Fifteen Years With Only a Single Star

Chapter 5

It had been months since I met Kalio. He was my mentor and I respected the old falcon. He taught me how to control my powers so I didn't go all crazy and kill people. I had quite a bit of attacks, too.

I didn't have names for them, because personally, it annoyed me that people would yell out their attacks when they do them. Why didn't they just do it without alerting the enemy? I told Kalio this once, but he said it was something about pride. I told him that people with pride were stupid airheads. He just laughed.

I sat in the Big Tree, or so I called it, munching on a branch of rasberries. Wind blew across my face as I looked out onto the ocean.

I tensed, spotting something on the horizon. I hung down to look in the entry knothole, my legs hooked over the branch so I didn't fall.

Kalio was eating a dead rabbit.

"Kalio, there's a ship coming this way."

"What flag is it flying?"

"Uh, I dunno. It's a cross with dots at each end. Blue."

"That's the World Government. Yup, yup. I don't expect them to come into the forest, but I want you to hide, anyway. You probably already have a bounty, yup, yup."

"Okay. I'll hide in the branches." I said, looking back to the ship.

It had almost reached the shore.

"No. Go to the Bat Caves."

"What about you?"

"I'll stay here, yup, yup."

"Why?"

"Don't ask why, brat."

"Are you going to die, Kalio?" I asked, swinging down into the tree hollow.

"I don't know. But I want you to stay in those caves until the ship leaves. Yup, yup. Got that, brat? If I'm not here anymore, leave."

"... I don't wanna."

"Take this." Kalio told me, pulling out one of his feathers.

He plucked a hole through the end with his talon, and grabbed my bracelet, stringing it into the chain. It wasn't really a bracelet anymore. It was a necklace. Kalio had a longer chain and had out my brother's yellow emblem on that, as well as the feather.

"But I don't wanna, Kalio! I wanna stay with you!" I blurted.

"YUKA!" He thundered, stretching up to his full size. "IF YOU STAY HERE, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE. I WORKED HARD ON YOU, AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE A WASTE."

He slumped down again, looking old.

"I'm proud of you, brat. I wanted to go with you and stay with you and guide you until death takes me. But I can't, child. I just can't. Now go."

My lower lip trembled, my eyes burning.

'Don't cry. Don't cry.' I scolded myself. 'Oni - Sama said that crying showed people your weaknesses.'

"O-Okay, Kalio." I answered, my voice shaky and weak.

I grabbed my bag and flew out of the Big Tree, avoiding the beach. I caught sight of men with black suits and my eyes widened. I could hear them speaking.

"We'll burn down this forest. It'll drive the girl out into the open so we can nab her." One of them ordered.

"Of course, Spanda-Sama."

A tear streamed down my face.

Kalio soared by me, flashing me a look.

I nodded and left. Kalio would try to save this forest, even if he died trying.