Smolder

Chapter 18

Vivi first spotted them at noon, when the white clouds blinded their eyes. At first they looked like simple disturbances in the glowing background.

Then one lept out of the clouds.

It looked like a horse, only unbelievably white and trailing thin mist from it's hooves, mane and tail. It appeared to be shaped out of cloud. Small blue lights flashed in it's mane. Then another came out, and another and the whole pack.

After flying from the morning under the scorching sun without a drop of water, was the dehydration and hunger finally getting to her?

She knew hunger was.

Then Orpheus followed her gaze, turned towards them and exclaimed, "Oh, Storm spirits! I forgot you have storm spirits along these parts."

"There are spirits in storms?" Russell was looking a lot better than before. At least he wasn't holding on to Lupa's waist for dear life anymore.

"Not all storms. But, yes, storm spirits occasionally do cause storms."

The white horses jumped up and down above the clouds, playing around and shaking their heads cheerfully. Their manes looked fluffy.

Orpheus probably saw the look in her eyes. He asked, "Do you wanna pet them?"

"Yes," No hesitation from Vivi.

"I can carry you close enough," Orpheus proposed, then glancing at the spirits, "I think."

Think?

Then he looked at Vivi and said, "jump to me."

"From over here?" Vivi hoped the anxiousness she felt didn't slip into her voice.

"Yeah. Should I come closer?"

"Yes, please."

Vivi stood up and passed the leash to Elli. Fyl turned his head towards Orpheus and let out a small growl, as if warning him about personal space as he glided closer.

Glancing back, Vivi saw everyone looking at him wide eyed, even Lupa. Russell was shaking his head so violently Vivi thought his neck could snap any moment.

When she had finally balanced herself on the wyvern's back, she folded her knees and lept. For a terrifying second, she thought she won't reach him. There was nothing between her and the ground thousands of feet bellow, the strong wind hit from beside her, blowing her off path. She'd tumble down to the trees and become a spot of Vivi colored grease on the ground.

Then a strong, cold hand grabbed her arm. Orpheus yanked her towards himself and placed his other hands on her lower ribs. Then his other hand moved to the same spot and she was parallel to him. Vivi had just enough time to hear a combined gasp issuing from her teammates.

Vivi was hanging from thousands of feet in the sky, with this man as her only support. If he so much as slipped, she'd be a bloody sponge on the jagged trees underneath.

He slowly glided towards the pack. Vivi watched as the wyvern and all her friends slowly got further and further and the storm spirits got closer.

They were even more magnificent up close. Their eyes glowed electric blue. The air around them hummed in energy. Wisps of mist escaped from their hooves and mane in silk like threads. It smelled like wet iron. The whines sounded like echoing lyres, melodic and enchanting. As they got closer, the spirits got more jittery.

Soon enough, they were close enough for Vivi to touch them. She extended her hand and ran it through it's mane.

Small Sparks of electricity hit her hand as she moved it. It sent shiver down her spine. The mane was as cold and tingly. The horse let out a alarmed tune and ran with her. She did it again, feeling the spark on her palm and the stare of her teammates on her back.

At last, the spirit thought it had enjoyed her company enough and dived down into the cloud, followed by the rest of the pack.

Both she and Orpheus looked at them for a while until their movement disappeared into the white. Then Orpheus looked at the ground that was now littered with slabs of rock.

"We're taking a break for lunch and rest," he announced.

Then, with Vivi still in his hands, he bent down and folded his wings. Gravity took over and they fell like a pebble.