Enmity's Lost Prodigy: Chapter 7 - Trials

Breaking day, all in the house had finally became quiet, and all but two went to sleep. Hollie, being of stolen bed, and her mother, wishing to send them off as a proper host. Farrah slept in greatly, greater than normal, embarrassingly so. When she awoke there was nothing to be heard, except perhaps a groan or two of Hollie keeping herself awake and refusing to sleep on the couch. Farrah slowly crept out of the room and hugged the door casing which was barely a door casing at all. Everything was still very dark as the night before, except instead of a slow burning candle, it was the light of outside bleakly peering in through the doorway.

Hollie instantly took notice to Farrah and came to meet her. Trying to act fully awake, Hollie somehow found a way to make a mockery of herself then pulled the magpie to the table.

“Did you sleep well?” The mother asked.

Farrah attempted to reply but was still too tired in the morning to really say anything. Finally remembering she could nod, she did so rather late, and tried to freshen up her head.

“And your friend?” The mother continued. “How are you doing in there.”

Farrah didn't pay attention to this, nor the rest of the conversation that was had with her hair.

“What about you huh?” Hollie asked. “You don't look like you are holding up too much.”

“I'm not a morning person.” Farrah pushed out toneless, feeling the dryness in her throat being irritating. “I need a moment to wake up.”

“You and Hollie are the same, she hates it when I say it too.” Hollie's mother poked.

No comment from Hollie. Though you could see her eyes roll, and try to stay focused. Though at last she did say “I'm sorry I might not get to spend much time with you, you seem pretty awesome.”

“You must be travelling somewhere right?” The mother asked

Farrah replied, ignoring the yucky feeling in her throat. “A long ways.”

“Then it would be best that you pack a lunch at least.”

Farrah thought on the meal that was made that night and was turned off of the idea. “I might pass.”

“You won't find anything for miles, I'll assure you of that. If you came from the land to our west, it will be many days until you actually find anything let alone food.” She would have let Farrah talk, but she had ran off to the pantry where there was already made a packed meal prime and ready.

“I'm in the building, hold the bugs.” Talia mentioned pacing out without her chariot. She sat before the table, Hollie she already seen Talia but not her mother, she was rather surprised again.

“What... Exactly are you?”

“You sound surprised, you saw me last night.”

Saw could be a loose term, for all the lady could see, Talia might have very well been a spectre or a demon made to posses people's hairs and chat about worldly ongoing casually around a table. The strange winged cat-like creature with what looked to be a pair of kids goggles hanging off of her neck appeared to be rather grumpy in the morning and in need of a stern coffee. The mother stared for a while before returning to the meal she had made.

“Face it Talia, you're a rarity.” Farrah commented.

“Still, it's rude to treat me any different...”

The mother nodded, she was only curious though. Placing a plate in front of Farrah, the bird took one look at the grub and passed. “Sorry, I can't accept it.”

“Farrah's not a bug person, I used to eat them, but, I changed diet.” Talia spoke on her friends behalf.

The mother looked concerned for the lack of anything else she could give the young flyer. Farrah surely would find herself very hungry along her trip, but she would be more hungry if she lost her stomach.

“It's just another way of living.” Talia continued, looking to Farrah “Your kind no doubt ate smaller creatures too, is the way of the world.”

Being of royal blood, Farrah had eaten very well. Finest grains, finest berries, and amble supply of some form of meat. She never thought about it as a kid, but after a while, she became resentful to the idea. Before her was energy, nutrition, but she could never force herself to it, and so she would rather starve.

“Everyone's got to keep living somehow.” Talia continued. “And in certain times, we need to do some things we wish we didn't have to.”

“It would still be wasted if you gave it to me.” Farrah replied.

Talia smirked. “I wasn't telling you to, I'm just trying to psych myself up to eat bugs. I'd rather not go hungry in this desolate land. My diet comes second when starving.”

Farrah looked sheepishly at her friend who was about to scoop up a portion of ground up nutrients. Talia didn't seem to mind it all that much.

Talia looked over to Farrah, poking at her one last time to see if she would bite. “As my mom once said to get us kids to eat. If you don't eat up, you might end up on someone else's dinner table. I thought it was mean to say, but it sure got stopped us from throwing it at each other.”

Hollie's mother chuckled.

Farrah looked at it, just stared at it. She held herself tight and reached out. It's not like she hadn't eaten meat before, but bugs were very unsatisfying. She laced her finger and brought it near her. Talia was a little surprised that her mother's words echoed still to this day. One taste, maybe it wouldn't be all that bad. She accepted it, placing it in her mouth and swallowing.

Unsavoury.

Their goodbyes met with a farewell, and Hollie leaving the second they were out of sight for sleep in her own bed again. They wished that they could visit again, but the cave in the middle of nowhere where they rather not return would be a little hard to find again. Farrah felt guilty of their hospitality. Also, of Talia being an opportunist and requesting service as she did. Perhaps if they could stay longer Hollie would have made a great new best friend, but the price of living off of bugs turned Farrah's stomach. She, if not obvious, left with an empty stomach.

By late mid day Farrah came upon vast planes while heading as east as she could determine. She managed to peek up above the mists and find the rising sun, then she dove down again to follow it, trying take on a little less wind. The wind was calmer, but still hindering. She would check frequently to note for a change in the direction of the breeze. For most the travel, it was head on and unfortunate.

Soon in the distance, they found themselves in an odd land, for the first time they saw a tree in the mists, it was dead, but stood tall. The land was very bright here. Surprising that the tree could not survive. Perhaps some others might still bare leafs. Soon followed more trees, and a few more yet. This land was starting to become more favourable. Still, no sign of food. Trees, but no bushes or grass, and certainly no fruit.

Farrah moved to surface to keep them on track. Talia praying each time they they would end up actually finding something out here. Each time, the ocean became more and more shallow, though it was still hard to fly down below. Being damp, the wind up top seemed frigid. Cold and hungry was not a favourable mix. Farrah regretted a lot of her travel, until now nothing seemed to go right or kick off on the right foot. As carrier and flight crew, Farrah could think only about this and the hopes she would find something.

Soon something caught their eyes, a new odd sight, a house. No place they want to stop, it gave them the creeps. Just looking at it as they passed, it's rotten wood and tattered roof; if it wasn't abandoned it should be.

More trees, more houses, and more of everything. It was hard to tell what happened here other than a land sunk down into the sea. A cliff appeared dragging them farther down, and the land rose again. Everything was mostly stable, the huge sheets of land tilted only slightly but rose closer to the surface. Finally at the peek of the new plate they found a small village. This sad place had been long since deserted. The sights they saw around here were unlike anything they could express from their homeland. Once again, everything was tattered. Even the soil and stone looked torn up decayed and morbid.

At the peek was a tower, once close enough to it, it could be distinguished as a church. The steeple was tall and flat with the following architectural designs of many other religious constructions. Out here, It would appear their deity had forsaken them. The only thing they couldn't find all the way out here were skeletons. Looking down however, a grim sight, a vast graveyard filled with empty holes. It was possible that they might not have migrated elsewhere before the crops died, or they narrowly escaped their graves elsewhere.

“This place is so sad.” Talia spoke out.

Farrah who had just landed on the top of the tower, caught her breath. “What happened here anyway?”

“This would definitely count as shambles right?”

“I would have to say so.” Farrah replied looking down the tower. This thing was even more rickety than the prison. Everywhere she stood the stone either creaked or moved. She thought best to move away from the edge for now. One thing that was notable was the height that they were at. They could see a long distance, but yet nothing in the future. They rested, rather to say Farrah rested, Talia actually used this time to stretch her legs. Sitting on the edge, Talia couldn't help but feel uneasy. The sight as wondrous as it may be was far from a vacation resort, it looked downright decrepit, eery and disturbing. “What do you think, perfect place for a honeymoon or what?”

Farrah tittered at the remark, part of her was creeped out by it as well. Perhaps they would find more places like this ahead. It was hard to imagine any haven existing out in these damned-lands, as though the whole world had fallen to the divine will to score all outside her maiden country. Homeland was a welcome place to be, exiled or not.

Time went on, and noticeably the tide had lowered more. Now at times only peeking around the rooftops. Farrah could see well out now, but still hardly any sign of anything. Talia joined her, hoping that somewhere they would find something. Everything was still oddly whitish looking, the fog continued up to the sky and the clouds over top. Just above them was blue, the edges of the horizon were indistinguishable and vague.

“I can't see anything. Can you?” Talia asked

Farrah didn't answer, too busy trying to find something, which was taken pretty solidly as an answer. In the distance she noticed something but couldn't tell what it was. It was seemingly poking out but too small to be any kind of mass. A tall spire perhaps. “There might be something, but it's nothing like our promised haven.”

“We are going the right way, right?” Talia inquired.

“Yes, it's supposed to be on the east by the southern edge.”

“What if it, you know...”

“My father wouldn't lie about it.”

“No, I'm saying what if we passed it already?”

“It isn't that small, I know the directions might be a big vague but...” She took another good stare into the abyss. “We can't simply miss it... Can we?”

“I kind of want to go home, this place is depressing.”

“I know it is, I hate it too.” Farrah confessed.

“You know, despite the near horror experiences so far, I don't think coming out here was really all that bad. It's been an adventure for sure.” Talia mentioned blankly. “We're still alive.”

“Yeah, but... I want to keep going.”

Talia became worried again. “You know I'd die out there alone.” knowing that she couldn't do anything.

Farrah looked to her friend. She noted the grim expression, and felt shame inside for taking her out this way. “Tell you what...” Farrah bargained raising her spirits, “If we find this place, we are set, and if we can't then you can rub it in my face til the day I die.”

Talia smiled. “You know it doesn't really work like that right? We don't find it, there is guarantee we'll have another room and board. This place isn't bad per say, but, it frightens me.” Farrah went to scoop up her friend and comfort her but Talia patted her friend's hand away. “You're not going to simply hug this away...”

“Then what can I do?” Farrah asked sympathetic.

“Just... Find this place, alright. That's how you can shoo these doubts away.”

Farrah knew there was no happy alternative. Farrah picked up Talia and raised the cat to her shoulder. “Alright, I'll find it. Besides, we should probably go anyway. I hate to see who lives here still. If these shadow lands are all filled up, something ugly has got to be stalking.”

Talia quickly tucked away. She held on tightly, not for the takeoff, but out of eeriness. One crazy stunt after another, if it wasn't Farrah's flying that would be the end of this cat, it would be everything else and in between. Talia counting how many lives she still had remaining before takeoff, four she questioned. Silly kitty superstitions.

There was only one sight remaining, that was the small spires in the distance. As she climbed higher and tried to find a good view she noticed there were more of them. If she was lucky, there might be bigger one's ahead, maybe land. Down she shot picking up speed. All the flying of the last while was hard on her, but her wings were much better. Tired, but far from broken. Talia was losing faith, and it was time that Farrah made a push, she could rest once she found the island haven. Farrah was amazed at the bravery or stupidity of her father to come this far out not knowing.

As she closed into the spire, more of them appeared. They were course and dark, cracked and rough. This was unlike most any rock she ever saw. These spires were old springs of lava that once rose out, pushing, breaking, and striving to be the tallest. To Farrah, she was clueless to their actual origin. With more in sight she kept up her ambition. More passed her, Talia restoring some hope in a good outcome. Farrah starting working though her adrenaline supply, feeling the hunger work its way through her. Quickly following was a well in the world, a strange billowing of darker mist that poured out. Below, something was stirring, no one wanted to find out what it was.

All around them was the unknown, that day alone they found many new sights. If lucky, it wouldn't end with just that. Farrah made haste over the outpouring of steam, she felt horridly warm when passing over, but soon cooled having left it. Still beamed with sunlight. Finally, the last spire she could see was before her. It ended, once again to an endless abyss. Her father had a death wish, without doubt, he must have had one.

Farrah returned her thoughts to her father, it crunched her deeply under the weight of it's heel but she had to force it out. The danger those tears put her in when her sight was already faded in the mists Farrah couldn't bare the thought for even a moment if she hoped to make it out alive. Every time her mind wandered, she pulled it back in line. Farrah was determined that it would not get the better of her, there was no changing the past and she painfully forced it behind her walls.

Perhaps two hour later of flying blind over the seas she saw a sign, what once appeared to be a lump and rise in the clouds became taller and more noticeable. Soon the wind blew over, it was a south wind, sending the once was cloud into the ocean once more. Beneath it was a large landmass. Little to Farrah's attention, an even larger magnitude covered in cloud had began to thinly unveil itself. Instead She only noticed the one before her. She exclaimed happily.

“I think I found it!” Farrah cried flying into a puff of cloud. The tides out here were very uneven and at times blocked vision greatly. Finally coming out of it, Talia peered over, having finally applied her goggles to see. Talia was surprised at how well they worked. Cedric was a genius to fix them up right.

“Ha! I think I see it... But, uh, it's rather small? I mean for an island. You could hold like what, three farms and pool?”

“There is more to it.” Farrah informed. Talia Stared and focused. The wind no longer bothered her eyes but the turbulence shook her clear sight a little bit. Once she could steady herself and wipe the lenses clean again, she peered out once more. “Huh... Add four more farms and a village-fool, that does look promising. Still think it's kinda small to be the thing we are looking for.”

They got closer, the land widening up, and oddly being enveloped in thin mist for the most part. The land was far from fertile as no grass would grow on it's solid topped flats, and the veins ran far too deep. Talia retracted her settlement statement. Along this travel they found themselves in a deep valley that rose up with the land. Either side was a great distance from the other, and it's depth ran into the mists that appeared to climb up the land with them. Farrah was definitely feeling the burn of this excursion and much of the toll that it was taking on her. In the distance, she heard a noise. Metal. It was as clear as day, she knew this sound well as it usually echoed very loudly. A blacksmith hard at work doing an honest days work. Perhaps they should check it out, see if anyone knew much about a so called “haven”; which appeared less and less likely to be this ugly dead waste of ground below them.

Talia took a gander herself and noted a billow of small dark smoke coming from edge of the valley's top. Farrah locked onto it and expected some warm welcomes. When she got to the edge of the cliff she spotted an encampment, or what looked to be one anyway. Inside was a group of lizard people, sure enough the blacksmith was working and making a fine piece of iron. Two more had come out of a mineshaft, and three sat around a dead campfire drinking. Farrah was about the climb up to meet them but Talia halted her. “I don't like the looks of these guys.” She said trying to poke Farrah back down.

“I'm sure not everyone of them are bad.”

“That's not what I mean.” Talia whispered retracting herself from their vision. She got right beside Farrah and pointed out to the banners. “Those things look tribal.”

“So their native?” Farrah asked confused.

Talia was pointing at some dyed cloth that hung down. It was ratty and woven out of some plant fibre. In the centre it bore a strange marking “They look like their some pretty tough fellas too...”

“So, are they thugs then?” Still not getting the point

Talia finally spelled it out. “They look like warriors. Probably about to head to war, or prepare for it. They don't like outsiders poking around, even if they aren't up to something. Mining is serious business.”

“So, we let them be?” Farrah asked disappointed.

“Well, that, and we keep an eye out for the rest of the locals. Hollie's mother said the people down here are in desperate needs of food. You see a group together, you know they are doing well whatever they are doing.” Farrah was about to back away and head off. She jestured for Talia to hop on be was then told otherwise. “I have a horrible idea.”

“Oh no, Talia...” Farrah replied in a worried tone and expression

“Whoa, hearing that from you? Welcome to my world.” She said starting to grin. “You sit tight. I got this.”

Talia flew around, looking for an in. Farrah didn't like having no idea what Talia was up to, starting to wonder even more what she put her little friend though. Nimble, sly, sneaky. The master once again sprang into action. Past the tents, into the tents, Farrah lost track of Talia and where she went. Not long after a brave and foolish small winged packrat came back with something big and round in her hands. She plopped down the edge of the cliff out of sight, just over the lip and made her way along it back to her friend unseen.

“You stole that?” Farrah asked ashamed.

“Don't fret it, they had plenty in that storage box. Funny thing about these people, they don't have locks on their things.”

“But why?”

“Well duh, you see me eating it? It's for you.”

Farrah looked at it guiltily, then back up to Talia's smug and overjoyed expression. “Why are you so proud of taking it?”

“Don't you get it?” Talia ecstatically explained. “It's an apple. It's fruit. That means somewhere around here there are actual trees. This could prove that we are at the doorstep of our haven afterall!”

“Shh!” Farrah hushed, looking up to notice someone taking attention. She took the apple, and Talia too right before dropping off the cliff and flying away, knowing she was probably spotted. “I still don't feel right taking this.”

“If we get to this haven place and we find more of them then we can drop them a whole basket of these things, but you need your strength.”

Farrah smiled, she understood what the apple meant, just a bit farther and they might arrive at the promised land.

Normally birds have a hard time eating apples. Farrah had less trouble but was very slowly. The juice that ran out of it poured down her beak and guiltily into the feathers along her neck. Small little pecks of flesh could be taken but no big bites. She had no teeth but was far from hindered as her hunger took over, hardly taking time to breath. It wasn't finely chewed out, but she could finish the job later. If anything, the liquid was more refreshing as she tiresomely dried herself, breathing heavily in her frenzy of eating. One apple was hardly enough to fill her, but it was all the small cat could carry.

“You think I'm getting good at this sneaking thing?” Talia asked

“I don't think you should be this good.”

“I'll take that as a compliment.” Talia said sticking out her tongue.

“Thank you... I appreciate it. Just as much as I regret it.”

“In tough times, you got to do what you need to survive right? The fact you are guilty means you still have a heart.” Talia smiled earnestly

“And you?”

“I don't show it, but I am... But if you grew up around my brothers, possession means jack. Big families you know.”

Farrah laughed. She never had any siblings, she wished she had, but the way Talia talked about hers made her glad she didn't.

They once again made headway. The land dipped, still visable but fell under a blanket of smog. Before them was a big open clearing that sourced this rolling mist. There was a stream that ran down indicating a large land for it to run from. It was dirty, cloudy, and smelled funny. Then again, lots of things around here smelled funny, and was actually uncomfortably warmer than anywhere else. There were springs that steamed and one that bubbled but did not boil. Farrah didn't think that she would be getting any clean drink before she would have to take off again at this rate. Just a bit longer and she would never have to worry about that again. Talia tested the waters. “Well, it's warm.”

Farrah did find a natural hot spring once before. She enjoyed it, but here, here it was far too hot. Scolding hot in some ponds. In others just barely unbearable. Farrah reminded. “You figure we'll ever find another hot spring like that one?”

“The one with all the mosquitoes? I hope not.” Talia quivered.

“You think there is one in the haven?”

“Ha!” Talia shouted. “One? Nah... Probably ten or twenty. I'm starting to like this idea all of the sudden. This place is ugly, creepy, and downright depressing... But I'm okay with that for now. We found an apple, and where there are apples... It's got to be at least nicer there than it is here.”

Farrah smiled. She was about to take off but she heard something behind her. She turned around but nothing was there. Talia turned around too. “You...” Talia began, “You heard that too didn't you.”

Farrah nodded and said “It sounded like something moving in the water.”

“Probably best we get out of here before we find out what it is.”

Farrah nodded. She got ready to take flight but was stopped by the rising of something or someone from the spring. They heard a sweet voice, like candied juice or cider. A person had emerged. They couldn't figure out what it was, just two arm and a wavy head. The voice came from all around them rather than from the source. Talia heard something else, something unsettling. Farrah went closer to see what it was.

“Is that smart?” Talia asked.

“If it's in the water, it can't fly out to catch me, at least not outrun me. I'm curious.” Farrah said enchanted.

“I'm over here.” The sweet voice called “Come in to the spring, the water is nice and warm for you.”

“No thank you.” Farrah replied. “I can't endure the heat.” Shaking herself awake

“Party pooper, party pooper, come and play, I'm lonely here all the time.”

“She's a tad eccentric” Talia muttered, trying to make out what it was.

Farrah got closer and closer, but as she did Talia's ears heard the deep noise of movement again, it hit a certain frequency that pounded in the poor cat ears that heard it. The figure waved and waved, but Talia was done looking at it, she was cautious about something else. She peeked out from Farrah's hair to have her own fur turn snow white and stand so far on edge you could mistake her for a porcupine with a mohawk. “FARRAH! BEHIND YOU!”

Farrah quickly turned to face the same horror. It was a long woman who had stopped, and her ghastly face turned into one of sad pity. Her body was shelled and each foot of her body was a set of legs. Not knowing what she was, they were frightened, and not just because of it's massive unbelievable size. This centipede pulled her tail in from the other pool, and stopped her charade then her face turned to a distasteful one. “Well,” it said “My fun is over I suppose.”

Farrah could barely respond to it. “Clever trick” Talia thought to herself “Very convincing... Frightening.” The centipede woman appeared to be somewhat classy about loosing her disguise. In holding one hand before her like she were holding up her slanted head, she congratulated them, clapping many of her feet together.

“I didn't suppose you had a friend attached to your hair, touche.”

“You... Tried to sneak up and eat me didn't you?” Farrah finally stood up.

“Well, no shame in hiding it, yes. Though I do say, I think I would have kept you around for a while... You are rather cute.”

Talia rolled her eyes. “Why are you people always creepy?”

This struck a nerve and the woman lost her elegant composure. “I'm not sure this is a good time to be sassy Talia.” Farrah remarked, turning tail and flying away as quickly as she could. The centipede woman taking hot pursuit without hesitation.

“You however little one, are not cute at all.” The woman scowled.

“Definitely a bad time to insult her!” Farrah reinstalled behind her.

She took quick haste to fly up the hill, but escaping this way proved to be far too slow having to move uphill. The centipede was swift and caught up instantly. Farrah quickly turning zipped past her going back down and out from the way she came. The woman turned over exposing her legs and tried to whip her massive body to grab hold of Farrah, but the bird rolled to the side and picked up tremendous speed. They took one of the valleys which appeared to exit somewhere that they could easily gain the altitude to escape the tall but ultimately earth bound beast. Soon they realized that the edge of it actually lead to a flat plate and the only escape was instead to keep moving.

Talia kept an eye on the six, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. “Scratch that, I see her.” Talia tattled. Over the hills the centipede climbed and poured down like quicksilver, twisting off of each imperfection in the rock like she were liquid. “Farrah, she's coming from the right!” The centipede had incredible speed, and worse yet she knew the land well. Quickly the monster took advantage of this fact and started to force Farrah to turn into a crevice. Though it got tight, it opened up into a much larger one. The centipede turning each corner by leaping from one side of the opening to the other and running it with the wind.

In front was a wall, a dead end. No doubt intended as she was well acquainted with her home. A predator skilled well beyond her own means. Farrah tried to pick up speed for all she could muster. She was well tapping into all her adrenaline reserves now, and forced herself to the top of the wall but not in time. She scampered against it in a fine crack that the woman could not fit though, but only mere meters away. Farrah tried to move up by limb, having no room to flap her wings.

“It's only a matter of time, you are trapped” Tall dark and dangerous slithered up the crack. “But if I really wanted to I could easily reach you from inside there.”

“Saaay,” Talia chummed, “What is your name?”

“What a wonderful time to ask.” She said maliciously, “It would be Matilda Tou Dawn.”

“That's a nice name, mine is Talia, and this is...” Talia was interupted

“I don't care about your name, I rather not refer to you in the future other than as the rude one that didn't last much more than a few moments.”

“Oh come on, I'm barely a grub. Farrah's got plenty more meat on her than I do.”

“TALIA!” Farrah exclaimed. “This isn't the time to be selling me out!”

“I don't care if you are an elephant or a bump on a log,” Matilda informed “I don't take kindly be being called creepy by strangers.”

“You would have eaten us either way and you know it.” Talia grimaced

“Talia, I'm running out of room here!” Farrah frantically stated, knowing even reaching the top, she would no longer be in protection. Farrah had to come up with something, Talia could only stall for so long.

“Maybe I should end your struggle and just give you a hug, huh?” Matilda beckoned in velvet tongue, reaching out with her many arms.

Farrah was close enough to the top to make it if she only had just a little push. The feet came closer and closer, menacing death pincers, all uncountable of them. In a leap of faith, Farrah did something unthinkable. She leaped from the rock wall and straight for Madilda's arms.

“Oh,” Matilda said happily “You've come to your senses have you? It's been forever since I had a bird, you are quite the specimen. I might just keep you a while after all. I am a fine collector of sorts.”

Farrah latched on and started feeling Matilda all over. Even reaching up and around the carapace, trying to tickle.

“Honey.” The woman said. “I didn't think you were that kind of person. When I said you were cute, I meant you were very helpless, like a babAGH!”

Farrah managed to find the area under the centipede's shell where the flesh existed, and rammed her claws into there causing Matilda to cringe. Farrah wrapped around to Matilda's back and rode her like Talia would, making sure the pinch the back by the top of the neck. The centipede took to the top of the cliff to roll over to crush Farrah on a flat surface. Farrah taking the whole ride for free leaped off before Matilda could attempt to finish her. She didn't even realize Farrah taking off, the bird was swift and agile, quickly taking to the sky straight up. Matilda could catch up easily, but if Farrah were too high, she might loose the woman in the clouds. Like a child's dream, the clouds were so high up. They seemed out of reach but whatever it would take to escape, that is what would have to happen.

It would happen, but Matilda once again returned to the hunt, and started to tower up. She had reached fifty feet easily, and Farrah only merely thirty five. Diving down again, all options were out. The road became rocky, narrowly dodging her fast competitor. “Left.” Talia called. “Right.” “Down!”

“Down?” Farrah questioned. The woman shot from above. Farrah deeking left to Talia's will. Ahead was another valley, one that went down instead. Narrow, but the more narrow the better. Any small crevice would be suffice. On the land Farrah was useless, in the air was impossible to get to.

“You are really testing my patients.” Matilda scowled

“That mean's you are loosing” Talia remarked. Farrah only pushed forward, not able to reprimand Talia for enticing Matilda's wrath. Besides, her main focus now was trying not to flying into the rock while she was tired, and exhausted. Vision became more blurry as she was reaching her limit. The cave opened up more, as Matilda came to visit. Near the end, there was a small gap. Water started to run in and out. Whatever way they were going, it seemed to have a cliff. Outside was bright, dangerously bright. Farrah had to pay all of her attention to this one moment squeezing through. “She's on our tail.” Talia reminded.

A moment want by, each baring a new change in faith. The first happening just before the exit, what would happen if she missed. Farrah thought but and couldn't bare it, knowing it would jinx her if she did. The second was realizing she was perfectly on track with her target. She was flying sideways to cut through the crack, Keeping left and right was like trying to cut wood with a crooked saw, always bending with pressure. Somehow, she kept it perfect. These moments were slowly passing, each thought ran so fast, and the world so slow that she could calculate it twice in the single moment of passing doubt. The third change however was realizing that by flying sideways, she was falling and dangerously close the the ground. She could not look beneath her for sight on Matilda, but felt that Talia sure had a tight grip on Farrah's neck all of the sudden. The moment came, Farrah lost room for her wings as her hand touched the ground. She pulled it in and hoped she would make the gap as a missile.

Crash! The cliffside shattered. Farrah brazing the bottom with her shoulder, free fell out and into an open space. Below her was blinding, green, lush forest. Over a hundred feet below. Matilda, flying behind. Farrah unclenched herself and broke off of the trouble veering right, and gliding the rock side. She looked back to see her enemy tumble and fall quivering into the forest below. Talia screamed. “YES! YES! YES! IN YOUR FACE YOU UGLY COW!” No offence to any cows who would be present at the time. This also followed some profanity Farrah had never heard before, which by the sounds of it, 'Ill-spirited' would have came off as a child's description of her friend's filthy, fowl mouth.

Below was all the fresh greenery and as abundant of water as they could ever ask for. In the midst all the dark lands, the barren lands, and all the trials up til now bestowed a wonderland; at long last what could only be described as a haven. A valley that went beyond their ability to see. In the distance, a large mountain, and before that, nothing short of awe.