Bird Furious

"Rylla helped?" She smiled. "That's amazing. So what was your mission anyway?"

She beamed. "Great! Tiernan went along with it because he didn't like how Nolikar was dragging us along. And also, he's not a very high rank. Marrying somebody in the hierarchy will get him a better position in life. He's courting Sykel for now. How was your mission?"

She nodded in asknowledgement and closed her eyes, her breathing shallower. Eej's grip on Vance's boot slackened and, weakly, he crawled to Kealie and went limp again. A boy, somewhat young with shaggy, dark hair stepped out of the trees and watched the demon fly away, a satisfied grin on his face. He turned to the golem. "Thanks, buddy. Later." The golem rumbled in dislike and returned to the trees. "All I feel is how empty my pockets are."

[description of happy feelings, blah blah blah too lazy to do it but she's happy] She broke contact after a minute and smiled. "I'm glad I met you."

A small net of vines wrapped weakly around his boot, the ends trailing off into ash.

“I don’t know.” She smiled shyly. “I’m glad you’re not dead.”

She grinned and kissed him again, longer. Then she realized exactly what had just happened and became very interested in the tile of the balcony. “…thanks. And… sorry, I think.”

It left a dent in the ground, and half of the golem’s right arm broke off. But it recovered quickly and kicked at the demon from said ground. She moaned from a couple hundred yards away. “Vance? Are you okay? I think Eej is hurt… and what’s that big stone thing? I…” she trailed off.

She giggled madly, nervous and excited. “Can I… can I do it again?”

The golem twisted again, though the heat left a groove in its chest. Then it used its fist—still hot from the fire—to swing at the demon’s side as the demon’s momentum propelled him closer.

Just do it, by all the chasms! she squeezed her eyes shut and gave him a peck, then made some sort of squeak and poofed marshmallows everywhere.

“I just… I thought you were dead, and… well, I never kissed you.” She looked away, certain that rubies had nothing on her cheeks today. As they were very red.

“Well… yeah.” She blushed. “But I’m not sure what to do about it.”

“It’s okay. I’m fine now.” She took a breath. “I’m just so glad you’re back.” Mitis slipped away. Haly debated internally.

“Malum said so,” she replied, drawing back. “He showed me—“ but she cut off here, unable to go on. “Wow,” Mitis said, amazed. “She really must love you. She put on shoes for you.” Haly went a deep shade of crimson. “I did not,” she insisted, then promptly kicked them over the balcony railing.

She lit up completely when she saw him, and when the griffin quit its tedious circling and landed, she was upon him in an instant. Grabbing him in an embrace, she said feelingly, “I love you, TAAron. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Haly waited eagerly on the balcony all day, wearing a pretty blue dress with silver trim, plus jewelry, makeup… and shoes. As twilight fell, she began to search the skies. Mitis had kept her updated as to TAAron’s location, but she got the connection from Cjehu’s clothes this time, since that was less draining.

“He will take you. It will be the work of almost a day—you’ll arrive by nighttime.” She turned away, attention fully turned to the necklace. She turned it over in her hands, anticipation written in every feature. She dropped it over her neck, took a breath, and marched off to command the army. — Mitis pulled back. “I’m getting mixed signals. I know who TAAron is, but his link is alive. I didn’t try to pinpoint his location, since I’m drained enough from searching your soul, but he’s eastward.” Haly froze. “He… he’s not? Not dead? His soul isn’t destroyed?” ”Hes fine.”‘Mitis sat next to Haly, resting from the expenditure.

“Fight the Nolikans and weed out a bit of their military might, then give it to the Evikians to destroy.” This needs to happen, the presence told him. Otherwise the future is dim. — “Haly?” She jolted awake. I’ve been asleep for hours. It doesn’t matter. TAAron’s dead. “Haly? Are you okay?” She looked up into the concerned face of a blonde girl with jagged, layered hair—short in the front, long in the back, so it formed an arrow down her back. Her green eyes looked unsure and surprised. “No,” she choked. “I’m not and I never will be. TAAron’s dead.” The girl, who’s Haly had just recognized, tilted her head. “Who’s that?” ”Just look.” Mitis lay a hand on Haly’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

“Just give it to me.” Her eyes gleamed. “I’ll wrap things up here while you get back to your lady.”

The griffin landed on a hill among many hills, all peppered profusely with tents and an army just walking up, early the next day. Ashli ran up to greet him. “Do you have it? Do you have it?” — Eventually Haly realized she couldn’t stay like this forever. Her face was stiff, hardened by her tears, but her emotions were in turmoil. She sunk through the ceiling into a hallway, dropping to the floor. A sensation blossomed in her ankle—pain?—but it felt far away. She started down the hallway, focusing on the floor, the walls, anything but TAAron. He’d looked so nervous outside the tower. “Something more than your friend.” Then unsure and confused. “Haly. She is the most important. Protect her. Know her. Don’t forget.” And then—so bittersweet—the times he’d said—and meant—“I love you.” And I didn’t say it back. I didn’t—I should have said it back! Oh, chasms, I should have said it back! She fell against the wall, then collapsed to the floor, crying.

The presence was kind enough to knock down the shed. Oeryn huffed, then took off.

He snorted and stomped the ground impatiently. Haly’s waiting.

A silvery griffin with gold hints, depending on how the light hit, stomped and huffed, then turned to TAAron. Oeryn, as his name was, had a saddle with several straps.