Chapter 1
Emily loved the feel of the wind blowing past her face. She smiled as she felt the warmth of sunlight on her face.
"Enjoying yourself," said a voice ripping her from her thoughts. She looked over at her dad who was riding next to her with a smile on his face.
"Sure am," she replied. The falcon she was riding laughed.
"Good, I'm glad," Nod replied. Emily then looked over at her brother who was riding behind her dad, and was hanging on for dear life.
"What's the matter Ben, still not liking flying," asked the falcon Emily was riding on.
"No, I wanna get down," he said burying his face in his father's back. The falcon, Cloud, chuckled slightly.
"Hey Cloud," Emily said.
"Yes," replied the falcon, turning her head so she could look at the little girl on her back.
"Why can you turn into a falcon and a bunch of other animals," she asked. Cloud's smile faded and she looked away. Emily didn't ask any farther but instead apologized.
"You don't have to apologize Em, it's just that it's a subject that you are too young to understand, and when you're old enough to understand it I will tell you," Cloud said with a half-smile. Emily nodded, but remained quiet. Cloud could tell that she was upset. "Hey, want to race your dad home. If we don't tell him we're racing and just go we can beat him." Emily smiled and nodded. "Ok, hold on." With that Cloud dove and zipped along through the trees.
"Hey," Nod yelled, and raced after them.
"SLOW DOWN," yelled Ben clinging on even tighter. Emily and Cloud laughed and Cloud yelled back at Nod, "Eat my feathers big brother." They zipped along through the trees and were back at the house in no time. Emily and Cloud won of course, and Emily was not going to let her father forget it.
"I win, I win I win I WIN," she yelled running around her father in circles.
"Gee I wonder where she gets that from," said Cloud turning back into her normal self, and giving Nod a smug look. Nod walked over to her and ruffled her ears playfully. Cloud chuckled and looked back at Ben who was lying on the ground.
"I never want to fly again," he said. Cloud walked over to him, scooped him up, and carried him inside. Emily ran in to the living room where M.K., Ronin, Chuck, and Max were and started telling them about how she beat her dad in a race back to the house. Cloud walked in with Ben and sat him down on the couch.
"How did flying go," Ronin asked Nod.
"Well, let's just say that Ben still doesn't like flying… at all," he said to Ronin. Ronin chuckled and ruffled Ben's hair.
"Well not everyone likes flying," Ronin said reassuringly.
"When I grow up, I'm gonna be a Leafwoman and Cloud is going to be my trusty bird," she said her eyes sparkling. Cloud's eyes got wide and she grew quiet trying to find the right words. She glared at Ronin and Max when he chuckled at her.
"Em, when you become a Leafwoman you are getting your own bird," Cloud said gently. Emily looked a bit sad so Cloud tried to cheer her up. "It will be great, you can name it, and take care of it, and you'll be the best of friends." Emily smiled at this and continued playing, Cloud let out a sigh.
"Nice save, trusty steed," Nod teased. Cloud glared at him and punched him in the shoulder.
"Alright you two be nice," said M.K. getting in between the two of them.
"He started it," grumbled Cloud, receiving a glare from M.K. "Well he did." Cloud walked over and plopped down on the couch beside Max. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her hair.
"I think it's cute that you're Emily's trusty steed," Max said with a small laugh. He received a harsh glare from Cloud.
"I think you are entering dangerous territory," Chuck said with a laugh. He got up and scooped up Ben, then proceeded to tickle him to get him to stop moping around about being taken on a flying lesson.
"Kids these days," said Ronin with a smile. Cloud chuckled at his comment.
"Oh come on Ronin, I'm sure you were very wild and crazy as a kid," said Cloud.
"Yes I was about as crazy as an old turtle," he replied. Cloud looked at him then smiled.
"You know you are a terrible liar."