Join the new world

Chapter XIV: the revealing and executing the very cunning plan.

“To be truthful, your plan is not terribly idiotic,” Sonja said. “But I am not sure I can do it.”

Raven squawked from the air. “You two better hurry. They are going to be here pretty soon.”

Andrew leaned up close to her and gripped her hand in his. Her deep green eyes, moist with pain, gazed up at him. “I’ve not known you that long,” he whispered, “but in my whole life, I’ve never met a woman as strong as you. Not one.”

“Not your wife?” she asked.

He winced slightly but continued. “No, not even my wife. Look,” he squeezed her hand. “I know I’ve made a few mistakes here and, yes, I suppose trying to steal from those guys maybe wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever thought of, but…I know you can do this. I know it for certain.”

She smiled and brought her free hand up and stroked his cheek. “Someone is going to die if you are wrong,” she said.

“Let’s just start with the fact that I haven’t gone wrong with believing in you yet. That’s a good place to build from, right?”

She laughed and nodded. “Alright, mush, let’s give this crazy plan of yours a try.”

“Okay,” he said. Dropping her hand Andrew closed his eyes and stood up straight. “Do it.”

Her laugh continued and he cracked open his eyes. “What?” he asked frowning.

“That part you can do yourself. You just need to remember how it felt.” She paused, thinking. “Oh, and for the love of she who birthed us, don’t get distracted this time.”

Raven cawed, “I’ll keep him on the right path, Lady.”

“Make sure you do, Raven, or I will eat you.”

The large black bird gurgled from the back of its throat and worked his beak into a scowl.

Andrew pushed his two companions from his mind and closed his eyes again, reaching deep into his mind. He moved around the growing feelings he had for Sonja and the fear and the uncertainty that they brought him. He weaved past thoughts of his wife and dodged swirling ideas of vague, changing dreams until he found soft black feathers. He pulled and opened his eyes; his beady little raven eyes. He was a bird again.

Sonja smiled. “See, back and forth as you wish now,” she said.

Andrew cawed at her and dropped onto her arm. He grabbed part of her sleeve in his beak and tugged.

“Yes, yes.” She muttered as she climbed off the pony. “If this takes more than your faith, I am in trouble.”

Sonja smacked the pony on the backside and sent it running. Gritting her teeth to fight past the pain she spread her own amazing set of wings. Sonja dropped down to one knee and sighed deeply.

“Well, that wasn’t fun,” she gasped.

Andrew hopped down right in front of her; Raven came in landing right behind her.

“You can do it,” he squawked.

“Come on, Lady,” Raven echoed.

Andrew flapped his wings and left the ground. “I promise you, get to the forest. I will get you the rest of the way and no more stupid stuff,” he cawed.

“Do not make promises that you can not keep,” she scolded.

“The rest of the way,” he insisted. “Just, please, start moving.”

Sonja nodded and bolted into the air with such force Andrew almost fell out of the sky. She moved quick, graceful, and as Andrew fell in behind her he realized that she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, even when she was gripped in pain.

Raven led the way straight towards the tree line with Sonja, flying rather unsteady right behind him. Andrew followed behind them, trying to will them to the tree line before the Hunters spotted what they were up to. He could hear the howling of the dire wolves behind them and could only hope that they would follow the pony’s scent.

“Stay with me, Lady.” Raven chirped. “We are almost there.”

Andrew watched as Sonja’s wings fell out of rhythm and she dipped down towards the ground.

He cawed at her, but not in words; his call was a guttural reaction to her falling into danger, some primal sound that erupted from his beak and Sonja drew in just enough strength. I response her wings pushed at the air and she found her balance again.

Then they were in the trees. She twisted to miss the trunks and branches crashing hard into the moss-covered earth. Raven was at her side hopping from one foot to the other as Andrew dropped to the ground switching into human form with relative ease.

He knelt down next to her smiling. “I knew you could do it,” he said.

She reached up and grabbed him by the shirt and pulled his head close to hers.

“You promised,” she said, her voice barely audible. “The rest of the way and no more stupid stuff.”

Andrew brushed his lips against hers relishing the gentle pressure that pushed back at him. “No more stupid stuff.” He kissed her again right before she passed out with a slight smile on her soft lips.