Winged Angel

Chapter 16

“We need to walk.” Reco spoke from where he was on the ground whining. I just smiled as I was combing my fingers through Callista's mane. We had been flying all morning and had just stopped for lunch. It didn’t help where we where was not something on the map. The lush ground just becomes dead desert land. We are not to sure if we made a wrong turn or what happened.

“We might have to. I really don’t want to fly over something so fast like this. We will be spotted in the air more then on the ground.” I told him. I loved flying but still getting use to it. Tarick was scrounging around the border between desert and lush. It worried me a little but he was being very careful.

“Avery, what is the human world like?”

“Actually quite similar to the winged city’s. I mean they don’t have wings and there tech is a lot more advanced.” I told him gently as I left to sit beside him. Callista went to eating the grass with Darika. There worry was they would not get to see it again. “But maybe they aren’t more advanced. Winged they don’t need half the stuff the humans got.”

“Really. You know I always thought they where murderers and r****t that had no sense of anything.” He spoke sitting up.

“We do have those and they are put behind bars if they are caught.” I told him remembering bits and pieces of the news dad watched.

“Behind bars?” He asked.

“Oh like thrown in the dungeons with other people. Normally it’s in a facility above ground.” I told him.

“Oh we just rip them apart or ban them. Most of the time being banned is like being killed.” He said with a chuckle. “Why fill up the space.”

“Humans like to give second chances.” I told him. “They think people can change once they are thrown into a not so nice place.”

“Nope we tried that once.” Reco said with a frown. “Darn near just about killed my mother and baby sister.”

“You have a sister?” I said looking at him.

“Yeah she is actually the reason I am here. I won’t this bond to work. I want the werewolves and Winged to be friends for eternity.” He said with a smile. “I know it’s a long time but with help like you guys and your magic I know my sisters future is bright. I don’t have to worry about her being hurt by rouges.”

“Because if they get to hard to handle we will be there to help.” I told him. He nodded happily.

“Exactly. My little sister is my world. I would do anything to keep her safe and give her everything she wants.” He said.

“You’re a good brother.” I told him. “Bet it’s hard being away from her.”

“It is but the king promised to house my mom and sister till I get back so it will be okay.” He said. “With the rouges out most of the wives and children of the Alphas have gone to find sanctuary in the castle. The kings says he can distribute troops quickly that way.”

“Oh?”

“When werewolves marry its normally to a mate. We become infatuated with each other right up till we Mark each other. Soon our bond becomes so strong we can feel each others pain, speak with each other as well as track each other.” He said with a smile.

“I pray you find someone that will treat you and your pack the same way.” I smiled at him. He smiled back as we sat in silence for a bit. Tarick sighed heavily as he stood up. Doing so he fell into the desert causing both me and Reco to jump to his aid. He was alright however. Callista was right there with us.

As soon as he was on his feet we looked around to notice we where smack dead in the middle of the desert. There was sand for miles around. Callista and Reco where trying to smell there way back as me and Tarick hand in hand where trying to see if we fell through a barrier.

‘This is not good.’ Callista said gently pressing her nose to my shoulder.

“Can you hear them?” I asked Reco who was trying to hear if they where calling us.

“No, it’s no good Avery.” He spoke with a sigh. I knew this was not good. Tarick squeezed my hand. I knew he was worried.

‘Don’t fret I will see if I can contact Darika.’ Callista said as she closed her eyes. Her horn began to glow gently and I prayed it worked.

‘Where in the hoofs are you guys.’ Darika spoke gently.

‘Tarick fell into desert causing us to run for him. But as we stepped on the sand you where all gone.’ Callista spoke back to her.

‘The others are freaking out.’ Darika spoke. ‘Some have jumped on to the sand part but they cant see you.’

‘That's weird.’ I spoke gently. I sat down on the ground and pulled my legs into a pretzel. Tarick sat in the space in the middle causing me to chuckle. I closed my eyes and focused on the area. I mean it was strange to see that we where on our own little island. I couldn’t see the other island we where suppose to fly off to here. It was strange.

“Avery?” Tarick gently spoke to me. I opened my eyes to see him a bit nervous. I gripped him tightly to comfort him.

“Its okay Tarick. They are safe.” I told him. Reco placed a hand on my shoulder to comfort me which I was happy for.

“Don’t worry little man. I bet they are on there way to us as we speak.” Reco gently said. I nodded as we both looked up at him. “Now we must find some shade and shelter. If a desert storm makes it’s way through we are sitting ducks in the open.”

“This way. There is a bit of a forest.” I told him pointing to the green outline. He looked at it then at me then back at it.

“Now remember the desert plays tricks on you. Are you sure you want to go that way?” He said. I nodded and rose lifting Tarick with me. He smiled as we began to walk.

‘I have told Darika to keep coming forward. Hopefully they find us soon.’ Callista said gently. I agreed with her but stopped.

‘Wait Callista get a connection with Darika going again.’ I thought back to her stopping the others. They looked at me weird.

‘Callista,’ Darika spoke.

‘Tell me if Andrew moves?’ I gently thought before I screamed his name out loud.

‘I think he heard you. He freaking just took off.’ Darika spoke shocked. ‘The others are scrambling to pack up and follow.’

‘Good. He will find us.’ I told her before I turned to Tarick and Reco who had the most confused and panic face on.

“I am going to entrust you with a secret.” I told Reco as I dropped my eyes and grabbed my elbow with my other hand.

“I am so glad magic runs through your blood like your mother.” Reco finally said. He let out a huge sigh.

“You knew?”

“Your wings are the reason my father sent me to you. He said the king Alpha told him of the beauty of your wings and he new right away.” Reco gently said. “The king of kings is my uncle. My father was there the day his father agreed to help your mother and was told if a women came with your wings to entrust everything to you.”

“I see.” I told him with a smile.

“I can bend fire. But you cant tell no one of our gifts or they will ship us out to a lonely island we will never be able to return from.” Tarick spoke quickly.

“Your secret is safe with me.” Reco said as he bowed his head. “Andrew must be you protector.”

“Yes.” I told him. “We he left my side when I got sick I called to him and he came running. He was miles away. I thought it had to work here to.”

“It should. If I remember correctly from hearing my father speak your mother could call her guard from the human realm and that is further away then any of these realms.” Reco said. “I guess in a way it’s like a mate bond.”

“I hope it works.” I told him as we began to walk some more. It didn’t take long for the forest to show up. We sat under a tree as the sun was starting to set.

“Don’t worry Avery. They will find us.” Reco spoke as he saw me nervously fidgeting. I looked at him and smiled.

Night soon fell and Reco forced us to sleep. It took a bit but I managed to after a while. Callista was right beside us as was Reco. For a desert it sure got cold at night.

I woke up in a drenched sweat. Reco was no where to be seen and Tarick was still asleep. Callista lifted her head and looked at me gently nosing my cheek.

‘I’m okay.’ I told her as I tried to calm my breathing.

‘What is wrong?’ She asked gently pushing my cheek again.

‘It was just a bad dream.’ I told her as I rose to my feet. She would have gotten up but Tarick was entangled in her tail. I smiled gently as I began to work it out. Soon she was standing beside me, my cheek on her nose enjoying her comfort. Reco soon showed up wrapping his own arms around me.

“Somethings wrong.” He gently said into my ear. I shook my head, I really don’t know what is wrong but knew that whatever it was had passed.

“Just a bad dream is all" I smiled at him as Tarick stirred. He shot up when he realized no one was laying close.

“Sorry, did I over sleep?” He asked looking at us.

“No Avery just had a bad dream. The sun is just coming up and over the horizon.” Reco said as he let me go. “But I am glad your up. Let’s get these cooking.”

“I can light the fire.” Tarick said happily.

“Good because I have no idea how we would otherwise.” Reco spoke happily. I walked away from the to. Not to far just a small jog distance away. Callista was with me the whole way. She had her nose on my shoulder still worried.

“He should have been here. How far away are we?” I asked worried. I hated being out here on my own. I mean yes I raced off into the forest of wolves by myself but the adrenaline was going good.

‘He will find you.’ She gently cooed to me. I tried to calm my breathing but to no avail. My head was running with thoughts and they where not good.

“Breathe Avery.” Reco hollered in my ear as his arms stretched around me. I couldn’t I didn’t know how. “Avery listen to me. Nothing has happened to them. They are coming. I can hear them in the distance. Please you need to calm your mind, get rid of all those nasty thoughts. Now breath okay. Just concentrate on breathing.”

‘Avery' Callista tried but it didn’t help all went black for me. Fear took me even though I felt safe. Definitely something I could not explain.

“Tarick.” I heard Reco call. He was over to me in a heart beat as his hands hit my shoulders. “You need to take my place right here.”

“What happened.” Tarick asked worried.

“Panic attack.” Reco spoke as he stood. “I hear wing beats in the distance. I am going to take Callista and see if its them. Andrew and Rebecca will have a better idea on how to help her.”

“Hurry.” Tarick said worried. He held my hand tight as I felt droplets on my face. Callista took off quickly as all went quiet.

I came to with warmth on my chest stomach and cheek. Took me a second to realize I was draped over someone’s back. His fir was tickling my nose but I was just to weak to care.

‘f**k they found us.’ A growl broke the silence. I gently opened my eyes to see fur of a beautiful black creature. Well it wasn’t completely black. It had blue tints to it.

‘Reco.’ I gently thought.

‘God Avery your going to be the death of us all.’ He spoke gently with a sigh.

‘I’m sorry.’ Was all I could say tears coming to my eyes.

‘Easy Avery, none of this is your fault.’ He spoke ever so gently to me. I was shocked, it had to be my fault. ‘Now I need to run faster. Do you have the strength to hold on?’

‘I think so.’ I spoke lifting my hands to the fur around my head. I grabbed it tight as I felt him slowly move faster.

‘Callista is above us somewhere with Tarick.’ He gently spoke even though I knew he was concentrating on running.

‘What happened.’ I asked gently.

‘We took off to find the wing beats where not of our own. They belonged to what Tarick says are the men that are after you.’ Callista spoke when Reco didn’t respond. ‘We where glad we made it back to you both in time to get away.’

‘So it is a trap.’ I gently cried.

‘No princess, this was something we knew we where walking into. We had a plan for this but being separated was not apart of it.’ Reco spoke. I knew he was going to say something else but we where sent flying sideways. Reco managed to collect himself but I was sent to the ground.

‘Reco.’ I cried trying to get up. My body was shaking from fear and I knew it.

‘Breath Avery.’ Callistas voice gently called. ‘Remember you take charge of what is going on. You are a strong powerful girl now. You survived your moms beatings because you had to.’

‘Now it’s time to prove to her I am not weak.’ I spoke knowing exactly what she meant. I was scared because all I could think of was me being alone but in reality I was no longer alone. I had friends that needed my help. I rose to my feet strong and removed the daggers from my arms. Without even thinking I had them buried into the side of the creature on Reco. My other on in my boot was buried into the chest of an advancing enemy.

Reco was now on his feet taking out another as I called back my daggers just to release them into another creature. Heat began to radiate around me as I looked up to see Callista and Tarick right above us.

This fight did not last long. They where retreating almost instantly after the first 10 creatures where killed. I crouched breathing, trying to clean my weapons in the grass. When I felt they where clean enough I put them back in the holders.

‘Avery.’ Reco came over and nudged my cheek. I looked up at him and smiled before I did a walk around healing wounds. He again nudged my cheek when I was done. ‘They would have healed on there own.’

“In a place where we don’t know the landscape, the direction and most importantly the people that live here I will not take chances. Infections are to great a risk right now.” I told him as Callista floated down to us. Tarick jumped off into my arms and I was happy. He was crying however which worried me.

“We found them Avery.” Tarick cried not wanting to let me go. “They have been caught.”

“Avery.” A voice called in the distance. I dropped Tarick and looked towards the voice. I raced back to Callista and jumped on her back causing her to jump into the air.

‘Quickly Callista.’ I gently thought as I began to look around for the voice. She spotted them in a clearing making a move that way. My head whipped to there direction and even before Callista could touch I jumped into his arms.

“Jesus Avery.” Andrew’s voice soothed my nervous heart as he held me tight. “This time I just about died.”

“I didn’t mean to.” I cried into his shoulder as I felt Callista's nose on my back.

“I know you didn’t.” He said gently.

“Where is Tarick.” Rebecca’s voice gently asked. Andrew gently let me go so I could face her. I didn’t hesitate to wrap my arms around her as well. She held me tight.

“He is safe with Reco.” I told her.

“We got separated from the others.” Rebecca wasn’t to happy.

“I heard you scream and just took off. I didn’t know what came over me. The fear in your voice and my own just took over I guess.” Andrew said with a hand on my back. “Rebecca was the only one that could keep up. By the time we realized what happened the others where gone.”

“Its okay. You’re here now we will find them.” I told them with a smile. I let them go so I could mount Callista once more. We flew close together touching down beside Reco. Tarick wrapped his arms around his siblings just like they wrapped them around him.

“I’m sorry.” Tarrick cried.

“Its okay little brother. It wasn’t your fault. You stayed with the princess and protected her. That’s all that mattered.” Rebecca gently said as she looked at me with a smile.

‘Come we must get closer to them before they take your other friends away.’ Callista said gently stepping away.

“Callista has found the others.” I said gently. Tarrick broke from his siblings embrace and flapped to me. Everyone followed . Reco kept up with Callistas canter which gave me comfort. Andrew, Rebecca and Tarick flew close by.