Soaring Over The World (Soaring Saga #2)

**Chapter Eleven~An Angry Roman Ghost Bickers With Me**

"Back with a campsite suggestion!" Dex called as he, Shienna, and Raina came circling down to the beach, with us five all packed and patched up. 

"Where?" I asked, perking up.

"On top of a cliff," Raina explained with a shrug, "Very flat, grassless spot near the edge. There were some rocks too, so we could set our stuff by them and like, take some small ones to put around the fire!"

"She was right about being creative," Shienna said.

"Well, let's go!" I cry, springing out my wings with a small twinge of pain. 

"Whoa there, you and the other accident-prone featherbrain will be taking it very slow and steady," River orders, jumping in front of Ari and I.

"Oh come on, Blue Tche!" Ari whines, and I can't help but realize he nicknamed River something half Portuguese. 

"Actually that would be bluejay physician," River corrected, gesturing to his bluejay-like wings.

"Ugh, adding the 'jay' is too long and you aren't exactly a doctor," Ari complained.

"I'm your temporary one, since I'm the one who's been healing you all," River stated, sure sounding like a doctor, or physician, or whatever he wanted to be called, "And due to that fact, you will listen to me, because I know your injuries and how I'm trying to fix them. Okay?"

"Fiiiiine," Ari and I groaned in unison, and Raina whispered something to Neil about us three acting like a happy family.

     So we flew (with Ari and I trailing slower at the back and Shienna trying to show us where to go, in case we fell too far behind) over one of the most beautiful cities I'd ever seen: partly frozen rivers slipping through the town and weaving between white, baby blue and peach cement buildings buildings with red and orange rooftops, each building looking so similar yet so abstract, with the placement of the windows, floors, and ways the walls attached to other buildings. They looked so simple, but I had a feeling it that each one was made to be unique and useful with their blocky shapes. But to be honest, I wondered how the peple living here could tell these houses apart from one another, interesting as the concept was. Esspecially in the snow.

     The whole city was sprinkled with white snow, like someone spilt salt or sugar all over it. It caused the people wandering or driving around to stand out even brighter, looking like ants or  bugs that had come to clean up the sugar spilt all over. Even with the gardens and trees pretty much dead for the winter, they actually looked more peaceful than anything, like they were asleep. Hibernating. Patiently waiting for the winter to pass and summer to return with bright colours and gelatos and parties. Oh, and I haven't even begun to explain the orangey mountain cliffs behind the city!

     Jeez, why was I so poetic today?

     I felt myself become glad that it was so pretty, but then looked away as a wind came in at our faces, and I noticed the way Ari had been looking at me. Longing, almost, but glad, too. Glad that I was happy, by the looks of it. I also couldn't tell if he was blushing or if the wind was just cold on his face, too.

"What?" I laughed, notifying him of me seeing his expression. He looked away, and I was pretty sure his blushing wasn't from the wind being cold. I couldn't help but think of his expression, one-hundred-percent directed at me. Except he seemed to not want me to know he was looking at me like that? I wasn't even sure what I'd been feeling from him-- that sudden melancholy gladness from his direction. Emotions were confusing. 

     Our spread-out party of nine directed our flight around the city, leaving it behind and flying up to the top of the cliff. The air was even thinner and colder up there, and I was suddenly more greatful for my instinctive Avian body temperature regulation. That, and my extra jackets.