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Chapter 4

The Journey Begins

Flirey is riding on Erith and we see what appears to be a newly formed pair, walking through the woods. Erith looks over his shoulder briefly and glances at Flirey riding silently with a mysterious gaze. “Flirey, what’s up?” Erith voices his concern. “Nothing, I was just thinking over about the losses and gains I’ve had in the last 24 hours.” Flirey responded with a glazed over look still in her eyes.

“Oh, okay what are they?”

“Nothing, never mind that, so when do we eat?”

“Your hungry again, but your so small?”

“A little I’m just confused lately.”

“All right but we don’t have food, so let us just take a rest.”

“Thank you, I don’t mean to slow you down.”

“No it’s fine.”

Erith lowered his tired body down onto the nearest tree stump and lifted his hand to let Flirey jump on. He placed his hand with the tiny creature gently on the stump and sighed. Flirey asked what was on his mind and he explained how he remembers nothing about how he got here or how far out he really is. Flirey agreed and suddenly she jumped up and screamed fluttering her wings and landing on the ground in a spastic and unflattering way. Erith was startled and watched stunned asking over and over what, what is it, what happened to you? Flirey, jumped off the ground shocked that nothing was bothering Erith. She quickly ran around to the edge of the short stump and looked up at the mountain she saw above her. Erith lowered his hand in an offering of help. Flirey glanced over at it, flipped her hair around as she pivoted on one foot gracefully and began to grab hold of the wood. As she placed her foot hold her silky locks were still springing up and down from refusing the unnecessary help. Erith stared silently as he took his unwanted offering back and watched her ascend up the stump with great struggle. Flirey was trying with all her might and groaned as she slipped and caught herself with consequence of getting injured. Erith suddenly worried jumped slightly lowering his hand once again for her. And once again getting refused, stubbornly by Flirey, she continued her climb and placed each foot and hand at her own pace. Flirey made her way just over the edge and winced in pain as she tipped her body above the top. Erith asked concerned what the problem was. Exhausted and tired from the climb she said gasping for air that she was fine.

“You are not!”

“Yes I am, leave me alone”

“Stop being so stubborn why did you freak out?”

“Something rumbled, okay”

“Oh, okay, I didn’t hear anything. Are you okay?”

“Yes now back off. I insist on it.”

“Alright, don’t be so pushy.” Erith mumbled under his breath. Not too long after their argument was through, Flirey once again screamed and freaked out landing on the ground this time with much more force and new pain as well as from the fall when climbing. She winced in pain and realized that the same thing had happened. She slowly but surely began lifting herself up, and walked over to the stump, this time fully prepared to accepted an offer from Erith in spite of her pride. She paused briefly; barely noticeable when no offer came she angrily limped to the edge of the stump, and began to climb. When she reached the edge she struggled and let a cry of pain flash in her eyes, as she glanced at Erith. Erith was watching her but was confused about what to do; she was so stubborn the first time and refused his help. Now she won’t ask for it but she is practically begging for it. So should he help her? Yes he would, as he started to bring his hand over he stopped abruptly when he saw Flirey already lying face down beside him. “Are you okay?” Flirey turned over, sat up quickly, grimacing in pain, and looked away. Erith asked again, this time less sure of himself if Flirey was okay. She refused to answer so he asked if she was mad at him. No response. He began growing impatient so he rose off the stump and plucked Flirey right up from where she was sitting, placed her on his shoulder and began to walk away. This did not get much reaction but it did get much struggle. Flirey was angry at this rash action, but soon settled herself lying across Erith’s shoulder in the least painful way. Erith recognized this action but said nothing. He simply began slowly and cautiously lowering himself to the ground gathering some of the softest moss he could find from the forest floor. Then rose again slightly bumping Flirey and noticing the flinch in her face, he then laid the moss over Flirey’s back. He continued his walk through the forest and began to climb a hill stepping over the fallen branches and holes dug by some animal, he did not want to meet. Next he knew the air was cool and getting cooler, the sky was dark and the moon rose over them full with the bright shine of the sun’s light behind it. He watched as the stars began to peek around their pitch black blanket and grew tired of walking. He wished to sleep but he knew it was to cold, Flirey on the other hand was as snug as a bug in a deep sleep under the moss made blanket. He decided to set out nights and rest days from then on. For the nights were too cold for sleep and the days to hot for travel. He was about to sit on a log when he heard Flirey mumble something under her breath. He asked what she said but got no response and saw she still was asleep; he decided to go sit on the log again when he heard Flirey again, this time clearly, she warned him in her sleep don’t sit, too wet. He figured she just does not want to be bumped so he would be extra careful. Unfortunately when he sat he realized why he was warned, the log snapped immediately underneath him being soaked from rain a week ago. He had no time to break any of the impact of the fall. Therefore Flirey was wakened in mid air and fell from a much greater height, and landed a bloody landing. Erith was dazed and wondered where Flirey was, afraid to move for fear of squishing her. Flirey was temporarily speechless, but when she gained enough consciousness to speak she let out a cry to Erith for help. Erith quickly turned to see her lying on a stone. He went to lift her up, when he heard a scream to stop. He froze and made no movement holding his breath knowing something was wrong. She begged for him not to touch her and told him she was slowing him down and to find his family, she has no where to go and no need to slow him down. He refused her generous offer, knowing this was his damage for not listening to her warning about the log being too soiled, and damp. He walked away silently. Flirey sighed happily knowing that he was headed to a loving family.