Flight from Within

Chapter 26 - Home

Hey, guys small warning. There is mention of a lot of destruction and a bit of death in this chapter. If that isn't your thing you can just skip it - I'll put a chapter summary at the end. Thanks! And happy reading!

Sky

"Are you sure you're okay to fly?" I asked Daniel for the millionth time that day.

"Yes, Angel. I'm all better, thanks to you." He said, rubbing my upper arms. I sighed, and gave in.

"Okay, let's go."

I hung between Daniel and Tanix as they carried me and flew towards our home.

"Sky, are you sure you want to see this? It's could be really hard."

"I'm sure. I need to know."

I wasn't ready. We turned a corner towards the forest and I nearly let go of the two boys.

"Oh my..." I whispered.

Trees, branches, and full houses were in a long heap, as far as the eye could see. All scorched and black. Some still looked red and hot. Ashes stretched outwards, toward us, for over 25 feet. I could even see some bodies.

"Oh my god..." I said again. Theus flew up in line to us, his face absolutely devastated.

This was the only home he ever knew.

"Theus. Theus, come here." He sniffled and looked over at me with red eyes. He flew over to me and hugged my middle tightly, his shoulders shaking. Tanix reached over a scratched his back. His jaw was set and I knew he was trying to be strong.

Daniel leaned over to me and kissed my head, silently whispering that I was going to be okay. We were going to get through this. We were all here, together. That was what mattered.

---

We returned to the life tree with solemn faces. I wanted to be alone. When we got back, I hobbled over to Ambers crib and picked her up, cradling her against my shoulder. I bounced gently as she woke up, smiling up at me and recognizing my face.

One tear fell.

She frowned and touched the tear, her face scrunching up like she was about to start crying as well.

Two tears fell.

"No, it's okay. I'm okay. Mommy's okay." She put her head on my chest and pulled back to sleep.

Three tears fell.

"I'm okay."

---

Later, my back against the wall, watching everyone in the room and Amber still asleep on my chest, my eyes looked cold and sorrowful.

"Hey." Daniel said, settling next to me and stroking my head. "I know things look bad right now, but you'll feel better with time." I nodded at him, but stayed silent. "I heard you refer to yourself as Mommy earlier."

"Yeah. I figure since we're gonna be caring for her we are pretty much her parents." I said.

"I think you're right... does that make me Dad?" I looked over with an amused smile.

"I suppose it does." He smiled with such an amount of love in his eyes.

"Have I told you I love you yet today?" I cracked a smile.

"You have not."

"I don't say it enough." He nuzzled his nose into my hair and I closed my eyes.

"I love you, too."

---

Tanix

"Theus. Come here." I pulled the devastated young boy up into my back and took off, flying a few trees down from the life tree and coming to stop.

"We must choose a tree!" I yelled with a finger in the air.

"Whyyyyyy...?" The boy whined.

"Because we can't stay in the Life Tree forever. We need a home."

"Sure we can. I like it there. I like Sarah."

I grinned. "I like her, too."

"Gross! Not like that!" He jumped off my back, and took off into the sky. I flew after him.

"Oh, come on! We're bros man! I'm supposed to tell you this stuff!"

"I thought Daniel was your bro that you told everything!" I finally tacked him and he got back on my back.

"One, he's dating my sister. He's lost his privileges. Two, it's about his sister. I can't tell him nothin'." Theus laughed as I landed back on the tree.

"Whatever."

---

Theus and I ran back into the life tree after Sundown. Theus ran over to Daniel, Sky, and Amber to get them, and I went over to Sarah.

"Sarah?" I cleared my throat as she looked curiously up at me. "We have a little surprise for you." Her eyes glinted and she followed me and others.

She gasped as she spotted all the lights illuminating a massive hut built inside a hollow tree, several yards in diameter.

"Tanix... what is this?" Sky asked with the first joyful face I'd seen on her all day.

"Thues and I had a new home for us. We landed on the semi-circle porch that extended 6 yards out of the tree. From the outside, it looked like a one-room cottage in the shape of a sphere. But as I took them inside, a huge living room stretched back with a large arch way that lead to the dinning room - set for 6 - and to the left a massive kitchen fit for professionals. To the left of the entry way was a large winding stair case - big enough to fly up - leading to a trail of rooms winding their way upstairs. First was Theus'. He had a small ping pong table in his room, along with a small fold-out bed that doubled as a desk. Next was Sarah's room. She had many shelves - some empty for supplies and some full of books. She had a simple bed with a plain red cover and a circular table with a few chair for work. Next was my room. It had a few weights that I could exercise with, as well as various chairs hung high from the ceiling creating a strange slimming course. Around the floor was a bed and a large bookshelf, as well as a small dresser. The next room was Amber's, and also closest to the last room. Her room had a crib, a rocking chair, a lot of baby equipment, and a dresser.
The last room was Daniel and Sky's. Their beds were across the room from each other, all the way against the wall. On Daniel's side were many empty bulletin boards, book shelves, a few weights that matched mine, and a table like Sarah's. On Sky's side, there was one bulletin board above her bed, a book shelf, a small desk with some paints and brushes (she told me she'd always wanted to paint) and some plants on a table next to the door. In the middle of the room to the far wall was a massive window with a sill much like a couch. Theirs was by far the nicest room.

"I love it." Sky said after exploring her room, giving me a hug.

"Thank you so much." Sarah said - I could tell she was choked up - and gave me a small peck on the cheek. I felt my cheeks flare up and I covered my face. Theus laughed at me, and suddenly, everyone felt at home.

Okay guys! Thanks for reading!

Basically all that happened in this chapter was the characters went to see their previous home, their was some fluff with Daniel, Sky, and Amber, a bit of Brotherly bonding with Tanix and Theus and the two brothers built a house for them all and surprised the others!

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Love you all!

Kyra - out!