me continue, "Why don't we get to know each other?" I ask with a slight 'duh' undertone that comes out sharper then I intended. Yet, my pride denies myself the ability to take to apologise.

Phoenix seems to be taken aback by my harshness, making me feel bad yet still my mouth refuses to let out the apology that sits impatiently on my tongue. Her expression becomes rather flustered, "I guess we should be talking more then?" She shyly asks a cute awkward expression fills her as she stares pointlessly the grass sprouted between us.

"You know what?" I ask rhetorically, moving her attention from the grass to my face, a quizzical expression on hers, "I think we're going to get along just fine." I say with the biggest grin ignoring the adorable blush on her cheeks, probably not used to such bold statements.

"Anyway, you're shy so you'll keep quiet when I rant. You can be like my silent friend no one notices." I tease jokingly trying to get her to speak to me.

"Hey!" she cries with and over dramatic voice, a triumphant grin forms on my face as the realisation comes that I can already us becoming very close.

***

"You know?" I start as a thoughts pops into my head, "I don't actually know what your power is. I mean I know you're in fire, but what's your power." I notice the way her eyes cast downwards and her posture instantly seems to retreat. My first instinct is to console her and ask her what's wrong, but I quickly scold myself for being so invasive. I may feel a bond with her, but the truth is we have only known each other for three days. It took me months to get into willows group, even then I never quite trusted them, for good reasons too it took them a day to throw me out.

"I have the ability to transform into a Phoenix." She murmurs to her clutched hands; her face looks so crestfallen as if she'd just admitted her biggest sin to me. Yet my face must have been the exact opposite, "That is awesome," I exclaim, a wolfish grin spreading across my face, "As you can see I can fly as well. We should fly together sometime." I suggest, trying to ignore the fact she looks so sad.

I watch as she raises her head slightly to look at me causing a strand of hair falls in front of her eye meanwhile her freckle covered cheeks scrunch up slightly as a shy smile finds its way across her lips, "We could go flying now, since we finished all the food." she suggests quietly with a small hand gesture towards the now empty satchel, "All we'd have to is find a way to carry that, since having a burning creature carry it is not particularly advisable." she adds quippy then lowers her eyes to their previous stare towards her hands.

"Sure." I say in a thoughtful tone, "I'll carry the bag in my hands." I stop my speech for a moment, considering my next words silently, "Yeah! Let's do this, let's go flying!" I proclaim as if I'm a commander motivating his troops, Phoenix lets out a raucous chortle at my madness but her eyes hold no judgement. She twists her body into a crouching position, then pushes against the grass, silently I copy her actions.