The Golden Flower
Whip flew as close to the ceiling as she could get. She knew no one would bother looking for her up here. She didn't think she could get in trouble for entering the palace when she was just visiting her owl friends. At least, that's what she kept telling herself, yet here she was, hiding. She heard voiced around the corner. She stopped to listen to what they were saying. Ugh, I never liked hovering.
"The king's gotten sick too now. We can't let him die. There has to be a cure." Someone was saying. Whip's eyes widened. They're talking about the sickness.
"If there is a cure no one's found it yet. But here's what we'd have to do. Have you ever heard of the golden flower?"
There was a gasp. "I've heard about that. It's said to have blue flowers and red thorns."
"Really now," this one was a woman, "how can it have blue flowers and red thorns if it's a golden flower?"
The man gave an 'I don't know' sound. "It's just what I heard."
"Well anyway," the original talker started up again, "I hear it'll cure anything. Unfortunately it's no easy find."
"I'll find it." The words were out of Whip's mouth before she could think. She was a little embarrassed, but now that she thought about it, she realized she did want to find it. She turned the corner so they could see her. "I'll find the golden flower."
There was a silence, then the two men burst out laughing. "An owl, find the golden flower? Keep dreaming."
Whip felt her feathers shrink in embarrassment. The laughing men left. That's when the women walked up to her. "You really think you can find it?" Whip nodded. "Then I think you should go. I'll get you a map."
Whip's eyes widened. A map! Now what good will that do me? "Um . . . that would be very nice of you, but is there a chance you could make the map three dimensional. It would really help."
"Well . . . alright." The women seemed very confused by the request. It doesn't matter, she's doing it. "Come back tonight and I'll have it ready." Whip nodded. She flew out.
