Blu

Chapter Two

The Journey Begins . . .

       That night, Maila and Airibone were walking back to the sleeping hall when all of the sudden, Obalie ran up to them panting.

     "You guys," Obalie was gasping for words, as she was breathing so heavily. "I've been running all around the village looking for you two, I've got Orkijace on her way." what is she up to now?

     "What's going on?" Maila asked her breath taken friend. Obalie looked up at the sky and then glanced behind her. Almost as if she were on the run from something.

     "I'll tell you when Orkie's here." Airibone gave Obalie a sarcastic look.

     "Orkie, really? Is that what you're calling her?" Obalie raised an eyebrow. "What is she calling you, Obal? Or alie?" A smug grin slid across Airibone's face. Obalie just rolled her eyes and looked at the sky again.

     "Alright, it's almost time." She whispered. Obalie glanced behind her and stomped her foot. Maila squinted to see, far away, at the back of the village, Orkijace poked her head around the side of a tree. Orkijace was so skinny, she could remain unseen behind a little tree trunk in the distance. Interesting . . . Airibone saw it too, they exchanged glances. Orkijace sprinted up to them.

     "Hey guys" Orkijace had a beaming smile on her face. "So Oab, what did you want me meet here for?" Airibone had an amused look now. Obalie glanced at Maila and Airibone with an embarrassed expression.

     "Uh, Ok. I didn't want to tell Tarska or Silvics, but I didn't wanna go alone . . . Then it would be weird and awkward. But, tomorrow, I heard that Oouger was leaving to fill in as a guard for his dad. So, I wanted to go and visit him so he wouldn't be lonely all day. Do you three want to come?" Obalie gave Maila a sideways glance with a nudge nudge wink wink look.

     "Uh," Maila began, "I- Ya, sure! I'll come, I mean why not?"

     "I'll come too, but why didn't you want to tell Silvics or Tarska? They would probably want to come." Airibone asked.

      "Well," Obalie started. "You know how Silvics worries herself, and Tarska-" Maila knew what she meant.

     "Ok," Maila interjected. "Orkijace, are you in?" Maila moved her gaze over to Orkijace, who was detaching herself from a vine. Orkijace looked up at them with an expression that said, 'obviously . . .'

     "Ya! Of course! Should I bring anything?" Orkijace tilted her head at Obalie.

     "Only if you want to, I'm not." Obalie answered. Airibone let out a yawn and dug her paws into the ground. This was probably a sign saying time for bed. Maila followed the sign and walked over to the sleeping hall. Darkness closed over her eyes as she drifted of to sleep. She had a feeling that her head would only be full of nightmares though . . . will we survive?

~ * * * ~

     This time, Maila woke up early. She proudly strutted over to Airibone, Orkijace, and Obalie, and began to wake them up. For Airibone, it only took a poke on the shoulder. Orkijace needed a little reminder about the plan, Obalie was- well- difficult to wake up this morning. When she did however, she was up, ready, and raring to go! "Is everyone ready?" Maila asked. "It's an hours journey there and back." Obalie looked at her with tired, yet excited eyes.

      "No it's not," she said. "Oouger's guarding the outskirts of the territory." Airibone looked confused.

     "So?" she asked.